Correct your dish before it ever makes it to the table.

Even those of us who cook every day have occasional slip-ups in the kitchen.

The sometimes intensely hot sensation we feel as spiciness comes from a chemical called capsaicin.

An exploding chili pepper on a designed background

Photo: Getty Images / phive2015 / CSA-Printstock

Dairy products are also acidic, which is another reason why they are effective at tempering spice.

This gives us yet another reason to verify we have peanut butter in our pantries.

Sprinkle in Sugar

You might be familiar with the Scoville scale that measures the spice level of chile peppers.

Sugar is yet another kitchen staple that can help quell a dish that is a little too hot.

Getting a bit of rice or potatoes in each bite can help make the spice levels more manageable.

Dilute It

Another simple way to temper something spicy is to dilute it.