'World's Hottest Burger' Is Doused In Hot Sauce And Literally Set On Fire

Think your mouth burns when you put a little bit too much Tabasco on your cheeseburger? Try the Xtreme Smokehouse and Grill Hellfire Burger and weep. Loren Gingrich, owner of the Xtreme Smokehouse in Washington, Iowa, believes his creation is the hottest burger in the entire world, according to local news station KCRG. We hate to break it to him, but The Daily Meal reported last year on Britain's XXX Hot Chili Burger served at Burger Off in Brighton, which measures at 9.2 million on the Scoville scale, a full nine times more potent than Xtreme's version.

Still, the Hellfire Burger is nothing to sneeze at (though you may cough quite a bit after trying to down that much hot sauce). Gingrich starts with a homemade hot pepper relish made from jalapeños, habaneros, and serrano peppers. Then he sears the beef patty, which is infused with cayenne and ghost peppers. Next, he adds a good dousing of Hellfire sauce. The final touch is a splash of grain alcohol, and the burger is literally set on fire.

You have to be 18 or older to order the burger, and there's a waiver to sign and protective eyewear to wear, giving a whole new meaning to "you'll put your eye out with that." Though you're more likely to end up with a scorched throat and watery tear ducts.