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What are Some Different Flavors of Potato Chips?
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Potato chips, sometimes known as potato crisps, come in a wide assortment of flavors, from plain to chocolate-covered. Many stores stock different flavors to cater to the desires of their patrons, including regional favorites that might be hard to find in other regions of the world. For the truly motivated, they can also be flavored at home, either by making one's own from scratch with the flavoring of choice, or by shaking a bag of storebought chips with the desired flavoring.
Many flavors of potato chips feature some sort of dairy product. Sour cream and onion, for example, is a popular flavor pairing. Others may be prepared with cheddar cheese, mozzarella, Parmesan, goat cheese, or a variety of other cheeses. Yogurt sometimes crops up in flavorings as well, with some companies making yogurt-coated chips.
Other flavors may focus on spices like black pepper, brewer's yeast, mustard, cayenne, mint, herbs, lemongrass, garlic, onions, paprika, and regional spice blends such as Thai or Indian spices. Manufacturers may also offer chips flavored with traditional dressings, like salt and vinegar, olive oil, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, ranch dressing, barbecue sauce, Marmite, or simple ketchup.
Fruits may also crop up in potato chip flavorings, as in the case of those flavored with fruit chutney, lime juice, or sundried tomatoes. Meats such as bacon, jerky, lamb, and chicken are sometimes used in seasonings, along with vegetables like roasted red peppers, spinach, pickles, and capers. On the sweet end of things, chocolate, honey, and caramel are all used in chip flavorings, along with plain sugar.
Many nations have their own distinct flavors with regional favorite foods, reflecting the tastes of their citizens, along with a lineup of more generic flavors. In Germany, for instance, beer flavored potato chips are quite popular, while Koreans enjoy kimchee-flavored ones. Those with interesting flavors are sometimes popular with visitors, who may bring them back home to show disbelieving friends.
In addition to varying the flavor, potato chip manufacturers can also vary the texture. Some chips are crinkle cut, for example, creating a series of ridges, while others are so thinly sliced that they are like parchment paper. Thick chips can also be found, along with baked ones to contrast with those prepared in oil. The oils used in frying or baking can also influence the flavor; olive oil and vegetable oil, for example, have markedly different impacts on flavor.
Mary McMahon
Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a WiseGEEK researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.
Learn more...
Mary McMahon
Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a WiseGEEK researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.
Learn more...AS FEATURED ON:
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![Potato chips may be covered in chocolate.]()
By: vichie81Potato chips may be covered in chocolate. -
![Barbecue sauce is a popular flavoring for potato chips.]()
By: baibazBarbecue sauce is a popular flavoring for potato chips. -
![Cheddar cheese is a common flavor of potato chips.]()
By: Bert FolsomCheddar cheese is a common flavor of potato chips. -
![Potato chips can be crinkle cut giving them ridges.]()
By: nataliazakharovaPotato chips can be crinkle cut giving them ridges. -
![Barbecue potato chips.]()
Barbecue potato chips. -
![Potatoes.]()
By: AndrePotatoes. -
![Onions, which are sometimes used to flavor potato chips.]()
By: HyrmaOnions, which are sometimes used to flavor potato chips. -
![Potato chips.]()
By: NatikaPotato chips. -
![Spinach is sometimes used in seasoning for potato chips.]()
By: margo555Spinach is sometimes used in seasoning for potato chips. -
![Honey is used to make a sweet variety of potato chips.]()
By: tetxuHoney is used to make a sweet variety of potato chips. -
![Mint is sometimes added to flavor potato chips.]()
By: margo555Mint is sometimes added to flavor potato chips.
Discussion Comments
I like kettle cooked chips, because they have the most crunch. My husband hates them because he says they are rock hard, but that is what I love about them.
They are also lower in fat and calories than other types of chips. My favorite is an applewood smoked variety with tons of flavor. It is slightly sweet but salty at the same time.
Tortilla chips are great with salsa and other Mexican food. Many Mexican restaurants will give you a bowl of tortilla chips and a dish of salsa as an appetizer as soon as you arrive, free of charge.
I make chicken tortilla soup at home that has a Mexican flair. It contains chicken, corn, black beans, salsa, and zucchini, and when I serve it in bowls, I crumble tortilla chips on top.
They add the perfect crunch. They don't have a lot of flavor of their own, so they are best paired with spicy food such as this.
I like making natural potato chips. I take a few small russet potatoes and slice them into discs about a quarter of an inch thick and bake them at home.
I don't peel them, because I like eating chips with the skins. I toss them in olive oil after slicing them up, and then I sprinkle them with seasoning salt for flavor.
Before I started doing this, I used to brush them with melted butter and sprinkle them with parsley and salt. Olive oil is better for me, though, and seasoning salt has more impact than parsley.
I bake them at 400 degrees until the tops start to form golden blisters. At this point, the bottoms will be browned perfectly.
@cinder – Pickle flavored potato chips are really intense! They go best with a burger, and I would even venture to say that they go better with it than french fries do.
They might pucker your mouth up a little at first, but once you get started on them, it is hard to stop. I eat way too many of these.
How about caramel dipped, chocolate flaked, salted lays potato chips? This is officially my recipe.
Oasis11- I usually buy Ruffles potato chips. Sometimes I get Lays potato chips. My favorite is the Baked Lays. They have really expanded the flavors and I think they taste better than the regular potato chips Lays.
I recently started eating Pita chips and they are so good. They are all natural and have very little fat. I usually get some with a little bit of hummus and it makes a great low calorie snack.
My sister got me hooked on this snack. I try to get different flavors of hummus, and it is such a great snack that I always look forward to it. It is really a nice alternative to regular chips and it is much more filling and satisfying.
Cinder-Cinder- I have never tried those, but I do like spicy chips. I will have to look for them next time I go to the grocery store.
I think that a combination of salty and sweet actually taste really good. I have never tried yogurt chips, but I bet they would taste pretty good.
My favorite cheddar potato chips are the Sun Chips. Those chips taste great. They are my absolute favorite. I also like the Doritos potato chips in cool ranch. I like this flavor better because it has the right blend of ingredients.
Yogurt coated chips, yuck!
My favorite is Jalapeño flavor, I've only seen that flavor sold on the thicker Kettle chips though. I've always wanted to try the Pickle flavor but the stores in my area don't carry them.
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