Tag: Chips

REVIEW: Planters White Cheddar Cheez Balls

Vin 4 Comments

Planters White Cheddar Cheez Balls

What are Planters White Cheddar Cheez Balls?

After being brought back from the snack graveyard in 2018, the least appetizingly named food since Dave’s Hot and Juicy, Planters Cheez Balls, now come in White Cheddar!

How are they?

That exclamation point is about as much excitement as you’re gonna get from this review because these stink, exclamation point.

I remember liking Planters Cheez Balls as a kid, but I guess it was just faux nostalgia, or “fauxstalgia” as no one says.

Planters White Cheddar Cheez Balls Bowl

The white cheddar flavor pales in comparison to basically every other white cheddar flavored snack on the market. I’m not kidding. It’s weak, and the flavor dust seems to melt away almost instantly.

If the flavor is bad, I gotta say, the texture is worse. These fall somewhere between slightly stale Cheetos and Cap’n Crunch cereal. I thought I would still inhale ’em despite all this, but I barely ate a quarter of the canister.

I might string the rest up like little snowballs and hang em on the tree, but I’m not sure I wanna smell the odd scent they emit.

Is there anything else you need to know?

Every time I ate more than a couple at a time, I got an almost fishy finishing taste. There’s nothing good going on here.

Planters White Cheddar Cheez Balls with Original

I picked up the original flavor too, and the aforementioned no one was right – it was fauxstalgia. They stink slightly less than white cheddar.

Now I’m terrified Planters might reboot my favorite childhood snack, PB Crisps. I consider them the GOAT, and I don’t think I can handle them not living up to that standard.

With that said, I still need them back in my life, so make it happen Planters.

Conclusion:

Planters White Cheddar Cheez Balls Closeup

There are so many better cheese snacks to buy over these. There are also so many better Planters products to buy over these. Don’t let the marketing fool you. These aren’t Crystal Pepsi. These aren’t Ecto Cooler. Your memory has deceived you. Don’t even bother.

Since this review was a little on the scathing side, I’d like to end with a joke.

Why does Mr. Peanut walk with a cane?

Because he has Planter Fasciitis!

Alright, that joke was cheesier than the actual cheez balls.

BRING BACK PB CRISPS!

Purchased Price: $1.66
Size: 2.75 oz. container
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 2 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 oz.) 150 calories, 8 grams of fat, 1 gram of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 330 milligrams of sodium, 16 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 1 gram of sugar, and 1 gram of protein.

REVIEW: Ruffles Double Crunch Sweet & Smoky BBQ Potato Chips

Dustin 3 Comments

Ruffles Double Crunch Sweet Smoky BBQ Potato Chips

Ruffles’ Double Crunch lineup has been quite promising so far, albeit a tad derivative. The chips live up to their name by delivering a satisfying crunch and seem to have extra coatings of their respective flavors. The cheddar and buffalo wing varieties are tasty, but not that original.

Ruffles has ramped up the flavor library of the Double Crunch line with the “new” Sweet & Smoky BBQ. They appear to be similar to the old Ruffles Ultimate Sweet & Smokin’ BBQ, but I don’t remember what those taste like, so I can’t say for certain.

The ridges on the chips are more pronounced than those on standard Ruffles. The chips are generously covered in a welcoming burnt-orange dust. They appear to be as heavily seasoned as their cheddar and buffalo wing counterparts.

Ruffles Double Crunch Sweet Smoky BBQ Potato Chips Bag

The aroma wafting from the bag is that of typical BBQ chips, but with a little hint of vinegar and a more pronounced spice. Vinegar isn’t listed on the ingredients list, so it could very well be a trick of my imagination. Regardless, it’s very inviting.

The flavor profile hits hard with brown sugar, onion, and paprika at the onset. As I chew, hints of molasses, tomato and garlic start to shine through. They’ve got more of a kick to them than standard BBQ chips. I don’t taste any actual vinegar on the chips themselves. Upon looking at the ingredients, that all checks out. The proprietary BBQ seasoning has sugar, salt, brown sugar, paprika, spices, molasses, onion powder, tomato powder, garlic, honey, and delicious, magnificent MSG. There’s nothing new or original here; it’s like every BBQ chip I’ve ever had, just done a little bit better.

Ruffles Double Crunch Sweet Smoky BBQ Potato Chips Closeup

While the crunch is not as pronounced as it is on a kettle-cooked chip, it still delivers a rewarding bite every time.

I find myself losing control and shoveling more of these chips into my mouth. I’m typing this review with one hand, so I don’t get magical BBQ dust on the keyboard from my chip fingers.

Ruffles Double Crunch Sweet & Smoky BBQ are definitely good enough to become a staple in my rotation, but I feel like they won’t be around long. Ruffles’ website makes no mention of the product, so I assume it’s a limited offering. They’re definitely worth your time if you enjoy BBQ chip, so give ‘em a shot before they’re gone.

Purchased Price: $2.50
Size: 7 3/4 oz. bag
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (10 chips) 140 calories; 8 grams of fat, 1 gram of saturated fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 170 milligrams of sodium, 17 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 2 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Limited Edition Roasted Turkey Pringles

Rachel 2 Comments

Limited Edition Roasted Turkey Pringles

What are Limited Edition Roasted Turkey Pringles?

Just in time for Thanksgiving prep, Pringles has dropped a roast turkey-flavored version of its potato crisps.

I have Thanksgiving-flavored-PTSD thanks to what I call “The Great 2004 Holiday Pack Debacle” – aka – that time I accidentally ordered 8 sets ($120 worth) of turkey dinner-flavored Jones Sodas, then tried until New Years’ to sell/give them to anyone who made eye contact. Two ended up at Goodwill.

But I love Pringles, and REALLY wanted to try these. So I persisted. This time I ended up with exactly as many as I intended.

How are they?

The aroma inside the can wasn’t much to write home about. It was a very slight turkey scent.

Limited Edition Roasted Turkey Pringles Cutting Board

But when I crunched one, the flavor was there. Really there. I could have sworn I was chewing on the delightfully burnt crust on the bottom of my roasting pan on Thanksgiving night. The caramelized turkey juice, meat scraps, and spices. Yeah, the stuff you’re supposed to make gravy with, but not in my house because I eat it as an appetizer huddled over the stove while the bird rests on the counter.

Limited Edition Roasted Turkey Pringles Closeup

Three crisps in, I decided these were my favorite Pringles flavor ever. I’m going to hoard cans before they disappear. While I know it’s unlikely that there’s any actual turkey in these (“natural flavors” leaves a hair of possibility), it’s such a convincing flavor, I just don’t care.

Limited Edition Roasted Turkey Pringles Ingredients

Is there anything else you need to know?

Turkey-flavored Pringles have been released in the U.S. previously as part of “Thanksgiving Dinner” packs, but those were simply called “Turkey.” Those might be different than “Roasted Turkey,” but since I haven’t tried them, I can’t say. So I guess this is really something else I need to know.

Conclusion:

Skip the turkey. Buy the Pringles. Feast.

Purchased Price: $1.99
Size: 5.5 oz. Can
Purchased at: Five Below
Rating: 10 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 oz. – about 15 crisps) 150 calories, 9 grams of fat, 2.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 180 milligrams of sodium, 16 grams of carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of fiber, less than 1 gram of sugar, and 1 gram of protein.

REVIEW: Doritos Screamin’ Sriracha

Marvo 3 Comments

Doritos Screamin Sriracha

A sriracha-flavored Doritos is something that should’ve come out years ago when the hot sauce was all the culinary rage back in 2013 to 2016. It seemed as if everyone was jumping into the pool of sriracha products like the flavor was a year-round pumpkin spice. But the brand that once brought us Mountain Dew-flavored tortilla chips didn’t offer anything at the time.

But Doritos Screamin’ Sriracha is finally here, and you know what they say, “Better late than getting lost in the glut of other sriracha products.” I believe a wise rooster crowed that.

Doritos Screamin Sriracha Closeup

The word “screamin’” gives a hint that these chips might be spicy. They certainly do appear to be angry with all the red seasoning that looks as if they’re waiting to pop a capsaicin in yo’ mouth’s nerves. The chips smell like a smoldering spicy fire that could ignite at any moment.

And the first few chips do bring the heat, but before I reach the serving size, my mouth gets numb to the spices. So I don’t feel compelled to douse my oral cavity with a cold beverage or cry “mommy” as I wish the tiny devils on my tongue would stop poking it with their pitchforks. But if you’re even the slightest spice adverse, stay far away from these chips. Don’t even pretend like you’re going to lick them for your Instagram.

As for their flavor, even though my mouth gets used to the burn enough that I could stuff my face with more of them, getting past the spiciness didn’t encourage me to shovel these into my mouth. Instead, now that I wasn’t thinking of the heat, my mind was clear enough to realize that I wouldn’t buy another bag of these chips.

They’re a little sweet, slightly garlicky, a tad oniony, and really peppery. On paper, that looks like a tasty chip, and it has all the appropriate ingredients you’d find in sriracha sauce, but the combination doesn’t appeal to my taste buds. Also, they do remind me of Doritos Blaze, which I did not care for, but I do think these are a little more tolerable.

Look, I like sriracha. It’s my go-to addition to pho. I’ve put it on burgers. I’ve dipped fries into it. But the flavor on these chips doesn’t do it for me. Maybe if the seasoning on Doritos Screamin’ Sriracha was a tad sweeter and the garlic was more pronounced, I would’ve enjoyed them more.

Purchased Price: Too much on eBay
Size: 9 3/4 oz. bag
Purchased at: ???
Rating: 5 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (about 12 chips) 140 calories, 7 grams of fat, 1 gram of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 190 milligrams of sodium, 17 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, less than 1 gram of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Lay’s Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup Potato Chips

Marvo 5 Comments

Lay s Grilled Cheese Tomato Soup Potato Chips

There are some of you who are looking at Lay’s new Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup Potato Chips and thinking to yourself, “Dammit! That was MY Lay’s Do Us a Flavor submission! Frito-Lay stole my idea!” or “Dammit! Lay’s ripped that flavor idea out of my head! This tinfoil hat I made doesn’t work!”

If you have no ill will towards Lay’s, I’d recommend purchasing a bag of this limited time flavor if you’re interested in experiencing the comfort food combination of tomato soup and grilled cheese without having to worry about burning your mouth with savory liquid or getting your fingers greasy with buttered bread.

I’d also recommend this new variety if you like pizza. I’ll get to that in a few moments.

Lay s Grilled Cheese Tomato Soup Potato Chips Closeup

The crunchy fried potato slices look like they might taste either super cheesy or a little spicy, but they are neither. They smell more cheesy than tomato soup-y, but that flips when being eaten. The tomato is sweet, slightly acidic, and at the forefront from the first chomp.

The cheese is still around but in the background of the chip’s flavor. Also, like with Lay’s previous sandwich-flavored chips, it tastes as if the food scientists were able to add a little bread flavoring, or maybe that’s my imagination. But what I do know is real is that Lay’s Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup Potato Chips are delightful.

The flavor profile is easily recognizable. However, as someone who has dipped his hands into many bag-shaped universes of chips, the combination of tomato and cheese, at times, reminds me of pizza-flavored snacks. But if you think about it, it does make sense since pizza is a few food chromosomes away from tomato soup and grilled cheese.

These chips aren’t as comforting or warming as a grilled cheese sandwich dipped into hot tomato soup. But, since chips go well with sandwiches, this crunchy snack would make an appropriate and tasty side.

DISCLOSURE: I received a free sample of the product from Lay’s PR team. Well, actually, I received two bags and ate half of one within 30 minutes for, um, testing purposes. Getting free samples did not influence my review. Although I can totally see how some might think so. But I assure you it did not.

Purchased Price: FREE
Size: 7 3/4 oz. bag
Purchased at: Received from Lay’s PR
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (about 15 chips) 160 calories, 10 grams of fat, 1.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 180 milligrams of sodium, 15 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 2 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.