What makes a tip-top potato chip? That's a mighty hard call -- especially when you're testing nearly 5 dozen kinds. The good folks from Anchor's Chip of the Month sent spuds from around the country, and our panelists evaluated each for crunch, salt & grease levels, flavor, and overall appeal. Plain, salted chips only were allowed (though we've included a few wild card faves at the end), and while we found good things to say about 58 of the 59 chips we tasted, 15 of 'em made it to the top of the heap. Read on for our chip picks.
Potato Chip Taste Test
What makes a tip-top potato chip? That's a mighty hard call -- especially when you're testing nearly 5 dozen kinds. The good folks from Anchor's Chip of the Month sent spuds from around the country, and our panelists evaluated each for crunch, salt & grease levels, flavor, and overall appeal. Plain, salted chips only were allowed (though we've included a few wild card faves at the end), and while we found good things to say about 58 of the 59 chips we tasted, 15 of 'em made it to the top of the heap. Read on for our chip picks.
#15 BALLREICH'S MARCELLED ORIGINAL / NO SALT ADDED
(Tiffin, OH)
What the heck does "marcelled" mean? In the 1920s, early in Ballreich's history, the marcelled, or waved hairstyle, resembling the chip's surface was all the rage. The coiffure may have gone out of favor, but the chips have remained a local Ohio favorite ever since. While they weren't a hit with everyone, several panelists raved over the satisfying Krispy Kreme-like greasy mouth feel of both the salted and unsalted varieties. It's stand-out sinner in an increasingly health-centric snack market.
Buy these chips at Anchor's Chip of the Month
Did we miss or hit your favorite chip? Shout it out on our blog at Slashfood.
#14 TERRA RED BLISS
(Nationally available)
Frankly, several folks couldn't stand these, but plenty of others ranked these intensely thick, skin-on, olive oil cooked chips among their favorites. The stand-out appeal seemed to be in the elemental, natural potato flavor of the Red Bliss -- a distinct departure from the salt and oil-centric taste of the vast majority of our brands. Terra's Yukon Gold variety also ranked highly, but didn't quite make the final cut.
Did we miss or hit your favorite chip? Shout it out on our blog at Slashfood.
#13 GOOD'S ORIGINAL
(Pennsylvania)
Good's likely benefitted from our blind testing method (chips were presented on numbered paper plates with bags hidden away), as panelists reading the contents may have shied away upon reading "lard." However, hog fat is exactly what lends gives this chip the rich, sweet flavor and mouth-feel that have made it, and its sister chip, the red bagged Homestyle Good's, cult classics.
Buy these chips at Anchor's Chip of the Month
Did we miss or hit your favorite chip? Shout it out on our blog at Slashfood.
#12 WISE RIDGIES
(Berwick, PA)
Ruffles may have ridges, but Wise Ridgies reigned supreme over 'em for our panelists, who ranked these chips higher for their excellent texture, lower salt level, and "character." We dig Ridgies for their picnic appeal and easy availability.
Slashfood blogger Stefani Pollack loves Ruffles, but for a very particular rrrrrreason. Read why at Slashfood.com.
#11 DOOR COUNTY KETTLE COOKED ORIGINAL
(Milwaukee, WI)
Our boss crunched one of these and exclaimed, "This is an outstanding chip!" We're willing to admit the man has good taste, but we still put it to our panel, which determined the chip had great taste as well, and that the taste was somewhat reminiscent of a nice, aged cheese. Amusing, considering that Door County is smack dab in cheesehead central -- Wisconsin. The grease factor is a tad high, but the intense crunch and distinctive flavor send these to the head of the herd.
Buy these chips at Anchor's Chip of the Month
Did we miss or hit your favorite chip? Shout it out on our blog at Slashfood.
#10 KETTLE CHIPS LIGHTLY SALTED
(Nationally available)
Kettle Chips are another maker of our most beloved flavored chips, but it seems they don't skimp when it comes to cooking up a small batch of the plain ones. Our panelists were quick to cite the lightly burnt quality as "very appealing," "subtle" and "nicely balanced," and ranked the crisp quality as a standout.
Slashfood blogger Marisa McClellan loves Kettle Chips. Read what she has to say.
#9 MIKE-SELL'S GROOVY
(Dayton, OH)
Our food editor was pleased to find her childhood favorite in the mix, and even more delighted once she saw how well they fared with the palates of her peers. The rippled chips were among the saltier in the mix, which proved to be a welcome standout amongst the heap of restrainedly seasoned offerings, and the sturdy, crunchable shape earned 'em a slew of "Great!" statements on the score sheets.
Buy these chips at Anchor's Chip of the Month
Did we miss or hit your favorite chip? Shout it out on our blog at Slashfood.
#8 LAY'S NATURAL THICK CUT SEA SALTED
(Nationally available)
Very few of the mega-brands cracked the Top 15, but crispy appeal of this Lay's offering was undeniable. Tasters were equally pleased by its simple, subtly salted flavor, evocative of childhood picnics and the chip shape light enough to make it endlessly edible either solo or paired with a lunchtime sandwich.
Slashfood blogger Bob Sassone loves these chips. Read what he has to say.
#7 UTZ CLASSIC RUSSETS
(Hanover, PA)
We're unapologetic Utz fans, and while we tend to gravitate toward them more for their flavored varieties (stayed tuned for our flavored chip test in a few weeks), these stood out for their robust, dark, earthy flavor and remarkable crunch. Panelists used plenty of exclamation points, and we took that as a sign of a chip well done.
Buy these chips at Anchor's Chip of the Month
Did we miss or hit your favorite chip? Shout it out on our blog at Slashfood.
