Which Plain Potato Chip Rules? What's Your Favorite?
According to the New York Times, it's the Kettle brand lightly salted variety. I believe the attorney general's office should look into the Times rankings (just kidding). My only question: How could they leave out Cape Cod Dark Russets? For me, that dark brown crunchy beauty is so baked potato-y, so crisp, and just greasy enough that it should be enshrined in the National Potato Chip Hall of Fame, which unfortunately doesn't exist—as of yet.
Here's the Times's Top Ten:
- Kettle Brand Lightly Salted
- Cape Cod Old-Fashioned Kettle Cooked
- Lay's Kettle Cooked Original
- Herr's Kettle Cooked
- Troyer Farms Kettle Cooked
- Krunchers! Original Kettle Cooked
- Madhouse Munchies Kettle Cooked
- Original Lantchips Scandinavian Style
- Boulder Canyon Totally Natural
- Wise All-Natural
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24 Comments:
I like the Lay's Kettle Cooked Original when I'm "roughing it" with the locals.. but when I'm shopping for myself, I opt for the Terra Original Golds. YGs are perfectly textured and much more flavorful than your standard potato chip.
Also had a lot of fun with the Aztec Chocolate Kettle chips.. if they were regularly available, I'd probably cite them as my favorites.
goodbyeohio at 9:59AM on 07/04/07
As stated in the previous post. There's only one. And it is Twiglets. You NEED to get yerselves over to Myers and give us the full Serious Eats rundown. Seriously.
Graham Holliday at 10:07AM on 07/04/07
Wise original in the blue bag. Nothing like 'em with a grilled cheese sandwich. ;D
hereandthe at 10:52AM on 07/04/07
Utz Natural Dark Russet Kettle Cooked Gourmet Potato Chips at my favorite, with Cape Cod's Dark Russet coming in a close second.
josh! at 11:10AM on 07/04/07
you have not eaten a chip until you eat from a bag made with Olive Oil like Solea, but there are other brands and they are clearly marked on the outside of the bag if made with e v v o..expensive but worth every cent and make sure you buy more than one bag...cause if u are sharing u will need it
Natalie Sztern at 11:46AM on 07/04/07
Zapp's Crawtaters are fantastic. They are kettle cooked with cajun seasoning. Made in Gramercy, Louisiana. Emeril loves Zapp's potato chips.
mrbadideas at 12:02PM on 07/04/07
Twiglets are only good if you like Marmite-- blech! Ed, save yourself!
weisslikesrice at 12:11PM on 07/04/07
No, no, no, no, no weisslikesrice, this is where you're all wrong. Look at this quote from ">Yahoo! Answers,
Yes I love them. It's funny really because I don't like marmite, but I could eat Twiglets all day long!
And just to underline my point, The New York Times in all their wisdom voted Kettle Brand Lightly Salted crisps as the numero uno. However, look at this graph on awholelotofcrunch. In these InterWeb2.whatever times the people have clearly spoken. And they've spoken about Twiglets. Not some jumped up Kettle Brand Lightly Salted crap.
Graham Holliday at 12:50PM on 07/04/07
There is nothing better than a Wise plain potato chip. I could eat bag after bag!
sml253 at 1:10PM on 07/04/07
As a Detroit native, I was always a Better Made girl, but I've recently become addicted to North Fork chips. They have really nice potato flavor and good crunch.
Jennifer Hess at 1:32PM on 07/04/07
Cape Cod Old-Fashioned Kettle Cooked Chips are easily the best. True potato taste, no greasiness, and the perfect amount of salt. They've been the best chip for many years, and they've never made the mistake of toying with their recipe. Their other flavors and varieties, including the Dark Russet, are good, but the original chip is the one to buy. If you've never tried them you should do so; you won't be disappointed.
ronfrankl at 7:25PM on 07/04/07
For me, it's a toss-up between Tim's Cascade Chips and Bob's Texas-Style chips. Both brands are kettle-cooked chips, loaded with grease and salt. Yum.
PhotoKirk at 9:10PM on 07/04/07
I'm with Kirk. Tim's Cascade for me.
norman at 8:26AM on 07/05/07
I just tasted Tim's for the first time yesterday. I loved 'em! Only one better, but like Tim's, not widely distributed: Martin's Kettle Cook'd. Absolutely incredible. Zapp's also makes a fine variety of chips.
1stmakearoux at 8:42AM on 07/05/07
I am so surprised no one has mentioned Miss Vickies! I love em! The sea salt and malt vinegar are good, so are the jalpeno...
Lilartist at 9:27AM on 07/05/07
Emeril aside, Zapp's are fantastic. I like Cape Codd and Ms. Vickie's chips but the Zapp brand does it a bit better ... a little thicker and crunchier. Their flavored chips are even better.
syoung68 at 10:35AM on 07/05/07
Jennifer's right, Detroit's THE place for potato chips as far as I'm concerned. Where else do folks regularly give out potato chips on Halloween (I can't tell you how many bags of Better Mades I got in my pillow case each year)?
BUT, my personal faves are Downey's potato chips made in Waterford, MI. They are kettle cooked in peanut oil and nicely salted. MMMmmmm.
http://www.theoaklandpress.com/stories/011305/bus_20050113013.shtml
crafty at 11:19AM on 07/05/07
I totally agree about Cape Cod Dark Russets being the best. Maybe they didn't make the grade as they are not as widely available as some of the others. To me, they have the best flavor, and the right amount of salt and oil. The only problem is the bag is too small! But then again, I'd finish the bag no matter how big it was!
Livingtoeat at 2:01PM on 07/05/07
Lilartist, I came here to plug Miss Vickie's myself. I'm addicted to the sea salt and malt vinegar as well, but since we're talkign plain chips I have to say that the plain ones pack a crunch like nothing else I've ever tasted. I could eat them by the pound.
klg19 at 2:36PM on 07/05/07
I think Zapp's (in New Orleans) is pretty good, although they have artificial flavors in the crawfish variety.
SuGoodEats at 5:59PM on 07/06/07
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Downey's myself, but as I live in Canada, I have a hard time finding them whenever I am in Michigan, in fact, my friend and I drove around the other day in Pontiac looking for some. When I can't find Downey's, I love Shearer's kettle chips, they're not as tasty as Downey's, but they'll have to do!
If anyone knows where I can find Downey's, please let me know, I am going thru cravings, lol!
Jules
Juliettte at 1:23AM on 09/05/07
I don't need a chip with a college education.
Utz Regular. Perfect.
rockhopper at 5:56PM on 01/16/08
Downeys Potato Chips are "The Best You Never Had".
When I start eating them, I can't put the bag down. They have a taste like no other potato chips.
MrChips at 2:17AM on 03/22/09
Martin's Kettle cook potato chips are thick and good.
Foodfae at 7:45PM on 09/24/09