Chipping Away at Chips

Chips or ‘crisps’ as they are called in other countries, are perhaps the most satisfying crunchy snack in the known universe. The true beauty of these snacks lies in the immense variety that is available for purchase. One of the pillars I live my life on lies in the motto, “There is a chip out there for everyone”. Without further ado, let’s begin our journey and pay homage to the grand daddy of them all.

 

1. Lay’s Original

Let’s face it, Lay’s Originals is probably not you favorite all time chip, but I would wager it is definitely not your least favorite either. With the perfect blend of crunch, saltiness and Idaho potato starchiness, this classic go-to is high up on my list of best chips. Not only that, but these were essentially the very fist chips to be invented (by accident!!) In addition to being delicious by themselves, these golden beauties can be enjoyed with any number of dips, or loaded inside your favorite club sandwich.

2. Doritos Nacho Cheese 

Sticking with the theme of ‘classics’, you can’t get much more classic than the OG Doritos Nacho Cheese. For millennials like myself, I remember little else from my childhood besides looking forward to tearing open my lunch to find a little bag of these beauties. Let’s face facts, depression, break ups, bad grades, getting fired; all of these symptoms can be cured by a handful of these potent corn-based chips. Eating them is only the first half of the adventure, sucking off the cheesy residue is what really gets my blood flowing!

3. Tortilla Chips

Tortilla chips (bland as they may be on their own) played an important part in their hay day. They represented a portable, corn-based baked snack that could be taken on long journeys. Invented by the Hopi people of New Mexico and Arizona hundreds of years ago, we continue the legacy by eating and innovating them to this very day. They come in assorted colors: blue, red, white and yellow. Eating them by themselves will prove a bland but noble endeavor. However, when combined with dips such as queso, salsa, guacamole or any number of alternatives, and you have something truly special on your hands.

4. Kettle Chips

If ‘crunch’ is what you are after in a chip, than look no further. Kettle chips are perhaps the crunchiest of the breed, due to the unique process of making them. Another attribute of kettle chips that most people find appealing is the “realness” of them (there are even rumors of organic kettle chips). Unlike some other types of snacks, kettle chips are actual slices of potato which have been fried and seasoned . If you are looking for a honest to goodness chip that will back a heck of a crunch, kettle has your back.

5. Pita Chips

They say not all chips are created equal, never have any truer words been spoken. These imposters masquerading as “chips” are nothing more than bits of concrete and gravel formed into little squares that will turn your teeth to dust due to their hardness. True chip lovers will have no problem steering clear of these abominations.