The venerable potato chip was created, legend has it, in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., in the late 19th Century. A pure creation involving only thinly sliced white potatoes, pristine oil and a dusting of salt, it became a staple in classy bars on several continents. It even survived mass production.
Then food chemists began spraying potato chips with all manner of ersatz flavorings. Among the most popular: the barbecued chip. Since the summer chip season is close upon us, we decided to compare 11 barbecue flavored chips. We also inserted a ringer, one that was not fried: Lay’s Naturally Baked Crisps.
Though the flavorings did, in some cases, overwhelm the chips’ potato flavor and create some curious colors, most proved agreeable to some of the six tasters in our blind tasting. The winners finished quite close to one another.
Products are scored on a scale of 1 to 9, with 9 being highest. Prices are based on what we paid for them at the supermarket and may reflect sales or discounts from frequent-shopper cards. Price-per ounce is rounded off to the nearest cent.
Here are the results, with tast-ers’ comments on the top four finishers.
— William Rice
And the winners are…
1. Michael Season’s Honey Barbeque potato chips (5.6 points. $2.99 for 8.5-ounce bag; 35 cents per ounce). “Pretty, medium-size, light orange chips.” “Chili and paprika dominate aroma.” “Good flavor but not overwhelming, hankering for more heat.”
2. (tie) Dominick’s Barbecue Flavored potato chips (5.5 points. $1.99 for 121/4-ounce bag; 16 cents per ounce). “Classic shape and natural brownish-burnt red color.” “Very crisp with a peppery aroma.” “Taste is slightly sweet and salty with a hint of liquid smoke.”
Terra Yukon Gold Barbecue potato chips (5.5 points, $2.25 for 5-ounce bag; 45 cents per ounce). “Dark tan, rustic look; thick with a very crisp, almost hard texture.” “Mild but pleasant barbecue flavor.”
3. Vitner’s Big Snax Bar-B-Q Flavored potato chips (5.4 points, 69 cents for 17/8-ounce bag; 38 cents per ounce). “Fragrant, slightly sweet aroma.” “Light, appealing barbecue seasonings.” “Garish orange color.”
OTHERS TASTED
4. Jay’s Open Pit Barbecue Flavored Ridged potato chips (5 points).
5. Trader Joe’s Hickory Barbecue potato chips (4.7 points). 6. Wavy Lay’s Hickory BBQ Flavored potato chips (4.4 points). 7. Lay’s Potato Crisps, Naturally Baked, KC Masterpiece Barbecue Flavor (4.3 points). 8. Zapp’s Mesquite Bar-B-Q potato chips, Original Cajun Kettle Recipe (4 points).
9. Jewel Barbecue Flavored potato chips (3.1 points). 10. Jays Barbecue Flavored potato chips (2.8 points).
