Classic Potato Chips

Regular-style chips for recipes and dipping

Experts say that while they may not have as much potato flavor, classic potato chips complement boldly flavored dips better than kettle-style chips. And light, crisp classic potato chips make many people nostalgic for childhood lunches and family picnics.

Reviews of classic potato chips give Lay's the edge over other brands. Lay's Classic potato chips (*Est. 59 cents for 1 oz.) are frequently cited in reviews as the standard by which picnic-style chips are judged. Most reviews say they have a decent amount of potato flavor and a tender bite, but some reviewers find them too salty and/or greasy tasting. Reviews say that Lay's Natural Thick Cut Sea Salted Chips (*Est. $3 for 9 oz.) are slightly drier and crispier than the Classic variety, and sea salt really enhances the potato flavor.

If you like your classic chips extra-crispy, Wise Original All-Natural Chips (*est. 30 cents for 1 oz.) are for you, reviews say. They're light-textured and "straightforward, without too much grease," according to taste tests published in The New York Times. These chips don't please everyone, however: Cook's Illustrated finds them a little "cheap" and "Styrofoam-y" when compared with seven other brands of potato chips.

Flavored potato chips

Every year sees the introduction of more and more exotic and obscure potato chip flavors, with dill pickle and cheeseburger giving way to spicy Bloody Mary, roasted red pepper and goat cheese, and even Indian curry. In June 2008, Beer Chips introduced a chip coated with sugar, salt and "a major dose of the world's most perfect beverage... beer." Reviews say that although some flavor combinations are downright weird (think Kettle brand Aztec Chocolate Chips), others will give adventuresome chip lovers reason to cheer.

According to David Rosengarten, Kettle brand makes the best line of flavored potato chips, although not all are crave-worthy. Tasters at Serious Eats wax rhapsodic about the Spicy Thai variety (*Est. $2.50 for 5 oz.) for its "great ginger presence" and "slight habanero kick," while The New York Times loves the "vibrant" Buffalo Bleu (*est. $2.50 for 5 oz.) variety. The Twisted Chili Lime chips (*est. $2.50 for 5 oz.) have plenty of flavor, but some testers say they're too mild.

Route 11 makes a whole line of flavored chips, but reviews say that Mama Zuma's Revenge (*est. $2.70 for 2 oz.) is a standout flavor. These bold, smoky chips get their kick from habanero and jalapeno peppers. Tasters at AOL Food say they're searingly spicy and not for the faint of palate. Reviewers are also enchanted with Route 11 Mama Zuma's Green Chile Enchilada variety (*Est. $1.50 for 2 oz.), which are milder and yet somehow "meaty" -- a must for fans of tacos with green-chile salsa.

Spicy-chip reviews also cite Shearer's Jalapeno (*est. $2 for 9 oz.), saying that the bright, vegetal flavor of the jalapenos really comes through. According to AOL Food, these chips have the "perfect amount of heat."

Flavored-chip reviews frequently mention Utz's of Pennsylvania. Although its chip flavors aren't terribly innovative, editors at AOL Food say that the Salt 'n' Pepper and Sour Cream and Onion varieties (*est. $4 for 10.5 oz.) are full-flavored and nicely balanced.