Tested: these are the tastiest plain crisps from the supermarket
The FavorFlav test panel discovered differences between one supermarket own-brand ridged crisp and another, and when it comes to supermarket apple pie we also have a favourite (and a clear loser), but when we taste plain crisps, the conclusion is: it doesn’t make a damn bit of difference. Or does it? ‘There aren’t any large crisps in this bag at all.’
The tastiest plain crisps from the supermarket
For the test, six bags of supermarket own-brand plain crisps were bought at Albert Heijn, Vomar, Dirk, Jumbo, Plus and Lidl. The prices of these crisps are not far apart: the most expensive bag (Appie) costs 99 cents, while the cheapest costs 79 cents (Lidl). All those packages look alike, and when we tear them open, there are no surprises either: all those crisps look the same. Or are there? Lidl’s crisps seem slightly smaller (or were they squashed in the shopping bag), while those from G’woon, Vomar’s own brand, are a little paler. Minimal differences all around.
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- Dirk – 78 cent (225 gram). ‘Meer frituursmaak.’
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- Jumbo – 99 cent (250 gram). Goed gebakken, lekkere chips.
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- Albert Heijn – 99 cent (250 gram). Lijken precies op die van Jumbo, komen ze uit dezelfde fabriek?
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- Vomar – 78 cent (225 gram). Flinke plakken, grote chips.
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- Lidl – 79 cent (250 gram). Goedkoopste chips uit de test, en daarom de winnaar!
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- Plus – 79 cent (225 gram). ‘Hier moet je iets harder in bijten.’
Crisp fries
Notable: Plus’s crisps seem a little firmer and crunchier. ‘They’re thicker,’ says Lauretta, and according to Bo, ‘you have to bite down harder.’ In the G’woon bag, we find more large slices of crisps, and according to Sharon, the crisps resemble those crisp fries. Dirk’s are a little crispier and taste more like potato, says Rik: ‘A little more artisanal.’ Albert Heijn and Jumbo look very similar and, as mentioned, Lidl has smaller crisps. ‘Were different potatoes used for these?’ Lauretta wonders. The differences are minimal, and no crisp brand is disappointing or tastes bad; they’re all deliciously crunchy and salty.
Lidl wins
Favourite? Not really, but if we have to choose: Lidl, because those crisps are the cheapest in the test, and more crisps for less money is always a good thing. And one to avoid? None at all; all the plain crisps are perfectly good. Special mention for G’woon, Vomar’s own brand: we like that bag best, but even the packaging looks surprisingly similar. Maybe next time we should taste bolognese or cheese crisps to find more differences.
