Kettle Brand Potato Chips - Sea Salt

I've probably waxed on about this before, but some people get (what I view as) performatively lusty for potato products. Like "oooh tater tots/chips/fries/mash/hash browns :9999999999". I cannot relate to those people because I think potatoes are "okay". I love carbs, don't get me wrong, but potatoes just don't scratch any itch for me. The bacon-obsessed bros or the cheese obsessed wine moms were more relatable (even though I view those obsessions as a little performative too). What's that? Others think my Dunkin obsession is performative AND disgustingly corporate? Well, that's fine. They can write about that in their own little blogs then. Frankly, it's good to have a special interest, and the potato people are lucky because potatoes ARE very versatile. The problem with these chips is I see them as (oily salty) pure essence of potato. The only flavor note is "potato chip". The texture is nice and gentle, but the taste is sooooo boring to me. And this is supposed to be a treat? I resent that. As plain chips go, Kettle Brand is aces for their allergy info and thickness (thin=less potato flavor per cubit), but the only reason I buy these as school snacks is they're portable (and safe). 

Overall
Cost: 5/10
Taste: 5/10 

Kettle Brand Spicy Pimento Cheese Chips

No, these are not on the approved list. No, I don't care!!!! 

Now that we got that out of the way. These really are spicy. I like a spicy snack. Good burn. The rest of the flavor is kind of "curdley cheese (aged)" and I don't care for it. Maybe it's because I was expecting Kraft Pimento Cheese Spread vibes and I'm getting spicy cat litter vibes, but if there were no spice they would be just no good. Luckily the spice is the extremely predominant note. Also, the brand is nut free and proud, and there have been a lot of high profile (allergy) deaths lately so I'm extra appreciative of that this month. 

 

Overall
Cost: 5/10
Taste: 6/10

Kettle Brand Farmstand Ranch Chips

I really like the brand -- nut free! And lots of flavors! I don't usually like ranch things much though, so even though the color of the bag is very pretty, this isn't my favorite flavor. (I think I like the cheese and jalepeno ones best). They're very firm and crunchy, yet delicate. I think that style is growing on me. The amount of seasoning is good -- definitely enough to taste it but not overwhelming (i.e. you can still taste potato). And yeah, the seasoning tastes like ranch. That is, some herb type stuff, plus some sour milk type taste. Haha. Better than plain, but worse than almost all other flavors, I think.

Overall
Cost: 5/10
Taste: 6/10

Kettle Brand Air Fried Jalapeño Chips

These are good chips! They basically taste the same as the non-air-fried version, which is a good thing. Spicy, pleasant. I like chips with a taste that isn't simply "chip". Huzzah!

Overall
Cost: 5/10
Taste: 7/10

Kettle Brand Air Fried Chips - Sea Salt & Vinegar

These are indeed tasty! And if the bag is to be believed, less fatty than the OG chip. However, there is a corresponding less-tastiness that comes along with these. At least at first bite, I thought these tasted a little stale (or, I guess, airy), but I quickly got used to it. The salt and vinegar coating is good and quite addictive. Honestly, a great chip. I'm a kettle brand stan.

Overall
Cost: 5/10
Taste: 7/10

Kettle Brand Krinkle Cut Salt & Fresh Ground Pepper Chips

These are rare Crinkly chips from Kettle brand, which was fun and new. The shape just made me want Sour Cream and Onion chips instead though, which would have been tastier. These were OK on the tasty front, but a little bit boring and a little too much salt and also pepper. They also tasted a little bit like "hint of lime" chips, aka a little bit like Trix cereal. Just a tiny bit -- maybe it's citric acid? or "spices"? but it was odd. The cronch level was good, they are nice and thick and crispy. Not too oily but not flavorless either. A little bit ricey powdery vibe on the outside but not much. Mostly tastes like black pepper and that lime stuff. Not terrible, but not impressive!


Overall
Cost: 6/10
Taste: 6/10

Kettle Brand Jalepeño Chips

The agony continues. Anyway, these were really good. They were a little hot, so I was scared when I first ate them (you know how it goes), but all is well. They were a nice balance of sweet and spicy. I enjoyed these more than the BBQ flavor. I wish I had more bags left! Maybe when it isn't an Amazon strike I'll order some. I still have rice at home, but rice is pretty boring and makes me sleepy to cook (because I'm still hopelessly ill, idek what's happening to me). Sorry blog readers, I feel like being sick alone during a pandemic is making me more tragic and insane than usual. Wow!




Overall
Cost: 7/10 (less than 1$ per bag if you buy the big pack!)
Taste: 8/10

Kettle Brand Chips - Country Style Barbeque

I bought these on Amazon Prime Pantry to fill up a box, and I expected good things because I like BBQ chips and also Kettle brand is nut free but like, substantial and fun. Sadly, they were not that tasty. I, like a classic me, ate the entire bag in one sitting, which I regret for many reasons, but mainly because they weren't that good. Not sweet enough, too smoky and too crunchy. I got bad heartburn afterwards also (not a surprise). The bag wasn't like, family size, but it wasn't individual size either. Anyway, I would get a different type next time and hopefully practice more moderation as well. I love chips.



Overall
Cost: 5/10
Taste: 5/10

Kettle Brand Chips - Backyard BBQ

These were really nice! Very crunchy fun texture, a solid chip. The taste isn't super saturated, but they are a little smoky in a nice, BBQ-type way. Reminds me a little of a school carnival or some type of outdoor event; a bit sweet and overall a complex flavor for a BBQ chip. Not your sad indoor solo lunch chip, more of a party chip. Good vibes on this one. Plus, no nuts!






Overall
Cost: 6/10
Taste: 7/10

Kettle Brand Sea Salt & Vinegar Chips

First of all, the website says these don't come in 1oz bags, but mine was 1oz, so now I'm confused and worried I ate some super old chips. Regardless, salt and vinegar is really not my favorite flavor, but these were still good. They are certainly very crunchy (firm, kettlechip-y) and smell like vinegar. They have a decent blend of both salt and vinegar, and plenty of bite. If you're a salt and vinegar fan, go for these! In general, the company says all their chips are a peanut and nut-free line, which is great because a lot of kettle chips (Dirty, Utz) are made with peanut oil. That gets these guys a few extra points in my book.



Overall
Cost: 6/10
Taste: 6/10