REVIEW: Fritos Flavor Twists Spicy Dill Pickle

/ / Reviews / Leave a Comment

Happy Belated 250th Birthday, America!

Fritos, and particularly Fritos Twists, are the forgotten children compared to their star siblings Doritos, Lays, and Cheetos. But Fritos made the cut for the Frito-Lay Red, White, and Blue Bundle, celebrating America’s 250th birthday, alongside Ultimate Garlic Parm Doritos and Buffalo Wings Ruffles. Each bag sports a small “Celebrating 250 Years of America” badge on the top right corner.

And as a pickle enthusiast, I am HERE for this limited time flavor: Spicy Dill Pickle Frito Twists.

Twists!

Opening the bag, it smells like the familiar corn base of Fritos but with the unmistakable tang of pickle. Each twist is well seasoned, which also means it leaves a lot of seasoning on my fingers, but maybe that’s just because I’m not eating them so much as inhaling them.

Flavor-wise, pickle hits first. It’s prominent and immediate, then you get some heat, then the corn base rounds it out. The heat is a mild jalapeño kick, not a Flamin’ Hot situation, but respectable enough that my nose is running a little by the end of the bag.

Twists coming out of the bag that smells like pickles and corn.

Texture-wise, as per usual on these, I find the twists crunchier and thinner than your typical Frito chip, and the spiral shape isn’t just for looks; it seems built to trap all the good seasoning at every turn. I seriously couldn’t stop eating them!

As pickle foodstuffs are always in my rotation – most recently pickle popcorn, pickle pizza, pickle poutine – and what sets these apart is the heat. Most pickle snacks stop at tang. This one adds a nice kick, and it’s a welcome one.

Happy 250th Birthday, America! Frito-Lay did you good. I am indeed celebrating with a spicy dill-icious crunch!

Purchased Price: $3.97
Size: 9.25 oz bag
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 9 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (23 pieces or 28g) – 160 calories, 9 grams of fat, 1 gram of saturated fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 140 milligrams of sodium, 17 grams of carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Miller Lite Beer Cheese Burger and Beer-Battered Onion Rings Pringles

/ / Reviews / 2 Comments

Tall boys

There’s nothing better after a long week than kicking off my boots and cracking open a can of… Pringles potato crisps. Maybe even two, I ain’t drivin’.

I’m a big Pringles guy. Not THE Pringles guy – that’s Julius Pringle, everyone’s favorite mustachioed egg – but I do love me some Pringles. I’m also a beer guy, so when I heard Pringles and Miller Lite were reteaming for some new flavors, I knew I had to pop.

Coming off the collaborative launch of Beer-Braised Steak, Beer Can Chicken, and Grilled Beer Brat last summer, the two iconic brands are back with Beer Cheese Burger and Beer-Battered Onion Rings.

A single Pringle.

I won’t lie. I don’t remember loving the drop last year. They were some of the few Pringles that didn’t do it for me. With that said, this year’s flavors seemed much more intriguing.

So, did Julius Pringle turn these Miller Lites into Killer Bites?

No, he’s a fictional disembodied head. He didn’t do anything. Pringles and Miller did, however, make some decent crisps.

I’ll start with the weirder, less successful of the two – Beer Cheese Burger.

Beer Cheese Burger Pringles

They smelled like a McDonald’s cheeseburger, but ended up tasting a lot worse than even that. It was like a “fake” hamburger on a stale bun. I kept thinking of when Lunchables tried to add burgers to its line of “edible” snack boxes. It’s just an odd beefy flavor with a little ketchup and the “breadiness” that I assume comes from the pilsner of it all. The cheese doesn’t really pop like I assumed it would, but it still has a “lite” essence of standard Cheddar Pringles. I honestly didn’t even like them, yet I popped, and I couldn’t stop. They got me. I found them addictive. It was a very similar experience to actual Miller Lites. “A fine Pilsner.”

Pretty mid, but “what do you expect from a beer that tastes like water?!” – the most obnoxious guy at the BBQ.

Now, as for the Beer-Battered Onion Rings? These were good, almost great.

Beer-Battered Onion Rings Pringles.

They smelled awesome, like authentically fried onion rings.

They somehow managed to capture the fried taste as well, which I found impressive. They really evoke crispy onion ring batter. I swear the crisps themselves even seemed lighter and crispier, but they’re absolute onion bombs. There is a ton of onion powder happening here. It may be overwhelming to some. Luckily, I wasn’t smooching on anyone after eating these, or at any point really. *stares longingly into the distance.*

Oh, what the hell, even the obnoxious guy is smooching on someone!

The beer isn’t as prominent here. They have that lingering stale breadiness, so that’s where the Miller peaks through. It’s a really nice, unique taste – not quite sour cream and onion, not quite onion and garlic, not quite Funyuns. They’re their own flavor.

I also picked up the Beer-Braised Steak flavor, and they’re just as mid as I remember. They’re the most bitter of the three and have a “bloody meat” taste. Skip ‘em.

Despite varying levels of success, these three made for a fun flight of beer Pringles. I ate too many and got a little Chipfaced… pardon me for being uncouth, Crispfaced.

They all stay with ya. Definitely not the most pleasant of aftertastes. They actually made me want a beer, but I’ve been trying to cut back. It’s gonna be a while before I have an I.P.A. (India Pale Ale) and I.P.A. (Ingest Pringles Again).

Purchased Price: $2.27 each
Size: 5.5 oz cans
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 7 out of 10 (Beer-Battered Onion Ring), 5 out of 10 (Beer Cheese Burger)
Nutrition Facts: (14 crisps) 150 calories, 9 grams of fat, 2.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 230 milligrams of sodium (Burger has 220), 17 grams of total carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of total sugars, less than 1 gram of fiber, and 1 gram of protein.

REVIEW: Nabisco Crispers (US)

/ / Reviews / 4 Comments

Nabisco Crispers pouches

If Tim Hortons and All Dressed chips are any indication, our neighbors to the north have great taste in snacks. When I learned that Nabisco Crispers, a fan-favorite Canadian snack, was headed to the States, I was eager to try all flavors featured in the rollout: Ranch, Dill Pickle, and BBQ.

Crispers’ Canadian origin is only part of its heritage. Baked and not fried, Crispers uses the tagline: “Not a chip. Not a cracker. They’re Crispers.” A hybrid snack, Crispers are made with a combination of wheat flour and potato flour. Thus, to the uninitiated, much of the fun of trying Crispers is playing Maury Povich, tracing which two familiar snacks reproduced to create this new light and crispy snack cracker.

Nabisco Crispers comes in 3 flavors: BBQ, Dill Pickle, and Ranch

My vote? Wheat Thins and Pringles. Crispers are thin, wavy crackers with a subtle wheat flavor. They are hearty enough to provide a nice crunch but light enough to snap easily, making the serving size very easy to devour. We’ll await the test results on the product’s tasty parentage, then go on to the next judgement: which flavor is best?

Nabisco Crispers Ranch

It may boil down to your personal preference, because each flavor is enjoyable but not aggressive enough to dominate your palate long after your last bite. The Ranch one has a light herby flavor with a hint of garlic powder and creamy buttermilk quality. Of the three varieties, Ranch tastes the mildest, but showcases the wheat flavor of the base the most.

Nabisco Crispers Dill Pickle

The Dill Pickle variety is my favorite of the three. Its flavor is the boldest, balancing refreshing dill flavor with a sharp, tangy brininess. Each crisp in the bag packs a pickle-y punch.

Nabisco Crispers BBQ

The BBQ flavor is typical of what you’d find on a barbeque potato chip: sweet, savory, and smoky. In my taste test, it was the least consistently seasoned. Some crisps are only dusted, while others are coated generously. The more seasoned crisps promise an additional surprise: a little kick of heat in the back of the throat.

Nabisco Crispers graphics

If you keep baked snacks in your pantry, make some extra room for Nabisco Crispers. Fans of Baked Lay’s or Goldfish crackers will love the light, non-greasy texture and variety of flavors. I hope the line expands to include some of the more unique flavors offered in Canada (like Gochujang or Szechuan), but until then, who is up for a trip across the border?

Purchased Price: $2.64 each
Purchased at: Walmart
Size: 5.11 oz (145 g)
Rating: 8 out of 10 (Ranch), 9 out of 10 (Dill Pickle), 8 out of 10 (BBQ)
Nutrition Facts: Ranch (per 22 pieces) – 140 calories, 6 grams of fat, 2 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 210 milligrams of sodium, 20 grams of carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of fiber, 1 gram of sugar, and 2 grams of protein. Dill Pickle (per 23 pieces) – 150 calories, 7 grams of fat, 2 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 230 milligrams of sodium, 21 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 1 gram of sugar, and 2 grams of protein. BBQ (per 23 pieces) – 150 calories, 7 grams of fat, 2 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 220 milligrams of sodium, 21 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 2 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Doritos Protein Nachos Cheese Tortilla Chips

/ / Reviews / 4 Comments

Doritos Protein Nachos Cheese Tortilla Chips bag

I really wanted to rant about the meaty-oric rise of protein snacks.

I wanted this review to drip with sarcasm and cynicism about brands slapping a measly gram or two of protein into their recipes and deceptively marketing their junk as some kind of quasi-health food.

I wanted to get on my soapbox and give a FED Talk about how we’re all being bamboozled into believing that a little protein turns everything into a “fitness hack,” but then I realized, it would be I who is the hack.

I’m not anti-tein, I’m pro-tein!

(Please remind me to never say that out loud.)

Doritos Protein Nachos Cheese Tortilla Chips back of bag

I feel like we’re close to reaching a tipping point. Maybe it’s just me, but my algorithm has been taken over by influencers screaming at me to add more protein to my diet. Big Protein is locked in on me. It’s stressing me out… and when I’m stressed, I gorge on snacks… snacks like new Doritos Protein!

Who’s ready to get yoked on nacho cheese dust?!

Protein chips aren’t an untapped market, but they’re still fairly new. I like Quest Tortilla Chips, but of the maybe ten flavors I’ve tried, I’d probably only recommend about three.

It shouldn’t shock you to learn that Doritos probably just released the best tasting protein chip. However, if you’re expecting a classic Dorito, I’d temper my excitement a bit.

A serving is ten chips and ten grams of protein, which really isn’t terrible. It’s not Quest-level, but it’s more than a lot of cash grab “PROTEIN” boasting snack releases from legacy brands.

Doritos Protein Nachos Cheese Tortilla Chips in bowl

They’re made with casein protein, which is derived from milk. I know what you’re thinking, “No whey!?” Way, it’s casein. Not a bad protein source.

You’re getting eight more grams of protein and nine fewer carbs per serving of these versus regular Doritos. That’s good! If you’re expecting gainz, you’ll get ‘em, but only in the bad way you’d get said gainz with regular Doritos, because everything else is basically the same.

As for the taste, they’re like a solid knockoff of Doritos. The nacho flavor – which they should have called “Macho Cheese,” IMHO (in my hacky opinion) – is close, but you’ll still think you’re eating cheaper alternatives. Something is off, and it’s likely due to the texture.

Doritos Protein Nachos Cheese Tortilla Chips texture.

These are thicker, crunchier, and drier than the regular tortilla chip. They’re like stale, double-fried “restaurant style” Doritos, with a nacho flavor that seems a little spicier because of how dry they make your mouth.

The protein chip textural experience is never a pleasant one. They mash down into a long-lasting, gritty protein paste that turns into cement in your teeth, and I absolutely hate that.

All in all, I guess these are a mild success? We all wanna think we’re living healthier, right? Like me today, I did Bis and Tris! I went to the gym, struggled through a few sets of biceps, and then ate about forty Doritos triangles.

Ya know what, I don’t even know if I recommend these. I didn’t feel particularly satiated. They look like Doritos, smell like Doritos, but in the end, I just yearned for real Doritos. Maybe stick with a small bag of the NKD Doritos and add an extra half scoop of powder to your protein shake.

Purchased Price: $4.47
Size: 7 oz.
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 5 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (10 chips) 150 calories, 8 grams of fat, 1.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 150 milligrams of sodium, 8 grams of total carbohydrates, 0 grams of total sugars, 1 gram of dietary fiber, 10 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Khloud Nacho Protein Chips

/ / Reviews / 4 Comments

Khloud Nacho Protein Chips bag

For a millisecond, Khloud Nacho Protein Chips have a crispy texture like a fresh, thin tortilla chip you’d get at a Mexican restaurant. But after that fraction of a second passes, it’s nothing but disappointment from then on.

Before I even get to the flavor, let’s talk about the texture. The way these dissolve in my mouth is, um, how can I put this nicely? Unsettling? They look like normal triangular tortilla chips, so you’d expect them to have the same texture as normal triangular tortilla chips.

Khloud Nacho Protein Chips in the bag

But that common triangle shape hid the fact that they break down easily and crumble in your mouth the way you’d expect a tortilla chip to break down in your stomach. It’s a weird feeling, and one that I don’t like experiencing. And while there is a sound and sensation when biting into these chips, I’m not sure I’d call it a crunch. It’s more like an unch.

Khloud Nacho Protein Chips seasoning

Equally bad was the cheesiness, or lack thereof. If they were super cheesy, it might’ve made up a little for the unsettling texture. But they’re nowhere near Doritos-level cheesy. If Chester Cheetah were to eat these, he’d be like, “It ain’t easy being a snack brand, now is it, Khloe?” There was a light nacho cheesiness, but it quickly got warped by the underlying tortilla chip base made from corn and pea protein that tastes like it has more pea protein than corn. And, of course, the crumbly texture doesn’t help at all.

Not even the seven grams of protein per serving is enough to make this worth buying. If you really want a crunchy protein snack from a Kardashian, you’d help your mouth out by going with Khloud Popcorn instead. These need to go back to the drawing board, which probably has the same texture as these chips. Maybe a little less focus on the protein and a little more focus on the pleasures of chip eating should’ve happened.

Now I can’t compare these with other protein chips since I haven’t tried any. But my experience with these makes me wonder if all protein chips are this bad. So if you’re passing by these Khloud Nacho Protein Chips at the store, and you’re curious about them, just remember, “Curiosity killed the khat.”

Purchased Price: $6.99
Size: 5 oz bag
Purchased at: Target
Rating: 3 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (about 13 chips – 30 g) 170 calories, 11 grams of fat, 1.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 grams of cholesterol, 250 milligrams of sodium, 9 grams of total carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of dietary fiber, 1 gram of total sugars, and 7 grams of protein.

Scroll to Top