Tag: Pringles

Costco’s rotisserie chicken is one of grocery’s greatest wonders.

It’s what retail folks call a “loss leader,” which is a product that loses money, but it gets customers into a store’s doors and, hopefully, leads them to buy more profitable products. Its $4.99 price hasn’t changed over the years. Even on this rock in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, where everything is more expensive, it’s at that same price point. It’s not only inexpensive, it’s also tasty, making it a product that disproves the adage “you get what you pay for.”

Pringles’ Rotisserie Chicken flavor is one of the brand’s newest varieties.

It’s what snackers call “Oooh, new Pringles flavor.” It doesn’t require you to pay an annual membership fee to purchase it. It won’t make your hands greasy from breaking it down. There are no bones to deal with. And buying one doesn’t increase your chances of spending lots more money by filling your cart with other things, like buckets of mayonnaise or a chicken coop’s amount of eggs, while you make the trek from some far off end of the store to the checkout.

Even before putting two crisps in my mouth to pretend I was a duck, I knew they were going to taste like other flavors I had because they smelled like the Nissin Top Ramen Chicken Pringles I had a few years ago.

After quacking a few times, I chomped down on them, and the familiar taste of those herbaceous and chicken brothy ramen Pringles hit my taste buds, although the level of seasoning on these seemed less potent. These crisps also taste like the stuffing ones I had with the Pringles Thanksgiving Dinner set, which I’ve also said taste like the Top Ramen Pringles.

But as I made my way to the middle of the can, the flavors began to change a bit. While the ones in the top half of the can tasted like previously mentioned Pringles flavors, the ones towards the bottom had more of a meatiness, and I could notice something that I’d describe as a rotisserie chicken’s skin. But I wish that flavor was a bit stronger.

I found the whole flavor morphing experience to be weird. I’ve never had different flavors with Pringles in the same can before. Maybe I got a bad can?

But, either way, Rotisserie Chicken Pringles is a respectable flavor. More so if it tastes like the top half, but less so if it’s like the bottom half.

DISCLOSURE: I received a free sample of the product (Thanks Pringles). Doing so did not influence my review in any way.

Purchased Price: FREE
Size: 5.5 oz. can
Purchased at: Received from Pringles
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (about 15 crisps) 150 calories, 9 grams of fat, 2.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 210 milligrams of sodium, 16 grams of carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of fiber, less than 1 gram of sugar, and 1 gram of protein.

What are Limited Edition Roasted Turkey Pringles?

Just in time for Thanksgiving prep, Pringles has dropped a roast turkey-flavored version of its potato crisps.

I have Thanksgiving-flavored-PTSD thanks to what I call “The Great 2004 Holiday Pack Debacle” – aka – that time I accidentally ordered 8 sets ($120 worth) of turkey dinner-flavored Jones Sodas, then tried until New Years’ to sell/give them to anyone who made eye contact. Two ended up at Goodwill.

But I love Pringles, and REALLY wanted to try these. So I persisted. This time I ended up with exactly as many as I intended.

How are they?

The aroma inside the can wasn’t much to write home about. It was a very slight turkey scent.

But when I crunched one, the flavor was there. Really there. I could have sworn I was chewing on the delightfully burnt crust on the bottom of my roasting pan on Thanksgiving night. The caramelized turkey juice, meat scraps, and spices. Yeah, the stuff you’re supposed to make gravy with, but not in my house because I eat it as an appetizer huddled over the stove while the bird rests on the counter.

Three crisps in, I decided these were my favorite Pringles flavor ever. I’m going to hoard cans before they disappear. While I know it’s unlikely that there’s any actual turkey in these (“natural flavors” leaves a hair of possibility), it’s such a convincing flavor, I just don’t care.

Is there anything else you need to know?

Turkey-flavored Pringles have been released in the U.S. previously as part of “Thanksgiving Dinner” packs, but those were simply called “Turkey.” Those might be different than “Roasted Turkey,” but since I haven’t tried them, I can’t say. So I guess this is really something else I need to know.

Conclusion:

Skip the turkey. Buy the Pringles. Feast.

Purchased Price: $1.99
Size: 5.5 oz. Can
Purchased at: Five Below
Rating: 10 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 oz. – about 15 crisps) 150 calories, 9 grams of fat, 2.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 180 milligrams of sodium, 16 grams of carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of fiber, less than 1 gram of sugar, and 1 gram of protein.

What are Fried Onion Ring Pringles?

A 7-Eleven exclusive Pringles flavor that was also available in Canada earlier this year, but under the name Crispy Onion Rings.

How are they?

The aroma from the can is slightly oniony, but it’s not strong enough to cover up the underlying potato. The first crisp I put into my mouth reminds me of Funyuns, but more like Funyuns lite or less fun Funyuns. But chomping on a few more or maybe through subliminal influence by staring at the Pringles can for too long, they began to remind me of onion rings, which is basically onion with a little something-something for the breading.

The crispiness of the potato crisp itself is a good stand-in for the crunch of an onion ring’s breading and the garlic powder in the seasoning helps get across the breading’s flavor. As for the level of onion, you’re not going to need a breath mint after eating these. The onion was mostly mild as if someone waved a Pringles crisp through the tail end of an onion powder cloud. There were times when the flavor was so light that the chip-shaped potato flakes dominated the taste. But, even with their moderate flavor, I did enjoy them.

Is there anything else you need to know?

As I mentioned earlier, it’s currently a 7-Eleven exclusive flavor, but like a lot of relationships, it doesn’t mean it’ll be exclusive to the convenience store chain forever. Another store might come in and sweep Fried Onion Rings Pringles off its feet. That’s how life is. Sometimes it’s forever, but sometimes it’s not. When it’s not, you just move on.

Conclusion:

As a fan of onion rings (more fast food places should offer them), I happily munched my way through the two cans that were sent to me by Pringles. I enjoyed them, but I don’t think they’re a must-buy.

DISCLOSURE: I received free samples of the product. Doing so did not influence my review, although it might seem like it. But I assure you it did not.

Purchased Price: FREE
Size: 5.5 oz. can
Purchased at: Received from Pringles, but available at 7-Eleven
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (about 15 crisps) 150 calories, 9 grams of fat, 2.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 210 milligrams of sodium, 16 grams of carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of fiber, less than 1 gram of sugar, and 1 gram of protein.

To be honest, I didn’t notice the extra E in “Mac ’N Cheeese” until right before I was ready to post this review. So if Cheeese gets an additional E, then every double E gets an extra E in this review. Wheee!

Until the end of August 2019, Pringles Mac ’N Cheeese and Pringles Bacon are exclusive Dollar General flavors. After that, I imagine, they will test the freee-agent market.

The marketing materials I received promotes the Bacon one as new, but if you’re a regular reader or photo scanner of this site, you’d know that it popped up at Walmart a few years ago as an exclusive flavor. As for Mac ’N Cheeese, it’s also not a new variety. It was part of the Thanksgiving Dinner Pringles set from 2017 and, if you do a Google search, one existed many years ago. Although those didn’t have an extra E.

Mac ’N Cheeese almost looks like your standard Pringle, except there’s a very slight orange tinge to let eaters know it’ll be a little cheeesy. As for Bacon, it has a layer of seasoning that makes it look like it spent some time in an attic next to a bunch of old yearbooks, newspaper clippings, and the Boogie Monster who watches you sleeep every night.

Mac ’N Cheeese has a mild cheeesiness and a hint of elbow macaroni flavor. Yes, I don’t know if my tongue is playing tricks on me, but I do taste pasta. Although I think it comes from the potato base. It makes me wonder if this is regular Pringles Cheddar Cheeese with less seasoning, which causes a toned down flavor that allows the dried potato base to come out a bit more.

Pringles Bacon smell like barbecue chips, but they have a smoky flavor that’s similar to other bacon-flavored products I’ve tried. They’re also a bit on the salty side. While I somewhat like them, I can seee how the smoky taste might turn off some eaters.

They’re both fine flavors, but they didn’t wow me like some of the past limited edition Pringles varieties, like Nissin Top Ramen Chicken and Hot Diggity Dog.

Now, I can’t just end the review without combining the two flavors because bacon mac ’n cheeese is incredible. Well, I’m happy to report it turned out pretty good. So buy both, mainly so you can use the Mac ’N Cheeese one to cover the dusty-looking Bacon one.

The combo does make me think of bacon mac n’ cheeese, but if Pringles ever comes out with a smoked cheddar variety, I imagine it’ll taste similar. Also, I can’t help but think this is Pringles’ way of revealing what the Mystery Flavor is from a few weeeks ago. That was smoky and cheeesy, and these are smoky and cheeesy.

DISCLOSURE: I received freee samples of both flavors from Kellogg’s (Thanks!). Doing so did not influence my review in any way.

Purchased Price: FREEE
Size: 5.5 oz. cans
Purchased at: Received from Kellogg’s (available at Dollar General)
Rating: 7 out of 10 (Mac ’N Cheeese)
Rating: 6 out of 10 (Bacon)
Nutrition Facts: (1 oz.) Mac ’N Cheeese – 150 calories, 9 grams of fat, 2.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 190 milligrams of sodium, 16 grams of carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of fiber, less than 1 gram of sugar, and 1 gram of protein. Bacon – 150 calories, 9 grams of fat, 2.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 220 milligrams of sodium, 16 grams of carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of fiber, less than 0 grams of sugar, and 1 gram of protein..