Tag: Pringles

Is Pringles having a moment?

Not only did it just release a new line of Wavy flavors – “Flavys” as the kids call them – but earlier this month a Texas woman was banned from Walmart for drinking wine out of a Pringles can.

Quite frankly, I think she was the more innovative one in this situation.

Wavy Pringles are, well they’re Pringles with Ridges. The Ruffle to your regular Lay’s chip. I don’t know if this development is moving the snack needle for you in the era of endless Oreo cookies, Sour Patch Kids cereal, and Lay’s Do Us a Flavor, but maybe the four “new” Pringles Wavy varieties will strike a chord.

Since there are four flavors, I’ll review them on an “Inability to stop once popping” scale. I’ll hit you with the worst to first. Meh to yeah! Least to BEAST! Boo to, get on with the damn review already dude!

Classic Salted

Have you ever had Original Pringles? Well, if you wanna try those with waves, now’s your chance. I think the ridges make these slightly worse than Original Pringles, as it makes them taste a bit stale – more stale really, Pringles always have a “these might be old” kinda texture. Still, these are fine. I guess.

Purchased Price: $1.44
Size: 4.5 oz. can
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 5 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 oz./12 crisps) 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, 0 grams of sugar, and 1 gram of protein.

Applewood Smoked Cheddar

These tasted almost exactly like those bags of TGI Fridays Potato Skins. The cheese flavor was identical to me, to the point I was tricking myself that there was an “Applewood Bacon” flavor too, despite there being no signs on that. These were the saltiest of the four, but still pretty poppable.

Purchased Price: $1.44
Size: 4.8 oz. can
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 oz./12 crisps) 150 calories, 9 grams of fat, 2.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 310 milligrams of sodium, 16 grams of carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of fiber, 0 grams of sugar, and 1 gram of protein.

Fire Roasted Jalapeno

After one chip I was ready to crown them the Wavy Kings. Before the heat kicked in, there is actually somehow a refreshing burst, like literally biting into a pepper you just ran under the tap.

The heat is a bit overwhelming, so once I popped it was pretty easy to stop. These are sinus clearers for sure. Not only that, transitioning from a super salty flavor to a hot flavor wreaked havoc on my tongue. All that said, these are very true to jalapenos.

p>Purchased Price: $1.44
Size: 4.8 oz. can
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 oz./12 crisps) 150 calories, 9 grams of fat, 2.5 grams of saturated 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.

And the winner for “Most Poppable Pringles Wavy Flavor” is:

Sweet and Tangy BBQ

I won’t lie, I pretty much knew these would win because I’ve loved BBQ Pringles since I was a kid. These are a well-done spin on the regular BBQ, almost smelling and tasting like they lean more towards that “Carolina” vinegary BBQ sauce.

They have a perfect level of kick to them, with a sweetness that masks the heat nicely. The tang sets them apart from what you are used to. These hit on all the best elements of the previous three flavors without the negatives.

p>Purchased Price: $1.44
Size: 4.8 oz. can
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 9 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 oz./12 crisps) 150 calories, 9 grams of fat, 2.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 170 milligrams of sodium, 16 grams of carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of fiber, 1 gram of sugar, and 1 gram of protein.

So, in the end, do you know what Pringles Wavy chips taste like?

Pringles.

These are kinda non-starters, but tasty. I’d say the BBQ and Jalapeno chips were the flavors that improved on the similar Pringles I’d had before.

To answer the question posed in the opening sentence, I don’t think Pringles are having a moment at all. They can use an exciting brand extension. Bad enough they’re usually buried by the Chex Mix in the supermarket. They need to get their name back out there in a better way than just adding ridges. Each of these flavors would have been as good if not better without the waves.

Maybe they’ll start selling Pringles Wine Glasses on Etsy.

Snack scalpers.

They’re the only way you’ll be able to get your hands on a Pringles Thanksgiving Dinner Set. Because it sold out in under an hour after it became available for purchase exclusively on the online Kellogg’s Store.

That’s crazy, right?

It’s crazy there’s a Kellogg’s online store. I had no idea. You can get a box of Frosted Flakes or Pop-Tarts with your photo on it, Eggo waffle socks, Tony the Tiger slippers, and so much more. I want to get a box of Frosted Flakes with a photo of me holding up a box of Frosted Flakes that also has a photo of me holding a box of Frosted Flakes.

Oh, you’re wondering why I’m not amazed by Thanksgiving-flavored Pringles and the fact that it sold out in less than an hour? Well, there have been Thanksgiving-flavored chips before, I reviewed one. And, as someone who tried to purchase Perfect Pepsi from Amazon on October 21, 2015, I have experienced first-hand what it’s like for something to sell out in a matter of minutes and then later see snack scalpers on eBay sell it for 10-20 times more than its retail price. So I expected the quick sellout.

But, is it worth spending (checks eBay) $50-$100 to get your hands on these cans?

Um, no.

But you can experience these chips vicariously through me, which is completely free. Okay, not entirely free. If you think time is money, then this review will take up 3-5 minutes of your time/money.

The Pringles Thanksgiving Dinner Set features three flavors — Turkey, Stuffing, and Pumpkin Pie. Sadly, no cranberry, corn on the cob, candied yams, mashed potato, or tears shed from another Thanksgiving dinner fight. But the three in the set taste like what I’d expect from the obligatory portions of a Thanksgiving dinner.

Turkey Pringles are savory and herbaceous with the flavor of the bird lurking in the back. While they’re tasty and remind me of turkey, a couple of other thoughts popped into my head. Why do I sometimes think of soup while chewing on them? And, they could also be mistaken for Stuffing Pringles.

The Stuffing one is a little herbaceous with a slight poultry-ness and tastes exactly like that popular stove top-prepared dish — Nissin Top Ramen Chicken. It’s as if Pringles took last year’s wonderful Nissin Top Ramen Chicken flavor, did absolutely nothing to it, and relabeled it “Stuffing.” To be honest, I have no problem with that because the ramen Pringles are one of my all-time favorites.

Finally, we come to Pumpkin Pie, which has already exists in the Pringles universe. It hits all the right pumpkin spice notes — cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, etc. The spices hide the fact they are delivered on a potato crisp, but the pumpkin spice facade quickly fades, leaving your taste buds to deal with the underlying potato flakes. The flavor is good, but it’s too fleeting.

Besides daring you to spend $15 (its retail price) for what equals to the same amount of Pringles you can get for $1-$2, Pringles also dares you to stack all three into THE ULTIMATE THANKSGIVING STACK. Is it gross? Since turkey and stuffing being in the same bite is common at Thanksgiving, and the Pumpkin Pie spices are fleeting, it’s not.

Overall, Pringles Thanksgiving Dinner has some Willy Wonka-like magic on them. If it ends up in stores next year, it’s worth a try.

So there, I saved you $50-$100. You’re welcome. Happy Thanksgiving!

DISCLOSURE: I received a free sample of the product. Doing so did not influence my review in any way. After seeing the prices it was going for on eBay, I thought about selling it, but Kellogg’s would’ve been upset with me if I did.

Purchased Price: Received from Kellogg’s
Size: 3 1.4 oz. cans
Purchased at: Was available on Kellogg’s online store
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 can) Turkey – 210 calories, 13 grams of fat, 3.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 250 milligrams of sodium, 22 grams of carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of fiber, less than 1 gram of sugar, and 2 grams of protein. Stuffing – 210 calories, 13 grams of fat, 3.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 260 milligrams of sodium, 23 grams of carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of fiber, less than 1 gram of sugar, and 2 grams of protein. Pumpkin Pie – 210 calories, 13 grams of fat, 3.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 130 milligrams of sodium, 23 grams of carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of fiber, 2 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.

What is it?

Pringles in seven layers – Refried Beans, Sour Cream, Salsa, Guacamole, Cheese, Black Olives, and Chives.

How is it?

These chips are poppable. In fact, these chips might very well be unstoppable!

Right from the jump, Pringles nails it. The smell of Mexican spice and tacos resonates from the tennis ball tube the second you pop the lid.

When it comes to chips that are supposed to mimic multiple flavors, I usually find that one is always more prominent than the other. Here, Pringles had to juggle seven, and I give them major props for doing it so admirably.

While I do think the cheese and an overall “taco-style spice” are most noticeable, I was able to convince myself I was tasting every layer.

With a little concentration, I got the guac, slightly spicy salsa, sour cream and onion, and even the black olive flavor. These do taste like your standard summer 7 Layer Dip. I literally had some the day before eating these chips, and I’m impressed.

Is there anything else I need to know?

I don’t have much to nitpick here, but I will say that I would really like to try this flavor dust on a Doritos-type of tortilla chip. They remind me of the classic Doritos Taco flavor except on a potato chip, which knocks them down a tad. That being said, I think this flavor is better suited for a Pringles potato “crisp” than a standard Lay’s potato “chip.”

Conclusion:

This is a solid Pringles flavor. I’d recommend it wholeheartedly, but feel I should at least mention the fact they’re slightly spicier than I expected. The salsa element here may be a step up from “mild,” so know that going in. The aftertaste will trick you into thinking you just had a delicious Mexican dinner.

Purchased Price: $2.50
Size: 5.5 oz. can
Purchased at: 7-Eleven
Rating: 8 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, 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.

To get an idea of what the Dollar General-exclusive Nashville Hot Chicken Pringles tastes like, you can look at the front of the can that features a sandwich with a sauced up piece of fried chicken topped with pickles. There are also cowboy hats involved, but I’m 100 percent sure there won’t be any cowboy hat flavor.

We can probably thank KFC for this, which rolled out its version of Nashville Hot Chicken two years ago and put the dish, which has been around for decades, into our culinary conscious.

While KFC’s Nashville Hot Chicken is spicy, greasy, pickle-y, and finger lickin’ good, these Nashville Hot Chicken Pringles are a little spicy with a mild pickle flavor, not greasy at all, and did cause some finger lickin’.

The pickle is the most striking, not because it’s the most pungent, but because it gives me flashbacks of Cheeseburger Pringles and all the other cheeseburger-flavored snacks I’ve had. I can’t get that out of my mind as I eat each crisp, which kind of messes with my head trying to wrap itself around the idea that these are Nashville Hot Chicken-flavored Pringles. The vinegar and onion powder don’t help either, as they also make it taste more like a burger.

The only ingredients that prevent me from thoroughly thinking these are Cheeseburger Pringles are the cayenne and paprika, which do well to represent the chicken dish’s spiciness. The mild heat doesn’t instantly hit me. It takes eating a few before it builds up to a simmer, which is as high as it goes.

There’s also a bit of bread flavor, but I don’t get any poultry or fried flavoring initially. I like what I taste, especially the tickle of pickle mixed with some spice, and it’s worth a try. But I don’t know if does authentic Nashville Hot Chicken justice. My only experience with the dish is what KFC offers, and these crisps don’t exactly taste like that.

With all that said, I wrote most of this review before I ate two-thirds of the can. Since passing that mark, I’ve noticed the crisps I’ve eaten since then have an almost negligible pickle flavor, a stronger hot sauce flavor, and a little chicken/meatiness comes though.

I don’t know if this is some production error or something, so your can may vary. But I enjoyed the crisps a lot less this way because I want to taste the pickle’s tang.

DISCLOSURE: I received a free sample from Pringles to review. Being given samples did not influence my review in any way.

(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, 240 milligrams of sodium, 16 grams of carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of fiber, less than 1 gram of sugar, and 1 gram of protein.)

Purchased Price: FREE
Size: 5.5 oz. can
Purchased at: Available at Dollar General
Rating: 7 out of 10
Pros: Decent tasting flavor. Nice combo of spicy and tangy. Not as messy as actual Nashville Hot Chicken.
Cons: Inconsistent seasoning with the can I received — 2/3 of the can have a strong pickle flavor, while the last 1/3 has barely any pickle flavor. Dollar General exclusive.

What is and is not truly American food is a great debate, but there are some things you just can’t argue.

One such United States staple is the Sloppy Joe, aka Toasted Deviled Sandwiches aka Chopped Meat Sandwiches aka A Loose Meat Sandwich aka my mom was feeling kinda lazy tonight. The Sloppy Joe is a staple of any good American household, marrying ground beef, onions, and classic condiments like ketchup into one sauteed pan of sloppy goodness that gets slop-plopped right on top of a hamburger bun.

On the cusp of celebrating America’s annual Independence Day, Pringles has taken its often experimental seasonal offerings to new patriotic heights with the Walgreens-exclusive Sloppy Joe-flavored crisps.

In short, they taste like meat and potatoes. The first flavor is the distinct taste of ground beef followed by tomato and then the usual Pringles potato. Sloppy Joe’s are like a burger with all of the fixins’ mixed in where the individual notes get a bit blurred, and these chips reflect that. They’re kind of meaty and herbaceous with hints of onion but never really jump out with anything special or memorable.

These remind me of Pringles’ Cheeseburger flavor without the acidic pickle pop. As I continue to eat them I keep anticipating that extra dill zing and it never comes, which disappointing. It actually tastes like it took that seasoning and removed all of the great McDonald’s-y kick. When I think of a Sloppy Joe, I think of a more pronounced sweetness. While the tomato sweetness is there, I’m missing the layer of brown sugar or vinegar I want.

Another key component that seems to be missing is Worcestershire sauce, which is fundamental to any great Sloppy Joe. The sweet and salty sauce made with anchovies brings a layer of depth that’s missing here. They aren’t sweet like BBQ or spicy like Jalapeno or complex like Salt and Vinegar, and ultimately aren’t that exciting for a brand that puts out some wild flavors.

While Pringles tend to deliver on the flavors it promises, like the magic in its Ketchup chips, or the oddly accurate Kickin’ Chicken Taco, the Sloppy Joe lacks the American spirit that makes the sandwich such a great and simple pleasure.

(Nutrition Facts – 15 crisps – 150 calories, 9 grams of fat, 2.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 220 milligrams of sodium, 16 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 0 grams of sugar, and 1 gram of protein.)

Purchased Price: $1.99
Size: 5.5 oz. can
Purchased at: Walgreens
Rating: 6 out of 10
Pros: It’s a Pringle so it’s stackable and crunchy and good but…
Cons: Not enough distinct Sloppy Joe flavor. Lack of depth, tastes like Cheeseburger Pringle without the pickle and fun.