Best and Worst Ketchup Potato Chips

I’m old enough to remember that the ‘70s were a freaky decade for potato chip flavours, specifically orange and grape. (They didn’t last long.) Another freaky flavour introduced during that time? Ketchup. All these years later, ketchup-flavoured chips are now considered a Canadian national dish, alongside butter tarts and Caesars.

Personally, I have mixed feelings about ketchup chips. On the one hand, they’re chips. On the other, I’ve never been crazy about the flavour. They don’t taste like ketchup, they leave red residue on your fingers, and they make my tongue wrinkly. But have I judged ketchup chips too harshly?

I invited my friend, and fellow chip enthusiast, Scott to help me taste 12 different brands of ketchup chips, ranging from No Name to organic. Scott judged last year’s Best and Worst Potato Chip taste test so he’s an expert. We didn’t know the brands we were tasting and evaluated each on chip quality and flavour. And yes, I photographed each chip on an easel made from popsicle sticks. Because all chips are works of art. Please hold the negative comments about my skills. I’m not a carpenter by trade.

Which brand sauced to the top, and which brand couldn’t “ketchup” to the competition? Read on to find out!

1. Great Value $1.57

In addition to this Wal-Mart brand, I also picked up four other bags of ketchup chips during my visit. I’ve never received such a concerned look from a Wal-Mart cashier before. Would Scott and I think these chips were great?

Tasting Notes: “This chip looks like a tongue,” Scott said before popping it in. “A delicate chip, paper thin, with quite a bit of flavour. It’s satisfying and I don’t need a cigarette afterwards.” I observed a scant dusting of seasoning and little ketchup smell. I also found my chip delicate, but I have a rule that I should always be the most delicate thing in the room. Ultimately, the flavour was too subtle.

Verdict: Cheap with no taste. (Wait, are we talking chips or me?)

2. No Name, $1.49

I was holding out small hope that two icons might come together for a truly Canadian experience. Nothing defines Canada more than ketchup chips and the No Name brand.

Tasting notes: “This chip is heart-shaped,” Scott said. “I like the tang. I’d go back for more and would’ve eaten this chip a lot faster.” I thought my chip had a nice presentation with a decent sprinkling of seasoning. It had a surprisingly authentic ketchup flavour and did not disappoint.

Verdict: No shame in the no name.

3. Munchies, $3.00

Anyone of a certain generation remembers the Hostess Munchies, a trio of furry little creatures who looked like the Muppets on steroids. I’m happy to see the Munchies making a comeback. But would these chips pass the test of time?

Tasting notes: “Oh my, he’s thick,” Scott said, reviewing his chip. “I like the sturdiness, but it falls short on taste.” I noted skimpy seasoning on my chip and got little flavour. If you hadn’t told me this was a ketchup chip, I wouldn’t have known otherwise. The Munchies failed me.

Verdict: The hostess without the mostess.

4. Covered Bridge, $4.49

A Canadian brand hailing from Hartland, Nova Scotia, a place with the longest covered bridge in the world. (Hence the name.) Would this bridge usher us over ketchup river? (And yes, I realize that makes no sense.)

Tasting notes: Scott’s sample was one small chip stuck to another. “It’s hard, not crisp,” he said. “Is that because they’re having intercourse? I taste lime. This chip is too hard, which is something I don’t often complain about.” I thought my chip had a nice heft, but I didn’t know what this chip was trying to be in terms of flavour. It had very little of it and left an earthy aftertaste in my mouth.

Verdict: Covered Bridge is falling down.

5. PC Loads of Ketchup, $2.00

One of two ripple varieties in our taste test. Based on the avalanche of seasoning, I suspected President’s Choice was going after the extreme teen audience. Would a couple of middle-aged homosexuals be able to handle the loads?

Tasting notes: “This chip is quite red,” Scott said. “The colour of love. It’s the perfect shape and has a nice bouquet.” After biting in, he murmured, “I need a moment with this one. Good thickness and good flavour.” My chip was heavily seasoned on one side and naked on the other but that balanced things out. It had a discernable tangy flavour. This was a good, robust chip.

Verdict: Loads of love.

6. Longo’s, $2.99

Longo’s is an Italian grocery store and no doubt they have conflicted feelings about tomatoes being used in anything other than sauce.

Tasting notes: “This smells like a plain potato chip, which is not boding well,” Scott said. “It’s very fragile, too. Like if you put your hand in the bag, you’d break most of the chips. Overall, a plain Jane.” I felt differently and thought Longo’s had authentic ketchup flavour and a nice ratio of seasoning to chip. It was the most balance I’ve had in my life in a long time.

Verdict: We’re not short-o on opinions.

7. Old Dutch, $3.46

Another staple Canadian brand, Old Dutch started 70 years ago in Winnipeg, Manitoba. I’ve never seen a windmill in Winnipeg, though. Would this brand have us clicking our wooden clogs?

Tasting notes: Scott thought his chip’s shape would make for a nice lounge chair. “It’s sweet with good ketchup flavour,” he said. “That was a good chip.” I thought my chip had a nice aroma. But it was a let-down in terms of taste. I couldn’t move past the weird flavour which had hints of cinnamon, paprika and cumin. This chip didn’t set my windmill in motion.

Verdict: Divided Dutch.

8. Humble, $4.99

The only organic brand we tried, these chips stood out because of their purple bag. While I appreciated the attempt to distinguish themselves in a crowded chip market, I was reminded of grape chips. Which was triggering.

Tasting notes: Scott noted a couple of burnt spots. “This chip is thin like tissue paper. And the same flavour as tissue paper. Not that I’ve tasted tissue paper. It’s giving me a mild burnt taste. I need a new chip.” I was disappointed by the sparse ketchup dusting on my chip. There was a subtle nutmeg flavour that I didn’t care for, and a bit of a cardboard aftertaste. It was neither thin enough nor thick enough to satisfy me.

Verdict: Organic, not orgasmic

9. Miss Vickie’s Sweet & Spicy, $4.98

This was the only brand that offered their ketchup chip with a kick. I appreciate Miss Vickie trying to keep things spicy (she’s always been a party gal) but I was cautious about her muddling with a classic. How would these chips rank?

Tasting notes: “This is definitely Miss Vickie’s,” Scott said when he eyed his chip. “The texture is good and hard enough that it pleases my mouth. It’s a chip with benefits. I’m not really getting ketchup, more of a tang, but I like it.” I thought the flavour popped and I got the spiciness right away. It left a lingering heat on my tongue, something I haven’t experienced since 1993. But I didn’t get enough ketchup.

Verdict: Not a hit, not a miss.

10. Frank, $2.99

While I associate Canadian Tire with a lot of things (plungers, Debbie Travis and crammed aisles), I don’t think of them for potato chips. Scott was skeptical when he saw the bag, as well. And who is Frank, anyway? The old guy who used to be on Canadian Tire money?

Tasting notes: “I’m mildly aroused by the waves,” Scott said. “And there’s lots of red coming off on my fingertips. I really like this one. It has good flavour and the first one that has noticeably left seasoning on my hands.” I thought the ridges were like little trenches for the ketchup flavour. But ultimately, the seasoning overpowered the chip. Frank was like the drama queen of chips, a demanding friend who doesn’t know when to shut up. In short, Frank left me orally exhausted.

Verdict: Quite frankly, we didn’t agree.

11. Farm Boy, $3.99

I thought I’d give Farm Boy a shot, even though their house brands have never fared well in my taste tests. But you never know what surprises may be in store.

Tasting notes: “I’ve been spoiled by the waves,” Scott said. “I need a girthier chip. That said, it’s nice and crisp, almost like a wonton. But this chip is falling behind in flavour.” I could see the oil in my chip and thought it had a French fry taste. Not that this was necessarily a bad thing. But I tasted more vinegar than ketchup. I gave it points for texture, not so much for taste.

Verdict: More boy than man.

12. Lay’s, $2.97

Lay’s is likely the most famous brand of chips in Canada (and my winner in our potato chip taste test). Would lightning strike twice?

Tasting notes: “These have a familiar ketchup taste,” Scott said. “A good crispiness, too. I could eat a whole bag of these, but not in one sitting.” I thought the colour was nice, a deep red sprinkling that evenly coated the chip. But I felt there was too much seasoning on a chip that thin.

Verdict: A pretty good lay.

And the winner (and loser) is...

Scott and I both felt Humble had nothing to brag about (other than being organic). That said, my vote for worst goes to Munchies on principle. If you're going resurrect a brand from my childhood, you better do it justice. And Munchies were a spud dud. In terms of best, Scott was romanced by the ripples. His top two were PC Loads of Ketchup and Frank. He ultimately lost his heart to Frank. Last I heard, they were spending a romantic Saturday night together. My top two were PC Loads of Ketchup and No Name with the ultimate victory going to No Name! This is the second time No Name has won a taste test. (It won Best Salsa.) And yes, I’m just as shocked as you.

To celebrate this chip marathon, I made a ketchup cake. Heinz introduced the recipe a few years back, no doubt trying to compete with the glory that is Tomato Soup Cake. Ketchup cake is basically a spice cake with a cream cheese frosting. I featured it a few years back on my food blog, Caker Cooking, and tasters found it delicious. Disturbing, but delicious. Not unlike ketchup chips. I topped mine with - what else? - crumbled ketchup chips, adding a touch of crunchy and salty sophistication. Get the recipe here.

Thank you, Scott, for joining me on this ketchup chip journey. You’re a true tater trouper. Check out Scott’s horror-obsessed alter ego, Scarlett O’Scara, at rabbitinred.com as well as via his Instagram account.

And thank you for reading, dear reader! If you have a favourite ketchup chip, leave a comment and let us know!