The Various Flavors That Make Kettle Chips So Crave-Worthy
There's just something irresistible about the crispy crunch of kettle-style chips. Originally cooked in copper kettles with simple ingredients of potatoes, oil, and salt, kettle chips emerged as a thicker, heartier alternative to thin, mass produced varieties.
Today, kettle chips retain their signature texture but come loaded with bolder, more indulgent flavors. By experimenting with ingredients like smoked paprika, caramelized onion, blue cheese, and jalapeos, kettle chip brands keep fans coming back for more of that craveable crunch.
The Rise of Gourmet Kettle Chips
In the 1970s, Portland-based restaurant owner Frank Shorter wanted to create delicious potato chips from scratch using quality ingredients. After much trial and error, he developed a kettle cooking technique that naturally infused more flavor while achieving crispy potato perfection.
Word of mouth demand led Shorter to found Kettle Foods and bring his chips to market in flavored varieties like Sea Salt and Vinegar alongside the iconic Sea Salt. Their rugged potato slices cooked in small batches offered greater texture and taste than processed store brands.
As large snack companies took note, more kettle chips in bolder flavors flooded grocery shelves and convenience stores. Their rise in popularity coincided with consumers seeking out artisanal, foodie-approved snack options beyond boring basics.
What Makes Kettle Chips So Flavorful
Three key elements of traditional kettle chips imbue them with craveable taste superior to regular potato chips:
1. Slice Thickness
Wider, irregular potato cuts contribute more surface area for seasonings to cling to and get trapped in crevices. This allows maximum coating and flavor infusion into the natural potato taste.
2. Small Batch Cooks
Chips fried in individual small kettles, true to the original method, crisp uniquely with greater moisture retention and flavor incorporation from oils and seasonings.
3. Coating Process
Tumbling finished kettle chips to evenly distribute seasonings ensures spices get into every last nook and cranny. The rough potato edges especially grab seasonings in a way smooth, thin chips cant replicate.
But the literal ingredients that flavor kettle chips deserve some spotlight too!
Finding Your Flavor: Best Seasonings for Kettle Chips
Countless tastes define todays kettle chip landscape. What unites them all is using bold ingredients to complement and elevate the natural potato flavor kettle frying perfects.
Smoked
Mesquite smoke adds an irresistible savory essence impossible to stop eating. Applewood or hickory wood smoke lend subtle smokiness too. Brands like Kettle, Boulder Canyon, Cape Cod, and Dirty encapsulate smoked goodness.
Spicy
If you like heat, kettle chip brands happily bring the fire with flavors incorporating chili peppers, hot sauce, horseradish, and pepper blends.
Jalapeo raises the bar with crisp green pepper flavor. Habanero and ghost pepper chips promise even more scorch. Carolina BBQ mixes sweet and spicy notes.
Cheesy
Nacho cheese flavor draws its natural creaminess by using powdered cheddar, Monterey Jack, or similar cheese flavors. Fritos takes cheesy chips up a level with their Chili Cheese variety balancing spice and cheesy richness.
Meanwhile Zapp's Voodoo Gumbo chips incorporate actual blue cheese crumbles for an extra savory flavor and crunchy texture contrast.
Seafood
Brands like Dirty, Route 11, and Voodoo place kettle chips in an entirely new flavor zone by experimenting with unexpected ingredients like Crab Boil seasoning or Lobster Bisque.
Surprisingly, the briny spices pairs wonderfully with the starchy crunch of sea salt and vinegar crisped potatoes.
Sweet
While largely known for salty and spicy tastes, some kettle chip flavors satisfy sweet cravings by harnessing maple, honey, brown sugar, and fruit flavors.
Sweet Potato chips offer an earthy twist. Cape Cod mixes cinnamon and sugar or strawberry cream flavors for a dessert vibe. Utz even makes a chocolate covered variety.
Most Popular Gourmet Kettle Chip Brands and Flavors
With so many dynamic flavor options now available, which potato chip brands and tastes rise to the top as favorites?
1. Kettle Brand
You cant discuss kettle chips without recognizing the OG. This brand remains a leader using high oleic expeller-pressed sunflower oil and quality sea salt. Top flavors: Sea Salt & Vinegar, Honey Dijon, Salt and Fresh Ground Pepper.
2. Cape Cod
Famous for kettle cooking their chips in 100% canola oil, Cape Cod pushes the envelope on flavors like Bacon Ranch, Buffalo Cheddar and Chefs Veggie Medley. They understandbalance of taste better than most.
3. Utz
Another early player in thicker cut, kettle-style chips, Utz sets themselves apart thanks to regional flavors inspired by Pennsylvania Dutch country cooking like Apple Cinnamon and Sweet Corn.
4. Boulder Canyon
Avocado oil brings out rich flavors in Boulder Canyons chips suited for discerning palates. Malt Vinegar and Sea Salt use aged vinegar and moist salt blends. Fans rave over their Amarillo Salsa Fresca flavor too.
5. Route 11
This award winning brand focuses intensely on using local ingredients from farm partners near their Virginia chip factory. The super fresh potatoes make crisp kettle chips ideal for experimental seasonings like Crab Chips and Sweet Maui Onion.
With so many crave-worthy flavors now crowding grocery shelves, kettle chip fans cant get enough of the hearty potato crunch goodness!
Tips for Choosing Healthier Kettle Chips
When ingredient quality declines, those addictively delicious kettle chip flavors lose their appeal real quick. Health-conscious snackers should evaluate a few key factors when selecting optimal crunchy options:
Minimal Ingredients
The most decadent sounding chip flavors often hide chemical flavorings, MSG, corn syrup, and other unwanted additions behind hype. Choose simple recipes made from real foods you recognize for better nutrition.
High Oleic Oils
Traditional chips get fried in cheap GMO oils vulnerable to oxidation and inflammation. Seek out high oleic sunflower or avocado oil for higher smoke points during kettle frying and more stable shelf life.
Sprouted Grain or Legume Chips
For a gluten free twist packed with more protein and fiber than potatoes, try bean or quinoa kettle chips made from sprouted grains or legumes. Brands like Beanitos, Kelloggs, and Food Should Taste Good offer tasty options.
Tap into Your Inner Chef Making Homemade Kettle Chips
Your favorite artisanal potato chip flavors easily come to life right from your own kitchen with a little time.
Kettle Cook Method
Cut thick potato wedges 18-14 inches thick so they hold up to frying. Rinse then dry chips completely. Heat 2-3 inches peanut, avocado, or coconut oil to 350F in a wide pot. Fry small batches for 1-2 minutes until tender but with slight crisp. Allow oils to return to temperature between batches.
Seasoning Ideas
After draining and cooling, sprinkle kettle chips immediately with desired herbs, spices, cheese powders, etc. while still hot for maximized flavor infusion into the natural oil and potato essence. Get creative with mixes like:
- Smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder
- Nutritional yeast, sesame seeds, chili flakes
- Ranch dressing mix, lemon pepper
- Onion soup mix, dry ranch mix
- Lime juice powder, cumin, cayenne
- Grated Parmesan, Italian herb blend
Store-bought mixes offer convenience or make your own magic! Either way, youll never see plain kettle chips the same way.
FAQs
What makes kettle chips different than regular potato chips?
Kettle chips are thicker cut, fried in small batches, and heavily seasoned to create extra crispy potato chips packed with flavor.
Are kettle cooked chips healthier?
They can be if made with simple, real food ingredients and high oleic oils that withstand heat better. But some extra flavored varieties add preservatives.
What oil is best for frying homemade kettle chips?
Peanut oil and high oleic oils like avocado, sunflower, or grapeseed work well for frying with high smoke points. Coconut oil lends subtle sweetness.
Can you make kettle chips without frying?
Baking gives a similar crunch but lacks the flavor infusion and moisture from frying. Air frying thick potato slices closer mimics the fried effect for a reduced fat option.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.
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