CATEGORY

Plain Tortilla Chips

2009 CHEFSBEST® AWARD FOR BEST TASTE WINNER

Tostitos

What Makes a Great Plain Tortilla Chip?

Once only available as an appetizer in taquerias and Mexican restaurants, tortilla chips are now one of America's most popular snacks. Most synonymous with salsa, these salty little gems demonstrate their amazing versatility by making an excellent base for nachos or adding crunchy value to egg dishes at breakfast.

The best plain tortilla chips will often be golden in color and have a visible layer of salt on their surface. Their corn aroma is most appropriate when in the low-to-moderate range, while the oil aroma of a great plain tortilla chip should be no more than slight. Look for hints of grain and toastiness in the aroma profile as well.

Saltiness will be moderate to high in the best plain tortilla chips, and will far and away be the most evident basic taste. Sweetness will be very slight, and bitterness even less so.

Great plain tortilla chips rely on corn flavor intensity for their bang, with the other aroma notes carrying over into the chips' flavor profile as well. Freshness is crucial to these chips, in their flavor and aroma as much as their texture.

Of course, tortilla chips simply aren't tortilla chips without their trademark crispiness. The best plain tortilla chips are light and airy, instead of dense. A moderate amount of greasiness is acceptable for a top-quality chip.

We know what makes a great plain tortilla chip, but what makes a bad one?

Muted aromas and low corn flavor characterized the worst plain tortilla chips tasted by our panel of chefs. Certain brands demonstrated overly dominant saltiness, while others were simply on the hard and stale side. Too much grease was also an occasional factor.

Why is Tostitos the best plain tortilla chips?

Tostitos amazed our expert chefs with tortilla chips that belied their "plain" designation. The amount of salt on each chip was appropriate, while the intensity of corn flavor present was marvelously high. When tasted with salsa, Tostitos' nicely crispy chips complemented the salsa's flavor without becoming overpowered by it.

This judging was for plain tortilla chips, not including baked or flavored tortilla chips.

Other Leading Brands:

Mission, Santitas, Snyder's of Hanover