Immediate Aperitivo Companion: Top Supermarket Salty Crisps Ranked by Felicity Cloake

When it comes to what makes a superb salted crisp, crispiness is key. For our test, we opened all the crisp packets simultaneously just before conducting a blind taste test. Salt preference is subjective, yet it should be bold and enhance the flavor, not just season it. Ideally, the main taste should be of the potatoes themselves, not just serve as a backdrop. They need to be fried to a point where they snap rather than squish in your mouth, but be wary—overcooking can lead them to taste bitter. The oil used should also be subtly detectable and of high quality to avoid overpowering the potatoes. Lastly, truly great crisps will leave you wanting more after just one.

Top Rated Salted Crisps

Top Pick:
San Nicasio Himalayan Pink Salt Potato Chips

★★★★☆

These crisps sparked debate, with ratings as varied as one (from seven-year-old Rose representing younger taste buds) to five (from myself). Their noticeable yellow hue is due to being fried in extra-virgin olive oil, which is more pronounced in taste compared to the subtle Himalayan salt, possibly explaining the lower score from the younger judge. They elicit a strong reaction: “Hand me these with an aperitivo right now: crunch, salt, quality oil – YES.” However, due to their higher fat content, they are better savored slowly alongside a cold drink.

Best Value:
Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Lightly Sea Salted Hand-Cooked Crisps

★★★★☆

While some considered these crisps slightly under-salted, their “classic flavor” was a hit, with many excitedly noting they “actually taste of potato!” Despite being described as “middling” by Rose, their robust flavor and excellent crunch offer great value for money.

The Others

M&S Hand-Cooked Lightly Sea Salted Crisps

★★★☆☆

Rose thought these were overly crunchy, but another tester felt they’d be ideal for nursing a hangover. They were described as “adequate,” but lacking a standout potato flavor. These crisps are intensely crunchy with a high salt content, yet they don’t quite hit all the right notes.

Waitrose Sea Salt Hand-Cooked Crisps

★★★☆☆

“Decently good,” one tester remarked, before conceding: “Actually quite addictive.” Another labeled them “run-of-the-mill.” Thin and crispy, opinions varied from “lacking substance” to “lighter and better.” Rose found them “too peppery,” but I appreciated their saltiness and potato-like taste. I’d consider buying these again.

Co-op Irresistible Hand-Cooked Lightly Sea Salted Crisps

★★★☆☆

These crisps are made with the skin on, enhancing their potato flavor. A few slightly sweet, caramelized chips suggest the use of older potatoes, but generally, they offer a good crunch and balanced flavor that would suit various occasions, from casual gatherings to outdoor picnics. “Average,” according to Rob.

Kettle Lightly Salted Potato Chips

★★★☆☆

Interesting fact: I once made my own batch of crisps at the Kettle Chips factory in Norwich. While they boast about being hand-fried in small batches, these aren’t my favorite. They tend to feel greasy, and other testers found them bland and akin to cardboard, lacking the snap expected from a crisp. Several mentioned they could use more salt, but they are marketed as lightly salted, which is always a concern for me.

Tyrrell’s Lightly Sea Salted Crisps

★★☆☆☆

“Utterly average,” was the consensus on these. “Wouldn’t serve to guests,” one person commented. Rose found them “too sharp,” and others described them as bland. Many felt they seemed cheap and basic, which didn’t reflect their price. Overall, a letdown.

Morrisons The Best Hand-Cooked Skin-On Sea Salt Crisps

★★☆☆☆

These were often described as tasting as if they were left open from the night before. “A bit stale,” noted one tester, while another mentioned, “Wrong texture, too dense.” Although I usually prefer a thicker crisp, these were slightly too chewy, and I found them a bit overly salty, despite having less salt than some other brands tested. They might be better paired with a creamy dip to offset the intense flavor.

Aldi Specially Selected Lightly Salted Hand-Cooked Crisps

★★☆☆☆

“Too thick, like munching on greasy batter from the bottom of a chip bag, and not in a good way,” one tester remarked. While I’m partial to a thicker crisp, I have to agree—these were somewhat tough and not particularly crisp, with a noticeably oily taste, as Rose pointed out.

Walkers Ready Salted Crisps

★★☆☆☆

Rose, who revealed these are the only crisps she’s familiar with, identified them immediately due to their lighter color and uniform appearance. However, even she wasn’t too impressed, noting they weren’t crunchy enough. Another tester described them as so light they could almost be considered a health snack. Claire’s final critique was harsh: “A lackluster pub crisp. Passable with a cold beer, but otherwise uninspiring.”