Latest news with #potatochips
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
The Great British sauce debate is FINALLY settled: Scientists reveal the ultimate condiment to put on chips - and it's bad news for gravy fans
There's no doubt the humble potato chip is an icon of the great British cookbook. From the fanciest bistro to the lowliest greasy spoon, where wouldn't you find a nice hot serving of chips? And whether they're served alongside a posh steak or wrapped in paper with battered fish, there's certainly no shortage of serving options. What's more up for debate, however, is the greatest accompaniment to have with this most beloved of fast food. The burning question of the best chip topping is one that has been debated across pubs, chip shops and households for decades. But now, the debate may just have been put to bed for good – and it's bad news for gravy fans. Scientists reveal the ultimate condiment to put on chips – and there's one clear winner. Charles Spence, professor of experimental psychology at Oxford University, says salt & vinegar is the top choice, followed by mushy peas. The multi-sensory food expert – who is also the son of a chip-shop owner in Leeds – said the malt vinegar is effective at cutting through the oiliness. 'It always end up over chips underneath so the salt and vinegar combination becomes the familiar option and then gets extended to crisps,' he told MailOnline. Although popular, tomato ketchup is 'perhaps an infantile condiment' because of its sweetness – typically containing one teaspoon of sugar per tablespoon of ketchup. According to the expert, this may be why ketchup is so favoured in the US, which has long had a predilection for oversweet food. Mayonnaise on chips, meanwhile, is an import from continental Europe – likely originating in Belgium, France or the Netherlands. Mayo on 'French fries' memorably triggers the disgust of Jules Winnfield (Samuel L. Jackson) in Quentin Tarantino's 1994 film 'Pulp Fiction'. But Professor Spence is in agreement that there's 'something about the eggy oily texture and insipid colour' that quite rightly puts people off. Dr Sue Bailey, culinary historian and independent lecturer in food science, agreed that acidic condiments like vinegar and ketchup cut through the fatty coating of the chips. But the best sauces with chips are either mayonnaise or tartare sauce, she claims. These have an unctuous consistency but don't fall off the chips when we raise them to our mouth. 'Adhesive viscous or thicker sauces are always popular and the most favoured ones have good clinging or "thixotropic" properties – so mayonnaise and ketchup, possibly curry sauce depending on if a starchy thickener is used in it,' she told MailOnline. Gravy, meanwhile, is just too runny and makes a mess – meaning chips with gravy requires a knife and fork, which is not preferable. As Professor Spence puts it, 'the first taste is with the hand', as the food we feel in the hands influences our perception in the mouth – so when it comes to chips it's best to avoid cutlery. Professor Spence also thinks eating something with a range of colours can 'make what we eat look more attractive' and in turn increase our enjoyment of it. A good example here is pairing the vibrant yellow of chips with the vibrant, glimmering red of tomato ketchup or the almost radioactive green of mushy peas. Conversely, curry sauce and mustard – despite packing a big punch of flavour – rank somewhere near the bottom when it comes to colourful chip toppings. The 2020 YouGov poll asked Brits what they have on their chip. They found tomato ketchup is a popular chip topping in England and Scotland, but in Wales people are more likely to favour curry sauce 'You don't get much colour contrast with curry or mustard and fish and chips,' Professor Spence told MailOnline. Slightly more 'posh' or alternative options at the chippy are a sprinkle of black pepper or a smear of mustard, but these are far from ideal. 'Mustard or black pepper are not standard choices – they're a bit overpowering flavour wise,' Dr Bailey told MailOnline. Professor Spence added that part of what makes a perfect food combination 'depends on what we are familiar with because we have grown up with it'. And this may be why there's so much variation regarding what exactly Brits put on their fries. According to a 2020 poll of more than 36,000 Brits, the most popular chip toppings are tomato ketchup, curry sauce and mushy peas, in that order. However, salt and vinegar was excluded as a choice in the YouGov poll because 'they simply dominate everywhere'. Interestingly, tomato ketchup is a popular chip topping in England and Scotland, but in Wales people are more likely to favour curry sauce. Tomato ketchup triumphs by some margin in England (34 per cent) and Scotland (25 per cent), whereas in Wales curry sauce reigns supreme (35 per cent).
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Yahoo
I Tried the New Limited-Edition Utz Flavor, and They're The Best Potato Chips I've Ever Had
This article may contain affiliate links that Yahoo and/or the publisher may receive a commission from if you buy a product or service through those links. As soon as summer comes around, a tall glass of ice-cold lemonade goes straight back into my drinking routine (truly nothing better than it on a hot day!). While chips are an evergreen snack on my roster — and usually eaten alongside that glass of lemonade — I've never thought to literally put them together. But that's exactly what Utz did with its latest Lemonade Potato Chips (yes, you read that right). Just when I thought there couldn't possibly be any more chip ideas. Utz didn't just launch this chip for fun. The brand has partnered with Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation to donate a portion of each bag sold to its efforts in funding critical research and support for children battling cancer. I can't think of a better reason to break open a bag. This limited-edition flavor is available through August, while supplies last, online at Amazon and Instacart, as well as in stores at retailers nationwide like Walmart. Utz will donate 9 cents from every bag sold up to a maximum of $25,000 to Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer, according to the brand's website. Walmart $3 (was $3) Buy Now The chips feature Utz classic wafer-thin, crispy potatoes that are dusted with a lemonade seasoning. They are sold in 7.75- ounce bags and, to my mind, are the first lemonade-flavored chips on shelves. I was thrilled to try them. Going into this chip, I thought that it would be a dessert chip (kind of like a cinnamon-sugar snack?) because of the sweetness I usually associate with lemonade. After one bite, I was surprised — in the best way possible. I've never tasted anything like it. There is absolutely a sweetness to these chips, but they aren't nearly as sweet as I had expected and still very much a classic salty chip. The best way that I could describe it is if you had a salt and vinegar chip with a touch of lemon sugar? Wonderful! These chips are also incredibly thin and crunchy — I could easily see my friends and I go through a bag quickly (if I decide to share them, that is). It's tangy, sweet, salty, and I will be stocking up on several bags before they're gone for Utz Lemonade Potato Chips, $2.50 for 7.75 ounces at WalmartWould you try this chip combination? Tell us about it in the comments below. Sign up for The Weekly Checkout to get the most up-to-date grocery news, tips, and highlights. Subscribe to The Kitchn! The 'Beautiful' $3 Flower Tumblers at Walmart People Are Buying 2 at a Time The One Cookware Brand That Gordon Ramsay Can't Stop Talking About Do Water Filters Really Work — And Which Ones Are the Best? Sign up for The Kitchn's Daily newsletter to receive our best recipes, posts, and shopping tips in your inbox.
