M&S: Hand Cooked Sweet Chill Crisps
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M&S: Hand Cooked Sweet Chill Crisps

M&S has a mixed track record with their hand-cooked range, so I approached these sweet chilli crisps with some trepedation. They’re positioned as a premium offering, and at M&S prices, they better deliver. Texture The hand-cooked process gives these crisps a satisfying thickness and that characteristic irregular shape that suggests proper craftsmanship. The crunch is exemplary—robust without being teeth-breakingly hard. Sweet danger Sweet chilli is a tricky flavor to nail, and I can’t recall too many i’ve ever enjoyed. It just feels an unnatural bedfellow for the potato, and should be reserved for rice-based snack. It reminds me of a…

How crisps are made

There’s something almost alchemical about the process of turning a humble potato into a crisp. One moment, it’s a lump of root veg pulled from British soil; the next, it’s a golden sliver of joy, crackling in your mouth and dusted with smoky bacon or a whisper of sea salt.…

Are all crisps vegan?

On the face of it, crisps feel like one of the safest snacks for a vegan. Potatoes. Oil. A bit of salt. How complicated could it possibly be? As it turns out... very…

What crisps are reliably gluten free?

Crisps are one of those snacks that almost everyone loves. But if you have gluten intolerance or celiac disease, choosing the right ones can feel like a bit of a minefield. Luckily, these days, it’s easier to find crisps that you can trust. The trick is knowing which ones to…
George Crum (George Speck). Inventor of the potato chip.

Who invented crisps, and where were they invented?

If you’ve ever crunched into a perfectly salted crisp and wondered where it all began, you’re not alone. I’ve often found myself, a few beers in, staring at the potato shard in my hand, and thought – Who came up with this genius idea? It turns out, the story of…
Walkers: Squares Salt & Vinegar

Walkers: Squares Salt & Vinegar

Walkers Squares Salt & Vinegar aren’t your average crisp — they’re a geometric intervention in a world of curls, puffs and ridges. These little pillows of fried potato starch are square in name, shape and spirit. You don’t eat them so much as crunch through them like a biscuit you…
Walkers: Squares Cheese & Onion

Walkers: Squares Cheese & Onion

If Salt & Vinegar Squares are the brash frontman of the Walkers Squares trio, Cheese & Onion Squares are the curious rhythm guitarist: less explosive, more mysterious, but still very much part of the band. They’re not shouting for attention, but they leave an impression. Texture and crunch As ever…

Wotsits: Cheese

Let’s not pretend Wotsits are a crisp in the traditional sense. They’re not potatoes, they don’t crunch, and they leave your fingers looking like you’ve done battle with a cheese dust tornado. But they are beloved — and rightly so. Texture and structure Wotsits aren’t crisps. They’re snacks. Corn-based puffs…
Walkers: Wotsits Giants Flamin' Hot

Walkers: Wotsits Giants Flamin’ Hot

The name alone is a lot — Giants and Flamin’ Hot — suggesting a bold, fiery snack with plenty of presence. But as with much in the world of puffed snacks, the promise tends to outweigh the delivery. If you’re not already on board the Wotsits train, these probably won’t…
Walkers: Wotsits Cheese Toastie

Walkers: Wotsits Cheese Toastie

If you’re not a fan of cheese snacks — especially the airy, cheesy puff style of Wotsits — then Walkers’ Cheese Toastie flavour isn’t going to win you over. It tries to channel the warmth of a toasted cheese sandwich but ends up feeling more like an artificial cheese powder…
Walkers: Wotsits Crispy Bacon

Walkers: Wotsits Crispy Bacon

Wotsits have always been the airy, cheesy snack that’s more about fun than substance. Adding crispy bacon flavour to the mix sounds promising, but unfortunately, it doesn’t quite land as well as you might hope. Flavour leans one-dimensional The bacon seasoning is smoky and salty enough, but it feels a…
Walkers: Coronation Chicken

Walkers: Coronation Chicken

Walkers’ Coronation Chicken crisps aim to capture a classic British flavour with its creamy curry notes and subtle sweetness. On paper, it’s a promising concept, and the seasoning itself is fairly well balanced — mild mustard, a touch of mango chutney sweetness, and gentle spice all come through without overpowering…
Walkers: MAX KFC Zinger

Walkers: MAX KFC Zinger

Walkers teamed up with KFC for a snack meta-mashup: a crisp that tastes like a spicy Zinger burger… if that burger had been pulverised into croutons. It’s loud. It’s unapologetic. It’s the kind of chip that arrives with industrial ambition. Texture and crunch True to the MAX name, these are…
Walkers: Ready Salted

Walkers: Ready Salted

The classic that never quite thrills. Let’s be honest—Walkers Ready Salted are the beige wallpaper of the crisp world. Iconic? Sure. But exciting? Not a chance. From the moment you open the bag, there’s no drama, no aromatic punch, just a faint whiff of something… familiar but forgettable. Texture and…