Review: Baked Doritos
Published May 05, 2005
In honor of Cinco De Mayo (even though I don't get it), I'm reviewing Baked Doritos. Sure, it's more American than Mexican, but who cares. Doritos were a major source of nurishment through my high school years. Many a class, I was busier trying to rid my fingers of cheese stain than paying any attention to the lesson. Sure, they may have not been the best thing for my GPA, but at least now they are a little healthier. I was first introduced to Baked Doritos at Subway, and ever since, I've been a huge fan.
Healthy Is As Healthy Does
Baked Doritos claim to be healthier. Actually, they shout it. There's a label proudly displayed on the front claiming, "Only 3.5 grams of fat per serving." Even the normally bold red packaging is a cautious yellow, suggesting these chips are only for those conservative calorie counters. Hey, I'm not health expert, but I was convinced it was healthier without even reading any of the nutritional facts. I wonder where they fall into the new food pyramid?
You Can Taste It
I was sold the second I chomped down on my first chip. Normally, healthier versions of our favorite snacks have an odd after-taste. It leaves you drinking your Diet Coke and proclaiming, "I can't really taste the difference at all." Baked Doritos does something else, something astounding. They taste better than the original Doritos. They've got the same great cheese taste with less of the cheese stain. In fact, the baking process makes them crunchier. Crunchier is always better for a chip. After tasting the Baked Doritos, the regular version tastes like a stale, chewy mess that was left in an open bag for too long.
So, they are healthier, supposedly. They taste better, and the yellow bag proclaimes your responsibility. What's the catch? There's not much of one, except availability. While I get the chips everytime I can, I don't find them nearly as often as the normal chip. Next time you do get the option though, pick up the Baked Doritos. You'll never want to go back to the regular ones again.
- Review: Baked Doritos
- Published: May 05, 2005
- Type: Review
- Section: Tastes
- Filed Under: Tastes: Food and Drink
- Writer: Nicholas Roussos
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Comments on this articleComments
Yea, there's just something about snacks that taste better AND are healthier.
These new baked chips are more dangerous to me than the old oily greasy ones, precisely because they taste better.
With the old-style Doritos, and even more so with old-style potato chips, it doesn't take long for my body to yelp "Stop! Enough already!" and my tastebuds to rebel against all the oily greasiness. No matter how crunchy they made them, the repulsion of the oil overcame the attraction of the crunch after only a few handfuls of chips.
With the new baked chips, that doesn't happen. If I'm not paying attention, my body won't complain and my tastebuds won't rebel until after I've crunch, crunch, crunched my way through almost the entire bag.
To add injury to insult, the baked chips cost more than the oily ones, so I am actually paying more for a product that threatens to make me fatter.
So now I just can't buy any chips at all. Luckily, if I feel the urge to munch on something, I can just buy one of those new prepared salad bags, and crunch away without guilt.
Technically, aside from the process of baking or frying, there's no difference. You have almost the exact same chip, but bigger in the case of baked and crunchier. The ingredients are the same, minus the oil. You get even more sodium than on a normal chip. Both sides have advantages and disadvantages, so I'd say that its a deadlock between the two. The choice of whether your want classic or baked is yours. Oil and crispy, or sodium-loaded and crunchy?
P.S. the flavor on baked chips is supposed to be stronger because the oil doesn't dampen it, and the way its made sort of accentuates the seasonings.
Doritos have an ingredient called Mono sodium Glutamate or (msg) It has been linked to alzheimer's disease, being overweight, and numerous health problems. Why are you adding this ingredient to your chips!
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I like 'em, too! I prefer many of the lights and baked over the original. If they're just a good... why not get a little less guilt? Some of the lights are not the best, however. But all the baked, so far, are good.