Route 11 Kettle Dill Pickle Potato Chips

As technology marches on and tastes evolve, we’ve seen a staggering number of flavors added on to the reliable, crunchy potato chip. There’s been grilled cheese and ketchup chips, wasabi ginger chips and even margarita-flavored chips — and that’s just counting the flavors that have shown up on store shelves in the United States. But for fans of its signature salty-sour kick, there’s nothing like pickle-flavored chips.

The combo is a natural one, since both snacks are crunchy and salty. In the case of those “bread and butter” sandwich pickle slices, they can even look the same. But there’s actually quite a bit of variety out there, and the flavor of a particular pickle chip might not match the taste of the pickles you’re used to. With that in mind, it helps to know your pickle-making methods.

The most common pickle (and pickle flavor) is the classic dill pickle. It’s generally made by soaking cucumbers in a vinegar/saltwater mixture that includes a generous amount of dill. The ideal result is a good balance of salty and sour, with a discernible taste of dill.

Another common flavor is the “New York” style dill pickle. The authentic recipe for making these can vary wildly depending on which deli is making them, but you can expect a bit of garlic in the mix, along with possibly a peppery kick.

A more adventurous flavor (especially for chips) is sweet pickles. As you might expect, these pickles are made in a brine that contains plenty of sugar. Well-made ones can have a great balance of sweetness and saltiness, and that can translate well to the right chip.

What’s your favorite? You’ll never know until you try them all, so start snacking!

Need to watch those trans fats? Whether you’re eating pickle chips or any other kind of flavor, seek out varieties made with sunflower oil. They contain no trans fats, which takes one cause of guilt out of your snacking pleasure.