The host serving one big bowl
You want to put one bowl on the table and need a bag with enough crisps for your guests. A flavour your guests enjoy matters more than having lots of options.
Who are these packs suitable for?
The host putting together a flavour mix
You’re expecting guests with different tastes and want to offer several flavours or individual bags rather than one big bag of ready salted crisps.
The host checking labels
You want to check the ingredients and allergens for each flavour before serving, or compare the nutritional information per 100 g.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether you want to fill one bowl or offer a range of flavours. Then check the total weight, type of crisp and information on the packaging.
| What to consider | What to check | Who should consider it? |
|---|---|---|
| Enough for one bowl | Check the net weight and whether the contents are in one bag or split across several packs. | If I’m putting one bowl on the table, I want enough crisps to serve without opening several packs. For around 36% of consumers, having enough in the pack comes first. |
| Choice of flavours | Check which flavours are in the mix and how many individual packs you get. | If my guests have different tastes, I don’t want to have to guess everyone’s favourite. Around 29% of consumers put flavour variety first. |
| Type of crisp and brand | Check whether you’re choosing standard crisps, ridged crisps or crisps in a tube, and how much the pack contains. | If I specifically want to serve ridged crisps or a familiar brand, that matters more to me than the pack size. For around 21% of consumers, the type of crisp or brand is the main consideration. |
| Label and nutritional information | Read the ingredients and allergens for each flavour; compare the nutritional information per 100 g. | If I need to consider the ingredients in what I serve, I want to be able to check each variety separately. For around 14% of consumers, checking the label comes first. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming all the bags in a mix have the same ingredients
Different flavours can have different ingredients and allergens. This means the front of the box doesn’t give you enough information to assess whether each one is suitable for your guests.
Before serving, read the ingredients list and allergen information for each flavour on the packaging.
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Comparing nutritional information per serving only
If the packs use different serving sizes, those figures don’t compare the same amount of crisps.
Use the nutritional information per 100 g to compare salt, saturated fat and energy across varieties. Separately, consider how much you want to serve.
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Assuming an online range is available in store
A product shown online may not be available at the store you’re planning to visit.
If you want to pick up a specific Snack Day variety from Lidl, check availability at the branch where you shop.
Brands to consider
Lay's
Lay's offers standard crisps, MAX ridged crisps and packs containing multiple bags, among other options. The brand is worth considering if you’re looking for a particular flavour or texture.
- Ready salted is listed by Albert Heijn in a 300 g bag, while Jumbo lists MAX Ridged Ready Salted in a 275 g pack.
- A pack with just one flavour doesn’t offer a choice. If you’re buying a mix, check the information for each variety.
Pringles
Pringles is an option if you specifically want to serve crisps in a tube rather than crisps from one large bag.
- Jumbo lists Pringles varieties in 165 g tubes.
- One 165 g tube contains fewer crisps than the 275–335 g bags in the supermarket examples mentioned.
Jumbo
Jumbo’s own-brand range includes standard and ridged crisps for anyone looking for a bag to share around the table.
- Jumbo lists 250 g Ready Salted Crisps and 335 g Ridged Ready Salted Crisps.
- One big bag won’t necessarily cater for different flavour preferences among your guests.
AH
Albert Heijn’s own-brand range includes ready salted ridged crisps. If nutritional information is important to your choice, compare the details for each variety.
- Albert Heijn also lists a variety labelled Ridged Crisps Ready Salted, Less Fat.
- Check the ingredients and nutritional information on each pack; a product description isn’t a substitute for the nutrition table.
Snack Day
Snack Day is Lidl’s snack brand, with a range of crisp flavours for those who shop there.
- Lidl lists ready salted, paprika, bolognese and cheese-onion flavours in its Snack Day range, among others.
- If you have a particular flavour in mind, check what your local branch has in stock at the time.
Crisps and mixes on Joybuy
These products offer different ways to share: one bag for a bowl, a flavour mix, individual portions or several tubes. Choose the format that suits how you want to serve the crisps.
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Pringles Red Pepper, 12 × 40 g
A good choice if you want to give your guests individual packs rather than fill one bowl.
The set contains one flavour in 12 packs of 40 g. Check the allergens on the packaging before handing them out.
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Croky Sharing Mix 180 g
A flavour mix for anyone who would rather give guests a choice than serve one big bag of the same flavour.
The pack contains 180 g in total. Check which flavours are included and, if anyone has allergies, read the information for each flavour.
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Pringles Original, 3 × 165 g
For anyone who wants to put out several tubes of the same flavour rather than pour crisps from one big bag.
The set contains three 165 g tubes. Check the allergens on the packaging before serving.
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Lay's Paprika Crisps 300 g
A bag for sharing if you want to serve paprika as the only flavour.
It contains 300 g and isn’t a mix of individual portions.
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Lay's Fun Mix Box Crisps, 15-pack
For anyone who wants to offer a range of flavours in individual bags.
The box contains 15 bags. Joybuy lists milk as an allergen and warns that it may contain cereals containing gluten, soya and wheat. If anyone has allergies, check the packaging for each flavour. Check the total net weight if the amount you need for your group is important.
Frequently asked questions
How big should a bag of crisps be for New Year’s Eve?
It depends on how you want to serve the crisps, not just on the number of guests. Jumbo and Albert Heijn list bags of 275–335 g for sharing; if your guests have different flavour preferences, several flavours or individual bags may be a better fit than one larger bag.
What should I check if a guest has a food allergy?
Before serving, read the ingredients list and allergen information on the physical packaging for each flavour separately. According to the Voedingscentrum, allergens are highlighted in the ingredients list; also look out for warnings about possible traces of allergens.
How do I compare salt and fat in different crisps?
Compare the nutritional information per 100 g so you’re using the same amount as your basis. Check the figures for the specific flavour and pack, even if values per serving are also shown.