Planning a get-together for several people
You want to choose a sharing bag that suits your group, so everyone can help themselves from one bowl without opening more bags than necessary.
Which pack is right for you?
Families dividing up portions and flavours
You want to hand out individual packs or offer a choice of flavours, rather than having everyone help themselves from the same open bag.
Carefully comparing labels
You check the salt, ingredients and allergens for the exact flavour. If you’re buying a mixed box, check each product separately, as the ingredients may vary.
What should you look for when choosing?
For a shared snack, first decide whether everyone will be eating at the same time or whether you want to spread the crisps across several occasions. The type of pack makes a difference:
Large sharing bag
Choose this: if several people will be eating from the same bowl at the same time.
Consider: one open bag doesn’t offer individual portions or a choice of flavours.
Individual bags or snack box
Choose this: if you want to divide up portions in advance or offer a selection of snacks.
Consider: if you’re buying a mixed box, check the ingredients for each variety separately.
Resealable tube
Choose this: if you want to enjoy one flavour on different occasions.
Consider: one tube doesn’t offer a choice of flavours and contains a different amount from a large sharing bag.
| What to consider | Check | Who it’s for |
|---|---|---|
| Enough for the group | Check the net weight and stated serving size; choose a bag to suit the number of people eating at the same time. | For a get-together, I want to put enough crisps in one bowl without opening more than necessary. Around 42% of consumers say having enough to share is their top priority. |
| Portions and flavours | Count the individual bags and check which flavours are included; a tube is another option if you want to keep to one flavour. | If guests will be helping themselves at different times, I want to be able to divide up the portions and, where possible, let them choose a flavour. For around 33% of consumers, this is the top priority. |
| Label for each variety | Compare salt and other nutritional information per 100 g, and read the ingredients and allergen information for the exact flavour. | If ingredients or allergens matter to me or my guests, I want to know what’s in each product. Checking the label is the top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Choosing a large bag when you need individual portions
An open sharing bag is less convenient if people will be eating at different times or each need their own pack. Open crisps can also lose their crunch.
Choose individual bags if dividing up portions is your priority; go for a sharing bag if everyone is likely to eat from the same bowl at the same time.
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Assuming a familiar flavour won’t contain any allergens you need to know about
Ingredients vary from product to product. According to Jumbo, Pringles Original contains wheat and may contain milk and soya; ingredients may also vary between flavours in a mixed box.
If you have an allergy, check the ingredients and allergen information on the exact pack, even for plain crisps and individual bags.
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Assuming a claim for one variety applies to every flavour
Albert Heijn describes AH plain crisps as suitable for vegans and states that they’re made to a gluten-free recipe. This doesn’t mean the same applies to other flavours or packs.
Check the claims again on the variety you’re actually buying, especially if the packaging or ingredients have changed.
Brands to consider
Lay's
Albert Heijn stocks options including a 300 g Naturel value pack and a Celebration Box with 30 individual bags.
- The Naturel value pack states that it contains 10 servings of 30 g, for sharing from one bag.
- If you’re buying the mixed Celebration Box, check the ingredients and allergens for each type of snack.
Pringles
The Original variety reviewed comes in a resealable 165 g tube, for enjoying the same flavour on several occasions.
- The tube can be resealed between snack times.
- According to Jumbo, Pringles Original contains wheat and may contain milk and soya.
Jumbo
The own-brand range includes ridged crisps in 335 g bags and a multipack with 15 individual bags.
- You can choose between sharing from one bag and handing out pre-portioned packs.
- The multipack reviewed contains milk; check the label for the variety you choose.
AH
AH plain crisps come in a 250 g own-brand bag, for sharing if you want one plain flavour.
- Albert Heijn describes this plain variety as suitable for vegans and states that it’s made to a gluten-free recipe.
- These claims don’t automatically apply to other AH flavours.
Snack Day
Lidl offers Snack Day as its own brand, with a range of crisp flavours.
- The range mentioned includes plain and paprika flavours.
- For a specific sharing bag, check the pack for its contents, nutritional information and ingredients.
Crisps and snack boxes on Joybuy
These products offer different ways to share crisps and snacks: a large bag of potato crisps, mixed snack boxes, several tubes of the same flavour and individual bags of corn chips. Choose the format that suits the number of people and when they’ll be helping themselves.
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Lay's Paprika Crisps 300 g
A bag to open when several people want to share paprika crisps at the same time.
Net weight: 300 g. Before serving, check the nutritional information and allergens on the pack.
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Lay's Cheetos Doritos Mega Box Multipack, 20 pieces
A mixed snack box for a group who want to choose from different snacks.
The product name states that it contains 20 pieces. Check what’s included and the ingredients for each variety before handing out the box.
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Pringles Original Crisps, 3 × 165 g
Three tubes of the same flavour are ideal for snack times you want to plan separately.
The pack states 3 × 165 g. If you have allergies, check the label on this multipack; according to Jumbo, the individual Original variety contains wheat and may contain milk and soya.
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Lay's Family Box, 15 pieces
This box is a good fit for a group who want to hand out individual packs.
The product name states that it contains 15 pieces. To plan portions, check the weight per pack and the ingredients for the exact contents.
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Takis Blue Heat Corn Chips, 18 × 100 g
Individual bags of corn chips are a good option if you want to hand out lots of packs in the same flavour.
The product name states that it contains 18 bags of 100 g. Check that the flavour will suit everyone and, if you have allergies, read the label on the exact pack.
Frequently asked questions
When should I choose a large bag instead of individual bags?
Choose a large bag if several people are likely to eat from the same bowl at the same time. Individual bags are more convenient if you want to divide up portions in advance, hand them out at different times or offer a choice of flavours. Whichever you choose, make sure there’s enough for the group.
How should I store crisps once the pack is open?
Close the pack securely and follow the storage advice on the label of the product you’ve chosen. Voedingscentrum recommends keeping opened Lay's Sensations crisps in a kitchen cupboard for 2 to 5 days, and notes that a loss of crunch is a sign of reduced quality. This timeframe doesn’t necessarily apply to every type of crisp.
Should I check for allergens in plain crisps and snack boxes too?
Yes. If you have allergies, always check the exact pack and, for a mixed box, check each variety separately. A claim on AH plain crisps doesn’t automatically apply to other plain crisps; according to Jumbo, Pringles Original contains wheat and may contain milk and soya.
How can I compare the nutritional information of different crisps?
Compare the nutritional information for the varieties you’re considering on the same basis, such as per 100 g, and also check how many grams you’ll actually serve. Salt, fat and other values can vary by flavour and product; the type of pack doesn’t tell you its nutritional value.