Anyone filling a sharing bowl
For drinks with friends, a film night or a small party, you’ll want to know how much one large bag will put on the table. The net weight helps you compare packs, but it won’t tell you how much each guest will take.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Hosts who want to hand out portions in advance
Individual bags make it easy to give everyone their own portion. A variety pack can be handy too, as long as you check which flavours are included.
Anyone with ingredient requirements
If you need to account for an allergy, intolerance or dietary preference, check the exact flavour and pack. A familiar brand name or a plain flavour won’t tell you which ingredients and allergens it contains.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether you’ll serve the crisps in one bowl or hand out individual portions. Then choose a suitable weight and type, and check the label on the exact variety before serving it to others.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Amount for a sharing bowl | Compare the net weight of bags of the type of crisps you want to serve. Don’t treat the stated number of portions as a fixed number of guests. | If I’m putting out one bowl, I want to match the amount to what else I’m serving. For around 42% of consumers, having enough to go round would be the main concern. |
| Handing out portions in advance | Check how many individual bags are in a multipack and which flavours it contains. | If everyone gets their own bag, I don’t have to portion out the crisps myself. For around 25% of consumers, that convenience would come first. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients and allergen information on the exact pack, even if you’ve bought the same flavour before. | If a guest needs to avoid certain ingredients, I need to know what’s listed for this particular variety. For around 17% of consumers, checking this would be the main priority. |
| Flavour and texture | Choose between options such as standard potato crisps, ridged crisps and tortilla chips, then check the flavour you’ve picked. | The type of crisps my guests prefer may matter more than how I serve them. Around 16% of consumers would put flavour or texture first. |
Common mistakes
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Relying on the flavour name to identify allergens
A name such as plain doesn’t tell you which allergens the exact variety contains. For example, the Lay’s Party Mix listed by Jumbo contains milk and may also contain cereals containing gluten, soya and wheat.
If you have an allergy or intolerance, read the label on the pack you’re buying. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, allergen information must appear on the label of pre-packed foods.
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Assuming an old product page is still accurate
Albert Heijn points out that ingredients, nutritional values and allergen information can change. So checking once isn’t enough for a later purchase.
Check the pack again, including the net weight, best-before date and information about ingredients and allergens.
Brands and own-label options to consider
These brands offer different pack formats for a snack occasion. Compare the exact variety you’re considering: the brand name alone won’t tell you the weight, ingredients or how easy it is to hand out.
Jumbo
Jumbo’s listed own-label options include potato crisps in 250 and 335 g bags, as well as 300 g tortilla chips.
- You can choose from flavours and styles including paprika, plain and ridged crisps.
- Tortilla chips and potato crisps are different products, so check the ingredients and allergens for each variety too.
Albert Heijn
AH Plain Ridged Crisps 250 g are an own-label option if you’re looking for a bag of ridged crisps to share.
- Albert Heijn provides ingredients and nutritional information for this specific variety.
- Albert Heijn warns that product information can change, so check the pack when you buy it.
Lay’s
The Lay’s product examples listed include both a 300 g plain bag and Party Mix individual bags.
- The plain pack lists ten average 30 g portions; the Party Mix listed by Jumbo contains fifteen 27.5 g bags in three varieties.
- A stated portion doesn’t equal a fixed number of guests. For a variety pack, check the ingredients and allergens for each individual variety.
Pringles
The examples listed include a 165 g Pringles Original tube and a multipack of twelve 40 g packs.
- A tube or multipack gives you a different way to serve or hand out crisps than one open bag.
- Joybuy’s product information for the Pringles Original multipack mentions wheat and gluten. Check the exact variety if you need to meet dietary or allergy requirements.
Snack Day (Lidl)
Lidl lists Snack Day as its own snack brand, with options including plain, paprika, bolognese and cheese and onion crisps.
- These flavours give you a starting point if you’re looking for something specific for a film night or party.
- Check the weight and label on the bag you choose; the flavours listed don’t tell you what’s in another variety.
Crisps and multipacks at Joybuy
The two bags of crisps below are suited to a sharing bowl. The 180 g Croky Sharing Mix is for anyone who would rather hand out individual portions than open a large bag; don’t treat it as equivalent to a 250 to 335 g bag.
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Lay’s paprika crisps 300 g
For anyone who wants to serve paprika crisps in one sharing bowl. This bag contains 300 g; if your guests have ingredient or allergen requirements, check the label for this variety.
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g’woon ridged paprika crisps 250 g
For a sharing bowl if you’re looking for ridged crisps with a paprika flavour. The bag contains 250 g; if you have specific dietary or allergy requirements, check the information on the current pack.
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Croky Sharing Mix 180 g
For anyone who wants to hand out individual portions rather than put one large bag on the table. This Sharing Mix contains 180 g in total; check the pack for the number of bags, flavours and allergen information.
Frequently asked questions
Is a 300 g bag of crisps enough for ten guests?
Not necessarily: ten stated portions don’t mean there’ll be enough for ten guests. Albert Heijn lists ten average 30 g portions for 300 g of Lay’s plain crisps; match the amount to what else you’re serving.
What should I check when buying crisps for guests with allergies?
Read the ingredients and allergen information for the exact flavour and pack. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, allergen information appears on the label of pre-packed foods. The Lay’s Party Mix listed by Jumbo contains milk and may also contain cereals containing gluten, soya and wheat.
How should I store an opened large bag of crisps?
Follow the storage instructions on the pack you’ve chosen and seal an opened bag well. Albert Heijn advises storing AH Plain Ridged Crisps in a cool, dry place away from light; the Lay’s plain pack listed recommends storing in a cool, dry place.
Can I rely on a product page for ingredient information?
Check the packaging of the product you’re buying too. Albert Heijn says that information about ingredients, nutritional values and allergens can change, so a product page you viewed earlier may not match the pack in your hand.