For a one-off board game night, one or a few bags that match how much you expect to use are often a better choice than a large multipack. That way, you can keep any unopened bags to one side. A multipack makes more sense if you host game nights regularly. Choose plain chips as a base for a range of dips, or a seasoned variety to suit your guests’ tastes. If anyone has dietary requirements, always check the exact product.
You want to put enough tortilla chips on the table without opening more than you need. So check the total quantity and how much is in each individual bag. Albert Heijn and Jumbo list the contents of the plain varieties we looked at on their product pages.
You don’t know in advance how many chips people will eat, and want to be able to top up without opening all your supplies at once. Pack size and keeping unopened bags separate are important considerations. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises storing opened crisps in a tightly sealed container or bag.
You’re choosing snacks for guests with a specific allergy or dietary requirement, so check each flavour separately. A corn base or a ‘plain’ label is no substitute for checking the ingredients and allergen warnings. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) explains that allergens are listed in the ingredients.
First, work out roughly how many chips you’re likely to serve. Then consider the bag size, flavour and any dietary requirements.
| What to consider | What should you look for? | Who should pay particular attention? |
|---|---|---|
| Quantity and expected use | Choose a total quantity that matches what you expect to serve. Check the amount in each bag too. | If I want to avoid having lots of unopened stock left after the evening, I look at the total quantity and the number of bags; around 33% of consumers prioritise buying an amount that suits their needs and avoiding excess stock. |
| Topping up and keeping bags sealed | Check whether you can open the bags one at a time and keep any unopened ones separate. | If I’m not sure exactly how many guests are coming, I want to be able to top up without opening every bag; around 25% of consumers prioritise this flexibility. |
| Flavour and dips | Choose plain chips to go with a range of dips, or pick a seasoned flavour to suit what your guests enjoy. | If I’m serving chips with several dips, I want a flavour that goes well with them; around 25% of consumers prioritise flavour and how well it pairs with dips. |
| Allergies and dietary requirements | Check the ingredients and warnings on the packaging of the exact product. Check dips separately. | If a guest has a specific allergy or dietary requirement, I check each product individually; around 17% of consumers let suitability for dietary requirements determine their choice. |
A multipack gives you plenty of stock, but that doesn’t automatically make it the right amount for one game night. The quantity in each bag and the number of bags determine how much you open at once.
Compare the total quantity and the amount in each individual bag with how much you expect to use. A multipack makes most sense if you can use the stock on several occasions.
Opened crisps need to be sealed and stored properly. If you open several bags straight away, you can’t keep the unopened stock separate.
Top up from one opened bag and only open another when you need to. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises storing crisps in a cool, dry, dark place in a tightly sealed container or bag.
Ingredients and allergen warnings can vary between flavours and products. AH Plain may contain soya, Doritos Plain may contain soya and wheat, and Jumbo Nacho Cheese contains milk. The NVWA points out that allergens are listed in the ingredients.
Check the exact product on the packaging you receive, and look at the ingredients in any dips too. Don’t rely on the brand name, flavour name or corn base alone.
The AH range we looked at includes a 200 g bag of plain tortilla chips.
The Jumbo range we looked at includes plain and Nacho Cheese varieties in 300 g bags.
Doritos offers a range of seasoned flavours as well as a plain variety. The Dutch listings we looked at range from a 185 g bag to a multipack of twelve 455 g bags.
Lidl Netherlands lists Snack Day Tortilla Chips Sea Salt as a product option.
ALDI Netherlands lists SUN SNACKS Blue Corn Tortilla Chips.
Mission Foods Europe describes tortilla chips in round and triangular shapes, a range of flavours and various pack formats for retail and food service.
This Joybuy selection includes plain and seasoned corn chips in a range of bag sizes. Choose according to the flavour you want, how much you plan to open and the ingredients of the exact product.
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A plain variety in a 185 g bag, ideal if you want to serve chips with dips.
The product information suggests serving them with dips, salsa and guacamole, and states that they may contain soya and wheat.
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A seasoned variety for guests who’d like a Sweet Chili flavour as well as plain chips.
The bag contains 272 g. The product information lists wheat containing gluten and soya as allergens.
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A cheese-flavoured variety for anyone who wants to serve that flavour at the table, with dips if you like.
The bag contains 272 g; the product description gives 9–10 servings. The product information lists milk and possible traces of cereals containing gluten and soya.
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The 475 g bag is a good choice if you want to serve a larger quantity of chips with dips or salsa.
The product description gives 12 servings and lists soya as an allergen.
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A 185 g bag for anyone who wants to open a smaller quantity and serve chips with dips or salsa.
The product description says the chips are round and lists soya as an allergen.
Use the number of guests and how much you expect to serve as a guide. The serving size on a pack isn’t automatically the amount you’ll need for a whole evening. The AH pack we looked at gives a serving size of 25 g, while the Jumbo pack gives 30 g. These are the labelled serving sizes for two different products.
Seal the bag tightly and store the chips somewhere cool, dry and dark. For opened crisps, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives a general storage time of 2–5 days in a kitchen cupboard. Also follow the instructions on the packaging of your chosen variety.
Not necessarily. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises checking, smelling and tasting crisps after their best-before date if the packaging is intact and the product looks fine. This isn’t a guarantee for opened bags or every individual batch.
No, always check the exact product. Albert Heijn lists the AH Plain 200 g product we looked at as gluten-free and vegan, but also states that it may contain soya. The AH listing doesn’t automatically apply to other brands or flavours; the NVWA points out that allergens are listed in the ingredients.
