Popular Olive Oil Potato Chip Brands
Several brands have embraced olive oil for frying, creating a distinct product with a richer taste profile compared to chips cooked in neutral seed oils. These chips range from widely available kettle-cooked varieties to imported artisanal options.
American Brands with an Olive Oil Twist
For those seeking readily available options in the United States, several brands offer olive oil-fried chips, often in a satisfyingly thick, kettle-cooked style.
- Boulder Canyon: A well-known US brand that specifically offers a line of chips kettle-cooked in 100% pure olive oil. Their Classic Sea Salt flavor is a standout, featuring just potatoes, olive oil, and sea salt. The chips have a hearty crunch and a robust, savory flavor. They also offer a Sea Salt & Cracked Pepper variety for those who want an extra layer of flavor.
- Good Health: This brand is committed to creating healthier snack alternatives and offers Kettle Style Olive Oil chips. Good Health chips use high-quality olive oil and have a lower sodium content than some traditional chips. Their Rosemary-Olive Oil flavor is particularly popular for its balanced, herbal taste.
- H-E-B: This regional supermarket chain offers its own brand of kettle-cooked potato chips fried in olive oil, providing a crunchy, old-fashioned snack.
Spanish and European Olive Oil Chips
In Spain, using extra virgin olive oil for potato chips is a time-honored practice, resulting in a gourmet snack with an unmistakable flavor and aroma. These brands are often sold in specialty stores or online.
- Bonilla a la Vista: Hailing from Galicia, Spain, this brand has produced high-quality, olive oil-fried potato chips for decades. Packaged in distinctive tins, these chips are made with organic Spanish potatoes and 100% extra-virgin olive oil, delivering a uniquely crisp and clean flavor.
- Torres: Another gourmet Spanish brand, Torres creates lightly salted potato chips fried in high-quality Spanish extra virgin olive oil. The delicate olive oil notes are a core part of their flavor profile. Torres is also known for its other unique flavors, like black truffle.
- José Andrés Foods: Created by the renowned chef, these extra virgin olive oil chips are made with just three ingredients: potatoes, extra virgin olive oil, and Himalayan pink salt. The potatoes are slow-fried to meld the flavors, creating a satisfying and gourmet experience.
- Cortijo de Sarteneja: This artisanal Spanish producer crafts chips with extra virgin olive oil, which gives them a distinctive, rich flavor. Their meticulous production process ensures a perfectly crispy, golden chip.
- Trafo: This European brand offers organic potato chips fried in extra virgin olive oil, known for their combination of classic potato chip taste with the richness of olive oil.
Why Choose Olive Oil Chips? Flavor and Health
Using olive oil significantly impacts both the taste and nutritional profile of a potato chip. Olive oil's unique flavor characteristics—ranging from fruity to peppery depending on the variety—can be tasted in the final product. This differs greatly from the neutral flavor of chips fried in more common seed oils like sunflower or canola.
From a nutritional standpoint, olive oil is primarily composed of heart-healthy monounsaturated fats and is rich in antioxidants. While any potato chip is still a processed snack best consumed in moderation, those fried in olive oil often have cleaner, simpler ingredient lists and offer a potentially healthier fat profile than chips fried in heavily processed seed oils or saturated fats. The choice of extra virgin olive oil, in particular, maximizes these health benefits by retaining more antioxidants from the olives.
How Olive Oil Compares to Other Frying Oils
For frying, the smoke point of the oil is a crucial factor. The myth that you can't fry with olive oil has been debunked; while extra virgin olive oil has a slightly lower smoke point (around 375-410°F), regular or 'pure' olive oil can have a smoke point of 410-465°F, making it very suitable for frying. Other commonly used oils for chips, such as sunflower or canola oil, often have neutral flavors but may undergo more processing. High-oleic sunflower oil, for example, is another option that provides heart-healthy monounsaturated fats but lacks the distinctive flavor profile of olive oil. The choice ultimately depends on whether a neutral or a rich, olive-forward taste is desired.
Comparison Table: Olive Oil Chip Brands
| Brand | Origin | Oil Type | Key Features | Where to Find |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder Canyon | USA | 100% Pure Olive Oil | Kettle-cooked, hearty crunch, simple ingredients | Major supermarkets, online |
| Good Health | USA | Olive Oil | Kettle-style, lower sodium, simple ingredients, sometimes flavored | Major supermarkets, online |
| H-E-B | USA (Regional) | Olive Oil | Kettle-cooked, classic crunch | H-E-B supermarkets |
| Torres | Spain | Extra Virgin Olive Oil | Light and crispy, gourmet taste, unique flavors | Specialty stores, online |
| Bonilla a la Vista | Spain | Extra Virgin Olive Oil | Fine, crispy, authentic flavor, iconic tin packaging | Specialty stores, online |
| José Andrés Foods | Spain | Extra Virgin Olive Oil | Slow-fried, simple ingredient list, gourmet profile | Specialty stores, online |
Conclusion
For snack connoisseurs and those seeking cleaner ingredients, the market offers a fantastic selection of olive oil-fried potato chips. American brands like Boulder Canyon and Good Health provide accessible options with a satisfying kettle-cooked texture and simple flavor profiles. For a true taste of Mediterranean tradition, gourmet Spanish brands such as Torres, Bonilla a la Vista, and José Andrés Foods deliver an elevated snacking experience with premium extra virgin olive oil. Regardless of your preference, opting for olive oil chips is a move toward a more flavorful and often more wholesome snack. As always, enjoying them in moderation is the key to a healthy diet.
