McCoy's Cheddar and Onion Crisps, 45g

McCoy's crisps are ridge cut, and the ridges are the point: a thicker, corrugated slice with a harder crunch than a thin crisp and more surface for the seasoning to cling to. This 45g bag of McCoy's Cheddar and Onion puts a cheese and onion seasoning on that crisp. The full product name on the pack is Cheddar and Onion Flavour Potato Crisps.

What a ridge cut does

A ridge cut slice is cut with a corrugated blade, which gives each crisp parallel ridges on both faces. Ridged crisps are usually cut thicker than standard thin crisps, so they take longer to fry and come out firmer. The result is a louder, harder crunch and a crisp that stands up to a thick dip without snapping. The grooves also hold more seasoning than a flat surface, which is why a ridged crisp tastes stronger for the same amount of powder.

What is in the bag

According to the published pack listing, the crisps are made from potatoes, sunflower oil and a cheddar and onion flavour seasoning. The seasoning lists dried onion, dried yeast extract, dried whey (milk), dextrose, salt, dried whole milk, dried cheese (milk), rubbed parsley, flavourings (containing milk) and onion extract, with paprika extract for colour.

Read in order, it describes an onion led flavour with a savoury backbone. Dried onion comes first, then yeast extract for depth. The dairy comes in three forms, whey, whole milk and dried cheese, which gives a rounder, creamier cheese note than cheese powder alone. Rubbed parsley is an unusual touch, a small green herb note that you would find in a homemade cheese and onion filling. Dextrose adds a little sweetness to balance the salt.

Cheddar and onion or cheese and onion

McCoy's calls this flavour cheddar and onion, where most brands say cheese and onion. The ingredients list dried cheese without naming the variety, so read the name as a description of the style: a stronger, more savoury cheese note than a mild one, built here from cheese, whey, whole milk and yeast extract.

What the bag adds up to

The label gives 237 kcal (989 kJ), 14g of fat, 1.1g of saturates, 24g of carbohydrate, 1.1g of sugars, 2g of fibre, 3.3g of protein and 0.44g of salt for the 45g bag. That is about 12% of an average adult's daily energy reference intake, 20% of the fat and 7% of the salt. Per 100g it is 526 kcal, 30g of fat, 2.5g of saturates, 2.4g of sugars and 0.97g of salt. On the UK front of pack scale fat is high, saturates and salt are medium, and sugars are low.

Among the McCoy's crisps we stock, this is one of the lower salt flavours per 100g; salt and malt vinegar, for comparison, is the saltiest at 2.1g.

Allergens and diet

The published ingredients highlight milk, in the whey, whole milk, cheese and flavourings. The allergy advice says the crisps may contain cereals containing gluten, mustard and soya. The pack says they are suitable for vegetarians. No vegan claim is made, and with milk in the seasoning they are not vegan; no gluten free claim is made. Recipes and factory arrangements change, so check the allergy advice on the pack you receive.

How the crisps are made

Potatoes are washed and cut with a ridged blade into thicker slices than a standard crisp, rinsed of surface starch and fried in sunflower oil until the water has cooked out. The thicker slice takes a little longer in the fryer, which is what gives ridge cut crisps their firmer bite. The seasoning is tumbled onto the warm crisps, where the ridges catch it. The pack says the bag is packaged in a protective atmosphere, which keeps oxygen away from the oil.

When to reach for it

A thick ridged crisp suits a proper lunch: a doorstep sandwich, a pork pie or a ploughman's. It also works as a scoop for a thick dip such as a cheese and chive dip or a chunky salsa. The cheddar and onion flavour goes with cold meats, pickles and a sharp cheese.

The packet

The published listing says the whole packaging can be recycled with carrier bags at large supermarkets and should not go in home recycling. Crisp packets are made from layered films, so they need the collection points that take soft plastics.

Other sizes and flavours

The same flavour comes as a six bag multipack of 25g bags, and cheddar and onion is in both sizes of the McCoy's Classic Variety box: two bags in the six bag box and four in the twelve. In the same 45g size we stock McCoy's Flame Grilled Steak, Salt and Malt Vinegar, Thai Sweet Chicken and Hot 'n' Spicy.

Storage

The pack advises a cool, dry place. Once opened, finish the bag the same day, or roll it down and clip it for later.

Sizes of McCoy's Cheddar and Onion Crisps we stock

Figures as published on each pack's label.

The published listing gives the United Kingdom as the country of origin and names KP Snacks as the maker. The tasting notes on this page are our own editorial assessment against the current pack format and the brand's published description.