Pringles Salt and Vinegar Crisps, 165g

Salt and vinegar on a Pringle is sharp and salty enough to make the mouth water, and this is the saltiest tube in the Pringles range we stock. The 165g tube suggests five to six servings on the label, and the full product name on the pack is Salt and Vinegar Flavour Savoury Snack.

The crisp, and the oil

According to the published pack listing, the crisps are made from dehydrated potatoes, vegetable oils (sunflower, palm and corn in varying proportions), wheat flour, corn flour, rice flour, a salt and vinegar seasoning, maltodextrin, an emulsifier (E471), salt and a colour, annatto norbixin.

The oil blend includes palm oil, which is richer in saturated fat than sunflower or rapeseed, and the label reflects it: 6.3g of saturates per 100g, red on the front of pack scale, against 2.7g for Pringles Cheese and Onion, which lists sunflower and rapeseed oils.

A vinegar flavour without vinegar

The seasoning lists flavourings (barley), potato starch, lactose (milk), maltodextrin, flavour enhancers (monosodium glutamate, disodium guanylate and disodium inosinate), salt, acids (citric and malic) and sunflower oil. Vinegar itself is not on the list. The vinegar character comes from the flavourings, which the label says contain barley, and the sharpness from citric and malic acid. Lactose and maltodextrin carry the powder and soften the acids, and the three flavour enhancers give the savoury depth underneath.

The saltiest Pringles we stock

Salt appears in the seasoning and again in the crisp, and the label gives 1.9g of salt per 100g, the highest of the Pringles in our range. Anything above 1.5g per 100g is red on the UK scale. Per 30g serving that is 0.57g, about 10% of an average adult's daily reference intake. For a Pringle with far less salt, Original and Sour Cream and Onion both show 0.62g per 100g on their labels.

Numbers per serving

The label gives, per 30g serving, 154 kcal (644 kJ), 8.7g of fat, 1.9g of saturates, 17g of carbohydrate, 0.8g of sugars, 1g of fibre, 1.7g of protein and 0.57g of salt. Per 100g it is 514 kcal, 29g of fat, 6.3g of saturates, 56g of carbohydrate, 2.5g of sugars, 3.3g of fibre, 5.7g of protein and 1.9g of salt.

Reading the front of the pack

Per 100g, three of the four colours are red: fat at 29g, saturates at 6.3g and salt at 1.9g. Sugars at 2.5g are green. It is worth knowing if you compare labels, and it is why a 30g serving, rather than the whole tube, is the sensible portion.

Allergens and diet

The published ingredients highlight cereals containing gluten, from the wheat flour in the dough and the barley in the flavourings, and milk, from the lactose. The allergy advice says the crisps may contain soya. The pack says they are suitable for vegetarians. They are not vegan, because of the milk, and not suitable for anyone avoiding gluten. Recipes and factory arrangements change, so check the allergy advice on the pack you receive.

The tube and its recycling

The label says the tube is packaged in a protective atmosphere. The published recycling guidance says the lid can be recycled and the seal should not be. The pack names Kellogg's, at MediaCityUK in Salford, as the distributor.

Serving the tube

A sharp, salty crisp needs something rich or creamy beside it. Serve a stack with a soured cream dip, a cheese board, sausage rolls or a scotch egg, and keep a jug of water on the table. At a fish supper at home, a bowl of these does the job of the vinegar bottle.

In the kitchen

Crushed, salt and vinegar Pringles make a sharp crumb for fish goujons or a topping for mushy peas. Use a little: the seasoning is strong, and a spoonful of crumbs goes a long way. Because they are already salty, leave the salt out of whatever you are coating.

Why the same flavour differs between brands

Salt and vinegar crisps are built in different ways. This tube uses barley flavourings and citric and malic acid, with lactose and three flavour enhancers, on a formed crisp made with a palm oil blend. The Walkers Salt and Vinegar crisps we stock use potassium acetates and citric acid on a sliced potato, and show 0.64g of salt per 100g on their label. Same name, very different labels, which is why reading the back of the pack matters.

Other Pringles flavours

In the same 165g tube we stock Pringles Original, Sour Cream and Onion, Cheese and Onion, Paprika, Smokey Bacon, Texas BBQ Sauce and Prawn Cocktail.

Storage

The label points to the base of the tube for the best before date. Store it in a cool, dry place and press the lid on firmly once opened.

Other 165g packs of Pringles we stock

Figures as published on each pack's label.

The tasting notes on this page are our own editorial assessment against the current pack format and the brand's published description.