Walkers Max KFC Original Chicken Ridged Crisps, 140g

Walkers Max is Walkers' deep ridged range, and this bag carries a Kentucky Fried Chicken flavour: a peppery, herby, savoury seasoning on thick, ridged crisps. This is the 140g sharing bag, which the label suggests serves four to five. The full product name on the pack is Kentucky Fried Chicken Flavour Ridged Potato Crisps, and the pack names Walkers Snack Foods Ltd as the maker.

The ingredients

According to the published pack listing, the crisps are made from potatoes, vegetable oils (sunflower and rapeseed, in varying proportions), a Kentucky Fried Chicken seasoning (sugar, flavouring, salt, mixed spices of black pepper, white pepper, ginger powder, coriander powder and ground nutmeg, hydrolysed vegetable protein containing soya, whey powder from milk, potassium chloride, skimmed milk powder, garlic powder, onion powder, colours paprika extract and curcumin, citric acid and dried herbs), and antioxidants (rosemary extract, ascorbic acid, tocopherol rich extract and citric acid).

The spice blend

Five spices are named: black pepper and white pepper for warmth, ginger for a clean heat, coriander for a citrus note and nutmeg for a sweet, warm edge. With garlic, onion and dried herbs, they give the seasoned crust flavour of fried chicken. The pepper brings warmth but no chilli heat.

No chicken

No chicken or other meat is listed, and the pack says the crisps are suitable for vegetarians. The savoury, chicken like depth comes from the flavouring and from hydrolysed vegetable protein, a savoury ingredient made from soya.

Hydrolysed vegetable protein

Hydrolysed vegetable protein is made by breaking down a plant protein, here from soya, into smaller pieces, which gives a savoury, meaty taste. It is common in stock cubes and gravy granules, and it is why soya is highlighted on this pack.

Sugar first

Sugar is the first ingredient of the seasoning, as it often is in a savoury coating, but the label gives only 0.6g of sugars in a 30g serving, because the seasoning is a small part of each crisp.

Milk and soya

Two allergens are in the seasoning. Whey powder and skimmed milk powder come from milk, and the hydrolysed vegetable protein contains soya. The allergy advice adds that the crisps may contain cereals containing gluten and mustard.

The colour

The golden colour comes from paprika extract and curcumin, the yellow colour of turmeric. The pack says there are no artificial colours.

Deep ridges

Max crisps are cut with deep ridges, which makes each slice thicker and stiffer than a classic crisp. The ridges hold more seasoning and give a heavier crunch, the way a crisp coating does on fried chicken.

Numbers per serving

The label gives 152 kcal, 9g of fat, 0.7g of saturates, 15g of carbohydrate, 0.6g of sugars, 1.6g of fibre, 2.2g of protein and 0.38g of salt for each 30g serving. That is about 8% of an average adult's daily energy reference intake, 13% of the fat and 6% of the salt. Per 100g it is 508 kcal, 30g of fat, 2.3g of saturates, 50g of carbohydrate, 1.9g of sugars, 5.2g of fibre, 7.2g of protein and 1.3g of salt.

Reading the front of the pack

On the UK front of pack scale, per 100g, fat at 30g is red, as it is for fried crisps generally. Saturates at 2.3g are amber. Sugars at 1.9g are green. Salt at 1.3g is amber, in the upper part of its band.

Allergens and diet

The published ingredients highlight milk and soya. The allergy advice says the crisps may contain cereals containing gluten and mustard. The pack says they are suitable for vegetarians; they are not vegan, because of the milk, and there is no gluten free claim. Recipes and factory arrangements change, so check the allergy advice on the pack you receive.

What the pack leaves out

The pack says there are no artificial colours and no added MSG. The antioxidants, rosemary extract, ascorbic acid and a tocopherol rich extract, protect the oil from going stale.

A sharing bag

At 140g, the bag suggests four to five servings of 30g. Tip it into a bowl rather than eating from the bag, so the portion is easier to judge.

Serving the bag

A fried chicken flavour suits a film night, a match or a party table. Serve it with a cold lager or a cola, a coleslaw, or a garlic and herb dip.

In the kitchen

Crushed, the crisps make a seasoned coating for chicken strips or fish goujons, pressed onto egg washed pieces and baked. The spices are already in the crumb.

Storage

The pack advises a cool, dry place and, once opened, eating the crisps within three days. The bag is packaged in a protective atmosphere, which keeps oxygen away from the oil until you open it.

Other Walkers Max flavours

In the same 140g bag we stock Walkers Max Strong Jalapeño and Cheese, Punchy Paprika and Sizzling Flame Grilled Steak. For a vegetarian chicken flavour on a classic Walkers crisp, Walkers Roast Chicken comes in a 45g bag.

Other 140g packs of Walkers Max we stock

Figures as published on each pack's label.

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