Potato Chips are one of my favorite foods. Although I purchase and consume several different brands and varieties of them, two of the types of potato chips that I eat most frequently are Lay’s Wavy Potato Chips and UTZ brand Wavy Potato Chips. While these two brands of wavy potato chips are similar in many ways, they also maintain distinct differences.
Presented here, as a service to the consumer at large, is one food writer’s product comparison review of Lay’s Wavy Potato Chips and UTZ brand Wavy Potato Chips.
Size
The net weight of the standard, family – sized bag of Utz Wavy Potato Chips is 10 ounces. According to the product label, the bag contains approximately ten 20 chip servings. I know that when I start eating these chips, it is very difficult to stop eating them and I often end up getting only about five servings from one bag.
The net weight of the standard, family-sized bag of Lay’s Wavy Potato Chips is 11 ounces. The label on this package states that the bag holds approximately 12 one ounce servings of potato chips. It is also difficult to stop eating these chips, once I have started.
Price
The regular retail price charged for one 11 ounce bag of Lay’s Wavy Potato Chips at Hartford, Connecticut area supermarkets and pharmacies is approximately $3.00.
The regular retail price charged for one 10 ounce bag of UTZ brand Wavy Potato Chips at Hartford, Connecticut area supermarkets and pharmacies ranges between $2 and $3. I don’t know the reason for the wide disparity in price, but the price of these potato chips seems to fluctuate from store to store.
Texture
The texture of both Lay’s Wavy Potato Chips and UTZ brand Wavy Potato Chips is very similar. Each of these brands offers crisp chips that feature ridges, or lines throughout. Although both brands of wavy potato chips are crisp and crunchy, I think that the UTZ brand Wavy Potato Chips provide a more pleasing overall texture.
Nutritional Facts
Lay’s Wavy Potato Chips contain 150 calories, with 80 calories from fat, per one ounce serving. These chips also contain 1 gram of saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 10 grams total fat, 0 mg of cholesterol, 180 mg of sodium, 330 mg of potassium, 15 grams total carbohydrates, 1 gram of dietary fiber, 0 grams of sugars and 2 grams of protein, per one ounce serving.
UTZ brand Wavy Potato Chips contain 150 calories, with 80 calories from fat, per one ounce (about 20 chips) serving. This product also contains 2 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 9 grams total fat, 0 mg of cholesterol, 95 mg of sodium, 370 mg of potassium, 14 grams total carbohydrates, 1 gram of dietary fiber, 0 grams of sugars and 2 grams of protein, per one ounce serving.
Taste / Flavor
I really like the flavor of both of these brands of wavy potato chips. Each brand features fresh – tasting potatoes that are expertly – seasoned with salt, but the sodium count in the two brands differs greatly. The Lay’s Wavy Potato Chips contain quite a bit more sodium than the UTZ brand Wavy Potato Chips, but the difference in taste is not readily apparent. To me, the UTZ brand chips taste a little bit better than the Lay’s brand chips, but they contain less sodium. Go figure.
Packaging
Lay’s Wavy Potato Chips and UTZ brand Wavy Potato Chips are both packaged in standard type potato chip bags. Each brands’ bag is easy to open and each bag also re-closes effectively. Each brands’ bag is attractively designed and also lists all pertinent ingredient and nutritional information.
Overall Rating
If you are a fan of potato chips, particularly ridged potato chips, chances are, you’ll enjoy eating either of these brands of wavy potato chips. Personally, I think that I slightly prefer the flavor, texture and overall quality of UTZ brand Wavy Potato Chips over Lay’s Wavy Potato Chips, but that is strictly a matter of individual preference.
Although Lay’s potato chips are generally a little easier to find than UTZ brand potato chips, I see more and more retail stores stocking and selling UTZ brand products on a regular basis. While I recommend both of these brands of wavy potato chips, my personal tastes lean more toward the UTZ brand Wavy Potato Chips.
Sources :
Personal experience with the products
The product labels
