# Question about potato chips **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** food-cooking\ **Created:** [November 18, 2021, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-potato-chips/954578 "2021-11-18T20:41:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2021, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-potato-chips/954578/1 "2021-11-18T20:41:49Z")
What is the difference between Lay’s Wavy Chips and Ruffles Chips? ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2021, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-potato-chips/954578/2 "2021-11-18T21:03:18Z")
Around here, it’s the pitch between the ridges, and the thickness of the chip. Ruffles tend to have a smaller pitch, from what I’ve seen. You wouldn’t think that makes a difference, but it does. I think Ruffles are also a bit thicker. ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2021, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-potato-chips/954578/3 "2021-11-18T21:06:08Z")
I found this picture trying to compare the two. Now _that’s_ a wave. And some squiddy goodness [![](https://img01.weeecdn.com/2021-04/Up9aFJDvQSK94__t0RqmeA-square.jpg) ](https://img01.weeecdn.com/2021-04/Up9aFJDvQSK94__t0RqmeA-square.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2021, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-potato-chips/954578/4 "2021-11-18T21:09:09Z")
Ruffles (on the left) have v-shaped ridges and there are much more of them. Wavy Lay’s (on the right) have wider, u-shaped ridges. I thought it was Wavy Lay’s that were thicker, but I could be wrong. [![](https://lthanlon.files.wordpress.com/2019/04/chip_compare.jpg) ](https://lthanlon.files.wordpress.com/2019/04/chip_compare.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2021, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-potato-chips/954578/5 "2021-11-18T21:29:09Z")
Who else is now curious to try Grilled Squid Wavy Lay’s? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2021, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-potato-chips/954578/6 "2021-11-18T21:47:48Z")
My son has a Facebook show where he reviews snacks from other countries, and I believe he has tried the grilled squid flavor Lays. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2021, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-potato-chips/954578/7 "2021-11-19T02:16:16Z")
Don’t leave us in suspense! ---
**Author:** ![peedin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peedin/32/14095_2.png) [@peedin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peedin)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2021, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-potato-chips/954578/8 "2021-11-19T14:31:39Z")
I am a potato chip connoisseur although I draw the line at odd flavors like squid. Ruffles are thinner and seem to be a bit greasier, and saltier. Wavy Lays stand up to a hearty dip and are the preferred chips in my household where n=1. I won’t turn down a Ruffle and Ruffles come in flavors such as sour cream and onion. Wavy Lays are always plain. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2021, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-potato-chips/954578/9 "2021-11-19T14:44:52Z")
> [@Kent\_Clark](#): > > Don’t leave us in suspense! I talked to him, and it turns out he hasn’t reviewed that particular item…yet. He _has_ reviewed just about every Kit Kat, and he just finished taping a show where he tries out the new ginger Mountain Dew. He says that if you like weak, slightly flat ginger ale loaded with caffeine, it is just the thing. ---
**Author:** ![Oredigger77](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oredigger77/32/3181_2.png) [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2021, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-potato-chips/954578/10 "2021-11-19T14:45:39Z")
> [@peedin](#): > > I am a potato chip connoisseur although I draw the line at odd flavors like squid. I’m much more excited by a squid flavor than ketchup or pizza. Of course, I eat dried cuttlefish and squid nigiri is my favorite type of sushi. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2021, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-potato-chips/954578/11 "2021-11-19T14:52:16Z")
I _love_ “squid-flavored peanut balls”. Forget about how that sequence of words makes you feel, they taste so good! > **[Amazon.com : Squid/ Peanut Snack 98g Pack of 3 : Grocery & Gourmet Food](https://www.amazon.com/Squid-Peanut-Snack-98g-Pack/dp/B00ONLDVRG)** > > Amazon.com : Squid/ Peanut Snack 98g Pack of 3 : Grocery & Gourmet Food ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2021, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-potato-chips/954578/12 "2021-11-19T15:04:08Z")
I have put in a request for him to do a squid-based “Snack React” show. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2021, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-potato-chips/954578/13 "2021-11-19T15:22:25Z")
I’ve had and enjoyed quite a lot of [Tako Octopus-flavored chips](https://www.amazon.com/Flavored-Snack-Tako-Chips-2-11oz/dp/B00886G8QS/). Not potato chips but rice-and-wheat based. Not sure if the flavor can accurately be described as “octopus” but they’re pretty good. There might be a bit of a seafood-y aftertaste, but otherwise they mostly just taste of salt, and texturally they kind of remind me of those 3D Doritos. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2021, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-potato-chips/954578/14 "2021-11-19T17:04:10Z")
There really aren’t that many variables in making a potato chip. The ones I can think of are: Potato variety Way they’re sliced Thickness of slices Oil type Oil temperature Frying procedure and/or time. Salt Flavoring Since Ruffles and Wavy Lay’s are both Frito-Lay products, I sort of doubt the oil is very different between them, as they make their chips in [huge industrial factories that make multiple varieties of chips and snacks simultaneously, including Fritos, Funyuns, Lay’s and Ruffles](https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:bcyCV6KL3iUJ:https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/article/Frito-Lay-plant-expansion-brings-jobs-Funyuns-to-16240233.php+&cd=14&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us). I also kind of doubt they specifically use different potato varieties for the same reason- wouldn’t make sense to manage two different kinds of potatoes on that scale. So it’s more than likely the cut/thickness combined with potential differences in the cooking conditions and process that make the difference. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2021, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-potato-chips/954578/15 "2021-11-19T18:42:37Z")
At Frito Lay-level scale, they’re proabably also controlling for things like moisture and starch content. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2021, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-potato-chips/954578/16 "2021-11-19T21:37:04Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > Around here, it’s the pitch between the ridges, I prefer the term “wavelength”; sounds more science-y. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2021, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-potato-chips/954578/17 "2021-11-19T21:42:25Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > I prefer the term “wavelength”; sounds more science-y. Look if you’re going to try to out-science-y me, I’m going to start talking about potato-based lenticular structures and the advantages they have for dipping purposes. ---
**Author:** ![Kropotkin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kropotkin/32/18045_2.png) [@Kropotkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kropotkin)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2021, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-potato-chips/954578/18 "2021-11-19T21:45:59Z")
I feel a lot better with that word order than I would with “peanut flavoured squid balls.” ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2021, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-potato-chips/954578/19 "2021-11-19T22:20:09Z")
Ruffles never featured an annoying Mark Messier faking laughter at the end of every ad. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2021, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-potato-chips/954578/20 "2021-11-19T22:30:24Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > Look if you’re going to try to out-science-y me, I’m going to start talking about potato-based lenticular structures and the advantages they have for dipping purposes. Those hard angles on Ruffles are a structural failure just waiting to happen. Before dipping, you should check the chip for cracks, which are a sure sign of potato fatigue. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-potato-chips/954578.md?page=2)