Apple season has arrived, which means it’s time for all things pomme: Fresh apples, dried apples, applesauce, apple pie, apple cake and one of the newer apple treats — crispy, sweet apple chips.
Baked or freeze-dried, apple chips are made from a range of apple varieties. Some are made crispy by coating them with oil, but most are a single-ingredient treat.
Frugal foodies will argue that apple chips are over-priced — and simple to make at home in an air fryer. But snackers lacking the tools or ambition to DIY chips will find bags of these snacks in various spots around the market, including the snack aisle, the produce section or in the vicinity of dried fruit. Interestingly, while a multitude of companies produce the crispy chips and slices, many brands are only available regionally — or online, where they’re sold in bulk.
Curious to know if any of these deliver the kind of apple goodness we crave, we crunched through a mound of apple chips and slices that we found at local markets. The sweetest of the lot are the freeze-dried apples, followed by those that list apples as the one and only ingredient. Less sweet and more crispy: apple chips that incorporate oil, even though they also have added sugar.
Great apple chips are pleasantly crunchy and deliver a burst of fresh apple in every chip. Bad apple chips are soft and bland, or taste more like oil than apple. Note that all apple chips lose their crunchy texture if left unsealed, which means they’re not a great snack for parties or snack buffets.
Here are the details on the most crunch-worthy apple slices, and the soft, oily chips to avoid. Nutrition info refers to 1 ounce or about 12 chips.
Trader Joe’s Apple Chip Duo
These zippy slices of crinkle-cut red and green apples are crispy and have as much flavor as a juicy, fresh apple — plus they are reasonably priced. 100 calories, no fat, no sodium, 18 g sugar, 8 g fiber, 1 g protein. $2.49 for 2 ounces. (4 stars)
Rind Apple Chips
Some may balk at the appearance of these rustic, un-peeled brown-colored chips, but they have big apple flavor and a pleasant, crunchy texture. 100 calories, no fat, no sodium, 17 g sugar, 1 g fiber, 1 g protein. $3.98 for 2.7 ounces at Walmart. (3½ stars)
Bare Organic Crispy Reds Apple Chips
These tasty, crispy chips are pricey, especially since it’s hard to stop from crunching through the entire bag by yourself. The flavor is top notch, but be aware that these begin to turn sticky within minutes of opening the bag. 110 calories, no fat, no sodium, 20 g sugar, 4 g fiber, no protein. $5.57 for 3 ounces at Whole Foods. (3½ stars)
Bare Granny Smith Apple Chips
If you like the sour kick of a Granny Smith apple, you’ll appreciate these lively chips. They are tasty, if a bit tart. These have the same quick-to-get-sticky issue as the crispy red apple chips. 110 calories, no fat, no sodium, 17 g sugar, 5 g fiber, no protein. $4.49 for 3.4 ounces at Raley’s. (3 stars)
Seneca Pink Lady Apple Chips
Craving potato chips? These apple chips are the next best thing, especially for anyone with a sweet tooth. These are huge, crispy chips, even if the oil dulls the apple flavor. 150 calories, 8 g fat, 10 mg sodium, 10 g sugar, 2 g fiber, no protein. $2.99 for 2.5 ounces at Raley’s. (2½ stars)
Seneca Original Apple Chips
The flavor of oil diminishes the deliciousness of these gorgeous chips. That said, they deliver lots of crunch and would taste great with a slightly sweet dip. 140 calories, 6 g fat, 15 mg sodium, 11 g sugar, 2 g fiber, 2 g protein. $2.99 for 2.5 ounces at Raley’s. (2 stars)
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Good & Gather Freeze Dried Apple Slices
These puffy apple slices with shiny skin are a bit bland, but OK in a pinch. 96 calories, no fat, no sodium, 23 g sugar, 4 g fiber, .5 g protein. $4.99 for 1.25 ounces at Target. (1½ stars)
Great Value Freeze Dried Fuji Apple Fruit Crisps
Applesauce fans will love these extra-soft, peel-free slices. These are great for young eaters, but they lack the charm of a fresh Fuji. 110 calories, no fat, no sodium, 21 g sugar, 3 g fiber, no protein. $3.28 for 1 ounce at Walmart. (1 star)
Reviews are based on product samples purchased by this newspaper or provided by manufacturers. Contact Jolene Thym at timespickyeater@gmail.com. Read more Taste-off columns at www.mercurynews.com/tag/taste-off.
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