Least Processed Chips & Crisps
Each product is ranked by its own Processing Score, lowest first. To keep the list from being one company's catalog, it shows at most two products from any one brand.
Chips & Crisps by the Numbers
We scored every chips & crisps product in our database: 11,614 items across 1,109 brands. In our analysis, about 47% land in the Highly or Ultra-Processed tiers.
What should you look for on the label?
- Plain salted chips (potatoes, oil, salt) score lowest, the simplest option in the category
- Flavored chips with "seasoning blend" typically contain 10+ hidden sub-ingredients
- "Natural flavors" in chips is not the same as natural. It is an industrial extract
- Kettle-cooked chips use the same ingredients as regular but a different cooking method
Most Processed Chips & Crisps
For context, here are the top 5 of the opposite ranking, the most processed chips & crisps in our analysis.
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How are products scored?
Every product is evaluated using two independent scores. The Processing Score (lower is better) measures the degree of industrial processing based on ingredient analysis, including the presence of artificial additives, preservatives, and highly modified ingredients. The Nutrition Score (higher is better) rates overall nutritional quality, rewarding protein and fiber while penalizing excess sodium, added sugars, and saturated fat.
Products are assigned to one of four processing levels: Minimal (score ≤ 2.5), Processed (2.6 to 5.0), Highly Processed (5.1 to 8.0), and Ultra-Processed (above 8.0). Each product in the ranking is placed by its own Processing Score, not by its brand. Based on our analysis of 445K+ curated products from the USDA FoodData Central database. For a deeper look, see our Processing Score guide and Two-Score System explanation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are potato chips ultra-processed?
Plain salted potato chips (potatoes, oil, salt) score near the bottom of our scale. Of the 11,614 chips in our analysis, 53% are Level 1 or 2 and 15% are Level 4. Flavored varieties with artificial seasonings score higher.
What are the healthiest chips to eat?
In our analysis, the least processed chips are plain salted varieties made with just potatoes, oil, and salt. Kettle-cooked and thick-cut styles with the same simple ingredients score equally well. The chips ranked here have the lowest processing scores in the category, each scored on its own ingredient list.
Are kettle-cooked chips less processed?
Kettle cooking is a different method (batch vs continuous frying) but does not change the ingredients. If the ingredient list is the same, the processing score is the same.
Which chips use the fewest ingredients?
The least processed potato chips keep it to three ingredients: potatoes, oil, and salt. Chips made with just these consistently score lowest in our rankings.