Least Processed Crackers
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.
Crackers by the Numbers
We scored every crackers product in our database: 3,174 items across 420 brands. In our analysis, about 65% land in the Highly or Ultra-Processed tiers.
What should you look for on the label?
- Simple crackers list flour, water, oil, and salt with no more than 5-6 ingredients
- Avoid crackers with TBHQ, BHT, or partially hydrogenated oils
- Whole grain crackers should list whole wheat or another whole grain as the first ingredient
- Low sodium crackers can reduce processing load since less salt often means fewer flavor-masking additives
- Organic crackers skip synthetic preservatives but always verify the full ingredient list
- Cheese-flavored crackers use processed cheese powders with multiple sub-ingredients
Most Processed Crackers
For context, here are the top 5 of the opposite ranking, the most processed crackers 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 crackers ultra-processed?
Simple crackers (flour, water, oil, salt) score low. Flavored snack crackers with cheese powders, artificial flavors, and preservatives typically score high.
Are rice crackers less processed?
Plain rice crackers (rice, salt) can score as low as any cracker. However, flavored rice crackers with seasonings and coatings score similarly to wheat-based snack crackers.
What crackers have the fewest ingredients?
Water crackers, matzo, and plain flatbreads typically have 3-5 ingredients. Triscuit crackers (whole wheat, oil, salt) are a widely available example with just three ingredients. The ranking above lists the crackers with the simplest formulations.
Are saltine crackers a good low-processed option?
Basic saltine crackers have a relatively short ingredient list, but most brands add malted barley flour, baking soda, and sometimes partially hydrogenated oils. They typically land in the middle of the cracker processing spectrum.