We all have ourfavorite snack foods, and for me, it’s a nostalgic one: Cheetos.
Sure, there are a lot of other flavors available, but why mess with a classic?
But, are they still good?
Photos: Cheetos. Design: Eat This, Not That!
How about the original?
Here they are, ranked in descending order from worst to best.
This bag cost me $3.98 at Walmart.
Photo: Dana McMahan, Eat This, Not That!
The taste:Disclaimer: I loathe bell peppers.
One bite in and I was reaching for the spit bucket.
That’s not the only reason these ranked last.
Photo: Dana McMahan, Eat This, Not That!
This one just didn’t do it for my band of tasters, either.
The best anyone could muster was, “It’s … Also: “I would never buy it but I’d tolerate it.”
One taster summed it up: “The more words in the title, the worse it tastes.”
Photo: Dana McMahan, Eat This, Not That!
Well, turns out you should.
An orangey-red (yes, yes, fire colored) tool of Cheetos dust completes the picture.
Before anyone tried them, my tasters gave kudos to the texture and shape.
Photo: Dana McMahan, Eat This, Not That!
This flavor was also on sale for $4 at Target.
The look:A lurid orange cast to the trademark red of Flamin' Hot coats these crunchy bites.
The taste:If the creators were going for heat, then they can certainly check that box.
Photo: Dana McMahan, Eat This, Not That!
That’s about it, though.
“I honestly don’t get limon,” said one taster.
“A tinge?”
Photo: Dana McMahan, Eat This, Not That!
The overall consensus was that Frito Lay called this one in, with a bland, forgettable product.
It wasn’t … bad, but there’s not much to add beyond that.
I paid $4 for these, too, at Target.
Photo: Dana McMahan, Eat This, Not That!
It’s definitely a departure from the usual suspects with a soft-meets-crunchy texture that kept us going back.
A bag of these cost $1.39 at Walmartthe cheapest of the bunch.
The taste:Although they’re mild, these sneak up on you.
Photo: Dana McMahan, Eat This, Not That!
“It’s easy to pop one after the other,” one taster said.
While they’re airy, they still manage to pack a punch of queso and chili.
I grabbed a Flamin' Hot bag from a local convenience store for $5.89.
Photo: Dana McMahan, Eat This, Not That!
The taste:Instant heat here with a mild punch to the throat.
Like many other flavors, this one cost me $4 at Target.
The taste:“They nailed jalapeno essence,” noted one self-described jalapeno fan.
“I have a confession,” added another, “I like these better than the original.”
They’re not in your face, we decided.
I got this bag for $4 at Target as well.
The taste:Like childhood.
In crunchy, airy form!
With a savory, somehow soothing current that sweeps you along until the bag is empty.
In short: bliss.
Yet, there’s one flavor that I’ve found to taste even better than the original.
Elote, the popular Mexican street corn, in Cheetos form?
Be still my heart.
proclaims the bag, and does it deliver.
The bag cost me $3.98 at Walmart.
Also, the bonus specks of something are maybe meant to make you think of herbs?
Long past the point of “needing” to taste, I kept plowing through.
“The more I eat it, the more I like it,” agreed another taster.
I never thought anything would unseat the flavor of my childhood, but this one’s done it.
