Consumer advocacy group Choice has named Birds Eye's Golden Crunch Thin and Crispy Chips the best supermarket frozen chip in Australia, scoring 88% in a blind taste test of 34 products. However, the same brand's Microwave Shoestring Chips ranked last with just 37%.
The test, conducted by four judges including vegan fast-food chain co-founder Amanda Walker, evaluated chips from Woolworths, Coles, Aldi and IGA, all cooked in air fryers. Birds Eye's winning chips were praised for their 'golden colour and crispy and fluffy texture', with one judge noting a 'noticeably of baked potato' flavour.
Birds Eye also topped the crinkle-cut category with its Golden Crunch Crinkle Cut Chips (85%), but its shoestring variety scored lowest overall. Aldi's Seasons Pride Crinkle Cut Chips came second-worst with 46%. 'Just because one product performs well, others from the same brand might not necessarily have the same results,' said Choice editorial director Mark Serrels.
Nutritional analysis revealed the top-ranking chips had high sodium levels exceeding 300mg per 100g, compared to the average of 118mg. Aldi's Seasons Pride French Fries and Crinkle Cut Chips had the lowest sodium, under 8mg per 100g. Potato content ranged from 85% to over 90%, with the winning chip containing 89%.
Woolworths' Essentials French Fries won the shoestring category (66%), while its Australian Beer Batter Steakhouse Chips took best battered (76%). A kids' panel of eight judges ranked Potato Utopia's Steakhouse Fries and Woolworths' Australian Beer Batter Steakhouse Chips as joint favourites.
