Pringles Reduced Fat Original Potato Crisps Review

I recently tried Pringles Reduced Fat Original Potato Crisps, and am comparing them to Pringles Original Flavor Potato Crisps, which I’ve eaten for nearly forty years. Today, as back in 1974 when I first learned of Pringles potato chips, the flavor has remained consistent, and the chips (crisps) themselves have not changed much visually, and this is largely true of this newer, reduced fat version as well.

In the early days, they provided a wavy paper insert that covered the inside sides of the can, to protect the potato chips from breakage and perhaps to absorb any excess oils. However, they’ve done away with that paper without any ill effect. The crunchy potato chips appear to endure well, the shipment to my local grocery store or 24-hour convenience stand.

Though the can decorations have changed many times since those first bright red cylinders appeared in the early seventies, even these lower fat Pringles originals call to mind lots of fond memories in me. Though I often avoid foods with added fat these days, once in a while, I still cannot resist buying a can of Pringles in front of the T.V. These reduced fat Pringles chips faithfully replicate that signature original taste. So I do not feel as guilty watching an extra episode of Hawaii Five-0 with them in my snack bowl.

Benefits, Advantages, Pros, And Features

They contain “25% less fat than regular potato chips,” to quote the label.
These potato crisps are generally easy to find at bigger grocery stores.
Their light potato flavor with low oil and grease content, still beats those bouts of afternoon hunger and late-night munchies; just like the originals. The crunch is unique to Pringles, that are never soggy or limp at my Internet radio table.
Pringles potato chips are not overly greasy, and the flavor, unlike the more traditional bagged potato chips never becomes monotonous in my humble opinion. These reduced fat Pringles are even less greasy, and compromise nary a bit on the great taste of original Pringles.
The chips, if kept in the provided tube with the lid snapped shut, keep for months prior to initial opening, or several weeks after opening. Thus, this is a great food to stock pile.
This low-fat alternative to original Pringles crisps may crunch even more than the originals, due to the reduced oils.
The chips are all of the same shape, which makes them easier to eat. You can fit a large stack of them in the palm of your hand, and woof them down with little if any spillage.
No trans fats.
You get very few crumbs at the bottom of a Pringles can; much less than what you’d find in a traditional bag of potato chips. The can works well therefore.
Pringles cans may be stacked vertically or horizontally several layers deep, without hurting the potato crisps inside.
I found this Pringles product at a Walmart super center for roughly $1.50 per can yesterday. Great price!
This product comes in a 5.71 ounce Super Stack can. However, I’ve yet to spot a single-serving version of this reduced fat potato chip.
Though the original flavor of Pringles is what I love and remember best, I’m pleased that nowadays, Pringles offers a somewhat healthier version of that classic snack chip.
They’ve removed all the added sugar and sodium-based food additives from this flavor of Pringles chip. Very nice.

Disadvantages. Cons, Problems, and Concerns

These potato chips, while possessing lower fat levels, still have a lot of sodium (7 grams and 135 milligrams respectively) per one-ounce serving.
The potato crisps could be a bit thicker, as I often find myself eating two or three at a time. This not only boosts their wholesome good taste, but makes them strong enough to hold any chip dip you care to scoop up with them.

Ingredients List

Dried potatoes, vegetable oil (contains one or more of the following: corn oil, cottonseed oil, soybean oil, and/or sunflower oil), wheat starch, maltodextrin, corn flour, rice flour, and salt.

Contains wheat ingredients.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size: 1 ounce (28 grams or approximately 16 crisps). Servings per container: 6.
Calories per serving: 140. Calories from fat: 70.
Total fat: 7 grams, 11% DV.
Saturated fat: 2 grams, 11% DV.
Trans fat: 0 grams.
Polyunsaturated fat: 3.5 grams.
Monounsaturated fat: 1.5 grams.
Cholesterol: 0 milligrams, 0% DV.
Sodium: 135 milligrams, 4% DV.
Total carbohydrate: 17 grams, 4% DV.
Dietary fiber: 1 gram, 3% DV.
Sugars: 1 gram.
Protein: 1 gram.
Vitamin A: 0% DV.
Calcium: 0% DV.
Vitamin C: 6% DV.
Iron: 0% DV.

Product Rating

On the whole, I really like these Pringles original-flavored lower fat potato chips. Even this healthier version should receive wide-spread acceptance at parties since there’s so little difference in flavor between them, and their higher-fat snack that inspired them. They retain their freshness for at least several hours if poured into a bowl outside of the tube, and are widely recognized. People know a Pringles chip without even seeing the can. I’d rate this snack at 96 out of 100.

Where To Buy Pringles Reduced Fat Original Potato Crisps

So look for them in the red, white, and yellow can with the semi-clear white lid that tops the can at your favorite convenience or grocery store.

References

Revision History

2015-01-24: Moved this piece to the Tom’s Diet Quest blog, added whitespace, tweaked content, and adjusted ad placement and category and tag assignments.
2012-04-28: Originally published.