You’re after a cheesy, soft, but a little crunchy snack. Cheetos and Chesters both fit the bill, but what’s the difference?
Chester the Cheetah is the mascot of both product lines. The same company produces them, so it’s no surprise people wonder whether the products are identical.
In this article, I will look at both product lines and check the differences between Cheetos and Chesters.
Cheetos
Fritos invented Cheetos in 1948. However, since then, the company has been sold and is now a part of the huge Pepsi-Cola family.
When there was less competition in the past, Cheetos were the most popular cheese puffs in the USA. Over the years, different shapes and many exciting flavors were added to the original product.
Where Can I Buy Cheetos And What kind of Cheetos are available today?
Cheetos are easy to find. You can buy them in grocery stores, stores like Walmart and Target, and online. To find a store with Cheetos stock close to you, check out the official “Where to buy” section on Cheetos’ website.
If you like the convenience of having things delivered to your house or flat, then you can find some great options on Amazon.
Cheetos Crunchy
Cheetos Crunchy if you find the classic cheese puff too soft, these crunchier versions are your solution. Same taste, but more crunch!
Baked Cheetos
Oven-baked Cheetos are an option for people who want to be healthier, honestly the baked crunchy cheese Cheetos are my favorite Cheetos, they also have Flamin hot baked Cheetos, but prefer the cheese option.
Cheetos Puffs
Cheetos Puffs cheese-flavored snacks are not quite the original cheese puffs from when Cheetos was invented, but they are very close to it.
Cheetos Popcorn
Cheetos Popcorn is a recent addition to the lineup and is, as the name suggests, a Cheetos-flavored popcorn-shaped snack that comes in classic and spicy flavors.
Cheetos have many more flavors, from mild and buttery, to the classic cheesy and some really hot flavors.
What are the Ingredients in Cheetos?
Looking at the ingredient list is always interesting, but Cheetos’ ingredient list length is a bit discouraging. The classic Cheetos ingredients are:
Enriched Corn Meal (Corn Meal, Ferrous Sulfate, Niacin, Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Vegetable Oil (Corn, Canola, and/or Sunflower Oil), Cheese Seasoning (Whey, Cheddar Cheese [Milk, Cheese Cultures, Salt, Enzymes], Canola Oil, Maltodextrin [Made from Corn], Natural and Artificial Flavors, Salt, Whey Protein Concentrate, Monosodium Glutamate, Lactic Acid, Citric Acid, Artificial Color [Yellow 6]), and Salt.
Are Cheetos Bad for You?
As long as you don’t live off them, it’s fine to have them as a snack – assuming you stick to the recommended serving size.
Cheetos contain a lot of salt and have a high-calorie count, so they cannot be counted as healthy, but as long as you don’t overdo your snacking, they aren’t that bad.
Are Cheetos Vegetarian or Vegan?
Vegans must live without Cheetos as they contain dairy, animal enzymes, and animal rennet. These ingredients also mean that some flavors are not suitable for vegetarians.
The non-vegetarian Cheetos flavors.
- Crunchy Cheese,
- Cheddar Jalapeno,
- and Flamin’ Hot Cheese
Most other Cheetos products should be suitable for vegetarians. Make sure to read the ingredient list carefully, as newly added products may include ingredients that are not suitable for vegetarians.
Read our related post on Cheetos vs Doritos here.
Chesters
Chesters and Cheetos have the same mascot on their packaging, so it’s easy to know that the products are related but not quite the same. Chesters puffcorn snacks are produced by the same company and are now also part of the Pepsi-Cola Company’s product lineup.
The main difference is that Cheesters puffcorns are more similar to popcorn-shape than the classic cheesy Cheetos.
What kind of Chesters are available today? Where Do I Buy Them?
Chesters can be found in the same places as Cheetos: grocery stores, Walmart, Target, other well-stocked stores that sell groceries, and online shops like Amazon. To find a store close to you, visit FritoLay’s “Where To Buy” site.
You can also find Chesters products on Amazon if you prefer to shop online.
Chesters Flamin’ Hot Fries
If you like it spicy, Chesters Flamin’ Hot Fries are available in 8 snack-sized packs.
Chesters Puffcorn cheese
The classic cheese-flavored Chesters puffcorns are best if you want something similar to Cheetos.
Unlike Cheetos, Chesters puffcorns come in fewer variations and flavors.
What are the Ingredients in Chesters?
To compare against Cheetos, here’s the ingredient list for Chesters cheese puffcorn.
Enriched corn meal (corn meal, ferrous sulfate, niacin, thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), vegetable oil (corn, canola, and/or sunflower oil), cheese seasoning (whey, cheddar cheese [milk, cheese cultures, salt, enzymes], canola oil, maltodextrin [made from corn], natural and artificial flavors, salt, whey protein concentrate, monosodium glutamate, lactic acid, citric acid, artificial color [yellow 6]), and salt.
As you can see, the ingredients for both are pretty much the same.
Are Chesters Bad for You?
You are probably already aware that there aren’t many cheesy snacks that could be advertised as healthy snacks, but does that mean they are bad for you?
It depends on how many you consume. If you eat a big sharing pack of Chesters every day, then yes, that isn’t good for you. There’s a lot of salt in Chesters – not to mention all the artificial ingredients.
But you’ll be fine if you have a snack pack of Chesters now and then.
Are Chesters Vegetarian or Vegan?
Strangely enough, Chesters has one vegan option: Chesters butter puffcorn is vegan as there is no trace of real butter to be found in them.
However, all other flavors are unsuitable for vegans because of their dairy ingredients.
The flavors look suitable for vegetarians, but Chesters does not clarify which enzymes they use for their cheese. If they are animal enzymes, it will make the product unsuitable for vegetarians.
Comparison Questions
Which Lasts Longer?
Cheetos and Chesters last about the same time. In an unopened package, these cheesy snacks stay good for at least six months after their production day. You will find the best-before date printed on the package. But, likely, you can still enjoy them after that date if the package hasn’t been damaged.
It is different once you open a pack of Cheetos or Chesters. It is recommended to consume them within a couple of days or store them in an airtight, sealed container to keep them from going stale for up to five days.
Which Is More Affordable?
Two products are fairly similar – the classic cheesy flavor and a flamin’ hot flavor, so I decided to check the average cost per oz for each.
| Cheetos | Chesters | More affordable | |
| Classic cheesy | $0.41 per oz | $0.72 per oz | Cheetos |
| Flamin’ Hot | $0.47 per oz | $0.55 per oz | Cheetos |
In both cases, Cheetos is the more affordable – and also more popular – option.
Are Cheetos Or Chesters Gluten-Free?
Both snacks are gluten-free, but someone with severe gluten intolerance needs to be aware that some flavors contain a tiny amount of gluten (20 ppm).
Most Cheetos and Chesters are completely gluten-free, but it is best always to check the label.
Is There Real Cheese in Cheetos Or Chesters?
Kind of. Both ingredient lists include a cheese-flavor seasoning made from cheese and other ingredients. But the actual amount of real cheese in this type of product is very small, so it’s not exactly something for lovers of good cheese.
Related Questions
Can Cheetos or Chesters cause diarrhea?
Yes, but mainly only the hot flavors. And you need to eat a large amount of them.
Some ingredients in hot Cheetos and Chesters aren’t very bowel-friendly, so you should stick to the recommended serving size.
Can Children Eat Cheetos Or Chesters?
Yes – at least the cheesy flavors. However, you don’t want these to be regular snacks for children. The hot flavors also should not be fed to very young children as the ingredients could easily upset young stomachs.
Can I Give Cheetos Or Chesters To My Dog?
Absolutely not.
If you want a nice snack for your dog, please stick to dog snacks. Cheetos and Chesters are not dog snacks (or cat snacks).
Final Thoughts
The main difference between Cheetos and Chesters is that Cheetos are more popular and have a wider variety of flavors and shapes available.
In addition, Cheetos are overall more affordable and easier to find online.
The flavor of both cheesy options is very similar, so it is a matter of preference and availability.
Read our related Cheezies and Cheetos articles: