Corn chips and potato chips have similarities and differences; of course, the main difference is the fact that one is made from potatoes and the other from corn. If you aren’t familiar with one of these chip types you may wonder how they differ from each other. Is one healthier than the other?
These are some questions I will go over and answer in this article while providing you with infomation about the ingredients, examples of each, and much more!
Corn Chips
What Are Corn Chips Ingredients?
Ordinary salted corn chips have a nice, short ingredient list:
Corn, corn oil, and salt.
It can get a little more complicated when you look at flavored varieties of corn chips. Some corn chips have limited ingredients while others the list goes on and on.
Are Corn Chips and Tortilla Chips The Same Thing?
While both are made with corn and appear to be extremely similar, they are not exactly the same. The main difference is in the way these chips are produced. Tortilla chips go through a nixtamalization process which makes the chips thinner but larger in size.
Corn chips often have a stronger corn flavor than tortilla chips, plus corn chips are known to be saltier and fattier.
Examples of Corn Chips are:
Examples of Tortilla Chips are:
- Tostitos Tortilla Chips
- Doritos Nacho Cheese Flavored Tortilla Chips
- 365 by Whole Foods Market Tortilla Chips
Where Can I Buy Corn Chips?
Corn chips are often confused with tortilla chips; both can be found in every well-stocked grocery store. You can even find corn chips at convenience stores, gas stations, and more. Corn and tortilla chips are often right next to each other, sometimes even mixed! So make sure you get what you want.
You can also go online to get some corn chips delivered.
These Fritos BBQ corn chips come in a fun hoop shape and are a nice snack for kids who love putting these around their fingers like rings.
If you prefer your chips just to be salty, then these 365 Sea Salt Corn Chips will be a good selection.
Fritos Corn Chips are available in various flavors, e.g., original, bean dip, chili cheese, and chip & dip. They come in a box of 40 snack bags (each with one perfect serving).
These Sweet Chili Corn Chips are wonderful; if you get the chance, you should try them. They are popped corn chips and thus a little different in texture – but in a very good way. The flavor of these sweet chili corn chips is just the best; very pleasant and tasty.
What Are Corn Chips Nutrition Facts?
All corn chips are different based on how they are made.
There generally aren’t any beneficial values to be found in corn chips. Of course, flavored varieties will have different values; some have less sodium, and others have more fat and sugar.
Potato Chips
What Are Potato Chips Made Of?
Everyone knows that potato chips are a snack that are not considered “good for you”. So you probably think of long ingredient lists with a ton of artificial ingredients like artificial colors and flavors.
While some potato chips can be loaded with bad stuff like that, the basic ingredients in normal potato chips aren’t really that many. Generally, salted potato chips have an ingredient list that looks like this:
Potatoes, Vegetable Oil (Canola, Corn, Soybean, and/or Sunflower Oil), and Salt.
Potato chips with more flavors will logically have more ingredients like chili powder and even sweeteners. When you look at the ingredient list of chips, a shorter list is generally better.
Where Can I Buy Potato Chips?
Potato chips are one of the easiest snack foods to find. Go to any grocery store, visit the snacks aisle, and a nice selection of potato chips will greet you in different shapes and flavors.
Of course, like most things, you can also buy them online. Here are some examples:
Sweet Chili Potato Chips have become very popular and give you that nice mix of spicy and sweet. They are usually on the mild side of spicy and pretty moreish.
A bag of Lightly salted potato chips is a good option if you want something that is crunchy but not too salty. These chips are also great if you want to limit your sodium intake.
BBQ potato chips are very savory, with a hint of sweetness under the BBQ seasoning.
If you like the surprise factor and want to explore a few different flavors, this variety pack has flavors like spicy Jalapeño, Sea Salt & Vinegar, or Farmhouse White Cheddar. You can’t choose what you get, so it’ll be a surprise.
One type of potato chips I like is the Turmeric And Wasabi Potato Chips. They have quite a bit of a kick, but differently than chili potato chips.
What Are Potato Chips Nutrition Facts?
Different types of potato chips will have slightly different nutritional values. Sweet Chili and BBQ flavors, for example, have more sugar and more calories.
Comparison Questions (Corn Chips vs Potato Chips)
Which Has The Better Nutrition Values? Which Is Healthier?
We know that both chips are soaked in fat and fried; they are both calorie-dense and contain a lot of fat and sodium (how much depends on which flavor you choose).
You’ll find only small differences when you compare the nutritional values of similar corn and potato chip flavors.
Is there anything that makes one chip healthier than the other? Potato chips usually have more potassium than corn chips. Corn chips have more calcium than potato chips.
While they are both not healthy, corn chips are the slightly better option – but they also have to be enjoyed responsibly, i.e., in moderation.
Which Has More Variety?
Potato chips are the more popular choice in the snacking world, and they have been a snack staple for a long time. You can find all sorts of flavors, different shapes, and even sweet potato chips.
While corn chips are catching up, you’ll find far less variety in their flavors. For example, you’ll easily find odd flavor potato chips like Wasabi potato chips, but Wasabi corn chips aren’t really a thing.
Tortilla chips are more popular and really compete with potato chips more than corn chips.
Which Is More Affordable?
Now you know both are similar regarding how bad they are for you and that both come in tantalizing flavors.
Pricing may be the deciding factor. Average prices have been calculated by comparing product prices from various retailers.
| Corn Chips | Potato Chips | More Affordable | |
| Plain / Lightly Salted | $0.50 per oz | $0.50 per oz | Both |
| BBQ | $0.50 per oz | $0.60 per oz | Corn Chips |
| Sweet Chili | $0.60 per oz | $0.60 per oz | Both |
They are both similar in their pricing. Premium and organic bags of both chips are more expensive than standard options.
Which Has The Better Texture?
Both can come in different shapes and textures. There are traditional chips, hoops, puffed chips, crinkled chips, rolled chips, and much more (especially in the world of potato chips).
Corn chips tend to be thicker and harder in texture when compared to potato chips. Don’t get me wrong, potato chips are crunchy but in terms of thickness corn chips are much thicker.
Corn chips will have a more bumpy texture, potato chips are made to be smooth in texture.
Can I Make Corn Or Potato Chips In My Air-Fryer Or Oven?
You could make your own healthier version of potato chips at home, but it’s quite a labor-intensive process as the potatoes have to be cut quite thinly. You will also save little money compared to buying the ready product in a shop.
Corn chips are a tad more complicated to make, so I would not recommend them for the average chef-at-home.
Final Thoughts
The main difference is the ingredients: one chip is made with corn, the other with potato. But just because the base ingredient is quite good for you doesn’t mean the end product is good for you. The processing turns corn and potatoes into something not so healthy.
There are only small differences in nutrition when it comes to these chips. If you want to feel slightly less naughty, I often go for corn chips.
The availability of different flavors, shapes, and varieties is a big difference. Potato chips have a wider range.
As they are not that different in pricing, you should simply buy which one you like better – and stick to one serving.