Potato chips, ruffled, cheese flavored
Common food
Photo: Wikipedia
Ruffled potato chips are a crunchy, ridged snack with a bold, savory cheese flavoring that clings to every groove. The thick, wavy cut provides a sturdier, more satisfying crunch than flat chips, delivering a satisfying textural experience. Nutritionally, they are a high-energy, high-fat snack, providing nearly 500 calories and over 30 grams of fat per 100 grams.
Calorie split: 5% protein · 42% carbs · 53% fat
↓ Full nutrition💚 Why it's loved
People love them for the intense, umami-rich cheese flavor and the superior crunch that holds up better than flat chips. They are a classic, shareable snack for parties, movie nights, and casual gatherings.
⚠️ Watch-outs & how to enjoy it better
The high sodium, saturated fat, and calorie density can contribute to blood pressure and blood-sugar spikes if overconsumed. To counteract this, practice strict portion control (e.g., measure out a single serving) and pair them with a protein-rich food like Greek yogurt dip or a handful of nuts to slow digestion and increase satiety.
Key benefits
- Provides a quick source of energy from carbohydrates and fats
- Contains some dietary fiber from the potato base
- Offers a small amount of plant-based protein
- Serves as a convenient, shelf-stable, and portable snack
🍽️ Popular dishes
🌍 Where it's eaten
💡 Did you know?
The ruffled or ridged design isn't just for texture; it was engineered to be sturdier for dipping and to hold more seasoning powder than a flat chip.
Full nutrition (USDA data · scales with serving)
| Water | 2.5 g |
| Energy | 487 kcal |
| Protein | 6.5 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 31.1 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 55.9 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 3.8 g |
| Total Sugars | 5.5 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 32.0 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 1.4 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 58.0 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 145 mg |
| Potassium, K | 1186 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 545 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 0.98 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.25 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 0.40 ug |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 62.4 mg |
| Thiamin | 0.22 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.12 mg |
| Niacin | 5.0 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.38 mg |
| Folate, total | 64.0 ug |
| Folic acid | 0.00 ug |
| Folate, food | 64.0 ug |
| Folate, DFE | 64.0 ug |
| Choline, total | 11.5 mg |
| Vitamin B-12 | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin B-12, added | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 20.0 ug |
| Retinol | 0.00 ug |
| Carotene, beta | 203 ug |
| Carotene, alpha | 5.0 ug |
| Cryptoxanthin, beta | 60.0 ug |
| Lycopene | 130 ug |
| Lutein + zeaxanthin | 151 ug |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 4.4 mg |
| Vitamin E, added | 0.00 mg |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3) | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) | 16.1 ug |
| Alcohol, ethyl | 0.00 g |
| Caffeine | 0.00 mg |
| Theobromine | 0.00 mg |
Fat & fatty acid profile (per 100g)
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 4.0 g |
| SFA 4:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 6:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 8:0 | 0.01 g |
| SFA 10:0 | 0.01 g |
| SFA 12:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 14:0 | 0.05 g |
| SFA 16:0 | 2.8 g |
| SFA 18:0 | 0.80 g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 13.2 g |
| MUFA 16:1 | 0.05 g |
| MUFA 18:1 | 13.0 g |
| MUFA 20:1 | 0.12 g |
| MUFA 22:1 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 12.2 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 11.9 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 0.30 g |
| PUFA 18:4 | 0.01 g |
| PUFA 20:4 | 0.01 g |
| PUFA 20:5 n-3 (EPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:5 n-3 (DPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:6 n-3 (DHA) | 0.00 g |
| Cholesterol | 0.00 mg |
Amino acid profile (per 100g)
Estimated from Snacks, potato chips, made from dried potatoes, sour-cream and onion-flavor — USDA does not publish this profile for Potato chips.
| Tryptophan | 0.07 g |
| Threonine | 0.28 g |
| Isoleucine | 0.31 g |
| Leucine | 0.48 g |
| Lysine | 0.44 g |
| Methionine | 0.10 g |
| Cystine | 0.08 g |
| Phenylalanine | 0.29 g |
| Tyrosine | 0.25 g |
| Valine | 0.38 g |
| Arginine | 0.31 g |
| Histidine | 0.15 g |
| Alanine | 0.25 g |
| Aspartic acid | 0.93 g |
| Glutamic acid | 1.1 g |
| Glycine | 0.21 g |
| Proline | 0.37 g |
| Serine | 0.29 g |
FAQ
Why are ruffled chips better for dipping?
The ridges and thicker cut create a stronger structure that is less likely to break when scooping heavy dips like salsa, guacamole, or cheese sauce.
Do cheese-flavored chips contain real cheese?
Most use a cheese seasoning blend made from whey, cheese cultures, and flavor compounds, rather than slices of real cheese, to achieve a consistent, shelf-stable flavor.
How does the nutrition compare to flat potato chips?
Ruffled chips often have a slightly higher fat and calorie content per gram due to their greater surface area, which holds more oil and seasoning.
Nutrient density (calculated · NRF9.3)
Nutrient Rich Foods index: beneficial nutrients (protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals) minus saturated fat, added sugar & sodium, per 100 kcal.
NRF9.3 index — Fulgoni, Keast & Drewnowski, 2009. Computed from USDA nutrients.
Weight-loss friendliness (composite index)
Energy density 4.87 kcal/g · 5% calories from protein · 3.8 g fiber · 5.5 g sugar per 100 g.
Composite of energy density (Rolls et al., 1999), protein & fiber satiety, minus sugar. A calculated heuristic — ranks satiety-per-calorie, not a clinical measure.
Dietary load (calculated from USDA values)
Potential renal acid load. Positive = acid-forming, negative = alkaline-forming.
Sodium-to-potassium ratio: 0.46 (lower is better — aim for ≤ 1)
Sodium:potassium per WHO potassium guidance. Computed from USDA nutrients.