Hosts catering for a mixed group
When several people are sharing, the pack size and flavour need to suit the group. Salted and paprika crisps offer different starting points, so you can choose based on everyone’s preferences.
Who needs to think carefully about their choice?
Guests checking ingredients and allergens
If anyone is vegan, gluten-free or has an allergy, check the label for the specific flavour. Read the ingredients, highlighted allergens and any ‘may contain’ statements on the pack rather than assuming a product is suitable based on its brand or flavour name.
Anyone planning quantities and transport
For a larger group, the net weight helps you work out how much to bring. It’s also worth checking the storage instructions before setting off for a summer picnic: REWE advises keeping its ja! crisps in a dry place and away from heat.
What should you look for when buying?
First, decide which flavour the group would like to share and how much you’ll need. Then check the specific recipe, nutritional information and how you’ll transport the crisps.
| What to consider | What to check | Who should consider it? |
|---|---|---|
| Quantity and flavour | Match the net weight in g and the flavour to the size of the group and everyone’s preferences. | If lots of people are sharing, I want to bring enough crisps without making everyone commit to an unusual seasoning. This is the main consideration for around 33% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients list, highlighted allergens and any ‘may contain’ statements for the specific flavour. | If someone needs to avoid certain ingredients, I don’t want to decide based on the flavour name alone. Checking the recipe is the priority for around 27% of consumers. |
| Nutritional information | Compare salt and fat on the same basis, per 100 g, and consider how much might be eaten. | If there are several salty snacks on the picnic table, I want to be able to compare the information for each flavour. Around 20% of consumers prioritise this. |
| Transport and storage | Follow the storage instructions and transport the pack somewhere dry, protected from pressure and direct sunlight. | If the journey is longer, I don’t want the bag to get crushed or damp. For around 20% of consumers, the condition of the crisps when they arrive is the most important consideration. |
Which common mistakes can you avoid?
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Assuming seasoned flavours are dairy-free or vegan without checking
The flavour name doesn’t tell you exactly what’s in the product. Lorenz lists cheese powder and milk flavouring in Crunchips Hot Paprika; REWE’s ingredient list for Beste Wahl Kesselchips Sour Cream includes several milk ingredients.
For every flavour, check the ingredients, highlighted allergens and any ‘may contain’ statements on the pack you’re actually buying.
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Assuming stackable crisps are the same as traditional potato crisps
Products can differ: REWE describes ja! Original Stapelchips as a potato snack, with potato powder and wheat starch among the ingredients. For Chipsfrisch gesalzen, funny-frisch lists potatoes, sunflower oil and salt.
Check the product description and ingredients list if you specifically want traditional crisps made from sliced potatoes, or stackable crisps instead.
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Judging the pack size by appearance alone
Pack sizes vary between specific flavours: funny-frisch offers Chipsfrisch ungarisch in 150 g and 215 g bags, for example, while REWE lists ja! Salted Chips at 200 g. Bags that look similar may not contain the same amount.
Compare the net weight in g and consider whether two flavours might be a better choice than one large bag if people have different preferences.
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Storing crisps in the same way as chilled accompaniments
REWE advises keeping ja! crisps in a dry place and away from heat. Picnic ingredients that need to be kept chilled, on the other hand, need suitable cooling; the Verbraucherzentrale highlights this in its advice on shopping and transporting food in summer.
Keep crisps dry and out of direct sunlight during transport. Pack chilled dips and accompaniments separately in a cool bag with ice packs.
Brands and ranges to help you choose
Lorenz
Lorenz Crunchips flavours vary in seasoning and ingredients, so the specific flavour is what matters when choosing for a picnic group.
- Lorenz labels Crunchips Salted as vegan and gluten-free, while also stating that it may contain traces of milk.
- According to Lorenz, Crunchips Hot Paprika contains cheese powder and milk flavouring. If you’re catering for specific dietary requirements, check the current pack.
funny-frisch
Chipsfrisch includes traditional potato crisps in a range of flavours and pack sizes.
- funny-frisch lists Chipsfrisch ungarisch in both 150 g and 215 g packs, giving the group two sizes to choose from.
- For Chipsfrisch gesalzen, funny-frisch lists potatoes, sunflower oil and salt. Ingredients can differ between flavours, so check each one separately.
Chio
Chio offers a choice of potato crisps, including salted and paprika-flavoured options.
- Chio lists Ready Salted in a 150 g pack, with potatoes, vegetable oils and salt as ingredients.
- REWE lists Chio Red Paprika at 175 g. Don’t assume the paprika flavour has the same pack size or ingredients as Ready Salted.
REWE Eigenmarken: ja! und REWE Beste Wahl
These products make it easy to compare pack sizes and types: REWE lists ja! potato crisps at 200 g and Beste Wahl Kesselchips at 150 g.
- For ja! Salted Chips, REWE lists a 200 g pack and advises keeping it in a dry place and away from heat.
- According to the ingredients list, REWE Beste Wahl Kesselchips Sour Cream contains milk ingredients. Kesselchips are also a different type of product from the ja! potato crisps mentioned above.
Potato crisps and snacks at Joybuy
This selection includes salted and paprika-flavoured options for your picnic: traditional potato crisps in bags and stackable crisps in tubes. Compare the product type and pack size before choosing one as the main bag for the group.
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Lorenz Crunchips Salted, 200 g
A salted option for a group that doesn’t want a strongly seasoned flavour to take centre stage. The bag contains 200 g. Lorenz states that Crunchips Salted may contain traces of milk, so if anyone has a milk allergy, check the label on the specific pack.
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Pringles Original Salted, 185 g
A salted alternative if you’re looking for stackable crisps in a tube rather than traditional crisps in a bag. The tube contains 185 g. If you’re following a gluten-free diet, choose another flavour; if you have an allergy, check the current ingredients and allergen information.
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Pringles Classic Paprika, 185 g
A paprika-flavoured option for a group that specifically wants this seasoning. The tube contains 185 g of stackable crisps. If anyone needs to avoid wheat, gluten or milk, it’s particularly important to check the label on the specific pack.
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Lay's Classic Salted, 150 g
A bag of salted crisps for a smaller group or as a second flavour alongside a larger bag. It contains 150 g, so check that this is enough for the number of people sharing. If anyone has dietary requirements, check the pack label.
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funny-frisch Chipsfrisch ungarisch, 150 g
A paprika flavour for a group that wants something different alongside salted crisps. This bag contains 150 g. funny-frisch labels Chipsfrisch ungarisch as vegan and gluten-free; if anyone has an allergy, the ingredients and ‘may contain’ information on the current pack are what matter.
Frequently asked picnic questions
How can I tell whether a flavour is suitable for someone with an allergy or following a vegan diet?
The information on the specific pack is what matters, not the brand or flavour name. Read the ingredients list, highlighted allergens and any ‘may contain’ statements. A vegan or gluten-free label applies only to the flavour carrying that label. Lorenz Crunchips Hot Paprika and REWE Beste Wahl Kesselchips Sour Cream show that seasoned flavours can contain milk ingredients.
How large should a bag of potato crisps be for a group?
Choose a pack size based on the number of people sharing and what other snacks you’ll have, rather than relying on how big the bag looks. funny-frisch, for example, offers Chipsfrisch ungarisch in 150 g and 215 g packs, while REWE ja! Salted Chips come in a 200 g pack. If people have different preferences, two flavours may work better than one strongly seasoned bag.
How should I take crisps to a summer picnic?
Keep the bag dry, out of direct sunlight and somewhere it won’t get crushed during transport. Follow the storage instructions on the pack; REWE advises keeping ja! crisps in a dry place and away from heat. Chilled accompaniments should be packed separately in a suitable cool bag.
How do I compare the salt and fat content of different flavours?
Compare the salt and fat information per 100 g, and consider how much of the bag people are likely to eat. One figure or a flavour name alone can’t tell you whether a product is suitable for everyone sharing.