Every Corn Nuts Flavor, Ranked From Worst to Best
Corn Nuts are a totally classic salty snack, but they can be a divisive one.
The debate rages on as to which Corn Nuts flavor is the best of them all, but I'm here to finally put it to rest. I've taste-tested every available Corn Nuts flavor and ranked them below so you don't have to.
5. Jalapeño Cheddar
I was really looking forward to trying this new Corn Nuts flavor, but I must say I was pretty disappointed by it. As soon as I popped one in my mouth, I was overwhelmed by the pungent aroma of strong white cheddar cheese. I'm normally a fan of cheese, but here it completely overpowered the neutral taste of the corn nut. Though the heat of the jalapeño does give it a nice kick—making this the spiciest Corn Nut by far—it's not enough to lift it from the bottom slot. Something tells me that the flavor powder would taste a lot better on popcorn or a chip.
4. Original
The barely-flavored Original Corn Nuts may sound like they'd be pretty boring, but they're surprisingly tasty. With only three ingredients on the package—corn, corn oil and salt—it's the most straightforward of the flavors, and it allows the earthy, crunchy taste of the Corn Nut to shine through. It's like snacking on extra-crunchy popcorn, and I'd much rather eat it than the Jalapeño Cheddar flavor.
3. BBQ
Corn Nuts' BBQ flavor is a lot sweeter than most barbecue-flavored snacks, but I think that actually works in its favor. It gets that sweetness from brown sugar, and more complex tart and savory flavors from the addition of tomato and garlic. The result is that some bites are sweeter, and some bites are saltier, but that the flavors combine to make something that's super easy to snack upon.
2. Chile Picante
With a name like "Chile Picante," I was expecting a pretty spicy corn nut. While it doesn't live up to that expectation, it's still one of the best flavors offered. The taste is reminiscent of salsa, combining the tartness of lime, and the flavor but not heat, of chiles. If you eat enough of them, the heat does build up a little over time, but if you're a fiend for spicy things, this probably won't scratch that itch for you.
1. Ranch
I went into this taste test expecting Ranch to come out on top, so I'm not at all surprised to find that it's still my all-time favorite. The combination of buttermilk, onion and garlic flavors makes for a cool tangy and tart flavor that's difficult to resist. It's anything but bland, making it the most memorable flavor of the bunch.
Craving more rankings? Click HERE for our definitive ranking of the chips in a variety snack pack.