The Baked Version Of This Classic Snack Tastes Just Like The Real Thing

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Saying that a baked version of a fried food is just as great as the original version is a hard sell. It's often challenging to achieve the same perfectly crispy, even crunch on all sides of the food that you'd get with a deep fry by simply baking or even air-frying a food. While some foods like crispy chicken tenders and oven-fried fish fillets can be baked and still be formidable comparisons to their fried counterparts, most foods meant to be fried shouldn't be oven-roasted, as the results of deep frying food are difficult to replicate in the oven without being surrounded by hot oil.

There are simple tricks you can use to get the crispiest oven-baked fries, like soaking the slices in cold water for 30 minutes, but those tricks don't apply well to packaged, baked-instead-of-fried foods. This can be especially true in snack foods that need to hold their taste and texture throughout months of packaging and sitting on the shelves. Not all hope is lost for baked snack foods, though, as we ranked 9 popular baked snacks from worst to best, with Cheetos baked crunchy cheese chips as the clear winner that actually tasted as good as the fried original. And if we're being honest, we even thought the baked snacks might be slightly crunchier than the original version.

Compared to thinly sliced potato chips, which get their signature texture from deep frying that leaves a delicious greasy coating on your fingertips, the baking method didn't seem to alter the texture or the flavor of the Cheetos compared to the fried version. In a true testament to the deliciousness of this baked snack, we kept reaching back into the bag for more, and found the flavor of the baked crunchy cheese Cheetos to be on par with the fried Cheetos they enjoyed as a kid.

We also ranked baked Cheetos snacks at second and third place, with the Flamin' Hot Limón flavor ranking second, followed by the baked version of the classic Flamin' Hot Cheetos. While baked foods are somewhat healthier than foods cooked entirely in oil, remember that even baked snacks require at least a light coating of oil before being baked to achieve an appealing taste and texture. If you're looking for healthier snack ideas that won't ruin your diet, the baked version of Cheetos snacks might be the perfect option to satisfy that fried snack food craving.