The other day, I was in an airport and had some time to kill. (Yes, I’m the kind of person who arrives at the airport hours before their scheduled departure.) I wandered around a Hudson News, first checking out the books and magazines I knew I’d never read, then taking a look at the overpriced miniature toiletries. Then, I finally came upon the reason I was there in the first place: the snacks.
I knew a tiny bag of pretzels or a Biscoff cookie wasn’t going to satisfy me on the long flight, so I decided I needed something more substantial to snack on. My eyes immediately flitted to the Chex Mix, a snack I haven’t had in years. The front of the package declared that the bagel chip was back. Where had it gone? I later found out that Chex Mix hadn’t contained white bagel chips for an entire 10 years, and it made me wonder who was in charge of making the decision about what components were allowed in a bag of Chex. Surely, the bagel chip was one of the most popular flavors. Why had they decided to cut that one and not, say, the rye chip?
I’ve decided to help General Mills out by conducting a rigorous taste test (i.e., practically inhaling a bag of Chex Mix the second we’d reached altitude) to determine which Chex Mix components are wholly necessary to the integrity of the snack and which I’d vote to remove from the bag entirely. This is a definitive ranking of Chex Mix components.
7. Wheat Chex
I can’t fathom why anyone thought adding Wheat Chex to this snack was a good idea. Actually, I don’t really know why Wheat Chex were invented in the first place. They literally taste like tiny cardboard squares, and I always have to pick around them until I’m hungry and desperate enough to eat them by themselves, loathing the depths I’ve sunk to. Please, General Mills, hear me out and ban Wheat Chex from your product forever.
6. Rye Chip
The rye chips aren’t necessarily bad on their own, but they don’t seem to fit into Chex Mix very well. They have a deep, dark, pronounced flavor that overpowers the other relatively mild components in a bag of Chex Mix. Texturally, they’re crunchier than anything else you’ll find in the bag, which means they’re a bit loud and abrasive whenever you get one in a handful. I wouldn’t say that they need to be removed from Chex Mix completely, but the snack would be better if there were fewer of them in the mix.
5. Bagel Chip
I know there are some serious bagel chip lovers out there, and those people may not agree that they belong so low on this list, but I’m just trying to speak the truth here. The bagel chips are good because they taste like nothing, which makes them the perfect carrier for the flavorful seasoning Chex Mix is known for. Although it’s not my favorite element in a bag of Chex Mix, I’m certainly happy it’s back.
4. Square Pretzel
I’m a big fan of pretzels, and the square pretzel always gets the job done. It’s dense, it’s crunchy, it’s salty. What else could you ask for in a snack mix? The shape can be improved upon, of course, but I’ll never complain about a bag of Chex Mix that contains too many square pretzels.
3. Breadstick
The breadstick, like the bagel chip, is very mild, so it doesn’t add much in the way of flavor, but it does have a fantastic texture that adds both softness and crunch to the snack. Its ridged edges hold the seasoning particularly well, and the way it crumbles in your mouth is undeniably pleasant. Honestly, I could probably eat a whole bag of Chex Mix breadsticks on their own.
2. Circular Pretzel
As I’ve already mentioned, I love pretzels, but where else are you going to find pretzels shaped into tiny rings? These are such a fun, salty addition to the mix, and I always feel like I’ve won a prize when I pull one out of the jumble of salted snacks. They’re less crunchy and more subtle than the square pretzels, which is just the way I like it.
1. Corn Chex
Corn Chex are indisputably the best part of a bag of Chex Mix. If you’ve ever tasted Corn Chex on their own, you know they don’t need to be doused in seasoning to be enjoyable—you could easily eat them plain. However, when they are blessed with Chex Mix’s signature blend of seasonings, they become even more delicious, from their crunchiness to their slightly corn-like flavor. General Mills, I am literally begging you to create a Corn Chex-only-Chex Mix. Hear my prayers.
Samantha Maxwell is a food writer and editor based in Boston. Follow her on Twitter at @samseating.
