Bright orange puffs of corn infused with salty, fatty, cheesy deliciousness are the epitome of junk food — messy, nearly devoid of nutrition, and so munchy, crunchy scrumptious that they are hard to resist. Accidentally invented in 1935 by an animal feed producer, cheese puffs are an extruded snack made with corn and oil, then dusted with cheese-based powder. They were first introduced as a snack — for humans, not cattle — in the 1950s, then hit the mainstream in 1971, when Frito-Lay began marketing them as Cheetos Puffs.
While Cheetos remains the most popular brand on the snack aisle, a hefty handful of companies have jumped into the category, producing a mountain of messy balls and curls to choose from. Curious, we took a dive into 10 brands of curls and balls to find out which ones were worth the indulgence. Good cheese puffs are tender but crisp, with a punch of tart, nutty cheese flavor and just enough salt to satisfy.
Bad cheese puffs are wildly salty, have tough, almost chewy texture, or taste like rancid oil. And to be clear, none of them taste like real cheese. The cheese flavoring is typically a combination of powdered cheese and other milk products.
Many use dyes and artificial flavors; others rely on spices and natural flavors to enhance both flavor and appearance. Here are details on the puffs to please, and the sad fails best left on the shelf. Nutrition info refers to 28 grams, or about 1 ounce.
Simply Cheetos White Cheddar Puffs These light-colored curls.