Corn chips are a popular snack made from corn that can be baked, deep fried, or dried. They can be flavored with various ingredients and come in different shapes. Corn tortilla chips are a similar snack made from masa and are often served with Latin American cuisine. Both types of chips should be tightly packed and stored properly to avoid staleness.
Corn chips are a snack made from corn. The corn is made into a slurry and formed into shapes like scoops or triangles, and then the chips are baked, deep fried, or simply dried. A closely related concept is corn tortilla chips, a type of chip often served in Mexican restaurants. While both snacks use corn, they’re made in slightly different ways. Many markets sell corn chips, usually in the same area that holds other snack foods like packaged chips and cookies.
Corn in regular chips can be dried or used fresh, but is not lime-processed to make masa. It usually takes the form of cornmeal, corn that has been dried and then ground into flour. The flavor of corn chips can be changed with additions such as chiles, herbs, greens, or lemon-lime juice. Other ingredients such as wheat flour can be added to stretch the corn or achieve a desired particular flavor.
Often, corn chips come in the form of scoops or wedges that are designed to scoop dips and dips that can be served with them. The corn chips can also be puffed, in which case they can be eaten plain or dipped in a sauce for a light coating of flavor. Many companies make baked or puffed corn chips because they tend to be healthier than the fried versions. Like other snack foods, corn chips are often heavily salted.
In the case of corn tortilla chips, the corn is processed into masa and then formed into tortilla chips. Tortillas are cut into wedges or chunks and then baked or fried to make chips. These corn chips are a popular offering with Latin American cuisine and are often enhanced with salsa or guacamole as an appetizer. Older versions can be included in things like tortilla soup and Mexican-inspired casseroles. Tortilla corn chips are very easy to make at home, whether from homemade tortilla chips or store-bought versions.
In either case, the corn chips are packed tightly, as they will acquire an off-flavor and texture if allowed to stale. After opening, the kernels of corn should be resealed in their bag or repacked in a new container that can be resealed. Some unusual variations on corn chips include chips made with blue corn or chips seasoned with lime and tequila for an especially spicy dining experience.
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