Fritos Are Made With Fewer Ingredients Than You Probably Expect

Fritos are a crunchy, salty snack enjoyed by consumers of all ages. The pop-'em-in-your-mouth bits are so beloved, in fact, there was once an entire restaurant in Disneyland dedicated to them called Casa de Fritos, reports Mental Floss. The iconic corn chips have been incorporated into countless recipes over the years — including salads, pies, cookies, and the concession stand favorite "tacos in a bag" — giving dishes an extra crispy texture and pleasantly savory flavor.

The bite-sized munchies were widely introduced to the world during the Great Depression, when a San Antonio confectioner by the name of Charles Elmer Doolin purchased the patent for the "little fried things" from a Mexican vendor. Doolin, with the help of his dear mother, whipped up a new, slightly modified recipe that would change grocery store snack aisles and party tables for decades to come, according to NPR. But don't let the indulgence fool you, because perhaps contrary to popular belief, the list of ingredients on a bag of Fritos is extremely short.

Many folks may be surprised to learn that Fritos, especially when compared to several other "junk" foods on the market, don't actually contain a whole lot of junk. As a matter of fact, Fritos original corn chips are made with corn, corn oil, and salt, according to the brand's official website. That's it!

So consuming Fritos in moderation is totally acceptable, depending on one's personal dietary preferences. A single serving of Fritos contains about 160 calories, plus 10 grams of fat, 16 grams of carbs, and 2 grams of protein. Fritos can be eaten alone, with dip, or as an element of an appetizing hors d'oeuvre or meal.

Fritos are available in a few additional finger-licking-good flavors, which of course, call for additional ingredients. For example, the recipe for the chili cheese flavored Fritos contains a handful of seasonings and spices to create a unique color and taste, including cheddar cheese, romano cheese, tomato powder, sugar, and butter. Whether you prefer the original corn chips or another fun style, Fritos are a culinary legend.