Hold on, are you saying that Lay’s Crunch Tators chips are back?

Oh yeah! Our boy is back. And he’s back in three flavors: Cowboy, Naked, and Spicy Naked. Oh, sorry, I was just talking about that little alligator mascot again. Lay’s Crunch Tators chips are back in Mighty Mesquite, Original, and Hoppin’ Jalapeño. And while Original and Mighty Mesquite Crunch Tators have been spotted during the last two holiday seasons in Dollar General stores, the Hoppin’ Jalapeño flavor is here for the first time since the ’90s. Previous releases appeared to be contained to a few random stores across the United States, but my guess is that you’ll have more luck finding them this year, as they’re already being spotted at Dollar General stores nationwide. And, naturally, people are thrilled.

For those of you who were merely a glimmer in their parents’ eyes when Lay’s Crunch Tators were on shelves the first time around, one of the things that’s kept their memory alive is that a bag of the chips can be spotted in the background in a scene in the 1990 holiday classic Home Alone (when Kevin is “eating junk and watching rubbish”). They’re also fondly remembered for their unique texture—they were extra crunchy kettle chips before Kettle became a household name. As one Instagram commenter aptly put it, “I love em, but my teeth dont.” But if you think that you can handle the crunch, visit your nearest Dollar General store now to find the three flavors for a limited time. Enjoy yourself, you filthy animal!

The post What’s That Sound? These Super-Crunchy ’90s Chips Are Back in Stores appeared first on Sporked.

Wait, what is a Sugar Cookie Twix? And why are you being so awfully dramatic?

I’d like to address the second question first by saying that I’m not dramatic, I’m just hurt. Back in 2012, Twix announced the release of a sugar cookie flavored Twix for the holidays and, in an unexpected twixst, they um…well, they never did. Why, Twix? No one knows! Perhaps the unexpected popularity of their Left and Right Twix campaign made them decide to set aside the Sugar Cookie Twix and make a profit with minimal effort. Hey, I get it. I’d do the same. After a while, most people forgot about Sugar Cookie Twix and the concept began collecting dust in an attic somewhere, that is until this past week, when Twix asked followers in an Instagram post which Twix they’d choose to resurrect: Triple Chocolate Twix, Creamy Peanut Butter Twix, or…Sugar Cookie Twix!

What does this mean?! Triple Chocolate Twix existed. Creamy Peanut Butter Twix existed. But Sugar Cookie Twix never even existed! Unless the brand has fallen victim to a silly intern who didn’t do their research, I’m guessing this is their sneaky way of announcing the resurrection—or should I say, the birth—of Sugar Cookie Twix, a Twix that never even was.

While there isn’t a lot of info about Sugar Cookie Twix—since, as we’ve established, they’ve yet to actually exist—we can tell you a few things. Based on product imagery, these seem to be like regular Twix but with a cookie layer that’s dotted with the same colorful sugar crystals that coat a lot of holiday cookies. In the Instagram post, Sugar Cookie Twix are pictured as a bag of minis rather than a packet with two full-size bars. It may be wishful thinking, but just in case, keep your eyes peeled in the candy aisle this holiday season. And if we’re all just the victim of some cruel prank, that’s okay. You’ll have no problem finding a recipe for actual Twix sugar cookies online.

The post Are Sugar Cookie Twix Finally Coming to Town? appeared first on Sporked.

Burman’s Hot Sauce Advent Calendar (Nov. 6, $14.99)

If Halloween is allowed to start in July (I’m looking at you, JOANN and Michaels), then Christmas is allowed to start in November. And by Christmas I mean the advent of advent calendars. So, so many advent calendars. In November, Aldi will be stocking a variety of alcohol, coffee, and tea advent calendars, but this hot sauce calendar seems to be the best bang for your buck. For a reasonable price, you get 25 days of hot sauce—and a chance to expand your palate. Just don’t sizzle your taste buds before Thanksgiving dinner.

Read our ranking of the best hot sauce

Fremont Fish Market Toss & Serve Shrimp (Nov. 6, $6.99)

This is one of those Aldi finds that’s going to make a good, easy weeknight dinner. You get shrimp and sauce in one bag and, as the name implies, you simply toss and serve (okay, they’re frozen, so you have to heat them, too). These shrimp come in three flavors: Citrus Herb, Salted Butter & Garlic , and Chipotle Sea Salt. So, whether you’re having a fancy Italian dinner or some tacos, there’s a saucy shrimp to add to your list of Aldi finds.

Read our ranking of the best frozen shrimp

Breakfast Best Gluten Free Honey Buns and Cinnamon Buns (Nov. 13, $4.29)

Last night I dreamed of ordering a cinnamon bun three feet high but when I cut into it, it was dry and crumbled like sand. So imagine my joy when I saw these beautiful, moist honey and cinnamon buns on this list of November Aldi finds. Now, I know you can get a cinnamon bun pretty much any place but these are both gluten free. If you’re GF and buns have been off the menu, these seem worth trying out.

Kirkwood Holiday Chicken Nuggets (Nov. 27, $5.99)

Now, I’ll always be a dino nuggie girlie, but even I can get behind these little holiday makeovers. My criteria for a good nugget is: “Can I bite its head off?” If you share the same rigid guidelines, you’re in luck. This year, Kirkwood has nuggets in six festive shapes: stockings, snowmen, Christmas trees, reindeer, candy canes, and gingerbread men. Off with their heads! Mwahahahaha.

Read our ranking of the best chicken nuggets

Benton’s Hazelnut or Peppermint Mini Waffle Cones (Nov. 27, $3.99)

Last year I developed a habit of picking up Trader Joe’s dark chocolate waffle cone tips by convincing myself that they were a healthy alternative to eating an entire ice cream cone. It’s all girl math and I’m not ashamed of it. But I’ll be ditching Trader Joe’s for these two refreshing, seasonal flavors of mini waffle cones from Aldi. BRB, gotta bust out my girl math calculator.

Clancy’s Turkey Stuffing or Garlic Mashed Potato Wavy Potato Chips (Nov. 13, $2.19)

We’ve tried everything from pickle chips to chips that taste like a whole-ass Cuban sandwich, but stuffing chips are particularly amusing to me. When I stuff these in my mouth, am I the turkey? I think the answer is yes. Aldi, explain! But hey, there’s also some garlic mashed potato chips too if you can’t handle the stuff fest.

Read our ranking of the best instant mashed potatoes

The post 6 November Aldi Finds We Can’t Wait to Try appeared first on Sporked.

New M&M’s? It’s a (very early) Christmas miracle! But are Toasty Holiday Peanut M&M’s different from Peanut M&M’s?

Yes, they are! That is, unless you’re like me and you always get some funky burnt Peanut M&M’s in your bag. Well, still. All things considered, they are different. Toasty Holiday Peanut M&M’s reportedly feature notes of spiced sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon. On top of all that, the peanuts are roasted with caramel. If you ask me, it’s pretty much impossible to screw that up. Any burnt morsels will be coated in sugary, syrupy goodness. Might these even be an improvement on the holy grail of all M&M’s? That’s for you to decide!

So, when and where can you get these? The thing is, it’s not clear just yet. The Toasty Holiday Peanut M&M’s were spotted on Walmart’s website, but with no clear release date. If you’re impatient, you could grab Peanut M&M’s, Caramel M&M’s, and an old bag of Toasty Vanilla M&M’s and mix them all up in your mouth. Sure, you’ll look like a psychopath. But maybe, just maybe, you’ll have a taste of this new M&M’s flavor before the rest of us.

The post Peanut M&M’s Are Getting a Toasty Holiday Makeover appeared first on Sporked.

Disclaimer: These products were purchased in Southern California. Prices may vary by region.

 Siggi’s Probiotic Drinkable Nonfat Yogurt ($4.79)

If you’re looking for Whole Foods bargains, be forewarned that it is effectively impossible to find anything in the dairy aisle at a reasonable price. But after seeing a probiotic coconut water a few rows down selling for $26.99 (for 15 ounces!), this Siggi’s probiotic yogurt was a no-brainer. Siggi’s had three flavors in my Whole Foods: plain, raspberry, and vanilla, all with seven billion probiotics per serving! That’s a lot of bang—or at least a lot of probiotics—for your buck.

Read our ranking of the best probiotic yogurt

365 Organic Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Chewy Granola Bars ($3.99)

It’s no big shocker here that 365, Whole Foods’ house brand, made it onto our list of what to buy at Whole Foods for less than five bucks. It’s never a bad idea to go with a store brand’s recreation of a classic, especially in this case. It’s impossible to mess up peanut butter and chocolate. Not only is this granola bar cheaper than its counterparts, it comes with two more bars per box (eight total).

Read our ranking of the best granola bars

Pork & Maple Breakfast Sausage ($3.99)

This sausage was, by far, my favorite Whole Foods find of the day. The meat aisle gave me nut aisle flashbacks and I was sure I wouldn’t find a single product at a reasonable price. And then these beautiful, fully cooked breakfast sausages came along and changed my life forever. You get ten (or so) frozen sausage links per box and can pick from four flavors: classic pork, pork and maple, savory chicken, and chicken and maple. But for my money, you can’t do better than that classic pork-maple flavor profile.

Read our ranking of the best breakfast sausage

Birch Benders Complete Protein Pancake & Waffle Mix ($4.13)

My brother is a gym bro and makes his own protein pancakes. They’re monstrous and frankly a little bit gross (anything with added protein powder can be a little gross). But hey, it’s cheaper than buying protein pancake mix … or is it? This deal is obnoxiously good for protein pancakes. And Birch Benders is a brand the Sporked crew loves—they top the list of the best pancake mixes. We even like their keto-friendly mix, so I have high hopes for this high protein version.

Read our ranking of the best pancake mix

Goodles Cheddy Mac ($2.78)

I discovered Goodles a few years ago and immediately pitched a review to Sporked. Being the geniuses that they are, they’d already tasted and loved them. Considering this is a high protein, better-for-you mac and cheese option, it’s shocking that it tastes so good—and at $2.78 a box, it’s worth adding to your list of what to buy at Whole Foods. In addition to Cheddy Mac, my store had eight other flavors, including a vegan and gluten-free option. And the best part? They’re even cheaper and healthier than Annie’s “grass-fed” line, which is about the fanciest the mac market has gotten.

Read our ranking of the best boxed mac and cheese

365 Sea Salt Potato Chips ($2.79)

If you need something to bring to a get together, a bag of chips is always a good bet. In my store, 365 carried five other classic flavors for the same price, as well as three kettle cooked flavors for just a dollar more. And these are hefty 10 ounce bags. If, like me, you can’t visualize that, it’s a little bigger than a human head. If you’re willing to spend around three more bucks, you can get a bag that’s three times the size of a human head. Isn’t that fun?

Read our ranking of the best plain potato chips

Boom Chicka Pop Sweet & Salty Kettle Corn ($3.99)

Speaking of heads, this bag of sweet popcorn is around two heads tall and has seven generous servings. Boom Chicka Pop is addictive, you can count the ingredients on one hand, and it even comes in a sea salt variety for the same reasonable price. So if you need a healthy Whole Foods snack that won’t break the bank, BOOM! Here you go.

Shivers All Natural Lemon Flavored Ice Cubes ($2.79)

Now this final pick is water. Flavored, frozen water. Look, it’s not that Whole Foods ran out of items under five bucks—it was getting rather close, admittedly—but I thought this product was rather cool. Now I, for one, don’t have the patience to cut lemon slices for water, and then preserve the other lemon half for later, and then wash the cutting board and knife. So this is a really cool alternative for a really good price!

The post What to Buy at Whole Foods if You Want Bang for Your Buck appeared first on Sporked.

How in the hell do you make noodles taste like s’mores? Please explain!

These limited edition, Walmart-exclusive Nissin s’mores noodles—which are in stores now—are flavored with chocolate, marshmallow, and graham crackers. And please, for the love of everything that is good, do not think this means that you can light your cup on fire. Or slowly roast it until the sides become brown. (Which, by the way, is the inferior method of making s’mores. They have to be lit on fire.) But it doesn’t matter because Nissin has already done that hard work for you and made sure to imbue a smoky flavor. All you need to do is microwave the s’mores instant noodles for three minutes and let them stand for two before you gobble them up. And if you’re feeling extra fancy, Nissin recommends a little fresh graham cracker crumble or a mini marshmallow topping just after heating for ultimate gooeyness.

Now, let’s talk business. I was a huge proponent of Nissin’s breakfast noodles back when they came out because of two things: price and flavor. They’re cheap and they do a good job of incorporating all the flavors they promise. And I know two dudes who host a popular YouTube morning show have disagreed, but as radical as the breakfast noodles were, I stand by my opinion that they were delicious, especially to a college student on a budget. These new noodles are also a value: S’mores Nissin Cup Noodles are currently selling for $1.18. In this economy, you can’t even get an onion at that price. And if you’re an occasional s’mores dabbler who keeps finding leftover, wrinkly marshmallows in your pantry and some old, hardened bit of a Hershey’s bar in your fridge, this solves all of your problems. You have s’mores any time, on demand, with no wasted groceries. But be warned…you may have to get used to standing alone when you’re a fan of weird cup noodles!

The post S’mores Cup Noodles Are Here to Make Summer Weird appeared first on Sporked.

Better Chew Extra-Crispy Fried Chicken

Full disclosure: The first item on this list is vegan. It’s even “vegan approved,” according to the packaging. That means if you’re vegan, you must have approved this product at some point in the same mysterious way I lost my gallbladder at some point. In other words, there’s absolutely no excuse for you to not buy it. Better Chew fried chicken is made with super simple ingredients (mostly soybeans) and nutritional yeast, an additive in a lot of plant-based food that contributes good, savory flavor. Even if you’re not vegan, Better Chew claims these are “meatier than ever,” so fire up the air fryer and engage in a little healthy self-deception, why dontcha?

Read our ranking of the best vegan chicken

Feel Good Foods Thai-Style Vegetable Spring Rolls

I clearly need to be educated because I cannot quite comprehend the difference between Thai spring rolls and Thai-style spring rolls. If you’re dumb like me, it doesn’t matter because these look delicious. What stands out about these spring rolls is the emphasis on the lemongrass and ginger flavors, which will add a hint of brightness to the fried flavor. Not many frozen spring rolls feature those flavors (we know; we’ve tasted a lot of them!). Not to mention, these little guys are packed with veggies and actually come with the sauce. Nothing’s sadder than getting home and being sauceless. Sure, you could cook these in the oven, but they cook up even faster in the air fryer—the best air fryer foods combine lots of flavor and time-savings.

Read our ranking of the best frozen spring rolls

Strong Roots Cauliflower Hash Browns

A lot of people buy air fryers because they’re more artery-friendly than deep fryers (or because they can’t deep fry without lighting their houses on fire). Of course, that depends on what you’re putting inside the air fryer—so we love an option that has some veggies involved, even if it comes pre-fried. Before you look at these Strong Roots hash browns and scream at the idea of cauliflower replacing potatoes, allow us to assure you there are still potatoes in these guys. What we have here is an example of the timeless parental technique of hiding veggies in our food. This is one of the best air fryer foods we tried in our taste tests last year. Trust us. Even if you don’t dig cauliflower, you’ll like these.

Read our ranking of the best potato alternatives

Jack & Annie’s Buffalo Jack Wings

Now, before you grumble about another vegan, nugget-like product making this list of the best air fryer foods at Whole Foods, I want to make it clear that this, to me, is a whole new dish. I’ve never had a jackfruit substitute for meat that didn’t taste like, well… jackfruit. Sure, it’s got the texture of meat, but it also has an irresistible and wholly original flavor which is just begging to be paired with tangy Buffalo sauce. Love jackfruit for what it is and give these suckers a go! The air fryer will help you get all the flavor and texture jackfruit without the sliminess.

Read our ranking of the best vegan Buffalo wings

Maspanadas Chicken & Vegetable Empanadas

While you might be offended that a serving of Maspanadas Chicken & Vegetable Empanadas only allows for three delicious meat-filled pockets, rest assured that even if you eat the entire bag of these in one sitting, it’s only 390 calories. To me, that’s a huge plus. Empanadas are delicious and filling, so if you’re looking for something with protein and heft without a ton of calories, these are a wonderful choice! Not to mention how crispy that crust will be once these have been air fried to a golden brown.

Afia Falafel

If you’ve never air fried falafel, you’ve been missing out. These dense nuggets are packed with flavor and they’re extremely versatile, too. Afia falafel contain only 11 ingredients—a majority of which are yummy spices. The only thing to be cautious of is the air frying time. Afia suggests it can take from 8 to 20 minutes, but just keep an eye on them to make sure they reach a golden brown. If you overcook a batch, oh well. Crumble them up and put them on a salad! That’s the beauty of falafel, one of the best air fryer foods, if you ask me.

The post The Best Air Fryer Foods at Whole Foods appeared first on Sporked.

Wow, so some people really do go to Hooters for the wings, huh. What can we expect from the frozen version?

Would you believe me if I told you that the new Hooters wings come in four flavors? Well, I’m not pulling your support hose-clad leg. We’re getting Daytona Beach Style Smoked Wings (which come slathered in BBQ sauce), Texas Style Smoked Wings (which come dry rubbed), Buffalo Style Boneless Wingz (made with breast meat), and Buffalo Style Popcorn Chicken (made with thigh meat pieces). A box will set you back between $7.49 and $8.99, depending on the variety—a bargain compared to restaurant prices, although you’re definitely missing out on the atmosphere (unless your roommate is a Hooters waitress).

Hooters suggests that to match the in-store Hooters Wings experience, you should cook these bad boys in the oven or air fryer—we suggest the oven if you like your Hooters wings crispy. If you’re getting excited, I really, really hope you live in the South. For the time being, Hooters frozen wings are only available at Publix Super Markets and via their Instacart affiliates in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. But Hootie, much like the sentient Duolingo Owl, has plans for the rest of us. According to Instagram snack sleuth Markie Devo, Hooters is planning to expand to additional retail chains and add more frozen appetizers and snacks later in the year. Whether that means more Hooters wing flavors or maybe some fried pickles or mozz sticks, we can’t say for sure. But what I can promise is that game day at home just got a whole heckuva lot sexier.

The post Hooters Wings Are Flying into Stores appeared first on Sporked.

What makes these new Halloween Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups new?

After doing some intensive research—aka, reading the product label—I am pleased to report that this year’s Halloween Reese’s Cups are, in fact, a whole new flavor. Reese’s Werewolf Tracks are a twist on the classic peanut butter cup. While the peanut butter filling appears to be the same as what you’ll find in a standard Reese’s Cup, this version is partially coated with a vanilla creme. And that’s nothing to scoff at. New Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups typically alter one of three things: shape, thickness, or fillings. But they don’t often change the flavor of the outer coating. Sure, they’ve made Reese’s Ultimate Peanut Butter Lovers with a peanut butter creme coating and Reese’s Franken Cups with a green creme coating. But the former is basically on-brand candy cannibalism, and the latter just used artificial colors to alter the look of the Reese’s Cup, not the flavor. These new Reese’s Cups are innovative…that is unless the vanilla creme tastes just like their White Creme Peanut Butter Cups, which are not actually made of white chocolate, but rather oils, milk, sugar, and vanilla.

Now that we’ve discussed flavor, let’s address the elephant in the room. Or rather, the moose in the room. If you’ve ever had Moose Tracks ice cream, you’ve probably noted that Hershey’s basically cribbed the formula of Moose Tracks—vanilla, peanut butter cups, chocolate—and then tweaked the name. Well, you’re right. But Moose Tracks wouldn’t have any hooves to stand on if it wasn’t for the glorious invention that is the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup. Kinda like the Mummy’s return, these Halloween Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups are a long, long time coming. Unfortunately, you’ll need to wait a little longer. While Reese’s Werewolf Tracks have been announced, they won’t be hitting shelves until Halloween season rolls around. So until then, rest assured that something sweet and spooky is on the horizon—and go back to snoozing in your coffin!

The post The New Halloween Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups Have Us Howling appeared first on Sporked.

Pikachu: Pop Rocks Bubble Gum

If Pokémon were snacks, the first on the chopping block would be Pikachu. Not because Pikachu is typically eaten in the Pokémon world, but because it is cute, and people in the Pokémon world seem to love eating cute Pokémon (rest in peace, Miltank and Slowpoke). Considering Pikachu is an electric type Pokémon, it needs a snack with a little zap to it. If you’ve ever eaten Pop Rocks, you know how those can pop and explode on your tongue. But Pikachu isn’t just any Pop Rocks, he’s Bubblegum Pop Rocks. Why? Pikachu can use Electro Ball, so it only makes sense that it would be a snack that can be blown into a ball.

Related: How Do Pop Rocks Work and Are They a Hazard to Your Health?

Eevee: Quaker Rice Cakes (Salt-Free)

As ridiculously adorable as Eevee is, there’s no chance that it would be tasty. With Eevee being a normal type that can evolve into many other types, it just doesn’t make sense for Eevee to taste all that exciting. Eevee is plain and versatile in the game, which is exactly why it would probably taste like a salt-free Quaker rice cake. You should be rejoicing, though. This reduces the chances that it’ll be eaten in mass quantities. But if you wanna talk about another evolution of Eevee, then this conversation might turn out very, very differently.

Related: The 6 Best Rice Cakes for a Low-Cal Snack Time

Bulbasaur: Smartfood Sour Cream & Onion Popcorn

Is this list just filled with the cutest Pokémon of all time? Yes, it is. Because our next little baby is Bulbasaur, everyone’s favorite little dino onion thing. Because Bulbasaur is a grass type (along with one other thing I am choosing to ignore because it doesn’t make sense with food), my mind goes to veggies. And the little bulb on its back looks a whole lot like a little onion. The bulb-like shape is also reminiscent of popcorn, since it eventually pops into a flower when Bulbasaur evolves. So, Bulbasaurs would probably taste like sour cream and onion popcorn (or sour cream and onion chips if you can’t find the sour cream and onion popcorn).

Related: An Updated List of the Best Bagged Popcorn at the Grocery Store

Squirtle: Fruit Gushers

Okay, this one’s obvious. We’re all thinking about it, aren’t we? This isn’t Gushers Squirtle’s first debut on Sporked. But I just had to bring it back, because it makes perfect sense (and because I have to promote that beautiful illustration we made). Squirtle is a little water type turtle and Gushers have a shell-like pattern. And, Gushers are filled with juicy goodness. When Squirtle eventually evolves, it can shoot out water from its cannons, just like…well, a smooshed Gusher. Sorry for that image.

Related: If Anime Characters Were Snack Foods

Gengar: Zapp’s Voodoo Heat Potato Chips

Frankly, I don’t get the obsession with Gengar. Sure, he’s a spooky, mysterious Ghost type, but he’s really creepy looking. Like steal-your-kids creepy looking. But I have to say Gengar probably tastes the best out of everything on the list. There are a few important things to know about Gengar and why Zapp’s Voodoo Heat is the perfect fit for it. For one, not much is known about Gengar, just like little is known about the mysterious force that allowed the accidental creation of Zapp’s seasoning to result in such a delicious chip. Second, when Gengar shows up, everything gets very cold because it sucks the heat right out of the air. So, if you’re gonna chow down on a Gengar, be prepared for some serious heat. And, do I even need to mention the most obvious point? Gengar is spooky, just like Zapp’s packaging.

Related: Every Flavor of Zapp’s Potato Chips, Ranked

Snorlax: Vanilla Swiss Almond Häagen-Dazs Ice Cream

Snorlax would be the easiest Pokémon to eat in the Pokémon world, and probably the most economical for them, too. Snorlax is shockingly huge at over 1,000 pounds. That means a lot of meat. And Snorlax is impossible to piss off. The giant consumes 900 pounds of food each day and immediately goes back to sleep, waking up for absolutely nothing (so you can do fun stuff, like this). So, in our alternate universe, Snorlax is best represented by a high-calorie snack like ice cream. This Häagen-Dazs in particular has the added benefit of almonds, which pack a lot of melatonin and a good amount of fat, both of which ensure more sleepiness. This is beneficial because…zzz. It actually helps…zzz. Soo…zzz. Sleepy…zzz zzz.

Related: Best Vanilla Ice Cream: Go Ahead, Be Vanilla

Mimikyu: Great Value Fudge Mint Cookies

The Mimikyu hype is completely justified because this Pokémon is one great enigma. If you didn’t already know, Mimikyu is a ghost and fairy type Pokémon that hides under a sheet with a badly drawn face of Pikachu on it. It desperately wants friends and to be as popular as Pikachu, but if you manage to get a glance under that sheet, you might mysteriously die. Chances are no one’s brave enough to eat a Mimikyu. But the kind of person who would risk their life to eat Mimikyu is the kind of person that would take the risk of trying a store brand dupe. Great Value Fudge Mint Cookies are to Girl Scout Thin Mints what Mimikyu is to Pikachu. They both live in the shadow of something more popular, but they’re actually better than what they are attempting to emulate. So, in honor of our sad boi Mimikyu, go out and buy yourself a bag of Fudge Mint Cookies.

Related: Girl Scout Cookies vs. Their Walmart Dupes

Tepig: Baken-Ets Hot ‘N Spicy Pork Rinds

Tepig is a fire type pig. Thus, spicy chicharrones. Hehehehe. You’re eating pork, either way. This one’s for the creeps who actually want to eat a Pokémon and see what it would taste like.

Related: Best Pork Rinds: Buy These When You’re in the Mood to Eat Skin!

The post If Pokémon Were Snacks, Could You Eat ‘Em All? appeared first on Sporked.

Diet Coke

Decoys: Big K, Signature Select, & Sam’s

Rhett is a Coke Zero man, so this round proved to be a bit difficult for him. He liked the Signature Select knockoff’s flavor, so he assumed that it was Diet Coke. Now, if you were hoping that Link might be a reliable taster today, I’m sorry to disappoint. After sipping all of the options, he said, “They are all so different and none of them are good, and I’ll drink Diet Coke as a treat but I don’t really like it.” I’m sorry, what?! Despite his self-proclaimed love-hate relationship with Diet Coke, he was confident with his guess. It was, of course, wrong. You’ll get ‘em next time, Link!

Rhett’s Guess: Signature Select

Link’s Guess: Sam’s

Related: These Diet Colas Are Way, Way Better Than Diet Coke

Sprite

Decoys: Great Value, Signature Select, & Big K

Great Value was definitely the prettiest of the four drink options. The guys admired the big, glassy bubbles. But…it was all a lie! They found it seriously lacking in fizz when they tried it. Next up was Signature Select’s knockoff. While Link liked it—and let the record show that he liked all of them—Rhett found it “too sweet.” The real contest was between the last two: Sprite and Big K. Big K’s lemon-lime had “less bite, but good flavor,” so Link gave it the “flavor award.” Sprite, on the other hand, got the “bite award.” The guys were surprised by the amount of bite it had and didn’t remember Sprite tasting that way, so they guessed Kroger. However, they both claimed that bite was more important than flavor, so they liked the Sprite more. They just didn’t quite believe that Sprite could be that good. If only they’d tried McDonald’s Sprite… 

Rhett’s Guess: Kroger

Link’s Guess: Kroger

Related: The 7 Best Lemon Lime Sodas 

Dr Pepper

Decoys: Big K, Signature Select, & Great Value

Link doesn’t like a whole lot of things. That includes Dr Pepper. Link, however, made it clear that he was confident in this round because his wife loves Dr Pepper. His proposed technique? “I’m gonna see if I can taste my wife’s breath.” “Can you hit the undo button?” Rhett asked (on behalf of literally everyone everywhere). While this round should’ve been easy for Rhett, he struggled a bit initially. “None of them taste like Dr Pepper. I think I’ve been drinking so much Diet Dr Pepper,” he admitted. But there were some hints that led the guys to guess correctly. Big K’s Dr K tasted “grapey.” Signature Select’s Dr Dynamite and Great Value’s Dr Thunder were too “candylike.” Dr Pepper, however, was the only one that didn’t taste “too fruity.” It’s safe to say that Dr K, Dr Dynamite, and Dr Thunder were trying way too hard. You just can’t beat the original.

Rhett’s Guess: Dr Pepper

Link’s Guess: Dr Pepper

Related: All the Dr Pepper Flavors, Ranked 

Canada Dry Ginger Ale

Decoys: 365, Big K, & Great Value

Rhett & Link only drink ginger ale on airplanes. Relatable. So, for the sake of fairness, Rhett said, “I feel like we should get as high as we possibly can.” Of course, they’re talking about altitude here. That stuff can really dampen the taste buds. So, after climbing on top of a sofa—although I don’t think that’s necessary considering Rhett is 6’7”—they started drinking. And getting high was indeed the right move. They easily identified the Canada Dry Ginger Ale. Not only that, but it was their favorite by a long shot. “It’s the best one, it’s fizzier,” Link said. Though they were all pretty good, Rhett actively disliked Big K’s.

Rhett’s Guess: Canada Dry Ginger Ale

Link’s Guess: Canada Dry Ginger Ale

Related: The 6 Best Ginger Ales Aren’t Just for Belly Aches & 15 Canada Dry Flavors, Ranked  

Barq’s Root Beer

Decoys: Signature Select, 365, Great Value

In this round, the guys were yet again at a disadvantage. Rhett said, “I like root beer but I don’t think I’ve had enough of it.” Link, in very Linklike fashion, admitted he dislikes root beer because it tastes too much “like medicine.” He said that he drinks Topo Chico every night. “It has no flavor. And I look forward to it. Every time I pull one out of the fridge, I just get a little boost of happiness and I’m like, ‘Gather around family and smell my breath! Nothing to smell! Hello!?’ It’s great. It’s nothing but bite. It’s like drinking bite. None of this medicine. If I want medicine, I’ll go to the doctor, I won’t go to the grocery store.” Still, he seemed hooked on the creaminess of 365’s root beer. Does Link like root beer now? In my imaginary world, yes. Rhett dug deep into his childhood memories, “got inside that silver can,” and guessed Barq’s correctly. 

Rhett’s Guess: Barq’s

Link’s Guess: 365

Related: Best Root Beer: An Updated Ranking of the Best Root Beers 

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Sour Heads

(Rhett: 72, Link: 71)

Rhett predicted that Sour Heads would go well with the energy drink-ness of Bang. “Now, I feel like this might work because the sourness,” he said. And it did, at least initially. The guys rated it high because—as Link put it—“it gives you this, like, ‘I JUST DRANK AN ENERGY DRINK RRRRR.” (No, that wasn’t a keyboard smash. That was my best attempt at translating Link’s roar into words). Again, the Sour Heads did well initially. When Link sipped it during the second tasting round, he blurted out in confusion, “What the—why does this taste like cologne?” Rhett independently came to a similar conclusion, saying that “it tastes like cotton… like detergent.” Though the flavor made it to the final round, it was immediately launched off screen, into the abyss. The guys regretted ever giving it a chance at the podium over their personal favorites (both of which—in a Gut Check first—failed to make the final four).

Radical Skadattle

(Rhett: 66, Link: 77)

Link was pleasantly surprised when he tasted the Radical Skadattle. He said, “Yeah. Own it. Own it, Bang. This is your lane right here: Dumb-named sour liquids.” Unlike Sour Heads, Radical Skadattle’s sourness did hold up during the second tasting. Rhett, however, had some concerns about the vague flavor name: “There’s nothing to map this to. It’s like feeding something to a newborn.” Please don’t give this to your baby.

Peach Mango

(Rhett: 75, Link: 74)

Peach Mango was the highest-scoring Bang Energy drink during the first round. “Something about mango keeps that weird taste from coming in at the end,” Rhett remarked. He was pleasantly surprised by its ability to block the artificial energy drink flavor. Link argued that it was because “mango has an aftertaste already, so you just start to forgive it.” While it didn’t take the top spot, it was significantly better than Radical Skadattle and Sour Heads.

Candy Apple Crisp

(Rhett: 73, Link: 73)

In the first round after a series of mid-tier flavors, the guys tried Candy Apple Crisp. Link, who thought the flavor was shockingly accurate, said, “It’s punching me in the face and turning me into a child.” In a good way, presumably. Rhett was also incredibly pleased, and called it a “total readjustment” of the Bang Energy game. He felt that the candy flavor had an artificial quality to it that blended well with “the unnatural vibe of an energy drink.”

Rhett’s Favorite Flavor: Root Beer Blaze

Link’s Favorite Flavor: Frose Rose

The Worsts: Birthday Cake Bash & Swirly Pop

Rhett & Link Also Tried: Cherry Blade Lemonade, Wyldin Watermelon, Bangster Berry, Blue Razz, Citrus Twist, Delish Strawberry Kiss, Nectarine Blueberry, Raging Raspberry Hibiscus, Purple Guava Pear, Strawberry Blast, Cotton Candy, Whole Lotta Chocolata, Power Punch, Blue and Yellow Limoncello, Black Cherry Vanilla, Krazy Key Lime Pie, Lemon Drop, Miami Cola, Whole Lotta Pina Colada, Rainbow Unicorn, Purple Haze, Star Blast, & Purple Kiddles

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