There are a few reasons why your Doritos may taste different than what you’re used to:
New recipe
Doritos occasionally updates their recipes to change flavors or use different ingredients. For example, in 2018 they removed MSG and artificial colors from their Nacho Cheese and Cool Ranch recipes, which changed the tastes slightly. If you’ve been eating Doritos for a long time, a recipe change could make them taste different from what you remember.
Stale chips
If your Doritos have been open for a while and exposed to air, they can lose their crunch and flavor. Stale chips won’t taste as bold or flavorful. Always check the expiration date and store Doritos in a sealed bag to maintain freshness.
Different manufacturing facility
Doritos are produced in multiple factories around the world. Slight variations between facilities in ingredients, cooking times, etc. can impact flavor. The factory your most recent bag came from may produce them slightly differently.
Why Recipes Get Changed
Doritos occasionally change up their recipes for a few reasons:
Customer feedback
If Doritos receives requests from customers to alter a recipe, they’ll consider tweaking ingredients to improve the flavor. For example, creating a recipe without MSG or artificial colors in response to consumer demand for cleaner ingredients.
Cost cutting
To maximize profits, Doritos looks for ways to use cheaper ingredients while maintaining the same flavors. Substituting less expensive seasonings or oils is one cost-cutting technique.
New flavor trends
Updating recipes allows Doritos to experiment with bolder, spicier flavors or ingredients on trend, like adding a hint of lime or chili pepper. This keeps the brand innovative and exciting for customers seeking new snack experiences.
Improved nutrition profile
At times, Doritos makes recipe changes to create healthier versions of their chips by reducing salt, saturated fat, calories or artificial additives. A healthier nutrition label can appeal to customers looking for smarter snacking options.
How Manufacturing Differences Impact Taste
While Doritos facilities follow the same recipes, subtle differences in manufacturing can alter flavors:
Ingredient quality
The grade and freshness of ingredients like oils, corn and seasonings impact taste. Facilities source from local suppliers who may have variability in ingredient quality.
Cooking process
Factors like fryer temperature, time in the fryer and batch size can influence texture and flavor during cooking. There’s natural variation between facilities.
Seasoning process
The equipment used to season chips and the time seasonings remain on chips affect how flavors are absorbed. More modern facilities may get better seasoning adherence.
Storage conditions
How chips are stored after cooking – like temperature, humidity and air exposure – imparts flavor over time before packaging. Some facilities store chips better than others.
Altitude
Higher altitudes change air pressure and the way seasons adhere during manufacturing. Facilities at higher elevations can impact taste.
How to Evaluate Your Bag of Doritos
If your Doritos taste different, here are some ways to evaluate:
Check the label
Compare the ingredient list to previous bags. Any ingredient differences likely indicate a recipe change.
Crunch factor
Assess the chips’ texture – are they less crispy or crackly than you remember? Staler chips pack less crunch and flavor.
Flavor intensity
Do the flavors seem muted? Stale or off-recipe chips often lack flavor punch.
Manufacturing codes
Look for a manufacturing/lot code stamped on the bag and compare it to previous bags to spot any facility differences.
Packaging changes
Note if the bag design changed recently – new packaging often accompanies recipe tweaks.
Best by date
Check if the chips are past their prime based on the best by date, which can lead to taste deterioration.
Ways to Regain Peak Flavor
If your Doritos have lost some taste over time, here are tips:
Store properly
Keep bags sealed tight and store in a cool, dry place to maintain crunch and extend shelf life. Avoid humidity.
Use older chips first
Adopt a “first-in, first-out” system to use up older bags before opening new ones. This minimizes stale chips.
Request fresh samples
Contact Frito-Lay to explain the issue and request fresh bags of Doritos straight from the factory to taste test against your old bags.
Switch manufacturing plants
Inspect manufacturing codes on disappointing bags and try to find chips made at different facilities that may produce better results.
Provide feedback
Contact Frito-Lay if a recipe change negatively impacted the taste – your input could lead to flavor improvements in the future.
The Bottom Line
Discovering your favorite snack food tastes a bit “off” can be disappointing. With iconic snacks like Doritos, even subtle recipe and manufacturing tweaks over time can change the flavors noticeably. Knowing the likely causes, like recipe changes or staleness, and taking steps to evaluate and provide feedback helps regain the flavors you know and love. Monitoring best by dates, storage conditions, and manufacturing codes makes it easier to identify when, where and why taste inconsistencies occur.