Herr’s Old Bay Cheese Curls are a Top-Tier Old Bay Snack
Herr’s Old Bay Cheese Curls are a top-tier Old Bay snack. They’re almost as good as Utz’s “The Crab Chip” (despite the name, they don’t have crab, which surprises a lot of people—they’re simply flavored with an Old Bay–style seasoning).
In fact, I’ll go further: if you want that classic Old Bay flavor but
- a) don’t want a chip, or
- b) don’t want actual crab
this is the snack to reach for.
I’ve tried plenty of Old Bay snacks (because I love Old Bay), and I can say with confidence there are only two worth buying: Herr’s Old Bay Cheese Curls and Utz’s “The Crab Chip”.
What I Love About Herr’s Old Bay Cheese Curls
The flavor is spot on.
You’re immediately hit with a clear, assertive Old Bay flavor—which is exactly what you want. If a snack says “Old Bay”, you should be able to taste it (looking at you Virginia Diner Old Bay Peanuts).
At the same time, the Old Bay isn’t overdone. Some brands push the seasoning too far and end up overly salty and heavy (Route 11, I’m looking at you—I love your other chips, but your Chesapeake Crab chips are way too heavily seasoned and too salty).
They’re nicely salty (with a caveat).
There’s definitely some salt—maybe a touch more than ideal—but it doesn’t cross into overwhelming territory. More on that in a second.
The texture works.
These curls are light and airy. Are they the lightest, airiest curls out there? No. But that’s OK! What matters is that they’re light enough and airy enough.
Bonus: They’re Gluten Free
Another nice bonus: Herr’s Old Bay Cheese Curls are gluten free. That’s not something I personally prioritize when shopping for snacks, but it’s good news for anyone looking for a flavorful gluten-free option.
Snacks Hall of Fame
With all of that, Herr’s Old Bay Cheese Curls are officially inducted into The Snacks Guy Hall of Fame.
Where Herr’s Old Bay Cheese Curls Could Be Better
Even great snacks have room for improvement.
Slightly too salty.
A 5-15% reduction in sodium (at the recipe level—not the nutrition label) would make these even better. To be fair, Old Bay itself is built on celery salt, so this may not be an easy fix.
The cheese gets overshadowed.
These are cheese curls—but the cheese flavor is muted by the Old Bay.
The cheese is clearly doing important work (adding body and creaminess), but I’d like to actually taste more cheese. These are cheese curls, after all—I should taste cheese!
I see two options for Herr’s:
- Increase the cheese intensity, or
- Dial back the Old Bay by 5–10%
(Herr’s, if you’re listening: dialing back the Old Bay would also reduce your cost. And there’s already plenty of Old Bay here—losing 5–10% wouldn’t hurt. If anything, these might actually be better with a little less.)
Artificial colors.
Nobody wants these. Not just the MAHA crowd—everyone. Simply Cheetos Puffs and Vegan Rob’s Dragon Puffs are proof that you don’t need artificial colors to make a great snack. Herr’s, it’s time to let them go.
Who Should Eat These
- People who love Old Bay
- People who love cheese curls
- Anyone who wants a great Old Bay snack that isn’t a potato chip.
