In Defense of Cool Ranch Doritos

There has long been a debate between Dorito fans about which flavor reigns supreme, and most often it comes down to two options: red versus blue, the top dog versus the underdog, Nacho Cheese versus Cool Ranch. Doritos are so ubiquitous in the U.S. that they don't even need to use their name or logos in their commercials. Countless flavor varieties have been offered over the years, many of them delicious, but ultimately, in this world, you're either a Nacho Cheese person or a Cool Ranch person. Today, I will make the case that Cool Ranch deserves the number one spot in America's hearts.

First of all, Cool Ranch has "cool" in its name, which already makes it infinitely more intriguing than plain old Nacho Cheese. I mean, who wouldn't be interested in something that already knows it's cool? It's much more mysterious than its cheesy competitor and evokes a feeling of chill that no other chip can compare to.

In that vein, Cool Ranch is vastly different than any other Dorito flavor, and possibly one of the most unique options in the chip aisle altogether. How many other chips are as tangy, flavorful, and ranch-y? None, I say. Frito-Lay created a masterpiece when they released Cool Ranch Doritos in 1986, and nothing has been able to compare since. Most Dorito flavors are some combination of cheesy and spicy, but only Cool Ranch offers a whole world of tanginess.

Cool Ranch Doritos stand on their own as a unique, tangy, flavorful chip, but these elements also make them an amazing complement to other foods. When I was in college, one of my roommates introduced me to the idea of putting crushed Doritos into homemade tacos and burritos. She used the ever-popular Nacho Cheese flavor, but I knew I had to try it with my beloved Cool Ranch. I tried her tacos as well, and the Nacho Cheese chips did add some extra flavor and crunch, but my mind was blown when I added crumbled Cool Ranch Doritos to my next taco salad. This may be considered sacrilegious, but I grew up putting ranch on tacos instead of sour cream, so I was familiar with the pleasant tang that ranch flavoring can give to taco-seasoned food. As it turns out, Cool Ranch Doritos have an even better effect because of the extreme flavor combined with the added crunchy texture. I was hooked, and when Taco Bell later released Doritos Locos Tacos, it made complete sense to me. I patiently waited for Taco Bell to release a Cool Ranch version, and I still believe that it is superior to Nacho Cheese Doritos Locos Tacos because of the added flavor elements, even if Taco Bell disagrees. Nacho Cheese can only add cheesiness to other foods, but Cool Ranch adds a whole new world of flavor.

In conclusion, Cool Ranch Doritos are the superior flavor because of their complexity of flavor. Nacho Cheese is tasty, sure, but what does it provide other than simple cheese? Cool Ranch offers spice, sweetness, tang, and coolness all in one chip flavor, which in my opinion makes it the standout among the chip aisle, and especially among all Doritos. If more people gave them a chance, their horizons could be expanded, and isn't that what the world needs more of these days?