RATING CHIPS FOR THE KICKOFF.

Byline: Martin S. Gonzalez Staff Writer

Regardless of whether Super Bowl eats will include your own special smoked ribs, submarine sandwiches from the Italian deli, or takeout pizza, chances are plenty of chips (and dips) will be consumed throughout the game.

But what kind of chips are best for dipping? We put a few different ones to an informal dipping and taste test, including the newest chips on supermarket shelves touting dipping capabilities.

Besides good flavor, whether tortilla or potato, the chips have to have some heft and be easy to dip. There's nothing worse than staining your shiny team jersey with the remnants of a collapsed chip.

With a variety of store-bought dips on hand, which included a watery salsa, a warm cheese dip and a creamy onion dip, tasters dipped away, choosing their favorite chips.

The contenders in our ``Chip Bowl'' included newly introduced Tostitos Scoops, a white corn tortilla chip that refers to itself as the ``the dip lover's chip''; Fritos Scoops, which laud themselves as specially made for dipping; and classics including Mission Premium White Corn Tortilla Triangles and Ruffles Original Potato Chips. Pringles Ridges Original Potato Crisps were thrown in as a last-minute addition, but were quickly disregarded as an inferior dipping chip. Thin and delicate, they broke easily when dipped, especially in thicker cheese and guacamole dips.

True to its claim, the Tostitos Scoops tortilla chips proved to be the favorite dipping chip among the competitors. With the unique squarish cup design and folded ridges that serve as little chip handles, the Tostitos chips were unmatched in dipping ability.

``Love the Tostitos Scoops,'' said one taster. ``Nice and light, and they don't break up when you scoop them.''

``Great for dipping, and can also be used for little chip appetizers,'' added another.

The smaller canoe-shaped Fritos Scoops also received high marks for dipping but didn't rate as well taste-wise. Many testers thought the distinctive corn flavor of the Fritos overpowered many of the dips.

Ruffles and Mission chips had a tendency to break more easily than the scoop varieties, but some tasters preferred them anyway, because of their rich flavor.

``The Tostitos Scoops are good for dipping, but the Mission chips have a much better flavor and texture,'' said one taster.

As for the Pringles, there's not much you can do when half of the chips come out of the tube already broken.

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) CHAMPION CHIP (Tostitos SCOOPS!)

(2 -- color) RUNNER-UP (Fritos SCOOPS!)