Phantom Gourmet: Taco Shell Taste Test
BOSTON (CBS) -- Phantom recently purchased four boxes of taco shells at a local supermarket. The crispy contenders were Mission, Old El Paso, Ortega, and Taco bell. See if you can guess which brand ended up at the top of the food chain.
Mission grande taco shells finished in last place. This brand says its shells are 33 percent larger than regular shells, but that only goes to prove that more isn't always better. Its subpar packaging was difficult to open, and did a poor job of protecting the product, leading to a few broken shells right out of the box. As for taste, they're just plain terrible, with no flavor whatsoever. If you're attempting to use this brand to make a tasty taco, Phantom says it's 'mission impossible.'
A very slight step up from there is Taco Bell. This fast food icon famous for its incredibly cheap fare is taking a swing at the supermarket, and striking out. These shells are wrapped in a cheap plastic bag, leading to lots of chipped pieces which undermine their structural integrity. While the shells are very crunchy, they're also very flavorless, sabotaging anything you might stuff inside.
The runner up is Ortega. To start with, this brand has the best packaging by far, with the shells safely vacuum packed inside a plastic container, offering an unparalleled level of protection. And after peeling away the easy open top, Phantom was not totally disappointed with what he found inside. Ortega is 25 percent larger than the standard shells, and while it delivers a serviceable crunch and taste, it wasn't enough to take the top spot.
At the top of the food chain is Old El Paso. This competition wasn't even close, as these small shells are loaded with flavor. They're just the right amount of salty and buttery, with a pure corn taste that really pops. Thin but crunchy, this brand brings plenty of flavor to the fiesta without overwhelming the fillings. That's why Old El Paso taco shells are at the top of the food chain.
Watch Phantom Gourmet on Saturdays and Sundays at 10:30 and 11 a.m. on myTV38.
