It doesn't take a scientist to understand why a crisp butty is so delicious - with the soft filling of a sandwich complimented perfectly by the crunchy flavoured potatoes.
Now food scientists have reviewed the flavour compounds in sandwich fillings and crisps to reveal the top ten tastiest crisp sandwich combinations.
The top pairings were examined by leading food scientist Dr Stuart Farrimond at the University of Chester for a study commissioned by Subway and Walkers.
I decided to put the research to the test - after the study claimed the ultimate combination was Chicken Tikki and Ready Salted Crisps.
As I doubted my abilities to munch down ten sandwiches in a row, even when washed down with plenty of juice, I settled on the top five of the bunch.
At the top of the list was Chicken Tikka with Ready Salted crisps, followed by Tuna Mayo with Prawn Cocktail, Meatball with Ready Salted crisps, Chicken Salad with Cheese and Onion, and Cheese with Salt and Vinegar.
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Chicken Tikka and Ready Salted crisps - 7/10
For this, I grabbed a pot of Morrison's own chicken tikka spread, paired with a good old-fashioned bag of Walker's Ready Salted.
As with all the sandwiches on the list, I plonked my filling between two solid wedges of Co-op's crusty tiger bloomer, ie. the ideal base for any picnic sandwich.
Admittedly, I've never before thought of mixing chicken tikka spread with crisps and do feel a more flavourful potato chip might have tipped it towards love it or hate it Marmite territory.
Next time, I might be interested in trying a spicier crisp.
However, the subtle taste and delicate hint of salt certainly added something and made for a pretty good sandwich if, like me, you enjoy dipping poppadoms in your curry from time to time.
Although this was indeed a very tasty sandwich, for me it just didn't hold up next to some of the others on the list, despite being first in the official ranking.
Tuna Mayo and Prawn Cocktail crisps - 9/10
This was placed a very worthy second on the list and would have hands down been my first choice had another filling not blown my socks right off my picnic blanket.
The most memorable butty of the bunch by far, this was the one I was most excited about, given that Prawn Cocktail is my all-time favourite flavour.
After just one bite, I knew I'd found a new lunchtime staple, and couldn't believe that this flavoursome combo isn't more widely spoken about.
A genuinely delicious mix, this packs a punch while being oh so moreish.
The usually mild tuna really popped when mixed in with the tomatoey tang of the prawn cocktail, all nicely balanced out with a dollop of mayo.
Retro, fun, and an all-around lip-smacker of a sarnie, I was struck with wonder that I hadn't been packing this one for day trips for years.
Meatball and Ready Salted crisps 7.5/10
This was the trickiest to make out of the lot, given that I couldn't find a ready-made meatball sandwich filling at any of my local shops.
I decided to try and whip together a Subway-style meatball marinara sauce as best I could in the time frame permitting, heating up some 'eat hot or cold' style meatballs with passata, salt and pepper, and plenty of herbs.
I naturally finished this off with a hearty slab of cheese, as it just felt plain wrong not to, before popping in a layer of ready salted crisps.
This made for a truly superb flavour pairing, but it turned out to be a tricky ratio to master, and I'd definitely add a couple of extra crisps in the future, given that the crispy texture did get a bit lost in the sauce.
It goes without saying that this is also a bit of a messy combo, so it's worth chucking a couple of napkins in your picnic basket should you wish to try it for yourself.
Chicken Salad and Cheese and Onion crisps - 8/10
There are few better summer lunches than a fresh chicken salad sandwich, piled with plenty of crunchy lettuce.
I found that the crisps added a satisfying extra texture, especially when accompanied by a juicy slice of tomato, which complimented rather than overpowered.
The notes of cheese and onion enhanced the overall taste experience, tricking my palate into thinking I was enjoying a fulsome salad stuffed with all sorts of carefully prepared additions. Solid, classic, and crowd-pleasing.
Cheese and Salt and Vinegar - 9.5/10
When it comes to sandwiches, oftentimes you don't need to pile your bread high with masses of ingredients.
Sometimes all you need is a couple of quality fillings that marry together like salt and pepper. Or, in this instance, salt, vinegar, and cheese.
I whacked a strong slice of cheddar - the punchier the better in my opinion - between two slices of bread, and added as many salt and vinegar crisps as felt right. The result was pure magic.
The two powerful flavours balanced each other out beautifully, with the saltiness bringing out the sharpness in the cheddar in such a way that my taste buds were sent flaring. You just can't go wrong with this one.
I was far from disappointed by the array of sarnie combos I tried, enjoying some pairings that previously hadn't even crossed my mind.
However, my own personal ranking turned out to vary somewhat, and my own favourite wasn't at all what I expected it to be.
Overall, the cheese with salt and vinegar crisps was my favourite, followed closely by the tuna mayo with prawn cocktail combo.
In third place, I would rank the breezy, cheesy chicken salad with cheese and onion, followed by the tasty yet fiddly meatball with salt and vinegar.
Contrary to the official list, my fifth and final choice has to be the chicken tikka spread with ready salted crisps, which to me just didn't pop quite as well as some of its more solid rivals.
Do you have a food or drink-related story to share? Email us at julia.banim@reachplc.com
