Goldfish vs …Whales?
To make a long story short, Ethan and I found ourselves shamefully at Wal*Mart tonight.
I won’t get into how I disagree with their business practices but we just went and figured while looking for what we needed, it may be a great source for second rate snacks.
We got some good ones, but the most impressive product we found was Stauffer’s Whales. Of course we were compelled to try them so they made it into the basket and after waiting 20 minutes in the check-out line, we brought them home to test.
First up…
Whales
These crackers were a little larger than Goldfish, (much like how real whales are bigger than real goldfish!) the first thing I noticed when I put one in my mouth was the nice salt-to-cracker ratio. I like to just move the cracker around in my mouth and take in any cheddar flavor before chewing, and did get some flavor. Ethan felt that although they didn’t really taste like cheddar, they were good.
I felt the flavor in general was pretty good but something about the texture seemed dense or stale or missing a certain crunch but Ethan thought the texture was fine, so maybe it was just me.
Goldfish
Next was our childhood classic, Goldfish. These actually seemed pale in flavor after the Whales. We agreed they were lacking any real cheddar flavor and actually tasted more like a saltine. Even the salt didn’t seem as good on these. It’s saving grace was the texture which was a little more crunchy and didn’t seem as mushy after chewing.
Wrap up:
It was a big surprise that we found ourselves enjoying the Whales more than the Goldfish, BUT you *might* say they cheated, since they do include MSG in their ingredient list and Goldfish doesn’t.
Since we haven’t seen these before tonight I’m not sure many other people have but I’ll ask anyway.
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August 29th, 2008 at 6:23 am
After eating a lot more Whales, I have to say I think I actually prefer Goldfish. The flavor of Whales gets to be a bit too much after a while. They’re sort of like the “flavor blasted” pizza Goldfish which also get a little sickening after eating more than just a few.
PS: You forgot to mention how this is a rare DOUBLE KNOCKOFF since Whales are made by Stauffers, which we easily mistook for Stouffers originally. Compare the Stauffers logo on the box above with the Stouffers logo here
August 30th, 2008 at 12:38 am
Ive never heard of Whales, but I’m impressed you guys actually ate them.
I was going to tell you to look for the second rate pop tarts. i dont even remember what they are called, but my grandparents used to get them. I can still remember how think the crust was on them
August 31st, 2008 at 9:41 pm
I was actually looking for a second rate Pop Tart and couldn’t find any until I hit Family Dollar last night, so we’ll do them soon
September 10th, 2008 at 2:27 am
I was at the Mart of Wal yesterday and had a box of Whales in my hand, but pussed out and put them back. Now I HAVE to go get ‘em. You bastards !!! :^)
The two Pop Tart knock-offs I remember from my youth were Nabisco Toastettes and Kellogg’s Toast’ems. Neither held a candle to Pop Tarts.
September 25th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
I LOVE WHALES.
November 4th, 2008 at 8:09 pm
I haven’t had whales since my senior trip to Florida when they gave them to us on the plane. Everyone loved them so much that on the return flight people started chanting “WHAY - ELS, WHAY - ELS” while the stewardesses were passing them out, hahaha.
June 7th, 2009 at 10:55 pm
whales they are the bacon of cheese crackers the chuck norris of the snack cabinet i can only like one kind of goldfish the rest are crap
August 10th, 2009 at 11:38 pm
Whales. I love them. 10 times better than Goldfish. Which, have no flavor like they used to back in the day. The ‘high end’ products have seemed to declined over the years and the 2nd rates are starting to taste much better.
August 16th, 2009 at 4:10 am
I also think Whales are much better than Goldfish. I used to be able to buy these very large pear-shaped containers of Whales at World Market, but haven’t been able to for at least a year now.
August 17th, 2009 at 9:42 pm
Whales are the best snack cracker ever made
September 17th, 2009 at 4:53 am
whales are the shit.
i googled to see who else liked whales. and im little upset at all the shit talking.
cheaper and better! they are one of my favorite snacks!
October 17th, 2009 at 12:29 am
Goldfish used to be made with “sweet creamery butter”, just like if you wanted to bake some crackers home-made. They tasted so much better then than they do now, made with partially hydrogenated plant oils. I resolved several years ago that until I see “sweet creamery butter” back in the ingredient list, I’m not buying.
February 11th, 2010 at 3:06 am
MSG? Where do you see that listed on the ingredients? They aren’t on my bag.
February 11th, 2010 at 3:15 am
Also, I know this is in late, but I think Whales had a more “Cheez-It” feel to them, while Goldfish were more “Cheese Nips,” and I’m definitely a Cheez-It man.
I’m going to start getting these things more often. They’re cheap, and my skinny little sisters will tear them to shreds. They need to get some fat on their bones.
March 1st, 2010 at 7:12 pm
I’m a Whale man, m’self. They’ve grown on me over time. Initially I just got them because they are way cheaper than Cheez-its and I’ve got a two box a week habit. I didn’t think they were that great at first but now I actually like them and crave them. Now it’s 2x (16oz)boxes of Whales per week!
April 18th, 2010 at 5:39 pm
Whales! The bigger animal has the bigger flavor. And for the price, can’t be beat! Don’t vote unless you’ve tried both!