Prepackaged chocolate chip cookie reviews: round 1

I've finally completed the first round of cookie reviews. Sorry I took so long, but here they are:

“Mrs. Fields” Chocolate Chip, by Mrs. Fields Famous Brands

It was probably a mistake to start with a cookie this good; I have a feeling this is going to be the yardstick by which I measure all other prepackaged cookies. They're big, thick, soft, and come one to a package. They're also available in both milk and semi-sweet chocolate. I was surprised when I first found this out; you are never supposed to use milk chocolate in baking. However, there's not much of a difference between the two. I had to eat several of them before I could distinguish one from the other.

Although there's no way they can stand up to the real thing, I have a feeling that this is probably the best prepackaged cookie out there. We shall see ...

“Grandma's” homestyle Chocolate Chip, by Frito Lay

From the fine people that bring you Fritos. The package says, “quality since 1914.” I don't buy it. I did, however, buy and eat these cookies, which come in a pack of two and might possibly have been on the shelf since 1914. They are not as big as Ms. Field's, nor as thick. They do however have enough chemical additives and preservatives that I wouldn't doubt their ability to survive 94 years unchanged. I think it is a good indication of what we are dealing with here that there is more BHT in these than vanilla.

“Linden's” 3 Large Chocolate Chip Cookies, by Linden Cookies

I've never had a cookie quite like this. First off, they aren't soft cookies. This isn't to say that they're hard though; they're crisp, more than anything, like a fortune cookie, but flat and a little thicker. They're not too heavy on the chocolate chips either. I never expected to enjoy eating a cookie that was so flat, crisp, and un-chocolatey, but in all honesty these light, buttery cookies are about as good as Mrs. Fields, just at the opposite end of the spectrum. However, they're much cheaper, and as the name states, they come in packs of three. If you look at it that way, Linden's provides more cookie for less money. So which is my favorite so far? Hard to say. I'd call it an even tie.