If you really want to be offended, a quick trawl through food trends on TikTok can do this for you. Of course, causing offence is catnip to the TikTok algorithm, but there is historical precedence to some of the more abhorrent food practices on social media. Remember that US recipe books once recommended adding marshmallow and cubes of jelly to salad, and my grandmother loved to top her tuna mornay bake with potato chips. One of these ideas is delicious, and it’s the one that doesn’t read like a milkshake nightmare.

I’ve taken time to sift through the junk-food-in-recipe ideas out there to find the good, the bad and the just plain ugly.

Crazy crumbs

If you’re happy to crumb fried chicken with crushed cornflakes, then why not instant noodles, Twisties or potato chips? Grilled fish is particularly suited to a chip crust, given its speed of cooking.

VERDICT: Good!

Related story: This is how many hot chips you should be eating. You’re not going to be happy about it

Sacreligious salts

Why limit yourself to seasoning with salt when you could make a salt substitute by blitzing cheese corn chips to sprinkle on tacos, or blend Burger Rings into a crumb to toss over burgers?

VERDICT: Very ugly, but secretly, I am embarrassed to say, a little bit good.

Chippy topping

While my grandmother added plain chips on the top of her tuna mornay, I’d advise trying salt and vinegar or chilli to pump up the flavour of this mellow classic. In fact, you could take the same approach to any mash-topped pie. I rather like the idea of sour cream and chive chips on my next fish pie.

VERDICT: Good.

Boiled chips

Move along! Nothing to see here! Unless you’re intrigued by what boiled, mashed Pringles tastes like.

VERDICT: Very, VERY ugly.

Not-your-normal nachos

Who said you had to use corn chips? Why not sub in tater tots, or your favourite Pringles? The main thing is the new choice has to have a flat face for catching the melted cheese and whatever toppings you match to your chip flavour.

VERDICT: GOOD.

Chip pie crust

Idahoan Mashed Potatoes in the US has a take on beef wellington where the crust is made from a mix of instant mashed potato, crushed potato chips and panko breadcrumbs .

VERDICT: Serving a mushroom wellington is bad enough right now. This is worse.

Sweet chips

If the idea of chocolate coated salty pretzels doesn’t have you tut-tutting, you’re going to love melted chocolate poured over salted potato chips. Eat as soon as the chocolate sets.

VERDICT: Good.

Turtle clusters

What happens when those choc-drizzled chips get nacho-fied? Pour 150g melted white chocolate over a lined baking tray of chips – plain salted are best. Then sprinkle over half a cup of nuts, such as chopped pecans, pistachios or slivered almonds. Add another half cup of something chewy like diced apricots, or craisins. Finish it off with a little more salt and a drizzle of homemade caramel sauce.

VERDICT: GOOD.

Related story: Want the crispiest potatoes possible? You should be cutting them the Spanish way