Every year, fried food junkies compete to see who can concoct the best fried food for the Texas State Fair. Last year it was fried cookie dough. This year, however, the first-place finisher did not live up to expectations. Trading in their sweet tooth for a more salty option, chicken fried bacon gave taste testers a sour aftertaste, rather than a satisfied stomach.

Chicken fried bacon, while it may sound appealing to some grease-savvy connoisseurs, really isn’t all it was talked up to be. Unless you’re trying to win the contest for inventing the food with the most calories, this fair favorite was more of a fair flop to some of our editors.

Described as bacon battered and breaded with seasoning and topped with ranch or honey mustard, this treat did nothing more than clog arteries and disappoint our anxious taste buds..

Fire and Ice, a deep fried pineapple ring topped with banana-flavored whip cream and dunked in liquid nitrogen to give it a smoking effect was also dissed by The Daily Campus fair goers. It’s safe to say, frozen foods are best left frozen, not fried.

However, not all food inventions got lost in the fryer. The classic funnel cake topped with powdered sugar was the most raved about food among staff members.

The best option for eating your way through the fair is to share your treats with a friend. Split the cost and the plate with one or several friends. It’s a great way to save some money, and cut back on the thousands of calories packed into each bite. Also, chances are if it sounds absolutely terrible, it probably is. There’s no point in wasting your money on the chicken fried bacon if you can’t stand the taste of bacon at breakfast.

For those a little less likely to indulge in the fried festivities, the fair also offers a wide variety of rides and attractions. Just be forewarned, if you plan on whirling around on some of the rides or viewing the Dallas skyline from the top of the ferris wheel, it’s best to lay off the fried chocolate truffles till the ride comes to a complete stop.

If you prefer to keep your feet firmly planted on the ground, you can always visit the petting zoo. Hosting an array of animals you could find on an African safari, the fair featured camels, zebras and even a giraffe. Of course, pigs, horses, cows and other animals were present too.

If you haven’t had the chance to make it out to the State Fair of Texas yet, don’t worry, the fair runs through Oct. 19. Located just ten minutes from campus, there is really no excuse why you can’t partake in the dozens of games, rides, taste testing and other attractions this annual event has to offer.