Just How Much Air Is In That Bag Of Chips?
We’ve all asked ourselves this question at one time or another: “Why is there so much air in this bag of chips?” It’s one of the most frustrating food-related conundrums….
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Joe Raedle/Getty ImagesWe've all asked ourselves this question at one time or another: "Why is there so much air in this bag of chips?"
It's one of the most frustrating food-related conundrums. Every time you rip open a bag of chips you feel like you're the one being ripped off.
There's actually a logical reason for snack makers to pump those bags up. Protection. If the bags didn't have some air in them, your chips would be more likely to get crushed before they made to the store or vending machine.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
That doesn't answer all of our questions, though. There doesn't seem to be an industry standard for how much air (nitrogen, actually) each chip bag gets. Why does the amount vary so much from one brand to another? For example, a bag of Fritos corn chips contains only 19% air, while a bag of Cheetos is inflated to hold 59% air. Are Fritos that much sturdier than Cheetos? I wouldn't think so. It all seems so random, which is perhaps why this had to be researched in the first place:
- Fritos - 19% air
- Pringles - 28% air
- Tostitos Scoops - 34% air
- Lays Baked - 39% air
- Sun Chips - 41% air
- Lays - 41% air
- Popchips - 45% air
- Cape Cod - 46% air
- Kettle Brand - 47% air
- Doritos - 48% air
- TERRA - 49% air
- Stacy’s Pita Chips - 50% air
- Ruffles - 50% air
- Cheetos - 59% air
