Why Are Chips Bags So Full of Air?

According to SHAHEDNEWS, It's often said that chips bags contain a lot of air to prevent the chips from being crushed during transportation. In fact, the puffed-up design of snack bags acts like an air cushion. Additionally, the presence of gas in the bag helps accommodate changes in atmospheric pressure, which is especially important if the food is transported by air.

What’s Inside the Bag?

These bags aren’t filled with regular atmospheric air from the factory; they are filled with nitrogen gas. Potato chips exposed to open air and oxygen quickly become stale and lose their crunch. You can test this by leaving an open bag of chips out overnight and observing the results.

A food scientist explains that chips are incredibly delicate. If the bags were filled to the brim, not only would the chips break, but moisture could also reduce their quality, making them soft and soggy.

Nitrogen helps prevent the oils and starches in chips from oxidizing, keeping them fresh and crispy for a longer period. Believe it or not, this has been scientifically studied and verified. Furthermore, nitrogen is an excellent choice because it’s non-reactive, odorless, and safe for use in food packaging.

Could There Be Another Reason?

On the other hand, there’s evidence that some companies may overfill their packaging with nitrogen. In 2017, a study revealed that, on average, 72% of chips bag space is empty, with only about a quarter of the bag containing actual chips. While this extra space helps keep chips fresh, it may not be as effective as claimed in protecting their physical shape.

So, while filling chips bags with gas might not prevent chips from breaking as effectively as claimed, it certainly plays a significant role in keeping them crisp and fresh.