There’s a ratio of air-to-chip that gives the optimal amount of chips to most protection provided by the ‘pillow’ of air. Exceed that and you’ve got a bag of chip sawdust or need to switch to hard packaging like Pringles tubes (which… Pringles don’t really cost more, so maybe tubes are the way to go anyway).
IIRC that ratio is something like 30% chip to 70% air by volume. Which feels like you’re getting ripped off, but is defensible for quality sake.
The ‘kinda’ kicks in when chip manufacturers know they’ve trained us to expect a low chip-to-air ratio, and crank it up to like 10-90, and keep the cost the same. That’s just fucking the consumer, and the manufacturers can go to hell for that shit.
I’ve heard it’s not air but some non-acidic inert gas for longer periods of preservation. These chips and snacks go bad in a day after contacting the air. It doesn’t explain it’s volume and a choice of soft package tho.
I remember people online vehemently defending potato chips companies filling up their packaging with air. Where are they now?
…here! Kinda at least - hear me out.
There’s a ratio of air-to-chip that gives the optimal amount of chips to most protection provided by the ‘pillow’ of air. Exceed that and you’ve got a bag of chip sawdust or need to switch to hard packaging like Pringles tubes (which… Pringles don’t really cost more, so maybe tubes are the way to go anyway).
IIRC that ratio is something like 30% chip to 70% air by volume. Which feels like you’re getting ripped off, but is defensible for quality sake.
The ‘kinda’ kicks in when chip manufacturers know they’ve trained us to expect a low chip-to-air ratio, and crank it up to like 10-90, and keep the cost the same. That’s just fucking the consumer, and the manufacturers can go to hell for that shit.
Old Food Theorists video on the chip to air ratio in bags:
https://youtu.be/ycNSY3d1WLc?si=jzzu_qx-xIB3yOEM
I was a fan of Game Theory back in the day, but god DAMN has that channel (and its branches) gotten click-baity / gimmicky.
for the record, the air does serve a purpose in the packaging, keeping chips from getting crushed.
that said… there seems to be a lot more air in there than there used to be.
I’ve heard it’s not air but some non-acidic inert gas for longer periods of preservation. These chips and snacks go bad in a day after contacting the air. It doesn’t explain it’s volume and a choice of soft package tho.
I believe it’s nitrogen.
You are right.
https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/national-international/chips-and-air-why-your-favorite-snacks-are-always-half-full/3178885/