Why are chip bags filled with air?

Many people feel disappointed after opening a bag of chips because it looks much fuller from the outside than it does inside.

It may seem like the bag is filled with air instead of chips but there is a good reason for it.

The gas inside a chip bag is not ordinary air. Before sealing the bag, manufacturers fill it with nitrogen gas.

Nitrogen is colorless odorless and makes up most of the air we breathe.  It is also safe for food and does not react easily with it.

If oxygen were left inside the bag the oil in the chips could spoil more quickly causing the chips to lose their fresh taste and become stale.

Nitrogen helps keep the chips fresh crispy and tasty for a longer time. The extra space inside the bag also works like a cushion. Chips are very fragile and can easily break during transport from the factory to warehouses trucks stores and finally to customers.

The nitrogen filled space absorbs pressure and protects the chips from being crushed.

Some people wonder why companies do not simply use smaller bags.  The size of the bag is designed to protect the product work with packing machines and make shipping easier.

Different types of chips also need different amounts of space because of their shape and size.

The amount of chips is based on weight not how full the bag looks. That is why the package clearly shows the net weight of the chips even if there appears to be empty space inside.

So, the next time you open a bag of chips remember that the “air” is not there to trick you. It is there to keep your chips fresh crispy and protected until they reach you.