Bags of potato chips are filled with what gas?

If you’ve ever grabbed a bag of potato chips at the deli and were left disappointed by the pile of crumbs in your bag, your snack didn’t have enough nitrogen gas in it.

When packaging potato chips, the bag is inflated with a little bit of nitrogen gas.

There’s a dual purpose for this crunchy, salty balloon. The gas keeps the chips from being crushed before they make their way to your plate, and the nitrogen keeps them fresh. Oxygen causes food to oxidize (go stale) quickly, but nitrogen preserves the freshness.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org

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What are your thoughts on this subject?

24 Comments

tbear

Had no idea! Here Im 85 and learned something new! Never, ever, gave it a thought! 😊👍

Denise Currie

Maybe this question should be date stamped as although Nitrogen has been used for many years, over the last couple of years or so there has been a swing toward Argon, as it keeps things up to 25% more fresh than Nitrogen, and up to 50% longer when used to package Pizza.

Carroll Price

Nitrogen is an inert gas that displaces oxygen which discolors and hastens the deterioration of food. Heat, light and oxygen are the tree enemies of stored food.

Magnolia Thomas

Nitrogen is NOT an inert gas, but Argon is!!!!

raymond parker

Denise Currie, using a best before date will soon become defunct as well but nice try

naimbashtooinc

carbon dioxide is toxic.

Martha McDowell

great trivia for sure!

Bank-Robber

That doesn't stop the stocker from squeezing the bag stocking the shelfs!!!

Jaimi McEntire

belindawilliams, Air is 78% nitrogen.

Cheryl Love

The only 2 gases which made sense were argon and nitrogen. Argon costs more, so I figured it must be nitrogen. Currently manufacturers have been switching to argon, which costs more, but it’s more efficient making the difference in price over nitrogen negligible.

Cheryl Love

Denise Currie, Argon costs more but it’s more efficient so the price comes out about the same.

james parrillo

blkstang, I remember reading this but do not remember where. Thank you, Christine, James's wife

Stephen W. Gerrard

Denise Currie, I didn't know that! Thnx. I knew about the nitrogen but not the evolution to other gases.

tbear

Lynne Cage, 😊👍

tbear

earlepg, me, too! 😊👍

earlepg

Denise Currie, Never gave it a thought. Now I wonder how long until a changeover.

earlepg

tbear, 80 here and in the same boat. While considering it as just a bag full of air, I knew it wasn't and picked nitrogen as the most likely alternative. 😊