The Real Reason Chips Are Half Full
It’s Not Just to Annoy You
Why are bags of chips always half-full?
You’ve probably experienced this before: you’re getting comfortable and ready for a nice bag of chips, but as soon as you open it, you realize it’s only half full — or half empty if you’re a pessimist.
Now, why is that?
Well, there are actually two key reasons.
The Cushioning Effect
First of all, bags of chips are only filled to 50% because the empty space serves as a cushion to prevent the chips from breaking during transport.
But this cushion isn’t just air as many people think; the bags are filled with nitrogen gas.
Nitrogen doesn’t react with other molecules, making it the perfect preservative gas to keep your chips fresh and crunchy.
This process is known as modified atmosphere packaging (MAP), which simply means modifying the internal atmosphere of a package. MAP ensures the freshness and extended shelf-life of the product.
Why Not Normal Air?
If you were to fill the bags of chips with normal air, the chips would become soggy and spoil much quicker.
Just think of an apple turning brown once you bite into it because it comes in contact with oxygen.
Nitrogen is used because it’s a non-toxic and odorless gas that is abundantly available around us; the air we breathe consists of 78% nitrogen, making it an ideal replacement for oxygen.
Did you know this before? Let me know in the comments.
