Forum: Story Discussion and Feedback

I recently bought a bag of air. The company that made it was nice enough to put in a few potato chips...

For those who don't know this, the air in a bag of potato chips actually has a function.

The bags aren't just partially filled, they are deliberately inflated to slightly above normal air pressure.

And there is a reason for that. It keeps the chips from getting crushed in shipping.

For those who complain about the air in chip bags, would you be happier opening a bag of chips and finding nothing but crumbs?

would you be happier opening a bag of chips and finding nothing but crumbs?

That's almost the case now...

deliberately inflated to slightly above normal air pressure

If the bag was inflated above air pressure then at no time would a bag show dimples or creases as the internal air pressure would keep this from happening. I have worked in factories that process these items and the bags are just pinched sealed while the bag is in an open state which gives the bags an air bubble. Easily done at home by taking any bag and open it up and then just pinch the open end to seal it many people do this with paper bags to pop them.

Step by step at the factory :

The bag comes on rolls and is pulled of the roll along a plate that allows the outside edges to meet yet hold the bag in an open state ( from flat to looking like this U )

Once you have the bag rolled up like this U it then get pulled threw heated irons to make the back seam making the bag look like this Q.

As the back seal is formed two heated metal irons are pinched together to form a crimp seal forming the Top of one bag and the bottom of another bag at the same time.

As soon as this top/bottom seal is placed the chips are dropped into the bag and then crimp sealed again sealing the bag with chips and forming the bottom seal for the next bag to get chips.

The bags are then cut apart, weighed, and pass threw a metal detector before being packaged for shipping.

I hope my explanation is understandable or you can cheat as I found this 3 min video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ws_K9Cxs-uE

If the bag was inflated above air pressure then at no time would a bag show dimples or creases as the internal air pressure would keep this from happening

True only if the factory floor is kept cold. In the more likely event that the air injected into the bag is slightly warm, it would result in the bag deflating somewhat as the contents cooled. (Also, it would make sense to 'inject' air mainly to ensure that the bags don't contain any humid air.)

Also, even Mylar balloons leak a little bit. Also, dimples or creases will vary with weather as outside air pressure is not constant.

And I've bought bags of chips that were fully puffed out and even pop a bit when opened.

So, if I understand what the OP is recommending, optimally all potato chip bag sealing should happen at the bottom of a mineshaft. This will cause them to plump up at sea level and above.

I would also imagine that somewhere along the highways leading to the highest villages in the Himalayas, there are mounds of chips along the side of the road due to bursting bags. Can you track a Yeti with orange chip dust traces?

So, if I understand what the OP is recommending,

Clearly you did not understand as I didn't recommend anything.

you need to treat the first half of the first sentence as whimsical as the remainder of the two paragraphs. Too many inhaled chip bag gasses.

Guys, you are all missing the point.

The exact air pressure inside the crisp bag depends upon the flavour of the contents.

Only an utter idiot would expect 'salt & vinegar' and 'spicy wings' to have the same quantity and temperature of air. (At time of manufacture)

Please, this is a critical issue and should garner significantly more posts and argument than any of you are currently expending.

Try harder...!!!

Try harder...!!!

But if we are harder, all the blood goes to the little head and we can't think straight.

But if we are harder, all the blood goes to the little head and we can't think straight.

How am I supposed to tell the difference?

:)

How am I supposed to tell the difference?

Uh, he would like boys instead of you, joy.

We as a family has driven the USA many years. It is always fun to hear chip bags that were bought at home (700 feet above sea level) or in San Diego (where son lived for 5 years) go "POP" as we cross the Rockies in Colorado! Or close an empty bottled water in Colorado and see it sucked in!