Ever wondered why Crisps have so much Air in the Packet?

We’ve all been there. You grab a bag of Tayto, King, Walkers – whatever your weapon of choice – and with a bit of excitement you tear it open… only to be met with disappointment. Half the bag looks empty, like someone at the factory has been skimming a few spuds on the sly.

It feels like a con, doesn’t it? All that air and only a handful of crisps. But here’s the thing – it’s not actually a scam (well, not most of the time). There’s some actual science and sneaky packaging rules behind it.

It’s Not Air – It’s Nitrogen

First things first: that bag isn’t filled with the same air you’re breathing right now. Crisp makers pump their packets with nitrogen gas. Why? Because oxygen is the enemy of crisps. Leave crisps in regular air and they’ll go stale, soggy, or even rancid before you’ve a chance to enjoy them. Nitrogen keeps them fresher for longer and makes sure that crunch you’re after is still there weeks (or even months) down the line. Think of it as a freshness blanket.

The Cushion Effect

There’s also a practical reason for all that space: crisps are fragile little things. If the bag was vacuum-packed tight, or worse, half the size, you’d be left with nothing but crumbs before you even got them home from the shop. That puffed-up bag acts like bubble wrap, cushioning the crisps during their bumpy journey from factory to supermarket shelf to your kitchen press.

Are We Still Being Short-Changed?

Here’s where it gets interesting. The weight you see on the bag – say 25g, 40g, or the “share bag” you’ll 100% eat yourself – is what you’re guaranteed to get. It doesn’t matter how much empty space is in the packet; the crisps have to weigh in properly.

There are rules too. In Ireland and across the EU, packaging laws allow something called “slack fill” – basically, a certain amount of empty space is permitted as long as it serves a purpose (like protection).

Some companies definitely push the boundaries, which is why you sometimes feel a bit robbed when you open a so-called “family bag” that barely survives Love Island ad breaks.

Fun Crispy Facts

• The “air” in your bag is pure, food-grade nitrogen – the same gas used in cans of Guinness to give that creamy head.

• On average, a 25g bag of crisps is about two-thirds nitrogen by volume.

• In the U.S., people have actually sued crisp companies for having too much “air” in their bags (can you imagine the judge trying to keep a straight face?).

• Some brands are testing see-through packaging to prove they’re not short-changing you. Whether that’ll fly or not, we’ll see.

  
  

Final Crunch

So no, you’re not being scammed quite as much as you think. The “air” in your crisps is actually there to keep them fresh, crunchy, and in one piece. That said, it doesn’t make it any less annoying when you open a family-size bag on a Friday night and realise you’ll need to put on shoes and run back to the shop before the film even starts.

At the end of the day, the crisp game is simple: you’re paying for weight, not bag size. But still, crisp companies – maybe throw in a few extra spuds next time, lads!

Slán go fóill.