Ah yes, everyone’s favorite paraboloid chip brand- Pringle’s!
If you love Pringle’s, there must have been two questions that plagued you.
How do Pringle’s get “the Pringle shape”, that is, the hyperbolic paraboloid.
The second is, are Pringle’s fried or baked?
After all, how can a chip that has been fried be so buttery and yet, not greasy!
Well, we will answer your first question below, but first, let us address the second question.
You will be surprised to know that all Pringle’s are actually fried!
Yes, even the flavors that claim to be baked.
Want to know more? Keep reading to find out!
Is Pringle’s Healthier Than Chips?
Before I answer, are Pringle’s fried or baked? Let us first discuss whether Pringle’s are healthy.
Even though Pringle’s are fried, you might be wondering if they are healthier than other chips or if they are more nutritious than baked chips.
After all, these crispy, buttery, and flavorful chips are addictive, and no one can blame you for wondering how much or how often you can eat them!
To answer your question, though, Pringle’s are not healthy at all.
Unfortunately, Pringle’s has a high fat and salt content like all other packaged snacks and chips.
The saturated fats used in the chips are horrible for our bodies and paired with the amount of salt and additives they have; Pringle’s make for an unhealthy snack.
Only 42% of Pringle’s is potatoes; the rest of the ingredients are flour, starch, additives, and preservatives.
And, even if you think the 42% potatoes make it healthy, remember that Pringle’s are highly processed, and the potatoes lose all nutrients that were initially there.
How Do They Cook Pringle’s?
Are you confused about how Pringle’s achieve the perfect hyperbolic paraboloid “Pringle shape” every time?
Do not worry; you are not the only one!
The question of its iconic shape has pestered people for years now, and we are here to answer it.
In short, Pringle’s uses a mold to get the “Pringle shape”, but there is more to it than just that.
Before a Pringle’s chip is cooked, a dough made of potatoes and other ingredients is prepared.
The dough is then poured into a tray, where it is cut into small ovals with an automated machine.
Following this, the oval dough shapes are placed inside a mold which they call “a saddle”- because, you know, the hyperbolic paraboloid shape.
Next, the Pringle’s have to run through hot oil for 15 seconds while still in the molds to get a golden-brown color to them.
And, voila, your favorite stackable snack is ready!
Are Pringle’s Fried or Baked?
Now that we have addressed your first question in detail, here comes the next one – the one you are here for!
Are Pringle’s fried or baked?
Pringle’s are always fried!
These buttery chips packed with flavor and give you the “melt in your mouth” feel are most definitely always fried.
Whether it is the classic flavors like the Pringle’s Original, the Pringle’s Sour Cream and Onion, or the newer flavors like the Pringle’s Honey and Mustard, the Pringle’s BBQ, and the Pringle’s Pizza, they are all fried.
Even the Pringle’s Loaded Baked Potato flavor is fried.
So, even if you look for baked Pringle’s, you will not find any.
So, since Pringle’s are not baked, how are they fried?
All Pringle’s are put into a special apparatus made just to achieve the iconic saddle shape each chip has, and then they are put through hot frying oil just for a few seconds for the perfect color and crunch.
Pringle’s are pretty delicate, in a sense.
This is likely why there are not any baked flavors available for us yet.
The chips need to be cooked in a very specific way and at the correct temperature of the oil to turn out perfect.
If the oil gets too hot or remains too cold, or even if there is too much moisture in the potato dough, the entire chip will be an epic fail.
And, what is a Pringle without the right flavor and crunch?
Thus, all Pringle’s are fried with care to satisfy your cravings!
Do Pringles Have Palm Oil?
Pringles fried in Plam oil before 2014. But since 2014, they stopped cooking Pringles in palm oil.
Instead, they switched to a blend of high oleic sunflower oil, sunflower oil and corn oil.
It helps to reduce considerably the level of saturated fat in Pringles.
So, Pringles do not contain palm oil.
Why Are Pringle’s Not Greasy?
So, now that it has been established that Pringle’s are fried, the question is, how are they not greasy?
One exciting thing about the Pringle’s chips is that Pringle’s are not chips! Universally, people consider thinly sliced potatoes deep-fried in oil chips, so, in that sense, Pringle’s are not chips.
Why, you ask? Instead of using thinly sliced potatoes, Pringle’s does not use potatoes at all!
Instead, they use an ingredient called “dehydrated processed potato”.
Pringle’s has even gotten into trouble with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for marketing their “dehydrated processed potato” snacks as chips!
It is then that they rebranded themselves as potato crisps to get around the rules of the FDA.
But how is this related to Pringle’s not being greasy?
Well, their “dehydrated processed potato” is what makes them “not greasy.”
If they used regular potatoes, Pringle’s would be just as greasy as the other fried chips brands, which is why they use this alternative.
How Long Does Pringles Last?
The Pringles usually comes with 15 months of shelf life.
It means they are good to be consumed for the following 15 months that after production.
But they are should be stored the right way.
The open can of Pringles can last from 1 to 2 weeks from the date of opening.
Other brands of potato chips usually come up with a shelf life of only four months.
So, the extended shelf life gives a competitive advantage to Pringles.
What Chips Are Bsaked, Not Fried?
If you are considering quitting Pringle’s because of its fried nature and are desperately looking for baked chips to snack on, there are quite a few options available for you that are just as good!
For instance, Frito-Lay’s has an entire line of baked chips that can surely satisfy your cravings.
You could also try Popcorners Snacks Gluten-Free Chips, or Kettle Brand Potato Chips, and even Miss Vickie’s Kettle Cooked Potato Chip for the ultimate crunchy snacks.
Related Questions
Are Pringles not potato chips?
Yes, Pringles are not technically potato chips as they aren’t actually made with real potato.
They made with dehydrated processed potato.
The FDA stated in 1975 that Pringles could only be titled “chips” if they provided a disclaimer, identifying them as “potato chips made from dried potatoes.
” Pringles scrapped that idea and renamed it as potato “crisps.”
Are Pringles Vegan?
If you wondering, are Pringles vegan?
Then the answer is both- Yes and No.
A few varieties of Pringles are vegan whereas some are not vegan.
Only the Original Pringles, Wavy Classic Salted, Lightly Salted Original, and Reduced Fat Original Pringles flavors are vegan.
So, if the Pringles are “original” or “salted”, then it is likely vegan friendly.
Can Pringles go bad/ expire?
Yes, Pringles will expire eventually.
Expiration totally depends on the conditions in which Pringles are stored.
Actually, Pringles are designed to last a long time when sitting unopened on shelves.
It can last about twelve to fourteen months if they stay unopened.
Are expired Pringles safe to eat?
You can eat Pringles after a best-by date has passed.
But they just won’t be as good as if you had eaten them before to that date.
It’s safe to eat Pringles two or three weeks after the best-by date if they are unopened.
Eating Pringles past the expiration date will most likely don’t harm to your body.
Where is the Pringle’s expiration date?
Pringles expiration date located on the bottom of the can or the bottom of the bag.
But it may differ depending on the factory where it was produced.
Some Last Words
Because Pringle’s is a fan favourite, so if you’ve made it this far to the article, there’s no doubt that you’re invested in this brand!
As a foodie, or just a chip fan, it is always important that you know what you put inside your mouth!
It’s good to keep track on whether your favorite chips -Pringle’s is baked or fried. A little knowledge on food never hurt anyone!
Sources:
https://www.thrillist.com/eat/nation/pringles-flavors-chips-factory
https://www.quora.com/Are-Pringles-baked-or-fried-If-fried-what-are-they-fried-in
https://www.quora.com/Are-pringles-chips-healthy-to-eat
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