Potato chips are a popular American snack.
According to Ideafinder.com, George Crum created the first potato chip in 1853. Today, the potato chip is America's favorite snack with sales over $6 billion a year. This popular salty sensation has evolved to include numerous varieties and flavors, including low-fat and vegetable chips. Consumers' quests for a healthier diet while wanting to satisfy snack cravings has lead to a demand for low-fat potato chips. Similar in appearance to a regular potato chip, low-fat versions contain several differences.
Fat Content
have a significantly lower fat content than regular chips. Depending on the brand of potato chip, low-fat chips can contain between 20 and 60 percent less fat. For example, a serving of Baked Lays has only 2 grams of fat, while the same serving of Lays Original chips has 10 grams of fat, and Kettle Cooked Lays has 6 grams of fat. The fat content can also depend upon the cooking process and type of oil used.
Cooking Process
Regular potato chips thin slices of potato deep-fried in hot cooking oil that has reached a temperature of 350 to 375 degrees. Lower fat versions are either baked or kettle cooked. Usually, baked potato chips have a lower fat content than kettle cooked chips, because kettle cooking still involves frying the potatoes in oil. Less oil is also used in the baking process. Many times, dehydrated potatoes are used to make baked or kettle cooked chips.
Oil
Although some chips have a lower fat content due to their cooking process, other chips are made with a different type of cooking oil. Regular potato chips are usually fried in sunflower or corn oil, but some non-fat or low-fat brands are cooked in Olestra, a non-fat cooking oil. There's some controversy surrounding Olestra, however, because some individuals react sensitively to it and can experience loose bowels from ingestion. But the FDA stands behind Olestra, and potato chip manufacturers continue to use it.
Taste
Low-fat potato chips taste different than regular potato chips. Some people like the taste and texture better, while others don't. For example, the Baked Lays Addict webpage features reviews about how satisfying and delectable Baked Lays are, with other comments claiming that Baked Lays taste like cardboard. Wjactv.com conducted a potato chip taste test with plenty of positive feedback about low-fat chips; the taste test winner was Natural Lays Sea Salted Chips. CTV.com surveyed people and asked them if they would give up taste for less fat, and approximately half of those surveyed answered yes.
Calories
Low-fat potato chips have, on average, about 20 fewer calories than regular potato chips. Compare regular Lays to the low-fat version: 140 calories are in a serving of the regular variety, and 120 calories are in a serving of the low-fat variety. You're not saving a significant amount of calories eating the healthier chips.
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