Theory On Pringles

Back in my younger years I spent a great deal of time contemplating why things are the way they are.  I came up with my own personal theories on many things, most of which are useless but nonetheless may have some merit.  One such phenomenon that I have patented is my Theory On Pringles.  You know, the chips made by Procter & Gamble that come in a can:

Maybe this theory would be more appropriately named "I Think I Have The Procter & Gamble Marketing Team's Secret Plans Nailed".  Or, "Why One Likes Pringles More Than Doritos Even Though You Only Get  50 Chips In A Can". 

Let us begin with the container these chips are packaged in.  From Procter & Gamble's perspective, this is a brilliant plan due to the pretty obvious reason that there are way less chips in a Pringles canister than there is in a regular bag of potato chips.  Although the canister packaging is probably more expensive to make than your normal plastic Doritos bag, there is less product inside, so cost is slightly adjusted.

Along with the canister, the appealing lid that comes on the can creates a seal, in theory allowing the chips to last much longer than an opened bag of chips forgotten at the back of the cupboard for a month or so = stale city. (Funny enough, a can of Pringles never seems to last long enough for that to happen.  Have you ever had a stale Pringle?)

Also in regards to the canister, whose hands have ever been small enough to fit inside one?  Unless you are a child, one must pour out the chips in order to get to them.  Pouring means they come out faster.  And once a Pringle is out of the canister, it seems sacrilege to put it back in.  Into your mouth it goes. Eating faster = buying faster.

Now to the chips themselves.  Everyone seems to agree that the unique shape of these chips means they only really fit in your mouth one way. If you try eating one upside down it just doesn't feel quite right in your mouth and tends to make a huge mess.  I believe that within the special shape of the chip lies the biggest secret of all about why the Pringle is so damn good.  Upon close examination of a Pringle, you will notice that there is seasoning on only ONE side of the chip.  And interestingly, it happens to be on the side that does NOT touch your tongue.  Therefore you do not taste the true flavor of the chip until you crunch into it.  First you have the physiological sensation of biting into something lite and crunchy and almost instantly after the crunch, the flavor falls onto your tongue.  Why does this matter?  Because you will never OD on the light flavor of a Pringle.  Think about it, after a few (43) Doritos, my mouth cannot take anymore orange Dorito cheese.  It is cheese overload.  It's too much.  But the Pringle never has this problem.  They leave you wanting more.  And maybe just one more.  Ok fine ONE more.  And then what do you know?  The whole can is empty.