Shape and manufacture The Pringles saddle shape chip surface was modeled after, and can be described mathematically by, a hyperbolic paraboloid, which is a form of quadric. This shape is distinctive in that it is curved at all points along its surface; there are no flat planes or lines. This design characteristic is beneficial as it helps keep the chips from breaking during distribution by eliminating lines of stress along which a small crack may easily propagate. Further it keeps the stack of chips tightly interlocked or nested during distribution. Pringles is the only brand of stacked potato chips that exhibit this characteristic double saddle shape; all others are of a single curve surface design such as a parabolic cylinder or circular cylinder. One of the designers of the machine used to mold Pringles was the science fiction author Gene Wolfe.
Some advocate that Pringles are also shaped a specific way because there is a proper way to eat them. The chip should be placed in the mouth with the curve up, so the chip surrounds the tongue. Not only is this the easiest way to eat them, it is congruent with how the chip is placed inside the can during manufacturing. Others oppose this method, saying that the majority of the flavoring on the chip is at the top of the curve, and therefore should be eaten curve down.
The product is currently manufactured in North America in Jackson, Tennessee, where the minor league baseball stadium is called "Pringles Park". Pringles are also produced in Europe in Mechelen, Belgium.
In 2003, Frito Lay released a competing chip brand, Lay's Stax, with a single curve shape. They are packaged inside a plastic tube so they can stay fresh longer
Well theres WHY they shape them. Dont know how though? hmm
I don't know about passing pis(or perhaps I do) but I've just got through 1/2 a tube of Paprika Pringles and they taste as good long ways as end ways or sideways Thank you Kat for that hyperbolics intervention - tell me more
They make them out of potato flakes and they do actuallly have a machine that shapes them into thier 'pringle' shape. It's really cool to watch them being made- i watched it on TV once. But ye sorry to spoil the excitemnet of how they are made but they are just made like regular crisps-in a shaping and cutting machine.
(this is quite interesting tho!...)
' The shape of a Pringle is the surface of a hyperboloid (or maybe a paraboloid, I dunno) of two sheets bounded by an elliptical cylinder. This shape gives the Pringle strength to survive shipment and uniformity to stack a lot of them into a little can.'
If anyone's interested: HOW TO MAKE POTATO CHIP (PRINGLES) COOKIES
3/4 c. butter 3/4 c. sugar 1 egg yolk 3/4 c. crushed pringles 1/2 c. chopped pecans 1 1/2 c. flour 1 tsp. vanilla
i recommend you all try them!!!
(oh ye and was this convo really started on the 13th of May!!!??????)
megan, I haven't partaken in any more 'passin of the pigs' recently, however i have been perusing a well-know internet auction site and will shortly be partaking in a bid or two on a cheap bargain!!
Still need ideas for making two giant pigs for the game!!!??? Any thoughts?
I like sour cream and onion *blushes* (green) Although both paprika and salt and vinegar are rather excellant! Like the dip that goes with some of them?
Hey matt, that was me not kat...gosh lol. The box colour although wikipedia told me, "In 2004, Pringles released a new product called Pringles Prints. These are Pringles with food-coloring printed on them with either trivia questions or jokes in red or blue print." Did anyone know that?
Kat, I spell your name KAt - cus when i type fast I dont release the shift button after pressing the 'K' before pressing the 'A', if that makes sense, it also happens with my name, so more often than not I end an email 'MAtt'... did it again without trying... lol! I'll try harder in future!