Quick answer: Makhana vs chips, which is better?
Potato chips are sliced potatoes fried in oil. Makhana is a seed puffed with dry heat, then roasted and seasoned. At a 1 ounce (28 g) serving, plain salted potato chips are about 150 calories with about 10 g of fat, per USDA FoodData Central. A 1 ounce bag of AshaPops popped water lily seeds is 120 calories per the product label, and a 0.5 ounce bag is 60 calories. AshaPops is roasted, never fried, and made without seed oils.
Chips and makhana answer the same craving for something salty and crunchy, but they are made in opposite ways. Potato chips are sliced potatoes fried in oil. Makhana is the seed of the prickly water lily (Euryale ferox), heated dry until it puffs, with no frying involved. Per the APEDA report on India's makhana exports, makhana is the popped seed of an aquatic plant grown mainly in the Mithila region of Bihar, India. That single difference in how they are made drives most of the gap in the numbers below. If you are shopping for a crunchy swap, makhana sits near the top of any list of popcorn alternatives.
Makhana vs Chips: The Numbers at 1 Ounce
Potato chips are fried, so a large share of their weight is oil. Makhana is popped dry, then roasted and seasoned. The table below uses one serving size throughout, 1 ounce (28 g). Chip figures are from USDA FoodData Central for plain, salted potato chips. AshaPops figures are from the product label.
| Per 1 oz (28 g) | Potato chips, plain salted (per USDA FoodData Central) | AshaPops popped water lily seeds (per product label) |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | about 150 | 120 (1 oz bag); 60 (0.5 oz bag) |
| Total fat | about 10 g | 3.5 g to 4.5 g by flavor |
| Protein | about 1.9 g | 2 g (3 g in Vegan Cheese) |
| Dietary fiber | about 1.3 g | up to 1 g by flavor |
| How it is cooked | deep fried in oil | popped with dry heat, then roasted, never fried |
| Oil used | varies by product | extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil, depending on the flavor |
Potato chip values are from USDA FoodData Central for plain salted potato chips, calculated to a 1 ounce (28 g) serving. AshaPops values are from the AshaPops Nutrition Facts label: 120 calories per 1 ounce bag and 60 calories per 0.5 ounce bag. Where the four flavors differ, the range across all four is shown, and the complete panel for each flavor appears below. Nutritional data is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical, dietary, or health advice. Consult your healthcare provider before making dietary changes.
AshaPops Nutrition Facts, All Four Flavors
These are the values printed on the Nutrition Facts panel of the 1 ounce (28 g) bag. One bag is one serving.
| Per 1 oz (28 g) bag | Himalayan Pink Salt | Chili | Turmeric Garlic | Vegan Cheese |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calories | 120 | 120 | 120 | 120 |
| Total fat | 3.5 g | 4.5 g | 4 g | 4 g |
| Saturated fat | 0.5 g | 0.5 g | 0.5 g | 0.5 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g | 0 g | 0 g | 0 g |
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0 mg | 0 mg | 0 mg |
| Sodium | 220 mg | 290 mg | 210 mg | 140 mg |
| Total carbohydrate | 20 g | 19 g | 19 g | 18 g |
| Dietary fiber | <1 g | 1 g | 1 g | 1 g |
| Total sugars | 0 g | 0 g | 0 g | 0 g |
| Added sugars | 0 g | 0 g | 0 g | 0 g |
| Protein | 2 g | 2 g | 2 g | 3 g |
| Iron | 0 mg | 0.4 mg | 0.5 mg | 0.4 mg |
Vitamin D, calcium and potassium are listed as 0 on every flavor. Percent Daily Values on pack are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. The 0.5 ounce (14 g) lunchbox bag is 60 calories, with 1.5 g to 2 g of total fat, 70 mg to 150 mg of sodium, 9 g to 10 g of total carbohydrate, and 1 g to 2 g of protein depending on the flavor. Values are transcribed from the Nutrition Facts panel printed on each bag. Nutritional data is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical, dietary, or health advice. Consult your healthcare provider before making dietary changes.
Read at the same serving size, a 1 ounce serving of plain salted potato chips is about 150 calories with roughly 10 grams of fat, per USDA FoodData Central. A 1 ounce bag of AshaPops is 120 calories. Chips are fried, which is where most of that fat comes from. Makhana is popped with dry heat and then roasted. For a full breakdown of the seed itself, see the complete makhana guide.
One more difference sits off the nutrition label: the oil. Chips are cooked in oil, and the oil varies by product. AshaPops pops its water lily seeds and roasts them, and depending on the flavor, products use extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil, with no canola, sunflower, or other seed oils. That puts them among snacks made with avocado oil.
Taste and Texture
Chips and makhana scratch the same salty-crunch itch, but the crunch is different. A chip is thin and shatters, then coats your fingers in oil and salt. Makhana is light and crisp with a hollow, airy bite, closer to a puff than a slice, and it leaves your hands clean. Plain makhana is mild and slightly nutty, so it takes salt and seasoning well without a strong flavor of its own to fight. A chip tastes like fried potato, which is the point for chip fans and what makhana trades away.
Texture holds up better in makhana over time. Chips go soft once a bag is open, and they turn to crumbs at the bottom. Makhana keeps its crunch longer and travels without shattering, which makes it easier to portion into a bag or a desk drawer. For a closer look at how makhana compares with the other popular crunchy swap, see the makhana vs popcorn breakdown.
Why Makhana Works as a Chip Swap
Makhana works as a chip swap because it delivers a salty crunch from a snack that is popped and roasted rather than fried. Here is how it plays out in practice.
- Salty crunch: A seasoned makhana gives you a savory, crunchy hit. A pink salt flavor is the closest match for a plain salted chip.
- The numbers, stated plainly: Per 1 ounce, plain salted chips are about 150 calories with roughly 10 grams of fat, per USDA FoodData Central. A 1 ounce bag of AshaPops is 120 calories per the label.
- Roasted, never fried: Makhana is puffed with dry heat and then roasted. Chips are deep fried.
- No seed oils, no gluten: AshaPops is gluten-free and made without seed oils. Depending on the flavor, products use extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil.
- Cleaner hands: Makhana skips the oily coating that chips leave on your fingers and the inside of the bag.
Chips still win on one thing: that specific fried-potato flavor. If that exact taste is what you are after, nothing else is a chip. If you want a salty crunch from something popped and roasted instead, makhana is the swap.
Where AshaPops Fits
AshaPops makes popped water lily seeds, roasted rather than fried, in four savory flavors: Himalayan Pink Salt, Chili, Turmeric Garlic, and Vegan Cheese. Every bag is made without seed oils, is gluten-free, has no added sugar, and is plant-based. Depending on the flavor, products use extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil. AshaPops is Non-GMO Project Verified and Certified OU Kosher, and it is made in Los Angeles from makhana sourced in Bihar, India. For a straight salted-chip swap, the Himalayan Pink Salt flavor is the natural pick.
On calories, a 1 ounce bag is 120 and the 0.5 ounce bag is 60, so the portion is decided by the pack. You can browse the full range of AshaPops popped water lily seeds or shop AshaPops to find a flavor that covers your chip craving.
FAQ: Makhana vs Chips
How do makhana and potato chips compare?
They are made in opposite ways. Potato chips are deep fried in oil. Makhana is popped with dry heat and then roasted. At a 1 ounce (28 g) serving, plain salted potato chips are about 150 calories with roughly 10 grams of fat, about 1.9 grams of protein, and about 1.3 grams of fiber, per USDA FoodData Central. A 1 ounce bag of AshaPops popped water lily seeds is 120 calories per the product label, and a 0.5 ounce bag is 60 calories. Per the label, a 1 ounce bag carries 2 grams of protein, 3.5 to 4.5 grams of total fat, and up to 1 gram of dietary fiber, depending on the flavor. The Vegan Cheese flavor lists 3 grams of protein. Nutritional data is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical, dietary, or health advice. Consult your healthcare provider before making dietary changes.
Are makhana snacks fried like chips?
No. Potato chips are deep fried in oil. Makhana is popped with dry heat until the seed puffs, with no frying. AshaPops roasts its water lily seeds and seasons them, and depending on the flavor, products use extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil. It is roasted, never fried.
How many calories are in potato chips compared to AshaPops?
A 1 ounce serving of plain salted potato chips is about 150 calories, per USDA FoodData Central. A 1 ounce bag of AshaPops seasoned makhana is 120 calories per the product label, and the 0.5 ounce bag is 60 calories.
Do makhana snacks taste like chips?
They deliver a salty crunch, but the flavor is different. A chip tastes like fried potato, while plain makhana is mild and slightly nutty and takes on whatever seasoning it is given. A salted flavor like Himalayan Pink Salt is the closest match for a plain salted chip. Makhana also leaves no oily coating on your fingers.
How much fat is in potato chips?
Plain salted potato chips carry about 10 grams of fat per 1 ounce serving, per USDA FoodData Central, because they are fried in oil. A 1 ounce bag of AshaPops lists 3.5 to 4.5 grams of total fat, depending on the flavor. AshaPops is popped and roasted rather than fried.
What oil does AshaPops use?
Depending on the flavor, AshaPops products use extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil. The brand does not use canola, sunflower, or other seed oils. AshaPops is also Non-GMO Project Verified and Certified OU Kosher.
Are AshaPops a good chip alternative?
For a salty, crunchy snack, yes. AshaPops popped water lily seeds are made without seed oils, are gluten-free and plant-based, and are 120 calories per 1 ounce bag (60 for the 0.5 ounce bag) per the product label. They are roasted, never fried. AshaPops contains no tree nuts, peanuts, gluten, or grain. Individuals with food allergies should consult their healthcare provider before consuming.
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