Cottonseed-based snack chips
Cottonseed-based snack chips are a savory, crunchy snack made primarily from cottonseed meal, a byproduct of cotton oil extraction, often blended with flour, spices, and seasonings. They are particularly popular in regions with significant cotton agriculture, such as parts of the southern United States, China, and India, where they serve as an affordable and resourceful use of the seed.
🍽️ Nutrition at a glance
These chips are typically high in protein and dietary fiber due to the cottonseed meal, but can also be high in fat depending on the oil content and frying method. A standard serving provides a good source of plant-based protein and minerals like magnesium and iron, with a calorie range of approximately 140-180 calories per ounce (28g).
Nutrition breakdown
| Calories | 140 kcal |
| Protein | 3 g |
| Carbs | 15 g |
| Fat | 8 g |
| Fiber | 2 g |
| Sugar | 1 g |
| Sodium | 210 mg |
| Iron | 1.2 mg |
| Magnesium | 35 mg |
| Phosphorus | 70 mg |
| Potassium | 120 mg |
| Zinc | 0.5 mg |
| Vitamin E | 1.5 mg |
| Niacin (B3) | 0.8 mg |
| Folate | 15 µg |
Per 1 oz (28 g) · estimated, varies by recipe
💡 What's interesting
What makes these chips unique is their origin as a sustainable upcycled food, transforming a byproduct of the textile and oil industries into a nutritious snack. Nutritionally, they offer a rare combination of high protein and fiber in a chip format, though their consumption is sometimes limited by the need for proper processing to remove naturally occurring compounds like gossypol.
