Chips, rice
Common food
Photo: Wikipedia
Rice chips are a light, airy, and satisfyingly crunchy snack made from puffed or extruded rice grains. They offer a clean, neutral rice flavor with a delicate, melt-in-your-mouth texture that's less greasy than potato chips. Nutritionally, they are a high-carbohydrate, low-fat energy source with a notable fiber content for a snack.
Calorie split: 9% protein · 85% carbs · 7% fat
↓ Full nutrition💚 Why it's loved
People love rice chips for their pure, toasty rice flavor and incredibly light crunch that doesn't leave a heavy, oily residue. Their neutral taste makes them a perfect blank canvas for seasonings or a versatile companion to dips, salsas, and cheeses.
⚠️ Watch-outs & how to enjoy it better
As a refined carbohydrate snack, they can cause rapid blood-sugar spikes, especially when eaten alone. To counteract this, always pair them with a protein or healthy fat source like hummus, guacamole, or a slice of cheese to slow digestion. Be mindful of sodium content in flavored varieties.
Key benefits
- Low in fat (2.8g per 100g)
- Good source of quick energy from complex carbs
- Contains dietary fiber (4.2g per 100g)
- Gluten-free and typically allergen-friendly
- Light texture makes portion feel substantial
🍽️ Popular dishes
🌍 Where it's eaten
💡 Did you know?
The process of making puffed rice involves heating rice grains under pressure and then rapidly releasing that pressure, causing the moisture inside to flash into steam and puff the grain to many times its original size.
Full nutrition (USDA data · scales with serving)
| Water | 5.8 g |
| Energy | 384 kcal |
| Protein | 8.2 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 2.8 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 81.5 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 4.2 g |
| Total Sugars | 0.60 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 11.0 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 1.5 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 131 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 360 mg |
| Potassium, K | 290 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 326 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 3.0 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.45 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 24.6 ug |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 0.00 mg |
| Thiamin | 0.06 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.17 mg |
| Niacin | 7.8 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.15 mg |
| Folate, total | 21.0 ug |
| Folic acid | 0.00 ug |
| Folate, food | 21.0 ug |
| Folate, DFE | 21.0 ug |
| Choline, total | 24.3 mg |
| Vitamin B-12 | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin B-12, added | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 0.00 ug |
| Retinol | 0.00 ug |
| Carotene, beta | 1.0 ug |
| Carotene, alpha | 0.00 ug |
| Cryptoxanthin, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Lycopene | 0.00 ug |
| Lutein + zeaxanthin | 22.0 ug |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 6.5 mg |
| Vitamin E, added | 0.00 mg |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3) | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) | 6.5 ug |
| Alcohol, ethyl | 0.00 g |
| Caffeine | 0.00 mg |
| Theobromine | 0.00 mg |
Fat & fatty acid profile (per 100g)
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 0.64 g |
| SFA 4:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 6:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 8:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 10:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 12:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 14:0 | 0.01 g |
| SFA 16:0 | 0.48 g |
| SFA 18:0 | 0.05 g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 1.0 g |
| MUFA 16:1 | 0.01 g |
| MUFA 18:1 | 1.0 g |
| MUFA 20:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 22:1 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 0.98 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 0.97 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 0.01 g |
| PUFA 18:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:5 n-3 (EPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:5 n-3 (DPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:6 n-3 (DHA) | 0.00 g |
| Cholesterol | 0.00 mg |
Amino acid profile (per 100g)
Estimated from Snacks, corn-based, extruded, chips, plain — USDA does not publish this profile for Chips.
| Tryptophan | 0.05 g |
| Threonine | 0.25 g |
| Isoleucine | 0.23 g |
| Leucine | 0.80 g |
| Lysine | 0.18 g |
| Methionine | 0.14 g |
| Cystine | 0.12 g |
| Phenylalanine | 0.32 g |
| Tyrosine | 0.27 g |
| Valine | 0.33 g |
| Arginine | 0.33 g |
| Histidine | 0.20 g |
| Alanine | 0.49 g |
| Aspartic acid | 0.46 g |
| Glutamic acid | 1.2 g |
| Glycine | 0.27 g |
| Proline | 0.57 g |
| Serine | 0.31 g |
FAQ
Are rice chips the same as rice cakes?
Not exactly. Rice chips are typically thinner, crispier, and often made from puffed or extruded rice, while rice cakes are usually made from compressed grains of puffed rice, giving them a denser, chewier texture.
Can rice chips be part of a healthy diet?
Yes, in moderation. Their low fat content is a plus, but they are high in carbohydrates. Pairing them with protein and fiber-rich foods makes them a more balanced snack choice.
Why are some rice chips so salty?
Salt is added for flavor enhancement. To manage sodium intake, look for 'low sodium' or 'lightly salted' varieties, or choose plain versions and season them yourself.
Nutrient density (calculated · NRF9.3)
Nutrient Rich Foods index: beneficial nutrients (protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals) minus saturated fat, added sugar & sodium, per 100 kcal.
NRF9.3 index — Fulgoni, Keast & Drewnowski, 2009. Computed from USDA nutrients.
Weight-loss friendliness (composite index)
Energy density 3.84 kcal/g · 9% calories from protein · 4.2 g fiber · 0.6 g sugar per 100 g.
Composite of energy density (Rolls et al., 1999), protein & fiber satiety, minus sugar. A calculated heuristic — ranks satiety-per-calorie, not a clinical measure.
Dietary load (calculated from USDA values)
Potential renal acid load. Positive = acid-forming, negative = alkaline-forming.
Sodium-to-potassium ratio: 1.12 (lower is better — aim for ≤ 1)
Sodium:potassium per WHO potassium guidance. Computed from USDA nutrients.