Popcorn is my absolute favorite food - I enjoy some almost every day and I often count it as my dinner.
Did you know that the United States grows and consumes most of the world's popcorn? The oldest known ears of popcorn (discovered in New Mexico) date back 4000 years. Indiana is a close second in national popcorn production, right behind Nebraska. Combined, the two states produce roughly 55 percent of the nations commercial production.
Popcorn is a type of maize (corn), a member of the grass family, and is scientifically known as Zea mays everta. Of the six types of maize/corn—pod, sweet, flour, dent, flint, and popcorn—only popcorn pops. Popcorn is a whole grain. It is made up of three components: the germ, endosperm, and pericarp (also know as the hull).
Enough of the science - how the heck does the grain pop into that delicious puffy goodness?
Each kernel of popcorn contains a certain amount of moisture and oil and needs about 14% moisture to pop. As the oil and the water are heated past the boiling point, they turn the moisture in the kernel, which has a moisture-proof hull, into a superheated pressurized steam. The hull allows pressure from the heated water to build and eventually bursts open. The inside starch becomes gelatinous while being heated; when the hull bursts, the gelatinized starch spills out and cools, giving it its familiar popcorn shape.
I never knew that I would actually crave gelatinized starch!
One of my favorite Fair treats is the Kettle Korn. How many days until the State Fair?
Most popcorn pops into two basic shapes: snowflake and mushroom. Snowflake is used in movie theaters and ballparks because it looks and pops bigger. Mushroom is used for candy confections because it doesn't crumble.
Here are some fun popcorn facts:
- Americans consume 16 billion quarts of popcorn - that's 52 quarts per man, woman and child. I'm sure doing my part!
- Popcorn is pretty low in calories. Air-popped popcorn has only 31 calories per cup. Oil popped is only 55 calories/cup.
- Popping popcorn is the number one use for microwave ovens. Guilty! Most microwaves have a 'popcorn' button.
- The peak popcorn sales are in the autumn and hold steady through the winter months.
- Popcorn can pop up to three feet in the air. I can vouch for that - one too many times testing the stove top cooking oil with the pan lid off.
- The world’s largest popcorn ball was created by volunteers in Sac City, Iowa in February, 2009. It weighed 5,000 lbs., stood over 8 ft. tall, and measured 28.8 ft. in circumference.
One of my favorite Fair treats is the Kettle Korn. How many days until the State Fair?Most popcorn pops into two basic shapes: snowflake and mushroom. Snowflake is used in movie theaters and ballparks because it looks and pops bigger. Mushroom is used for candy confections because it doesn't crumble.Here are some fun popcorn facts:- Americans consume 16 billion quarts of popcorn - that's 52 quarts per man, woman and child. I'm sure doing my part!- Popcorn is pretty low in calories. Air-popped popcorn has only 31 calories per cup. Oil popped is only 55 calories/cup.- Popping popcorn is the number one use for microwave ovens. Guilty! Most microwaves have a 'popcorn' button.- The peak popcorn sales are in the autumn and hold steady through the winter months.- Popcorn can pop up to three feet in the air. I can vouch for that - one too many times testing the stove top cooking oil with the pan lid off.- The world’s largest popcorn ball was created by volunteers in Sac City, Iowa in February, 2009. It weighed 5,000 lbs., stood over 8 ft. tall, and measured 28.8 ft. in circumference.
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