Why Does a pop corn pop?
If you’ve ever wondered what’s going on inside your microwave as you pop up this tasty treat, grab a front-row seat and find out what all the noise is about. It’s time to go behind the scenes with one of the world’s oldest snack foods!
So what makes popcorn pop? And why doesn’t all corn pop when heated? The answer is a matter of simple science. Popcorn is a special kind of corn. Of all the types of corn, popcorn is the only variety that pops.
Inside each kernel of popcorn is a tiny droplet of water surrounded by a hard shell called a hull. As the popcorn is heated, the water turns into steam, which builds pressure inside the kernel. When the hull can no longer contain the pressure —POP! — the kernel explodes and a fluffy new piece of popcorn is born.
In America, consumption of popcorn rose steadily with the increasing popularity of television sets in the home during the 1950s. As more people began staying home and tuning into their TV for entertainment, they found themselves craving a salty snack. The natural choice, of course, was popcorn!
Long before the television was ever invented, however, popcorn was a part of American culture. Some historians even suggest Native Americans introduced the Pilgrims to popcorn when they brought it to the first Thanksgiving feast.
Though Americans consume more popcorn than any other country in the world today, archeologists have found popcorn kernels in New Mexican caves they believe to be more than 4,000 years old, suggesting this savory snack has been a part of cultures around the world for centuries.
When Spanish explorers arrived in Mexico, they discovered the Aztec Indians used popcorn to make the garlands, headdresses and ornaments they wore during “popcorn dances.” The Indians used to tell a legend explaining the popcorn phenomenon.
The legend claimed a tiny demon lived inside each kernel of popcorn. When the demon’s house was heated, he would get so angry he would explode!