Popcorn

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For other uses, see Popcorn (disambiguation).

Popcorn or popping corn is a type of maize which explodes from the kernel and puffs up when it is heated in oil or by dry heat. Special varieties of corn are grown to give improved popping yield. Some wild types will pop, but the cultivated strain is Zea mays subsp. mays, which is a special kind of flint corn. In 1948, popcorn ears dating back 5,600-years were discovered in bat caves in New Mexico.<ref name="buzz">*Popcorn History</ref> Popcorn was first formally developed by Native Americans thousands of years ago.<ref name="buzz" />

1 Health benefits and risks of eating popcorn
2 How popcorn pops
3 Trivia
4 See also
5 References
6 External links
7 Videos

[edit] Health benefits and risks of eating popcorn

Popcorn is naturally high in fiber, low in calories, contains no sodium, and is sugar and fat free.

To enjoy the maximum health benefits of popcorn, one must choose a low-fat method of preparation, such as by air popping or using a minimal amount of oil for kettle-cooking, and by serving it plain, i.e., without extra ingredients such as butter, salt or sugar.

Many healthy varieties of pre-made popcorn are commercially available and can typically be found in grocery stores and food shops. One must take special care to check the product's nutrition facts as different brands may contain different amounts of sodium and fat.

The American Academy of Pediatrics advises never to serve popcorn to infants or toddlers as the kernels can pose a choking risk.

[edit] How popcorn pops

Some information in this article or section has not been verified and may not be reliable.
Please check for any inaccuracies, and modify and cite sources as needed.

Image:Pochoclo1.jpg

As with all cereal grains, each kernel of popcorn contains a certain amount of moisture in its starchy endosperm. Unlike most other grains, the outer hull, or pericarp, of the popcorn kernel is thick and impervious to moisture.

As the kernel is heated past the boiling point, water in the kernel begins to turn to steam, generating an internal pressure of about 9 atm. In kernels of other grains (and in damaged kernels of popcorn), this steam escapes as fast as it forms, but in the tightly sealed popcorn kernel, the steam is held tight by the pericarp and the pressure starts to build until the pericarp suddenly ruptures, causing a small explosion. The force of the explosion turns the kernel inside out. More importantly, because the moisture is evenly distributed throughout the starchy endosperm, the sudden expansion turns the endosperm into an airy foam which gives popcorn its unique texture.

Two explanations exist for kernels which do not pop, known in the popcorn industry as "old maids," after being exposed to high temperatures. The first is that unpopped kernels do not have enough moisture to create enough steam for an explosion. The second explanation, according to research led by Dr. Bruce Hamaker of Purdue University, is that the unpopped kernel may have a leaky hull.

[edit] Trivia

Indiana produces more popcorn than any other state in the US.
Popcorn has been served in cinemas since 1912: in the West, it is traditionally served salted; in the East, sweet or salted is equally preferred.
The first popcorn made by Native Americans, was flavored with dried herbs and spices.
The average popping temperature for popcorn is around 175°C (347°F).
The commercial popcorn machine was invented in Chicago, Illinois by Charles Cretors in 1885.
Stringing popcorn to hang on a tree (or to deck walls with) is a popular Christmas tradition in some parts of North America.
At least four localities claim to be the "Popcorn Capital of the World": Marion, Ohio; Ridgway, Illinois; Schaller, Iowa; and North Loup, Nebraska.
In Spanish, popcorn's name varies by region, resulting in more than 10 names differing by country (see Palomitas de Maíz).
Popcorn is the official state snack of Illinois.<ref>http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=News&id=404205</ref>
The world's largest popcorn ball was unveiled in October 2006 in Lake Forest, Illinois. It weighed 3,415 pounds and had a circumference of 24.5 feet.<ref>http://www.thepopcornfactory.com/popcorn/jump/landingball.asp</ref>
The Cub Scouts of America sell popcorn door-to-door as a primary fund-raiser, similar to Girl scout cookies.