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 When was popcorn discovered?
The English colonists were introduced to popcorn at
the first Thanksgiving feast at Plymouth, Massachusetts. Quadequina,
brother of the Iroquois chief, Massasoit, brought a deerskin bag of
popped popcorn to dinner as a gift. As one of the oldest American foods,
popcorn has played a significant role in our history. The Indians used
it as a staple in their diet and in decorations. Headdresses, necklaces
and corsages all included popcorn. By the time the colonists arrived
in the new world, Indians were growing over 700 varieties of popcorn.
What makes popcorn pop?
The answer is water. A popcorn kernel is made of carbohydrate
(starch), protein, fat and water. The water is combined with the
starch and as the kernel is heated to 450 degrees, the water turns
to steam. Pressure builds inside the kernel until the seed coat (hull)
can no longer contain the steam. A natural explosion occurs as the
starch expands and the kernel turns inside out. Popcorn pops best
when the moisture level in the kernel is 13.5%.
How is microwave popcorn different?
It is different in that it is slightly higher in moisture
and the kernels are more uniformly sized. A microwave popcorn bag
is specially designed to absorb the microwave energy under the kernels.
This provides the correct temperature for popping.
Why is popcorn a good snack choice?
It is ideal because it is high in energy boosting
carbohydrates, it is high in fiber and gram-for-gram has more protein,
phosphorus and iron than potato chips, ice cream cones and pretzels.
It is, also, simply fun to pop.
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