The folklore of some Native American tribes told of spirits who lived inside each kernel of popcorn. The spirits were quiet and content to live on their own -- but grew angry if their houses were heated. The hotter their homes became, the angrier they'd get -- shaking the kernels until the heat was too much. Finally they would burst out of their homes and into the air as a disgruntled puff of steam.
Each kernel of popcorn does contain a small drop of water stored inside a circle of soft starch. (That's why popcorn needs to contain 13.5 percent to 14 percent moisture.) The soft starch is surrounded by the kernel's hard outer surface.
As the kernel heats up, the water begins to expand, and pressure builds against the hard starch. Eventually, this hard surface gives way, causing the popcorn to explode.
As it explodes, the soft starch inside the popcorn becomes inflated and bursts, turning the kernel inside out. The steam inside the kernel is released, and the popcorn is popped!

 

People have been fascinated by popcorn for centuries. Some Native Americans believed that a spirit lived inside each kernel of popcorn. When heated, the spirit grew angry and would eventually burst out of its home and into the air as a disgruntled puff of steam. A less charming but more scientific explanation exists for why popcorn pops.
Popcorn is scientifically known as Zea mays everta. It’s a type of maize, or corn, and is a member of the grass family. Popcorn is a whole grain and is made up of three components: the germ, endosperm, and pericarp (or hull). Of the 4 most common types of corn—sweet, dent (also known as field), flint (also known as Indian corn), and popcorn—only popcorn pops! Popcorn differs from other types of corn in that its hull has just the right thickness to allow it to burst open.
Each kernel of popcorn contains a small drop of water stored inside a circle of soft starch. Popcorn needs between 13.5-14% moisture to pop. The soft starch is surrounded by the kernel's hard outer surface.
As the kernel heats up, the water begins to expand. Around 212 degrees the water turns into steam and changes the starch inside each kernel into a superhot gelatinous goop. The kernel continues to heat to about 347 degrees. The pressure inside the grain will reach 135 pounds per square inch before finally bursting the hull open.
As it explodes, steam inside the kernel is released. The soft starch inside the popcorn becomes inflated and spills out, cooling immediately and forming into the odd shape we know and love. A kernel will swell 40-50 times its original size!

 

1 quart popped popcorn*
2 cups apple and cinnamon flavored cereal
1 cup cocktail peanuts
3/4 cup apple juice**
1 cup sugar
1/4 light corn syrup
1/2 teaspoon vinegar
1/4 teaspoon salt
•  In a bowl, toss together popped popcorn, cereal and peanuts. Set aside. Butter sides of a heavy 2 quart saucepan. In saucepan, combine apple juice, sugar, corn syrup, vinegar and salt.
•  Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until sugar dissolves and mixture begins to boil. Cook to hard ball stage (250 degrees Fahrenheit on a candy thermometer).
•  Remove from heat. Pour syrup over popcorn-cereal-peanut mixture; toss to coat.
•  Spread in a buttered 15 1/2 by 10 1/2 by 1-inch baking pan. Cool until hardened.
•Break into pieces.
*1 ounce of unpopped popcorn kernels (2 tablespoons household measure) makes approximately 1 quart of popped popcorn.
**3/4 cup apple pop wine may be used instead of apple juice.

 

 

1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
3 quarts unsalted popped popcorn
1 cup chopped walnuts
Cream together butter and brown sugar till light and fluffy. In a separate bowl, toss popcorn and walnuts. Add creamed mixture to popcorn and nuts. Combine until coated. Spread on a large baking sheet in a single layer. Bake at 350-degree oven for 10 minutes or until crisp.
Yield: 3 quarts.
Nutritional Information: (based on 1-cup serving)
Total Calories 189.5; Fat - 15.2 g; Carbohydrate 12.8 g; Sugar 5.7 g; Fiber 1.5 g; Protein 2.2 g; Sodium 75.5mg; Cholesterol 19 mg.