Popcorn
From Encyclopedia Jr, free information reference for Kids
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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.[1] Popcorn was first formally developed by
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[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
As with all cereal grains, each kernel of popcorn contains a certain amount of moisture in its
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
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
[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
- The average popping temperature for popcorn is around 175°
- The commercial popcorn machine was invented in
- 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":
- In Spanish, popcorn's name varies by region, resulting in more than 10 names differing by country (see
- Popcorn is the
- The world's largest popcorn ball was unveiled in October 2006 in
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b *Popcorn History
- ^ http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=News&id=404205
- ^ http://www.thepopcornfactory.com/popcorn/jump/landingball.asp
[edit] External links
[edit] Videos
- Pop Secret Mountain - Follow the adventures of Kaptain Kat as he searches for Pop Secret Mountain.