How does popcorn pop?!
There are three elements that make popcorn work like this:
Moisture inside the kernel
Starch inside the kernel
The hard shell surrounding the kernel
When a popcorn kernel heats up (either in a popcorn popper or in the microwave), the moisture inside the kernel expands. Moisture is extremely important to a popcorn kernel. Unless the percentage of moisture in the kernel is just right, the kernel won't pop. When the pressure inside the hard shell gets high enough, the kernel explodes. That part seems normal enough -- lots of things explode when you heat them.
The strange part is the white solid that forms during the process. According to this article:
The gelatinized starch granules do not explode, but expand into thin, jelly-like bubbles. Neighboring bubbles fuse together and solidify, forming a three-dimensional network much like a sink full of soapsuds. This is the white fluffy solid we eat.
There are two things from regular life that behave something like this. The first is bread or muffins, which expand and solidify (although much more slowly). The other is "silly string," which is a liquid that solidifies as soon as it hits air.
Here are three experiments you can perform to get a better understanding of how popcorn works:
Use a needle or pushpin to puncture the shells of a number of popcorn kernels (be sure to wear glasses when you do this -- it is not as easy as it sounds!). Then try to pop the kernels. They won't pop because the pressure cannot build inside the punctured kernels.
Let the kernels stand in a warm oven or in the sun for several days, and then try popping them. The oven or sun will dry the kernels out, and make them difficult to pop.
Try to pop popcorn at a low temperature (below 150 degrees C or 300 degrees F). You will find that the popcorn will not pop -- it has to get beyond a certain temperature for the pressure inside the kernel to build to the point where popping occurs
Answers: Popcorn certainly is unique. You toss a flat pouch no larger than a wallet into a microwave oven and in three minutes, it has expanded to a volume 40 or 50 times its original size. Not too many other foods act this way.
There are three elements that make popcorn work like this:
Moisture inside the kernel
Starch inside the kernel
The hard shell surrounding the kernel
When a popcorn kernel heats up (either in a popcorn popper or in the microwave), the moisture inside the kernel expands. Moisture is extremely important to a popcorn kernel. Unless the percentage of moisture in the kernel is just right, the kernel won't pop. When the pressure inside the hard shell gets high enough, the kernel explodes. That part seems normal enough -- lots of things explode when you heat them.
The strange part is the white solid that forms during the process. According to this article:
The gelatinized starch granules do not explode, but expand into thin, jelly-like bubbles. Neighboring bubbles fuse together and solidify, forming a three-dimensional network much like a sink full of soapsuds. This is the white fluffy solid we eat.
There are two things from regular life that behave something like this. The first is bread or muffins, which expand and solidify (although much more slowly). The other is "silly string," which is a liquid that solidifies as soon as it hits air.
Here are three experiments you can perform to get a better understanding of how popcorn works:
Use a needle or pushpin to puncture the shells of a number of popcorn kernels (be sure to wear glasses when you do this -- it is not as easy as it sounds!). Then try to pop the kernels. They won't pop because the pressure cannot build inside the punctured kernels.
Let the kernels stand in a warm oven or in the sun for several days, and then try popping them. The oven or sun will dry the kernels out, and make them difficult to pop.
Try to pop popcorn at a low temperature (below 150 degrees C or 300 degrees F). You will find that the popcorn will not pop -- it has to get beyond a certain temperature for the pressure inside the kernel to build to the point where popping occurs
i dont know relly i make homemade ppopcorn all the time i watch it pop i guess the heat applied ignites the kernel and just well POPS :] HAVE A POPPING TIME LOLL
You need to cook it! You can heat it in a pan or buy a steam popper- microwave popcorn is also available- you can also place kernels in a paper bag and heat fir 2 Min's on high and most Will pop- Bon appetite!
The water content inside the kernel vaporizes (turns to steam) and expands, causing the outer shell to explode.
ben dere is absolutly right the water in the kernal expands and pops the shells
when heated, the moisture in the kernel becomes steam which causes the popcorn to pop. Indians used to throw kernels into the fire to get them to pop. ever wonder why the best popcorn comes sealed in a jar. the popcorn factory CAREFULLY regulates the moisture in the product, and then put it in a jar to preserve that specific level of moisture.
well i say it tastes good so we dont need to know how it pops JUST EAT IT
p.s im not fat
It pops from the inside out. The moisture builds up inside when popping, then explodes, turning the kernel inside out. I saw it on discovery channel