Fascinating Facts - Popcorn
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- Each kernel of popcorn contains a drop of water stored inside a circle of soft starch.
- The calcium and phosphorous in popcorn supplies the human system with appreciable quantities of valuable minerals which build teeth
- Popcorn is a whole grain snack with only 55 calories per cup. If you use an air popper it has 31 calories. Popcorn is a good snack for you too!
- Popcorn comes in two different types. One type is Mushroom and the other is Snowflake. Most concession poppers use the Snowflake. The Snowflake pops out fluffier and looks better. Most candy makers use the Mushroom variety. This type holds the candy coating better. Popcorn comes in 700 varieties.
- Kettle corn was first introduced in the early 1700's. The Settlers would pop the popcorn in large cast iron kettles. They would use rendered lard and whatever sweetener they had on hand. Many times it was molasses, honey or sugar cane.
- Microwave popcorn was first discovered in 1945. Perry Spencer discovered that popcorn would pop when placed near a microwave. Mr. Spencer led the way to development of the microwave oven.
- January 19 is National Popcorn Day! April 7th is Caramel Popcorn Day! October is National Popcorn Popping Month!
- Popcorn is listed as a sugar free snack by the American Dental Association.
- The unpopped kernals are called "old maids" or "spinsters". Good popcorn should produce less than 2 percent of "old maids". Popcorn kernals will start popping at the temperature of 347 degrees. Popcorn can pop as high as 3 feet.