It’s no wonder popcorn is such a popular snack since it’s easy, convenient, and delicious! But did you know there’s a lot more to popcorn than what meets the eye? Get kids extra excited about their bowl of popcorn on family movie night by sharing these cool kernel facts.
1. Kernels literally pop open their skin.
When popcorn kernels are heated, the moisture inside starts to expand as steam. This builds pressure inside until that pressure POPS open the skin of the kernel.
2. Popcorn has different shapes.
Did you know there are 2 main popcorn shapes? Think about popcorn you eat at the movie theater and likely at home. Can you picture the bumps sticking out in all different directions known as wings? This is called butterfly popcorn!
Now think about popcorn you might get at a baseball game or a street fair that’s covered in caramel syrup or sprinkled with cheese. Can you picture its plump round top and even base? This is called mushroom popcorn!
3. You can make popcorn jump 3 feet high!
When the starch in popcorn explodes, the burst can be so big that the popcorn jumps 3 feet in the air. That’s as tall as a 3-year-old!
4. What came first: the microwave or popcorn?
Interestingly enough, the microwave and microwavable popcorn were invented at basically the same time. When Percy Spencer noticed a chocolate bar melting in front of an active magnetron (a vacuum tube that powers microwaves), he put popcorn in front of it to see what would happen. This led to the invention of the microwave and Percy’s patent for microwave popcorn!
5. There are many claims to fame when it comes to popcorn.
While Nebraska produces the most popcorn, 250 pounds per year to be exact, many other states have their own popcorn connections. For example, popcorn is the official state snack of Illinois. Indiana is the home of Orville Redenbacher. And the largest ball of popcorn can be found in Iowa!
6. Popcorn is actually quite healthy.
Of course, loading popcorn with butter or sugar takes away the health benefits, but naturally, popcorn is a superfood. It is packed with antioxidants, fiber, and iron. At the same time, it helps lower cholesterol and aid digestion! Plus, adding healthy toppings like cinnamon or garlic can make it even more of a nutrition boost!
7. You can pop corn in sand!
In 1612, French explorers documented that the Iroquois would place corn kernels in clay pots and cover them with hot sand to pop them. Then the popcorn would be used in a variety of dishes, including a popcorn soup! One record stated they would heat “a certain kind of corn until it bursts.”
Find more unconventional ways of popping your popcorn here.
8. Popcorn used to be eaten for breakfast.
Back in the 1800s, popcorn would be eaten like cereal for breakfast. Americans would pour milk and sugar in a bowl with popcorn for a nutritious start to their day.
9. Movie theaters once banned popcorn.
In the 1900s, movie theaters actually banned popcorn for a bit. Wealthy aristocrats believed theaters were too fancy for popcorn. They thought popcorn was meant for carnivals and fairs. People who snuck bags of popcorn in from street vendors during the ban were to be fined or thrown in jail. Luckily, the ban didn’t last!
10. Today, movie theaters make more money from popcorn than tickets.
It’s true – most movie theaters profit more from popcorn sales than ticket sales. This is because a lot of money from ticket sales goes to the studio that made the movie, but popcorn profit is for the theater to keep.
