Is Corn Kernel The Same As Popcorn?

As it turns out, the corn that we typically eat is different than the kernels that become popcorn. Only one variety of maize will make it – Zea mays everta. Though it looks like a typical corn kernel, this particular variety is the only one that can pop and turn into a delicious snack.

Can corn kernels turn into popcorn?

As heat is applied to the dried kernels, the droplet of water converts to steam, and pressure begins to build. Once the hull can no longer hold the pressure of the steam, the kernel explodes. The starch inside the kernel turns into the white fluffy, crunchy stuff we call popcorn.

Are popcorn seeds the same as kernels?

Each kernel of corn is actually a seed that, like most seeds, contains an embryo (a baby plant) and a seed coat for protection. Corn seeds are filled with a starchy endosperm that provides food for the baby plant (it’s stained black in right-half of each kernel in the photo below).

What type of corn kernels are used for popcorn?

Some strains of corn (taxonomized as Zea mays) are cultivated specifically as popping corns. The Zea mays variety everta, a special kind of flint corn, is the most common of these. Popcorn is one of six major types of corn, which includes dent corn, flint corn, pod corn, flour corn, and sweet corn.

Is popcorn just dried corn?

Popcorn is not harvested when kernels are soft and tender like sweet corn, but when husks are brown and kernels have completely dried and hardened. As popcorn kernels heat, the moisture within the starchy endosperm turns to steam and explodes, effectively turning the kernel inside out.

Is popcorn actually corn?

Popcorn is actually a special variety of corn, and it is the only one that pops. The key to popcorn is the unique design of its kernels. Most importantly, its kernel consists of a very hard, mostly nonporous outer shell called pericarp.

Can you eat popcorn kernels?

Besides being a choking hazard, crunching them can damage teeth. In severe cases, swallowing them can cause a mass collection in the intestinal tract, known as a “bezoar.” Small bezoars may pass on their own or with the help of medication, while sizeable ones may require surgery.

What happens when you boil popcorn kernels?

Popcorn kernels have an outer shell called the pericarp and a meaty, starchy inside called the endosperm. Their moisture content is around 14 percent. The kernel pops when it’s heated because the moisture turns into steam. The hull cracks when the steam’s pressure builds up too high, causing the mass to explode.

Can we make popcorn from raw corn?

You can make popcorn from fresh corn, however the corn must be completely dried out before it can be popped. It should be done carefully with a few steps that we must follow. The fresh corn can either remain on the cob, or it can be cut off the corncob.

Can you turn canned corn into popcorn?

Nope. The corn at your local grocery is called sweet corn, and it won’t pop. Neither will field corn, the type used in foods such as tortilla chips. Only the kernels from popcorn cobs will pop.

How do you make healthy popcorn?

9 Best Tips For Healthier Popcorn

1. Make popcorn on the stovetop.
2. Use walnut, avocado or extra virgin olive oils.
3. Manage portion sizes.
4. Avoid microwave popcorn.
5. Avoid butter — or use it sparingly.
6. Limit kettle corn.
7. Beware of added sweeteners and chemicals.
8. Add healthier, lighter toppings.

Is natural popcorn a healthy snack?

Popcorn is a healthy snack when it’s air-popped and served without ingredients high in fat, salt, or sugar. Popcorn is high in important nutrients, including fiber. Popcorn is one of the world’s healthiest and most popular snack foods. It is loaded with important nutrients and offers a variety of health benefits.

Is popcorn healthier than corn?

Sweet Corn a Higher Caloric Value Than Popcorn
For example, one cup of popcorn would be fifty-five calories while a single seven-inch ear of corn on the cob is 111 calories. However, popcorn does have a higher fat content than corn on the cob, so just keep that in mind before you chow down on it.

Why is popcorn different from regular corn?

As it turns out, the corn that we typically eat is different than the kernels that become popcorn. Only one variety of maize will make it – Zea mays everta. Though it looks like a typical corn kernel, this particular variety is the only one that can pop and turn into a delicious snack.

What are unpopped kernels of popcorn called?

Unpopped kernels are called “old maids” or “spinsters.” 13. There are two possible explanations for old maids. The first is that they didn’t contain sufficient moisture to create an explosion; the second is that their outer coating (the hull) was damaged, so that steam escaped gradually, rather than with a pop.

How do you make popcorn from corn?

Method

1. Heat the oil:
2. Put 3 or 4 popcorn kernels into the oil:
3. Add the rest of the popcorn:
4. Cover the pot, remove from heat and count 30 seconds:
5. Return the pan to the heat:
6. Once the popping slows to several seconds between pops, remove the pan from the heat:
7. Melt butter in the empty hot pan:

Why you shouldn’t eat popcorn?

The trouble with PFCs is that they break down into perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a chemical that’s suspected to cause cancer. These chemicals make their way into the popcorn when you heat them up. When you eat the popcorn, they get into your bloodstream and can remain in your body for a long time.

Do popcorn kernels dissolve in stomach?

Popcorn is a source of insoluble fiber that travels through your gut relatively intact without breaking down.

Why is popcorn not good for you?

“Even a small movie theater popcorn has significant calories and is very high in salt,” Vadiveloo said. “Sodium is one of the leading risk factors for hypertension and stroke in general, so it’s something we do care about from a perspective of heart disease.” Some theater chains pop their popcorn in canola oil.

Do popcorn seeds have cyanide?

So, you’re pretty unlikely to find cyanide or ricin or anything like that lurking within the kernels of your microwave popcorn (unless somebody is out to get you) but that doesn’t mean there aren’t some significant health risks associated with it.

Is popcorn a seed or nut?

A popcorn kernel is botanically a seed, as each kernel contains an embryo, a seed coat, and starchy endosperms that feed the embryo. Popcorn kernels aren’t nuts, despite some popcorn companies using peanut oil in production.