Popcorn

Popcorn is a wholesome food and is one of the most popular snacks among consumers in many parts of the world. Popcorn is a special type of hard corn selected by Native Americans in early Western civilizations. The popped corn is used as an ingredient for infants and other foods.

The most important thing to look for when buying is the expansion volume and the number of kernels that have not yet popped. Expansion volume is a very important quality criterion in the trade, as commercial popcorn buyers buy by weight and sell popcorn by volume. Popcorn expansion is also a critical parameter for achieving high-quality popcorn at retail. Popcorn texture (palatability, tenderness, and freshness) is positively related to popcorn volume.

The ability of popcorn to pop is due to the fact that the kernels contain a small amount of water stored in a ring of soft starch within the hard outer shell. When heated, the water expands and creates pressure (about 8 atm at 177°C) inside the kernel until eventually, the husk gives way and the kernels pop and burst, allowing the water to escape as steam and literally turning the beans inside out.