Why does corn become 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.

What causes popcorn shapes?

Each kernel contains a tiny bit of water surrounded by starch. As the kernel heats up, the water vapor expands, turns into steam and heats the surrounding starch into a gooey mess. At a high enough pressure, the starch goop bursts through the shell and then cools down quickly into the fluffy popcorn shapes.

What is the science behind popcorn?

The characteristic popcorn consistency and white-yellowish foamy appearance results from the starch inside the popcorn kernel. With high temperatures, the starch gelatinizes and then expands with the rapid burst of the kernel. Once it cools down, the solidified flake we know as popcorn is formed.

Why are popcorn kernels round?

Describing popcorn as having a “mushroom” or “butterfly” type refers to the shape of the popped kernels. Because the popped kernels are round, they present a larger surface to hold coatings and are less likely to crumble during preparation.

How does corn become kernels?

As the plant grows, it begins to produce ears of corn, covered with a green husk. Feathery tassels form at the top of the plant and produce pollen, a yellowish powder. The ears form silks or long strands that “catch” pollen as the wind blows. This process is called pollination and allows the ears to produce kernels.

What kind of corn makes popcorn?

Some strains of corn (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.

Why are popcorn kernels shaped different?

This question originally appeared on Quora. There are actually two different shapes of popcorn, “butterfly” and “mushroom.” In both cases, what happens when the popcorn pops is that the pressure causes a failure in the skin of the kernel. And when these lobes expand away from each other, you get butterfly popcorn.

What shape are corn kernels?

Corn kernels or seeds vary in size and shape in different kinds and varieties. They may be only an eighth inch long and near round in popcorn to a half inch long and a flattened-cylinder shape in some other kinds.

How does the kinetic molecular theory explain why popcorn pops?

Explanation: When heated, a gas (or the air) expands. Heating the corn seed, the air inside it try to expand, but because the seed is hermetic, it only increases its pressure, until the inner pressure is higher than the seed shell resistance. At this point, it explodes (pops) and become delicious.

What happens when you heat corn kernels?

When the corn kernel is heated the small droplet of water which is enclosed by a hard shell called hull inside the popcorn kernel turns into steam and develops pressure inside the kernel. When the pressure inside the hull becomes uncontrollable the kernel burst out and fluffy popcorn is formed.

What is the shape of popcorn?

Popcorn comes in two basic shapes— butterfly and mushroom. Butterfly popcorn has a very irregular shape with large bumps.

Why do popcorn kernels look different?

There are actually two different shapes of popcorn, “butterfly” and “mushroom.” In both cases, what happens when the popcorn pops is that the pressure causes a failure in the skin of the kernel. The kernel skin is actually quite tough; the hole expands, but the skin stays mostly together.

What happens when you pop a popcorn kernel?

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. There are two main methods to popping popcorn – the dry method and the wet method.

What is popcorn made of?

The Science of Popcorn Each kernel is made up of a plant embryo, a starchy endosperm that feeds the embryo, and a hard exterior called the bran or hull. And within each kernel is a small droplet of water – the key to its”pop”. As heat is applied to the dried kernels, the droplet of water converts to steam, and pressure begins to build.

Why does my corn not pop when cooked?

Improper heating can also cause failure to pop. Corn pops best in dry heat produced by air or oil. This type of heat surrounds the kernel and heats it evenly and quickly. Heating the corn too slowly or at temperatures that are too low may not create enough pressure within the kernel for it to pop.

What happens to the starch in popcorn?

The starch inside the kernel turns into the white fluffy, crunchy stuff we call popcorn. There are two main methods to popping popcorn – the dry method and the wet method. The dry method uses dry heat to pop the kernels, such as a fire or an air-popper.