Ever Wonder How Popcorn Pops?
There are many different types of corn, such as sweet, dent, flint, pod, and popcorn... and popcorn is the only one that pops!!

The secret is water. Each popcorn kernel contains a small amount of water stored in a circle of soft starch inside the hard outer casing.

When heated to around 450 degrees, the moisture turns to steam, creating pressure within. As the pressure builds, the casing eventually gives way, and the kernel explodes and pops, allowing the water to escape as steam and turning the kernel inside out.

When you pop popcorn, you know that it explodes everywhere. Make sure you have a lid on it!

Popcorn, by the way, is a whole grain and can be a healthy snack with little or no added salt and no butter. There are 5 grams of fiber in 3 tablespoons of popcorn. (I am assuming that is 3 tablespoons of unpopped popcorn)

It is very important to store popcorn properly. Use an airtight container and store popcorn in a cool cupboard. Do not store popcorn in the refrigerator because air inside a refrigerator contains very little moisture and can cause the popcorn to dry out. When popcorn is too dry, it won't pop.

I wonder how long popcorn lasts before it goes bad? I'm talking about un-popped popcorn. I have an air tight container that is full of popcorn, but it has been in there a while. Will the un-popped popcorn I have in that container ever go bad?

I found this info on the web....

Popcorn – Unopened kernels in air tight jar can last 2 years, if you have opened the jar... kernels can last 1 year.
Popcorn – Microwavable Bags - Unopened 1 year, Opened and popped 1-2 days.

I wouldn't throw it out though, I'd try popping it and see what happens. I bet it will pop, well, if not all, most of them anyway!!

I've always wondered what made popcorn pop, I've also always thought it was odd that when I pop popcorn in my glass covered pot an oily steam collects on the lid come to think of it.

I don't think I'll ever have popcorn last even a year, let alone two. I go through the stuff pretty quick. I like to eat some of it when it's freshly popped and still hot and about the time when it's not hot anymore I put it in the fridge and eat it in the middle of the night or the next day. Refrigerated popcorn (salted only, no butter or anything that can coagulate) is pretty good.

I just thought of something too. I would think that outdated popcorn would be outdated because it dried out. If it dried out there would be little if any water to create steam and make it pop. I've bought generic microwave popcorn in the past and it seems that every time I've bought it when it's on sale I either burn it or only get half of it to pop by taking it out early before it burns. The generic stuff generally has smaller kernels too.

I wonder if larger kernels go bad slower than smaller kernels go bad.

My popcorn kernels have been in an air tight container for over 2 years I'm sure by now... I'm gonna try popping them one of these days to see if all the water has evaporated from them and have made them un-poppable or not...

Well, did you ever pop that popcorn and see if it was still good?

Oops, I still haven't tried to pop them yet!!! I will here real soon!!