How was popcorn invented?

How was popcorn invented?

Corn was domesticated about 10,000 years ago in what is now Mexico. Archaeologists discovered that people have known about popcorn for thousands of years. Fossil evidence from Peru suggests that corn was popped as early as 4700 BC. Through the 19th century, popping of the kernels was achieved by hand on stove tops.

Is popcorn really 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.

Is popcorn an American thing?

The history of popcorn is deep throughout the Americas, where corn is a staple food, but the oldest popcorn known to date was found in New Mexico. In addition to the kernels found in New Mexico, a kernel approximately 1,000 years old was found in Utah in a cave that was thought to be inhabited by Pueblo tribal members.

What country eats the most popcorn?

The United States
1. The United States Remains at the Top of the List. First, it should come as no surprise that the United States is still one of the top countries in the world when it comes to overall popcorn consumption.

Is popcorn healthy to snack on?

When it’s air-popped and lightly seasoned, popcorn is an efficiently healthy snack. That’s because it is a whole grain, and high-fiber whole grains have been linked to a lower risk of heart disease, diabetes, some cancers and other health problems.

What did Aztecs call popcorn?

totopoca
Surprisingly, one of the foods that the ancient Aztec people ate was what we call ‘popcorn’ today, which the Aztecs called “totopoca”.

How did they invent popcorn?

Archaeologists deduce that popcorn was first made by throwing corn kernels on sizzling hot stones tended over a campfire, or onto heated sand, causing the kernels to pop. It was not eaten as a snack food: The corn was sifted and then pounded into a fine, powdery meal and mixed with water.

What is the story behind popcorn?

It’s been said that popcorn was part of the first Thanksgiving feast, in Plymouth Colony in 1621. According to myth, Squanto himself taught the Pilgrims to raise and harvest corn, and pop the kernels for a delicious snack. Unfortunately, this story contains more hot air than a large bag of Jiffy Pop .

How does popcorn got its pop?

The reason that popcorn pops is that when the corn is heated, the moisture trapped within the kernel expands. It expands until the hull can no longer withstand the pressure and thus pops open.

How did popcorn come about?

Popcorn comes from a certain variety of maize that produces small kernels with a hard outer shell. These kernels cannot be chewed without a good chance of cracking your tooth. To get to the fluffy edible part, you must heat the kernel, which turns the moisture within into steam.