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 The folklore of some Native American tribes told of
spirits who lived inside each kernel of popcorn. The spirits were quiet and
content to live on their own -- but grew angry if their houses were heated. The
hotter their homes became, the angrier they'd get -- shaking the kernels until
the heat was too much. Finally they would burst out of their homes and into the
air as a disgruntled puff of steam.
Each kernel of popcorn does contain a small drop of water stored inside a
circle of soft starch. (That's why popcorn needs to contain 13.5 percent to 14
percent moisture.) The soft starch is surrounded by the kernel's hard outer
surface.
As the kernel heats up, the water begins to expand, and pressure builds
against the hard starch. Eventually, this hard surface gives way, causing the
popcorn to explode.
As it explodes, the soft starch inside the popcorn becomes inflated and
bursts, turning the kernel inside out. The steam inside the kernel is released,
and the popcorn is popped.
Are you a lover of popcorn? Try out some of the delicious gourmet
popcorn treats on this website. Think Gift Baskets for birthdays,
holidays, etc. and to send to our troops overseas. You
can even create your own sampler!
Thanks to this web site for all the
information: www.popcorn.org
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