Americans eats more than 16 billion quarts of it. This well liked treat is whole grain and good for you too! This equals out to 65 quarts for every man, woman and child. It is very low in calories. It has 55 calories per cup. Air popped has 31 calories per cup.
It is a member of the grass family. It is known by it's scientific name as Zea Mays Everta. It is a type of corn or maize. There are 5 different types of corn. They are flour, dent or field, flint, sweet and popcorn. Only popcorn can pop. This due to the amount of moisture in the kernels. The moisture content is 13 to 14 percent.
The 2 different types are Snowflake and Mushroom. The Snowflake is normally used in concession poppers. The Snowflake pops up soft and fluffy. The Mushroom variety is mostly used in candy making. It holds up to handling and takes candy coatings better. There are over 700 different types of popcorn.
In the early 1700's, kettle corn was introduced to the settlers . They would take large cast iron kettles and pop the corn in them. The settlers used lard and molasses, sugar cane or honey. They would use what ever sweeteners they had on hand.
The kettle corn that is being popped at fairs and farmers markets is a great way to make money. It has a very high profit margin and a very low overhead. You can usually recoup your initial investment in a couple of shows.
Mr. Perry Spencer led the way to the development of the microwave oven. He discovered that when popcorn was placed near a microwave it would pop.
Some of the oldest known popcorn was discovered in the Bat cave of west central New Mexico in 1948. The ears of corn ranged from smaller than a penny to almost 2 inches long.
It became very popular during the great depression in the 1890's. They was sold it in bags for 5 to 10 cents each. Some street vendors would push their gas and steam powered poppers around following the crowds selling the delicious treat. Very few people could afford this luxury. Some people even started their own popcorn business to help their families during the lean years.
Sales dropped off in the early 1950s, when the TV. became popular. Movie theater attendance also dropped too. So did consumption, when the public started eating it at home. Home poppers were first introduced around 1925.
January 19 is National Popcorn Day!
April 7th is Caramel Popcorn Day!
October is National Popcorn Popping Month!
Native American tribes would pop the corn right on the cob. They would spear the corn cob with a stick and roast it over an open flame. This would cause the kernels to pop and stick right on the cob.
The English colonists enjoyed it at the first Thanksgiving feast in Plymouth, Massachusetts. It was brought as a gift by the chief's brother. The colonists ate the popcorn with milk and sugar. This is the first known breakfast cereal.
The American Dental Association lists it as a sugar free snack. It is low in calories along with pears, apples, cheese, nuts and plain yogurt.
For weight control, The American Diabetes Association uses it as a bread exchange. It provides the the necessary roughage and fiber to aid in digestion and the overall health of the body. It provides 1.3 grams of dietary fiber needed.
The kernels will start popping at the temperature of 347 degrees. It can pop as high as 3 feet. The un-popped kernels are called "spinsters" or "old maids". Good popcorn should produce less than 2 percent of "old maids".
It also contains more protein, iron and phosphorus than potato chips, an ice cream cone, pretzels or soda crackers.
It is enjoyed in many different flavors in different parts of the world. Germany, Luxemburg, Switzerland and Belgium love it sweet. The rest of Europe prefers it salty. Americans love it with salt and butter and a host of sweet coatings. The Japanese eat it with seaweed or shrimp flavorings.
For Great Gourmet Popcorn supplies, Please visit us at Gourmet Popcorn We carry a wide assortment of Popcorn poppers too! Hand crank popcorn poppers
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