• Question: What makes popcorn pop?

    Asked by yooda to Bob, Katie, Nisha, Sallie, Vee on 27 Jun 2012.
    • Photo: Sallie Baxendale

      Sallie Baxendale answered on 27 Jun 2012:

      The secret is water. Each kernel contains a small amount of water stored in a circle of soft starch inside the hard outer shell. When it’s heated to around 450� F, the moisture turns to steam, creating pressure, as this 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.

    • Photo: Vee Mitchell

      Vee Mitchell answered on 27 Jun 2012:

      There’s nothing I can add to Sallie’s answer, except maybe some toffee coating. Yum Yum

    • Photo: Bob Bonwick

      Bob Bonwick answered on 2 Jul 2012:

      Yup Sallies is a great answer, though I’m more of a buttered pop corn guy, sorry Vee.

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