| Pop corn can be traced back early as the 1500. In | | | | moisture. The moisture is contained by kernels hard |
| 1519, Cortes got his first sight of popcorn when he | | | | outer shell. |
| invaded Mexico and came into contact with the | | | | Without this moisture, pop corn will not pop. The |
| Aztecs. Popcorn was an important food for the | | | | best way to store popcorn is air tight containers and |
| Aztec Indians, who also used popcorn as decoration | | | | stored in a cool place like your cupboard or pantry. |
| for ceremonial headdresses, necklaces and ornaments | | | | As popcorn kernels heat up the moisture inside builds |
| on statues of their gods, including Tlaloc, the god of | | | | up and expands against the hard starch shell. |
| rain and fertility. | | | | Eventually the hard surface gives way and the |
| The reason popcorn pops was explained by native | | | | popcorn explodes. The soft heated starch burst, |
| Aztecs. There are spirits who live inside the kernels | | | | turning in side out. |
| of popcorn. As you heat these spirits homes, they | | | | Remember a refrigerator can most likely dry your |
| get angry. Eventually, the spirits get so angry they | | | | popcorn out. If you find that your pop corn has dried |
| pop out of there homes as unhappy little puffs of | | | | out, you can rejuvenate them and still can get them |
| steam. | | | | to pop. Place the kernels in a jar a fill it full of water. |
| Obviously, this was folk lore and we have since | | | | It takes about three days but the water will re |
| discovered scientifically how popcorn pops. It's | | | | moisturize the kernel and that will cause the kernels |
| relatively simple. Popcorn kernels contain water. Inside | | | | to pop. |
| the kernel is a soft patch of starch with around 14% | | | | |