Table of Contents
Some strains of corn (Zea mays) are cultivated specifically as popping corns. The Zea mays variety everta, a special kind of flint corn, is the most common of these.
Is popcorn and regular corn the same?
What is Popcorn? It resembles corn-on-the-cob in appearance and cultivation, although only popcorn kernels have the ability to pop. Popcorn, like all six types of corn, is a cereal grain and originates from a wild grass. Its scientific name is Zea mays everta, and it is the only type of corn to actually pop.
Can I use white corn to make popcorn?
So, now you know. If you want a smaller, more tender popcorn flake, use white kernels. Yellow kernels will give you larger, fluffier flakes that are sturdy.
Is popcorn same as sweetcorn?
Because of this, sweet corn is sweet, rather than starchy, which reflects a higher percentage of sugar. Popcorn is yet another variety of corn that has a hard, moisture-resistant hull that surrounds a dense pocket of starch that will pop when heated. Popcorn is a whole grain.
How is corn turned into popcorn?
As heat is applied to the dried kernels, the droplet of water converts to steam, and pressure begins to build. Once the hull can no longer hold the pressure of the steam, the kernel explodes. The starch inside the kernel turns into the white fluffy, crunchy stuff we call popcorn.
Can you use fresh corn to make popcorn?
You can make popcorn from fresh corn, however the corn must be completely dried out before it can be popped. It should be done carefully with a few steps that we must follow. Once it has ben dried, place the corn into a microwave popcorn popper or use two brown paper bags to pop the corn.
Which is better yellow or white corn?
Though some people believe that yellow corn is sweeter, that’s not the case. The only difference is that the naturally occurring pigment that makes those kernels yellow, beta carotene, gives them a bit of a nutritional edge over white corn—beta carotene turns into vitamin A during digestion.
What makes popcorn yellow?
Flavacol is the yellow powder that gets added during popping to give your popcorn that yellow buttery color. It is essentially just a super-fine salt with some coloring agents, although people swear it has butter flavor, even though there are no extra flavorings in it.
Are all popcorn kernels the same?
Within each variety of popcorn, there’s an extremely wide range of quality, flavor, color and size. There are white butterfly strains and yellow ones—and some pop better than others. Believe it or not, no two strains look, taste, and crunch exactly the same when popped.
Is sweet corn different from corn?
The variety of corn we enjoy eating is called sweet corn, which does not grow nearly as tall as field corn (another identifiable difference). Sweet corn has a higher sugar content than cow corn, and is picked while immature, before the sugar has a chance to turn into starch.
Can you use field corn as popcorn?
Nope. The corn at your local grocery is called sweet corn, and it won’t pop. Neither will field corn, the type used in foods such as tortilla chips. Only the kernels from popcorn cobs will pop.
Does anything else pop like popcorn?
Quinoa, sorghum, and amaranth are some of the most easily popped and puffed, but once you get those down pat, branch out and try other grains and seeds. They may not puff up as dramatically as corn or sorghum, but they’ll take on a nutty, toasted taste.
How do you dry corn on the cob for popcorn?
Shell a few ears and lay the kernels on a dehydrator tray. Dehydrate between 120-130°F, checking few hours until it’s popping well. To save space, shell your popcorn and place it in airtight containers. It will keep for several years.
Do humans eat field corn?
People don’t eat field corn directly from the field because it’s hard and certainly not sweet. Instead, field corn must go through a mill and be converted to food products and ingredients like corn syrup, corn flakes, yellow corn chips, corn starch or corn flour.
Can you use frozen corn to make popcorn?
I’ve done this a few times now. It works, straight from the freezer, no defrosting required. Here are some observations, based on cooking the kernels in a stove-top metal saucepan with a little medium-hot oil over a moderate heat: More steam than usual comes off the frozen popcorn during cooking.
What makes popcorn pop?
As the kernel heats up, the water expands, building pressure against the hard starch surface. 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, hot and ready to eat.
Can you pop Indian corn?
Can Indian corn be popped? Yes, you can pop the individual kernels of Indian corn and eat it as popcorn.
What is Rainbow corn?
Unlike sweet corn, rainbow corn isn’t one to eat straight off the cob. It’s a type of flint corn that has a hard outer layer, which is great to grind down into cornmeal for dishes like grits and polenta. Glass Gem corn can also be used to make popcorn, but sadly, it doesn’t come out rainbow colored.
Is yellow corn sweet corn?
Yellow corn is also sweet, but there are firm believers who say it is not as sweet as white (via Epicurious). Some people believe the sweetness of the corn depends on if you buy it while it’s in season.
Is white corn the same as shoepeg corn?
Shoepeg corn is a cultivar of white sweetcorn valued for its sweetness. It is characterized by small, narrow kernels tightly and unevenly packed on the cob. The corn has a sweet, mild flavor.
