Who Discovered Popcorn

By: Want To Know It

Popcorn is a very unique type of corn that ‘pops’ or ‘explodes’ when it is heated. Strangely, only a few wild types of corn actually pop. The strain that is actually cultivated for use is Zea mays averta (which I’m sure means absolutely nothing to most of you!) This post will take a look at who discovered popcorn and also have a look at some interesting facts about popcorn, including its nutritional value which I’m sure you are all dying to know!

Who Discovered Popcorn

It was actually Native Americans who discovered the process of popping corn. Nobody is entirely sure of exactly when popcorn was truly discovered but we do know that it was thousands of years ago. A Native American myth was that an angry god escaped from the corn kernel when it was popped. This myth explained the noise that popcorn makes when it pops. So now you know just who discovered popcorn. Let’s take a look at those facts about popcorn.

Facts about Popcorn

Fact 1: Popcorn actually has some good nutritional value! It is very high in fiber and contains fairly good amounts of the B vitamins. Popcorn is also low in calories (before you add all the butter, of course), contains no sodium (before you add salt) and is sugar free (unless you are one of those people who adds sugar).

Fact 2: The American Academy of Pediatrics advises that popcorn not be fed to children under the age of four due to the risk of choking.

Fact 3: Popcorn was considered a luxury during the depression. A bag of popcorn cost a ‘whopping’ 5-10c!

Fact 4: Popping popcorn is a real are form. Pop it at too high a temperature and it burns to the bottom of the pot. Pop it at too low a temperature and you end up with lots of unpopped kernels. Of course, most people just eat microwave popcorn these days which means this is much less of a problem.

Fact 5: Popcorn kernels must by dried by the manufactures otherwise they pop very poorly.

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