How does it all go down? How do raw corn kernels turn into the puffy goodness we know as popcorn? A little bit of knowledge may go a long way because it could make the difference between buying a useless popcorn maker, and making a more informed decision when purchasing the right one for your needs. And really, it’s a wonderful piece of equipment, when you think about it. When the right corn and the right conditions are provided, there’s really a delicious outcome. Whether it is an antique popcorn machine, used popcorn machine, or kettle popcorn maker the inner workings of the machine and its needs are pretty much universal.
Let’s take a look at what happens to the corn kernels. I know – we don’t want science – but we do want to know what the popcorn poppers do when we go out and buy them. The corn kernel is basically a seed surrounded by an outer hull, that yellow shell that can be tough at times. When the corn is heated, the moisture inside makes the inner contents of that shell want to expand, and with such force that the shell can’t contain the inner pressure and pops.
So what does it take to pop the corn to form a perfect, fluffy… well, pop? It’s a matter of choosing the right corn because you want corn that contains a lot of moisture, has a lot of expansion potential, and yet still has a tough hull so that it pops at the exact moment to make that flowery texture. Enthusiasts compare the result to snowflakes, butterflies, or mushrooms, depending on the way it pops.
In other words, if we want to get a popcorn machine that works well, we need to understand that the corn in the machine needs to be heated according to the temperature the corn requires, and with the correct humidity. Nowadays there are different devices that contain different programs, and popping different kinds of corn is easy – follow the instructions of the popcorn makers; they know exactly what temperature, humidity, and the time your little kernels need. Not only that, but they’ll also make sure that all your corn is popped evenly and ready to serve in the shortest amount of time.
Amazing, isn’t it, how complex and how simple it can be at the same time, if only we have a little bit of knowledge of what we want. That bit more of information could mean that the next time you check the popcorn popper to see if the final product is ready, you have a little smile on your face because you knew exactly which one you needed. Like a cook, you knew what the corn needed for it to get. Well, perfectly popped!