Popcorn for us today is directly associated with a movie theater or watching movies, videos, in general, spending leisure time. One has only to smell its aroma, as the fantasy immediately sparkles with colors: someone recalls pleasant moments from his life, and someone dreams of a long-awaited vacation. Have you ever thought about who invented this “snack”, who invented popcorn in the form that we know it now, and how it became so popular.
The advent of corn
It is known from history that a crop such as corn was bred about 7 millennia ago. For the first time they began to grow it in the vastness of Mexico, in the mountainous regions. And already in the first century AD, corn became the staple food in America.
This special kind of corn, which is used to make popcorn, can be stored for a very long time under the right conditions. For example, archaeologists found whole grains in graves in Peru. And the age of this find was defined as more than a thousand years. There were also vessels for making popcorn.
Who invented popcorn
There are several versions regarding who became the author of this popular snack. However, history is silent about personalities, so the invention is awarded to peoples.
According to some sources, the ancient Indians became the discoverers of "exploding corn", or rather, random witnesses of this property of corn. People made special clay (later - metal) vessels for making maize in this way. Another way was to place a whole cob on hot oil.
At that time, popcorn became the prototype of “fast food”, as it is very light and satisfying, you could take it on the road to eat. It was consumed not only dry, but also filled with hot water.
Another version of who invented popcorn speaks of the Mexican origin of “exploding corn.” Mexicans, in turn, received popcorn by placing it on hot sand or stones. Invading Mexico (1519), Hernan Cortes was very surprised at how people relate to such food, since it was the main part of the diet.
This product hit Europe only in 1630.
The peak of popcorn sales in the United States was during the Great Depression. Popcorn has always been a cheap treat, so both rich and poor people could afford it.
Flavored popcorn was invented by Friedrich Rückheim in the late 19th century. It was he who first prepared sweet popcorn, deciding to add boiled caramel and much more to it, which lovers of this delicacy really liked.
As for how popcorn got into the cinema and why it causes such an association, it is worth noting the merit of Samuel Rubin. This idea belongs to him, thanks to him we can buy popcorn in special cardboard packages.
Thus, it is already impossible to find out who invented popcorn, but over the centuries this delicacy has gained worldwide popularity. It’s enough to know that amazing fact that this “dish” has passed through the millennia, not particularly modified, but only slightly improved with additives.
In the United States, there is a special day dedicated to this treat. Popcorn Day is marked on the calendar on January 22nd.
Popcorn machine
Popper, or a special machine for making popcorn, was invented by a scientist named Charles Critors in 1885. This invention looked like a tank with a special handle that set it in motion and mixed corn grains. It is worth noting that it was a rather bulky design.
A little later, poppers began to work on gas or steam and much decreased in size. Thanks to this, it became possible to transport popcorn for sale on the streets, for example. The popcorn machine has become a portable source of income.
For home use, poppers began to be sold in 1925. With the invention of microwave ovens, making popcorn at home has become even easier. In 1945, Percy Spencer discovered that corn kernels explode when exposed to microwaves. But specially prepared packages of grains for microwave ovens were launched into mass production only in 1984. Since then, microwaved popcorn has become a national treasure and one of the favorite treats.
Why popcorn explodes
We all know that with one glass of special grades of corn you get a big bowl of delicious goodies. But what happens when the grains are heated to a certain temperature?
The reason for this is the large amount of moisture in each seed. We also know that not all grains eventually explode, and if you wait until the "last seed", then all the popcorn can simply burn out. And grains do not explode just if there is not enough moisture in them.
It is also important that the grains are whole, with an intact shell, since this way the moisture will gradually evaporate and the grain will not burst.
Thus, a drop of water in a corn kernel turns into steam when heated, the expansion of which leads to a breakthrough of the shell.
Useful properties of popcorn
First of all, it is worth noting that the popcorn contains antioxidants polyphenols. There are more of them than in some vegetables and fruits.
Popcorn corn also contains fiber and vitamin A, B vitamins and complex carbohydrates. All this is good for the body. But it’s important to know that popcorn is not a low-calorie product. 100 grams of snack contains 300 kcal.
You need to remember that corn for popcorn needs a special variety, since only it has these properties and gives a tasty snack at the exit.
The harmful properties of popcorn
Mainly, the “harmfulness” of popcorn is not in the grains themselves or the method of preparation, but in the additives that it contains.
If you make popcorn yourself at home, you will probably know the composition. It would be better, of course, if you add a little olive oil, salt or sugar. But this will increase the calorie content of the product. In this case, the food will remain healthy and will not be harmful to health, as a nutritional supplement of an unknown composition can do if abused.