Popcorn for Christmas

On Wednesday we will be making popcorn. We are going to thread pop corn to put on the Christmas tree and make special Christmas containers to put our popcorn into. We will use a cone net to make our containers. Watch and listen to this video!




And this one too!

What Makes the Popcorn Pop?
Moisture + Heat = Popped Corn
Popping corn is a type of corn which explodes from the kernel and puffs up when heated.

Here's how it works:

Each kernel of popcorn has a tiny amount of moisture and oil at its starchy heart, inside a strong outer shell that keeps the moisture from escaping.

When we apply heat to popcorn kernels -- by exposing the kernels to very hot air or hot oil -- and bring the temperature inside the corn up past the boiling point, the moisture in the kernel turns into steam. The steam is under a lot of pressure, trapped inside the moisture-proof hull of the corn.
The pressure continues to increase until the breaking point of the hull is reached. The hull breaks open rapidly, causing a sudden drop in pressure inside the kernel. There is a rapid expansion of the steam at the same time, which expands the starch and proteins inside into an airy foam. As the foam rapidly cools, the starch and protein set into a crispy puff.
In short, popping corn is a bit like the lid blowing off a pressure-cooker, if you forget to lock it down.


Here is a picture of our net.
Click on the Christmas tree to find out how to make a popcorn garland.