Happy National Popcorn Day!<\/p>\n
I know, I’ve never heard of it either, but I’m a popcorn fan, and it’s not only tasty, it’s pretty healthy, too, so let’s go with it!\u00a0 Even the Popcorn Board doesn’t know how the holiday started, but they also observe it on January 19th. Here are some fun facts about popcorn.<\/p>\n
<\/a>* Popcorn kernels can pop almost 3 feet into the air.<\/p>\n * 2 tablespoons of kernels yield 1 quart of popped popcorn.<\/p>\n * The first European to see popcorn was Cortez, who witnessed Aztecs using it when he invaded what is now Mexico.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n * Popcorn is a whole grain comprised of three components: the germ, endosperm, and pericarp (also know as the hull)<\/a><\/strong>. (There is no such thing as \u201chull-less\u201d popcorn. All popcorn needs a hull in order to pop.)<\/p>\n * Unlike other kinds of corn, popcorn has a thicker pericarp\/hull, which allows pressure from the heated water to build. As the kernel heats up, the starch inside becomes gelatinous. When the hull bursts from the pressure, that gelatinized starch spills out and cools, and you have popcorn.<\/p>\n