Popcorn

Popcorn is a light, crunchy snack made from a special kind of corn. When the corn kernels get hot, they pop and turn fluffy. People often eat popcorn while watching movies. It can be salty, buttery, or sweet. Popcorn is a favorite snack all over the world.

How Popcorn Pops

Each popcorn kernel has a hard shell and a tiny bit of water inside. When the kernel is heated, the water turns to steam. The steam pushes against the shell until it bursts open. The inside puffs out and becomes the white, fluffy part we eat. This all happens in just a second.

A Very Old Snack

Native Americans were eating popcorn thousands of years ago. They popped it over open fires. Popcorn became popular in America during the Great Depression because it was cheap. Today, movie theaters sell tons of popcorn every day. You can also make it at home in a microwave or pan.

Fun Facts

• Americans eat about 14 billion quarts of popcorn each year.
• A popcorn kernel can pop up to 3 feet in the air.
• The state of Nebraska grows more popcorn than any other place.

Did You Know?

Scientists found popcorn in a cave in New Mexico that was over 5,000 years old. It still looked just like popcorn.