What makes popcorn pop?
A popcorn kernel is actually a seed. At its centre is a tiny plant embryo, a life form in its earliest phase. The embryo is surrounded by a soft, starchy material that contains water. Surrounding the embryo is a hard shell.
When the dried popcorn kernels are heated to 356 degrees Fahrenheit or 180 degrees Celsius, the moisture inside the kernel turns to steam, the starches inside gelatinize, the steam builds up to an enormous pressure and then the corn POP! When the protective covering or hull ruptures, the starch and endosperm inside the hull expands into a foam which is soft and edible.
