Fun Facts About Popcorn

Early Evidence of Popcorn

The Popcorn Board has shared some cool slow motion videos of popcorn exploding.
About 4 billion gallons of popcorn are consumed in the US every year. (If we were to pack this corn into bags and lay them end to end, they would go around the earth 63,000 times.) - The Popcorn Board
Approximately 70% of popcorn is eaten in the home. - The Popcorn Board
Within the kernel’s hard outer surface is a small drop of water stored inside a circle of soft starch. As the kernel heats up, the water turns to steam (at 212 degrees). At 347 degrees, the pressure inside finally explodes the kernel, releasing the steam and the soft starch inside, which immediately cools to form the distinct shape of the popcorn. - The Popcorn Board
Most of the calories from kettle corn come from the oil, not the sugar.
In Native American folklore, it was believed that spirits peacefully lived in each popcorn kernel. When these kernels were heated, the spirits would get angry and break out in an irritated puff of steam. - “The History of Popcorn”, by Lexi Jacobs and "Popcorn History" by Linda Stradley of What's Cooking America.
8,000 years ago, corn was cultivated from a wild grass called teosinte. Popcorn differs from regular corn by especially starchy kernels and hard kernel walls. This helps the internal pressure build when placed over heat, and allows the starch to liquefy under heat. - "Why do we eat popcorn at the movies?" by Natasha Geiling, Smithsonian.com
Initially, movie theaters didn’t allow popcorn inside their theaters. They had grand lobbies and rugs, and the last thing they wanted was popcorn. Then the Depression hit, and they discovered they could make more money if they lowered their ticket prices and sold snack food. "Popcorn, the snack that saved the movies" CBSNews.com
With the introduction of sound in movies, snack concessions became more viable, since the sound muffled the snacks. - "Why do we eat popcorn at the movies?" by Natasha Geiling, Smithsonian.com
During the first Thanksgiving, Native Americans shared bowls of popcorn with the European settlers - “The History of Popcorn”, by Lexi Jacobs
The world’s largest popcorn ball was made with 6,510 lbs of corn. It was 8 feet in diameter and had a circumference of 24 feet, 9 inches. - "World Record Academy
Nebraska produces 294 million pounds of popcorn per year, or 34% of all popcorn produced in the U.S. - "Agricultural Marketing Resource Center

Annual Sales of Unpoppced Popcorn in the US

The Popcorn Board: www.popcorn.org