What kind of corn is needed for popcorn: choose the appropriate variety, process the grains and prepare them at home

What kind of corn is needed for popcorn?

Not every variety of corn is suitable for preparing this dish. The whole point of the process is that in each kernel of corn suitable for making popcorn, there is a drop of water containing starch.

When water heats up, it turns into steam. Under pressure from the temperature, it is released from the walls of the seed, which causes a mini-explosion.

Suitable varieties

Corn suitable for popcorn contains a lower percentage of starch than regular corn. In addition, its composition contains 21% more fats and proteins. The seeds look shiny and varnished, their walls are much thinner than those of other types.

There are many varieties of corn suitable for cooking. Let's highlight the most popular and proven ones:

• Vulcan - the height of the plant reaches 200 cm, and the length of the cob is up to 20 cm. It is considered ideal for making popcorn.
• Lopay-lopay - the size of the plant reaches average parameters, up to 150 cm. The variety is considered early or mid-early, ripening earlier than other species. Its seeds take on an orange hue and are wide in appearance.
• Zeya is a well-remembered variety of corn. Its seeds are bright burgundy in color. The growth of the stem reaches 180 cm, and the length of the cob itself is 20-25 cm.
• Ping-pong is a plant reaching a length of 220 cm. The fruits are small, 100-150 cm, and the seeds are oblong.
• Gostinets is a variety of corn that tolerates heat well. Its size is about 200 cm, and the cobs reach 20-25 cm.
• Granddaughter's Joy is the most productive variety, it is whimsical and requires good care. It is necessary to water frequently. With good care, it tolerates illness well. It is considered early ripening and low in size, about 150 cm, the fruits are also small - 12-15 cm.
• Red is a beautiful type of corn. You can call it decorative. Its fruits are rich red in color, as the name suggests. Low, reaches 150 cm and small heads of cabbage.

When choosing a variety for planting, you should focus on the region and climate. To reap a good harvest, create the right growing conditions.

Is it possible to make popcorn out of regular popcorn?

Theoretically, it is possible to make popcorn from ordinary corn, or, as it is also called, maize, but the result is unlikely to satisfy you. Not all grains will open, and those that do open will not be as fluffy as those from varieties suitable for this purpose.

The fact is that ordinary varieties do not contain the necessary amount of air inside the grain for an explosion to occur. But for it to happen, you need to create a lot of pressure, about 200 degrees. This will require special equipment.

Therefore, it is better to choose the right varieties of corn in advance or, if you grow at home, purchase seeds of the desired varieties.

How to cook from a boiled vegetable?

If you already have boiled corn, but suddenly want popcorn, then your best bet is to buy a new cob. Boiled kernels definitely won’t make popcorn: it won’t pop at all, because the dense shell has already softened during the cooking process, and the starch has been transformed with a drop of water.

By the way, the reverse process is also impossible: corn specially grown for popcorn will not be cooked until fully cooked. There are many varieties suitable for making popcorn, as well as many recipes.

So experiment and enjoy the taste of a healthy homemade treat!

Nuances of cultivation and storage

Growing this plant is not particularly difficult. Popcorn corn and regular corn are very similar in planting and care methods. Let's look at some of the nuances.

The roots develop more slowly than those of cereal corn; the plant also does not like dry soil, requires frequent watering and may grow poorly if not weeded.

Corn for popcorn is heat-loving, so it is better to plant it in early May. 1-2 grains are placed in the dug hole. According to the recommendation, it is better to plant where nightshades previously grew: potatoes, tomatoes, etc. Since pollination with other crops can occur, plant separately from other species.

Remember the rules, the implementation of which will lead to healthy cobs and a large harvest:

1. Harrow the soil before planting.
2. Do inter-row cultivation about three times during the entire growing period.
3. Water the corn once a week, this is the minimum.
4. Do not forget to fertilize the soil in the root system with organic matter or minerals.

If you pick corn for popcorn when it is not ripe, eat it like regular sugar corn. But you won't be able to make popcorn from it.

It is better to harvest corn at the very last stage, when the mature cob begins to dry out and becomes covered with a shiny crust. It is worth preparing such seeds for further planting. It is best to store directly on the stems. To do this, we wait until the plant begins to dry completely along with the cobs; this is somewhere around the end of summer and the beginning of autumn. You should not collect corn early and dry it at home, it will explode badly.

Dry cobs are broken off and dried for about a month in a cool and dry place. Place them in cloth bags or paper bags. Good for attic or closet storage. If there is a possibility that the cobs will dry out too much, send the crop to a more humid place for several weeks. This is a cellar or balcony.

What type of corn is popcorn made from?

Not every corn turns into popcorn when cracked. To do this, you need to choose special varieties. They have a number of features:

1. The starch content is 2 times lower than in sweet corn, but there is much more fat and protein.
2. Popcorn kernels are covered with a durable, but very thin, shiny shell. That is why moisture is evenly distributed throughout the grain and fluffs the pulp when heated.

If popcorn corn has been properly grown and stored prior to heating, almost all of the kernels will pop. The percentage of unopened ones is only 1-2% of the total mass.

To distinguish varieties of corn for popcorn from sugar ones, just look at the photo.

How to make popcorn at home

Traditional cooking of popcorn at home is done in a saucepan or frying pan. Movie theaters use special popcorn machines that have a special heating plate and air heating to minimize burning of the product.

Of course, it is not profitable to purchase such a device for home use; it is better to use existing funds. Use a frying pan with thick walls; it is easier to grease it with vegetable oil.

In a frying pan

Take a good frying pan and put it on fire. We heat it well and put it on the stand. Pour the prepared corn kernels into a frying pan in one layer . It is better to have one thin layer, otherwise not all the grains may be fried. Then pour in vegetable oil - 1-2 tbsp. spoons. Mix well with a spatula until all the grains are covered with an oil film. Then cover with a lid and put on fire.

Soon you will hear frequent popping noises. Do not open the lid under any circumstances, this will reduce the temperature. It’s good to focus on the pops when cooking. When the frequency reaches one clap for 3-4 seconds, shake the pan again and simmer on the stove for 5-10 seconds, and then remove from the heat.

Open the lid carefully to avoid getting burned by the steam. The contents are poured into a bowl and left to cool. Add salt or sugar to taste.

Microwave

It’s easy to cook popcorn in the microwave, but the dish will be many times higher in calories - you have to add more oil than when cooking in a frying pan, since shaking it several times won’t work.

The preparation procedure is simple: pour corn kernels into a bowl, pour oil over them and place in the oven. The power should be 600 watts. Then you will hear explosions. When they occur at intervals of 3-4 seconds, take out the ready-made popcorn.

In a slow cooker

Some people cook in a slow cooker, but if you decide to use this method, it is better not to use salt in cooking, as it corrodes the surface of the bowl. The cooking recipe is the same - pour small layers of grain into a bowl, pour over oil and select the mode for soup. When the popping noise subsides, turn it off and take out the popcorn.

In a saucepan

Take a large saucepan, preferably with thick walls. If you have cooking spray, spray the inside of the pan all over the sides with vegetable oil. Pour in a small amount of grains.

Cover the pan with a lid and place on fire. Do not open until the time between claps is 1-3 seconds. Turn off the stove and open the pan. Popcorn is ready.

In a special apparatus

Special machines are used to prepare popcorn for sale in public places. Small devices for home use are also sold. The method is the same, only coconut oil is used here. First, heat the boiler for 5-6 minutes, then add coconut oil.

After we are sure that it has melted, add the corn. Add salt or sugar to the grains, to taste. We preheat the device to 240 degrees and wait for the end of the pops. Then place it several times, making sure the popcorn is ready.

What you will need

You can cook corn in different ways, using different equipment.

• Popcorn machine. It is equipped with a plate that controls the temperature inside by constantly stirring the grain. As a result, the product is homogeneous and does not burn;
• A machine whose operating principle is based on the supply of hot air. It is fed into the lower holes. Finished grains are discharged into an attached container;
• A cauldron with a long handle. This is a fairly old device that has been used by chefs for centuries. Of course, cooking in it requires skill, otherwise the grains will burn. In addition, it requires a lot of vegetable oil, which is not very healthy.

Popcorn machine

How to Make Sweet/Salty Popcorn

Making sweet or salty popcorn doesn't require any skill. Just add salt or sugar. But if you want to diversify the dish, there are many recipes with the addition of various spices, you will learn about them by reading below.

Note. The popcorn recipe depends on the presence or absence of syrups and spices. Popcorn can be salty, sweet or bland. In addition, popcorn is not only a fast food made from corn, but also an ingredient in some interesting snacks and even baked goods.

Adding seasonings and spices

The standard preparation method is to add powdered sugar and coconut flakes. Sometimes vanilla is added. All the spices are added to the freshly popped popcorn, tied in a bag and shaken.

Caramel corn is a famous recipe used in all movie theaters. His recipe is very simple:

1. Melt 30 g of butter in a saucepan and pour in a glass of sugar.
2. Add 2 tablespoons of water and cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring constantly.
3. Drizzle caramel over popcorn and stir.

Add various spices to the dish: cinnamon, nutmeg, paprika, and marshmallows, you will see what happens - you will lick your fingers!

How to use classic popcorn and not regret it

Homemade chocolate with cashews and popcorn

Anyone can make this chocolate, even a novice cook. It's like a construction set where you need the right parts that fit together well.

Chocolate with cashews and popcorn

To prepare 4-5 servings you need:

• 200 g milk chocolate
• 200 g white chocolate
• 50 g ready popcorn
• 50 g roasted cashews
• sea ​​salt

1. Melt milk and white chocolate separately in a double boiler. Add some salt. Cool slightly.
2. Pour the milk chocolate into an even layer, at least 5mm thick, into a small silicone mold. Immediately top with popcorn and nuts (cut large ones in half).
3. Pour white chocolate on top and use a toothpick to make marble patterns. Place the mold in the refrigerator and let the chocolate harden. Break it into large pieces before serving.

Corn soup with popcorn

Offer your child corn soup with popcorn and he'll probably ask for more: who wouldn't want an extra helping of crunchy corn?

Corn soup with popcorn from the Yakitoria restaurant chain

To prepare 4 servings you need:

• 100 g carrots
• 50 g onion
• 30 g vegetable oil
• 400-450 ml chicken broth
• 400 g sweet corn
• 80 g cream 20% fat
• creamed and salted popcorn for serving

1. Finely chop the carrots and onions and fry in vegetable oil.
2. In a saucepan or small saucepan, bring the chicken broth to a boil. Add corn kernels, boil for 3-5 minutes. Add the roasted vegetables and bring to the boil again.
3. Remove the soup from the heat and puree with an immersion blender until smooth.
4. Pour back into container. Pour in the cream and cook, bringing to a boil and stirring with a whisk.
5. Pour the finished soup into serving bowls, garnish with cream and popcorn. Serve immediately.

Milk shake “Crispy apricot”

This cocktail will appeal to both children and adults. Popcorn can be replaced or supplemented with marshmallows or cotton candy, and then no dessert is needed for this drink.

Milk shake “Crispy apricot”

To prepare 4-6 servings you need:

• 400 g fresh or canned (without juice) apricots or peaches
• 800 ml milk
• 200 g slightly melted ice cream
• 2 tbsp. l. oatmeal
• 4 tbsp. l. caramel syrup
• a pinch of ground cinnamon
• sweet popcorn for serving

1. If cooking fresh apricots/peaches, lower for 10 seconds. into boiling water, then quickly transfer to ice water. After this, they will be easy to peel. After peeling, cut in half, remove seeds, chop the fruit and transfer to a blender.
2. Add milk, ice cream, cereal, caramel syrup and cinnamon and whisk until smooth.
3. Pour into glasses or glasses, garnish with popcorn and serve immediately.

Corn does not explode: what to do?

There are several reasons why corn kernels do not explode:

• the grains are overdried;
• the cobs are unripe if they were picked too early;
• corn does not explode from excess moisture if it was stored incorrectly;
• corn was pollinated with varieties unsuitable for making popcorn;
• The simplest reason is that the temperature or heating power is too low.

Mistakes are made when storing corn or growing it, all of which are described above. To prepare a good dish, just follow the tips. The main thing is to love popcorn and cook with love.

The history of popcorn

We’ll talk about varieties, agricultural technology and recipes a little later, but for now we want to tell you where people got such a delicacy from. You won’t believe it, but it has been around for many centuries, and popcorn was discovered by the Indians. Like many great discoveries or not so significant, but useful and interesting, and popcorn can be attributed specifically to the latter, chance played a role. Indian tribes, who always eat corn or maize in their diet, once discovered that for some reason some of the cobs began to explode.

Of course, this could not help but interest the resourceful people, and they began to prepare popcorn in two ways. The first option was to put the cobs in oil and simmer over a fire, the second was to take the grains out of the corn, put them in a bag and hover over the flame. And that’s how the first popcorn appeared in the world, and gradually the delicacy spread. We are sure that many people generally do not understand how everything happens, why corn explodes and takes on a bizarre shape. We will explain further.

Tips and tricks

There are some tips that will help in the future:

1. Dry beans that have not burst are best stored in a closed container in the freezer.
2. Some grains are overdried and therefore do not burst. Soak them overnight in cold water. Then dry thoroughly.
3. To prevent the popcorn from getting soggy, remove the lid as soon as it's ready to prevent condensation from forming in the bowl and water droplets falling onto the kernels.
4. It is better to mix popcorn with seasoning by first mixing the kernels with butter. It would be better to place salt or sugar on a moistened surface.

Features of growing corn for popcorn

Corn varieties that are suitable for popcorn production are very demanding in terms of growing conditions. This crop is planted only in regions with a mild climate, since temperature fluctuations from germination to flowering are detrimental to corn. During the ripening process, the cobs need coolness, which is easily achieved as the nights become less hot in late summer.

Popcorn crops are grown on fertile soil, otherwise a rich harvest cannot be expected. A sandy and too light substrate is not suitable for it, since it is difficult for the roots to stay on such soil. Weeds quickly suppress seedlings; they lack moisture.

When planning planting on the site, you need to follow corn agricultural techniques. The most successful predecessors will be:

• potato;
• tomatoes;
• greenery.

And other early crops, after the collection of which the land has time to recover.

How to harvest and store crops?

The cobs should be collected only when they are dry; if you collect them raw earlier, the popping ability of the corn when making popcorn will decrease. To speed up ripening, it is recommended to open the cobs during its growth, exposing the grains, but tearing off the “clothes” is not recommended.

After collection, it is important to know how to store it properly. A cool, ventilated room is most suitable for cobs. It is very important that it is dry. Dried cobs are placed in a fabric bag or mesh for storage; it is not recommended to separate the grains.

Popcorn in the microwave

This method is particularly simple, so popcorn in the microwave is an ideal option for quickly preparing your favorite treat for a home movie show.

You will need:

• Container or glassware with a lid for the microwave oven;
• Corn grains;
• Vegetable oil.

How to make popcorn:

1. Place the grains on the bottom of the container in one layer. It's better not to take too many of them at once. It is necessary to calculate the amount based on the fact that 25 g of corn when frying will fill a volume of 1 liter;
2. Pour a small amount of oil over the corn so that it is lightly coated with an oil film;
3. Close the container tightly with a lid and microwave for 4 minutes at full power. As soon as the intense popping sounds stop, the product is ready. You can immediately sprinkle the treat with powdered sugar or salt, making the popcorn sweet or salty, respectively.

You can also make caramel deliciousness. To do this, pour a glass of sugar and 30 g of high-quality butter into a small saucepan. Cook the mixture for 10 minutes on low gas, stirring regularly, at the end add two tablespoons of water and mix everything again. Pour the finished caramel into the puffed corn in a thin stream and stir well.

An even simpler option is to make popcorn from ready-made packaged grains. To do this, you need to carefully remove the bag without breaking the seal and place it in the oven with the picture down. You also need to make sure that when rotating the bag does not touch the internal walls of the device, otherwise some grains may not open or burn. You need to cook the yummy food for three minutes at maximum power. Once the cracking stops, the product is ready.

Popcorn in a special machine

The easiest and fastest way to prepare your favorite treat is a popcorn maker. But at the same time, this option is more expensive, and it is rarely possible to purchase the unit itself in ordinary household appliance stores. You can order it mainly in specialized online stores. In addition, it will be possible to purchase raw materials and additives for making popcorn.

Such devices are distinguished by a variety of sizes, functions, appearance, and accordingly have different performance and cost. Therefore, when choosing a device, you should pay special attention to all these parameters.

To make your favorite delicacy using such a machine, you just need to follow the instructions: pour in a little oil and pour out the required amount of grains. Additionally, flavoring and non-stick additives are added. The boiler is preheated to a high temperature, reaching approximately 300 degrees, under the influence of which the grains burst. In a word, everything is exactly the same as in a frying pan or in the microwave, only more automated.

But do not forget that any equipment requires careful care. Therefore, the device must be washed after each cooking process, and each time cooked with new oil. Careful operation will help avoid breakdowns and allow you to regularly delight yourself and your loved ones with the freshest, airy delicacy.