0
What happens if you mess with popcorn like putting a hole in the shell or leaving it in the sun for a few days?
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
Well, the popcorn will be very hard; in other cases it will be stale. Very stale; matters how long you leave it out like that...
Popcorn pops because the endosperm has a high moisture content. The shell is hard and hold pressure. It is like a mini pressure cooker. When the moisture inside overcomes the shells strength to contain the pressure, the kernel explodes. Water boils at 210 degrees Fahrenheit. Once the water and oil raises above that point, the water turns to vapor. When it has turned the moisture to vapor, it is gelatinizes the starches in the endosperm causing the hardened starches to start softening up. Then when the water vapor creates enough pressure (about 135 psi) the kernel bursts violently and the water still left in the starches causes it to puff up the insides and thus you get popcorn.
Pressure goes from high to low. Just like electricity goes from positive to the more negatively charged parts (like everything drains towards the ground). If there is a hole in the kernel then all the water vapor that would normally create the pressure would just escape through the path of least resistance there were a hole the kernels moisture content would just evaporate and be released into the air. Eventually then corn kernel would dry out and then just burn.
If you left popcorn in the sun nothing would happen, with or without a hole in the kernel.
As I said, the water content within the kernel has to go above the boiling point of water (212 degrees F) to even start building up any pressure. If you left it in the sun, the kernel would start to lose moisture and over time would dry up to a really hard kernel not useful for much.
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
Add your answer:
Earn +20 pts
Is the outline of popcorn made of beetle shells?
It may look like a beetle shell but in fact is the husk of the popcorn.
What happens to the outer shell of a calcium atom when it reacts with an oxygen atom?
the outer cell will burn up leaving calcium-oxide
What happens if you put an egg in cola for a day?
Depends, shell or no shell? Then i answer.
How does a red bellied turtle care for its young?
by putting them in its shell
Your slider is losing sections of her shell?
It is okay it is just natural it happens all that happens is there shell is just peeling.
What is a hypothesis for why does popcorn pop?
"I believe that Popcorn Brand A will pop more than Popcorn Brand B."
Is there really water in popcorn kernels?
All popcorn contain a small amount of water. When the popcorn gets heated the water inside the popcorn kernel turns to steam. The steam then starts to pressure the kernel shell and soon bursts making the kernel inside out, and the soft stuff inside the kernel puffs.
What batch of popcorn kernels would produce more popcorn a batch of kernels soaked in water or a somewhat dried out batch?
I wouldn't advise soaking your popcorn. Popcorn "pops" because 1) there's water INSIDE the kernel and 2) there's a hard shell to hold the water in. Together, these make it possible to build up STEAM inside the kernel until it bursts the shell, effectively turning the kernel inside-out, puffing it up in the process.
Can you change the moisture content in popcorn?
If the unpopped popcorn is too dry, it will not pop, as it is the pressure from steam building up inside the popcorn shell which makes it pop. To remoisten dried out popcorn one could try to put the popcorn in a plastic bag or airtight container in the fridge with some slices of raw potato. The moisture from the potato slices should then evaporate and get absorbed by the popcorn.
What ingredients effect the popping of bagged popcorn?
Popcorn is the only thing needed to make popcorn. The germ inside the popcorn heats up in this particular species of corn and pops out of the shell, making the fluffy white food that everyone loves. Bagged popcorn generally just has a mixture of butter, oil, and salt to give it flavor, along with possible other ingredients that I'm not familiar with.
When the peanut is eaten what happens to the shell?
a
What happens when white vinegar is added to a crushed shell?
99 % of the shell is dissolved.
