Orville Redenbacher is a brand name popcorn that lists itself as gourmet.
Popcorn or popping corn is a type of corn which explodes from the kernel and puffs up when heated.
Corn popping was originally discovered by Native Americans, but became popular as a snack food during the United States Great Depression.
When Americans go to movie theaters, it is one of the most purchased items.
Many enjoy purchasing popcorn with melted butter drizzled over it.
I grew up with a large skillet and a high top lid.
We would pop large bags of popcorn and sit in front of our black and white television and enjoy the popcorn.
Each kernel of popcorn contains a certain amount of moisture and oil. Unlike most other grains, the outer hull of the popcorn kernel is both strong and impervious to moisture and the starch inside consists almost entirely of a hard, dense type.
As the oil and the water are heated past the boiling point, they turn the moisture in the kernel into a superheated pressurized steam, contained within the moisture-proof hull. Under these conditions, the starch inside the kernel gelatinizes, softening and becoming pliable. The pressure continues to increase until the breaking point of the hull is reached: The hull ruptures rapidly, causing a sudden drop in pressure inside the kernel and a corresponding rapid expansion of the steam, which expands the starch and proteins of the into airy foam. As the foam rapidly cools, the starch and protein polymers set into the familiar crispy puff.
