You have popcorn and it won't pop. Your life is RUINED. At least the duration of your life during movie night is. Today, how to test and fix popcorn that won't pop.
First of all, I realize there are all of 14 people in the world that grow their own popcorn. Me, Orville Redenbacher and all of his descendants.
However, this doesn't just apply to popcorn you've grown, it also applies to old popcorn you've found in your cupboard that's being particularly stubborn about exploding into something edible.
So let's talk about that.
Table of Contents
The 2 reasons your popcorn won't pop.
- If you can dent the kernel with your nail it's still way too wet to pop.
- If the kernel is very hard and can't be dented but doesn't pop, it probably needs moisture added into it.
You need to either dry it out more or put it in a jar and add a bit of water. It's really as basic as that.
WHY exactly does popcorn pop?
What makes popcorn pop is having a specific amount of moisture inside it. Popcorn might seem like it's completely dry but the kernel holds a tiny bit of water inside the dry starchy outer layer. For a kernel to properly pop it needs to be at 14% moisture. When the small amount of moisture in the centre of the kernel heats up, it expands and creates pressure on the starchy dry shell.
Eventually the shell says I CAN'T TAKE THIS ANYMORE and it bursts. The starch inside flies out with an explosion and the whole kernel turns inside out. And then you have popcorn.
If the kernels are either above 14% moisture or below it won't pop properly.
You can see examples of different moisture levels below. They were each popped in hot oil in a cast iron pan on the stove.
You can also use this microwave method I outline here to make popcorn.
From left to right:
- Newly opened jar of Orville Redenbacher popcorn kernels. Perfect moisture content of 14%. Big, fluffy. 100% popped.
- 2 year old jar of Orville Redenbacher popcorn kernels. Low moisture content of 10%. Smaller, more dense. 100% popped.
- Homegrown popcorn. Low moisture content of 10%. Small, dense kernels. 78% popped.
- Homegrown popcorn. High moisture content of 20%. No truly popped kernels.
That's all fine and dandy but how do you know what moisture content your popcorn is??
3 ways to test the moisture in popcorn
The first time I grew popcorn I didn't know ANY of this. I took a cob that I'd let dry for approximately a hundred million years and the kernels didn't pop. They just burned and looked like little blackened molars that had been shaken out of the head of a meth addict. Why didn't it pop? Because it had almost no moisture in it.
1. Grinding and weighing.
The most detailed, scientific, mathematic article about making popping corn ever written, courtesy of Mother Earth News is where I started. The article gives detailed instructions on how to figure out the moisture content corn by grinding it up, weighing it and then baking it in the oven for a couple of hours to bake out any moisture in it. Then of course, you weigh it again and the difference between the pre-baked corn and the post-baked corn will tell you how much moisture you lost (and therefore how much moisture was in the corn to begin with).
This test revealed that my corn (in this case it was Glass Gem Corn) was about 4% moisture. Way too low. To remedy this, the article includes a handy math equation that lets you know how much to add to bring your corn up to the recommended 14%.
So I added the amount of water I needed to my popcorn and waited a day for it to absorb.
Then I tried popping it again and 2 kernels popped! So basically a total success if you're only planning on popping corn for 14 Ladybugs and an imaginary rabbit.
You can continue on these lines of adding a tiny bit of water until your popcorn pops.
2. Moisture Meter
A moisture meter is a common tool you can get at your local hardware store for about $80. The cheapest versions I've found have been on Amazon for $40 Canadian and it's where I got mine. The meter is meant for measuring the moisture content of wood and drywall. But I found out it works on popcorn too.
The meter has two very sharp pins on it. These pins are stuck into the material you are measuring the moisture of.
I figured it it worked for wood it would work for popcorn and it did but it doesn't give a completely accurate reading.
BUT THAT'S O.K.! You don't need a 100% accurate reading, you just need the tool so you can get a baseline reading.
Stick each prong onto a kernel of corn. Then place your finger across both of them and push down slightly. This will get you a relatively accurate reading.
The brand new, perfect Orville Redenbacher gave me a reading of 11.2% moisture. Even though it isn't giving a reading of 14%, I KNOW that the folks at Redenbacher have it right so all I want to use this number as my baseline number.
I want MY kernels of popcorn to measure the same: 11.2%.
They do not, lol.
I had some cobs that weren't dry enough yet and some that were over dried. The wet ones got dried some more and the dry ones were rehydrated with that adding water trick. More on that after method 3.
3. Hygrometers
A hygrometer is a little disk that tells you what the humidity is. They're small enough that you can drop them in a mason jar.
They're $15 for 4 in the US or $20 for 4 in Canada.
If you do any kind of vegetable curing or storage you need these.
To use a hygrometer for testing the moisture level of popcorn, drop one in a jar filled with popcorn. Like with the moisture meter, you need a baseline so drop one in a jar with popcorn you know pops well as well.
The hygrometers confirm that my homegrown Dakota Black popcorn is way drier than the Orville Redenbacher popcorn.
How do you fix popcorn that won't pop?
You soak it in water.
Whether it's popcorn you bought ages ago at the store or popcorn you've grown yourself, chances are it's too dry and doesn't have the moisture it needs to riotously explode.
Add a teaspoon of water to a mason jar filled with popcorn and shake it so the water is evenly dispersed among the kernels and leave it for a day with a lid on it.
Test the popcorn.
To test the popcorn use the moisture meter or the hygrometer. If after a day the popcorn is still too dry, add another teaspoon of water and let it sit for another day. If the kernels are now too WET, just pour out the kernels onto a plate for a couple of hours to dry out a bit.
When you think the kernels are about right - take 5 or so of them and try to pop them.
By the way, if you're adding water to a jar to bring your popcorn up to moisture just add a little at a time. Not too much. And don't maybe forget about it in the cupboard.
Upon seeing these my immediate thought was, soooooo ... if I don't digest a hunk of popcorn and it sits in my watery stomach for a few days will it root, embed itself into my nutrient rich belly lining and grow a stalk of corn which will eventually shoot out of my mouth as I sleep one night?
Or no? Will that maybe not happen.
Probably no. But just to be safe, I should probably redirect my attention to growing potato chips.
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Jazmine
After the exact same fiasco of burnt homegrown popcorn you described, I went searching online to find the source of my woes. Thank you for not only the hilariously described fact-finding story but also the solution. I'm going to skip the moisture test and go straight for the chips. I feel so vindicated that I just, just put blueberry bushes in what has been my corn garden the past few years, with only a quiet gut feeling that my corn-growing days were over. And that was before I even tried popping the stuff. Praise God that I still have the most of the corn hanging ornamentally and that I hadn't yet given a cob to a neighbour to whom I promised homegrown popcorn.
Karen
Yeah, growing useable "popcorn" is WAY harder than most people would describe it as, lol. Go blueberries! ~ karen!
Sonja Donnelly
I had some popcorn that tasted stale when I popped it so I tossed the rest of the un-
popped corn in my layered garden compost and to my surprise it grew and made great popcorn. The cobs were small but I got a nice bag of popcorn.No testing or water. Maybe I just got lucky. I always thought it was the variety of corn that was for popping not eating, different from eating corn. It was tasty.
Karen
That's funny! Compost piles can fix pretty much everything. ;) ~ karen!
Patricia Polmanteer
I thank you 100 times.. , nay a thousand times. I also grew the same pop corn and I also had the same sad results. BUT.. I did have a different initial result.. some did pop but very small and most did burn but the popped ones were wonderful. I and going to try again after "watering" some of the corn. Thank you for how to figure out the moisture in our corn.
Karen
I say you're welcome a thousand times. :) ~ karen!
Pam
Why don't you try making parched corn? I believe you need very dry corn kernels for parching. A quick google search turns up a recipe. I've had parched corn before and it's very crunchy and kind of nutty in flavor.
TucsonPatty
Sorry, can't help myself...this post just shows how beloved our popcorn is and how many different opinions and suggestions about it that there are out there in the world. I do love me some popcorn!
TucsonPatty
The stinkin’ ex did have a great fix for the non-Orville Redenbacher kernels we sometimes mistakenly brought home from the grocery store, and I didn’t realize how right he was, till now. We put a few drops to a teaspoon of water into the popcorn, now placed into a glass jar, shake, shake, shake, then keep it in the fridge so it doesn’t mold before you use all of it, then pop away!
My favorite toppings - all at once, are a mixture of onion powder, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, salt, I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter spray so things will stick, then a final sprinkle of Parmesan Cheese and Bac-Os. I’m in hog heaven. I’m out ofOrville right now, so had to order something else from Target. Hope it pops!
Dale
Living in Iowa, with cornfields from shore to shining shore, I believe you can check out a device from a local extension office or grain mill that measures the moisture content of your crop (in this case popcorn) by sampling a few ears before you harvest. Picking at the right moisture %, (14% or higher) then shelling it so the cob does not wick moisture from the kernels. Put them in old peanut butter jars to hold the moisture. Store in a cool, even temperature. (Right next to the wine bottles) Not sure about the freezing. It is not good to freeze your coffee beans, same for popcorn?
http://www.sfgate.com/homeandgarden/goldengategardener/article/Let-popcorn-husks-dry-completely-before-harvesting-2308377.php
I did the Google thing and this article had good ideas.
Madeleine Whitfield
My experience with corn is that if you really really want to see some raccoons, grow your own corn. It's like magic. No raccoon in sight + ears of corn almost ready for picking = at least one family of raccoons by morning.
Claire
And here in Australia, if you want cockatoos in your garden..... grow corn. Even if you net it, their beaks will tear the thing apart.
Nancy Ann Page
I'm reading this with glasses not my perscription....and I thought you said
cockroaches in your garden. Wow, in Australia, the cockroaches have
beaks!!! Ekk!!!
Nancy Ann
cbblue
If I were as beautiful as Glass Gem Corn I wouldn't have to pop. Just sit there and look good. I do love your experimentation though Karen.
Vanessa
The last time I popped corn I did it right on the cob. I wiped the cob down with a wet paper towel, didn't dry it off, stuck the slightly damp cob in a paper bag, folded it and stuck it in the microwave for about 2 minutes. Worked about as well as store bought microwave popcorn and tasted waaaaaaaaay better! Something to maybe try for next year...
Jack Ledger
For the first time in many years, an old man living in a rural town decided to go to the city to see a movie. After purchasing his ticket, he stopped by the concession stand to buy some popcorn. Handing the attendant $1.75, he couldn't resist commenting, "The last time I came to the movies, popcorn only cost 15 cents."
"Well, sir," replied the attendant with a grin, "you're really going to enjoy yourself. We have sound now!"
source: http://www.jokebuddha.com/Popcorn#ixzz3wUU1UNSA
jillian
I grew Black Dakota Popcorn, let it dry on the stalk and then tried to pop it but it only burned. So I shelled all of it and put it in my dehydrator at a low temperature for 8-10 hours, let it cool and it popped perfectly. I stored it in a glass container and tried to not eat it. Well, that did not last long! lol It was the best popcorn I ever had.
I only planted a few rows later than usual so did not get a big harvest. Next year I will plant way more.
Michelle
Was catching up on your last post then read this one. Two completely different posts here. This one illustrates best the sad fact you will never semi retire. It cancels out all the tounge and cheek talk of slowing down. I was so hopeful last post. If she slows down I will not feel so horribly lazy and inferior. Well this post just popped that sad bubble. Ha ha. I am inferior and lazy. Just the thought of the grinding, baking and calculating moisture made me anxious. Like tax season anxiety. Ok I will live with the reality you are Martha Stewart on crack and I could never live up to those standards. This year I am adding a master bath to my house not redoing... Lol adding one. So I am looking forward to your bath posts. Thanks for being perfectly you!
Karen
Uch. That's another thing I'd love. A Master Bath. Any second bath actually. But it would take an addition to get one and many, many dollars. It'll get done at some point just not the near future. So .... having said that ... you'll have to keep me updated on how yours goes! ~ karen
Eileen
wow...I can't (even) pop microwave corn. The outer layer pops and the middle turns into a charred gnurl. (that's a technical term)
Ev Wilcox
Someone gave me three very small ears of Glass Gems last fall. I hung them in the kitchen as a decoration. Also bought more seeds on ebay. I hope to grow pretty corns this year for decorations to hang/give away. I will continue buying popping corn for my addict spouse though. He is currently liking white corn, which is a little bit hard to find. Thanks for yet another funny and informative post Karen! And, I will leave you to do all the adventurous sciency stuff!
Linda in Illinois
Karen, every time I see your posts, I smile all day long, Love the photos of the corn, I worked at Funks Seeds for 9 years (my favorite all time job) and we grew all kinds corn, beans, etc. in the research fields. One thing I didn't catch you speaking of in your post was that the smell of those wet fermenting kernels, is a killer. It is not to be reckoned with, it will gag you sure as sh*t. Even thinking about it makes me gag, ha. I have to go vomit now. Love you !
jainegayer
I took the protective "skin" off my keyboard last night to wash it. Opened up your blog this morning while sipping my coffee and thought to myself, "I should go get that "skin" so I don't get nose coffee all over my keyboard ( I mean, it is Karen I'm reading). But NOooooooo, I was too lazy to get it and NOW, after the hilarious vision of you growing a corn stalk in your belly, I laughed so hard coffee came out of my nose. Note to self... Never, ever, ever open up Karen's blog without keyboard protection.
Karen
Sorry 'bout that. I'll look into becoming a much more serious version of myself in the future. Maybe someone who wears a monocle for instance. Monocles are never humourous. ~ karen!
jainegayer
No, don't change. The visions and laughs you generate are worth a few sticky keys. Did you say a monocle? See there you go again, totally hilarious!
Karen
I cannot believe you did a before and after moisture weight comparison test of corn kernels!
Is it getting close to tax season? Cause I see right through your so called testing there girl. Lol.
Erin
I bet the chickens would be all over those sprouted grains!
Chips rock.
Mary W
I bought the Glass Gems and have the package here ready to begin. DON'T tell me they won't pop and decorating is the only thing they are good for? A& E teeth falling out - too funny! I buy popping corn from the store and it won't pop. Living in Florida you would think it would pop on the stalk with our moisture and heat but not from the store. Orville is a genius and I want to pay homage to him and his relatives. I sure did want to plant my corn kernels instead of glue them to an art journal page. This gives proof that pretty things are only pretty on the outside and it's what's inside that counts - except of course, you. Pretty, smart, and DIY extra-ordinaire!
Karen
I'd give it a shot Mary W. I think I just left them on the cob too long and they dried out a LOT. If you take them off at the right time and get them in an airtight container (so they maintain moisture) they'll be fine. Don't fret. Not yet. ~ karen!
mbaker
I appreciate that you don't just shelve ideas that don't work. You let us know so that we can have a laugh and then use our time on other ventures.