We all know that popcorn tastes great and that once you start munching on it, it’s hard to stop.
But do you know where popcorn originates from? Or how long have movie theaters been selling popcorn?
No?
Read on to find out the answers to these questions and to discover lots more interesting facts about the nation’s favorite snack.
The History of Popcorn
1. Popcorn is more than 5000 years old.
2. Popcorn used to be eaten for breakfast with milk and sugar.
3. The oldest popcorn kernels were found in a cave in New Mexico.
4. Popcorn soared in popularity during WWII when sugar was rationed.
5. Popcorn was a popular snack during the Great Depression because it was cheap and nutritious.
6. Aztec Indians used to decorate their clothes with popcorn.
7. In the 18th century, popcorn was cooked with molasses and rendered fat.
8. The first popcorn machine was created in 1885 in Chicago by Charles Cretors.
9. Microwavable popcorn was invented in 1982 in Pillsbury.
10. Carnivals and circuses first started selling popcorn in the late 1800s.
11. In the 1920s, popcorn was sold for a nickel per bag.
12. Popcorn was first discovered in New Mexico.
13. Before popcorn machines were invented, popcorn was made on the stove or in fireplaces.
14. Popcorn sales suffered when televisions made their way into people’s homes.
15. The word “popcorn” was first added to Bartlett’s Dictionary of Americanisms in 1838.
16. The Aztecs named the sound of popping kernels as “totopoca”.
17. Peruvians used to pop popcorn in hot sand.
18. 1,000 year-old popcorn kernels found in burial grounds in North Chile still popped, despite their age.
Read more about the Culture that Introduced Popcorn.
Interesting Statistics About Popcorn
19. Americans eat 15 billion quarts of popcorn every year.
20. The average American eats 47 quarts of popcorn per year.
21. 70% of all popcorn consumed is eaten in people’s homes.
22. 3.8 million pounds of popcorn is eaten during the annual Super Bowl.
23. Americans produce and eat more popcorn than any other nation.
24. Each bag of popcorn contains around 2% of old maids.
25. Popcorn pops at 356°F (180°C).
26. Popcorn kernels are 4% water.
27. 45% of the nation’s popcorn is grown in Nebraska.
28. There are around 1,600 kernels in 1 cup of popcorn.
29. The world’s largest popcorn ball weighed 5,000 pounds.
30. Popcorn sales increased during the height of the covid pandemic. Jolly Time popcorn reported sales of microwave popcorn increasing by between 40% and 50%.
31. During covid, grocery stores bought 80% to 90% more raw popcorn than before.
32. Store-branded popcorn accounts for 14% of all popcorn sales.
33. Millennials buy more popcorn than any other generation.
34. Cheese is one of the most popular popcorn flavors. 16% of people love white cheddar on their popcorn while 11% prefer regular cheddar.
35. Popcorn gets 30x bigger when it’s popped.
36. Women buy more popcorn than men (62% compared to 54%).
37. Popcorn is one of the five most cost-effective sources of whole grains.
38. Microwave popcorn sales increased by 17% between 2020 and 2021.
Fun Facts About Popcorn
39. If you put popcorn in the freezer, it doesn’t freeze. It will keep it fresh, though.
40. During the cooking process, popcorn kernels can pop up to 3 feet into the air.
41. Popcorn is used as Christmas decorations, including tree garlands.
Want some Christmas popcorn gift ideas?
42. You can revive popcorn that’s gone stale by putting it in the oven and warming it up.
43. Popcorn has its own national day – January 19.
44. Indiana has its own official state snack – popcorn!
45. Popcorn is the only type of corn that pops.
46. Popcorn stalks grow several ears at one time.
47. More popcorn is sold in the fall than in any other season.
48. Many domestic pets can eat plain, air-popped popcorn, including dogs, mice, ferrets, fish, and birds.
49. Puffcorn is a toddler-safe alternative to popcorn.
50. Classic butter and salt is the most popular popcorn flavoring.
51. Unpopped kernels are known as ‘old maids’.
52. Smartfood popcorn sold more popcorn than any other brand between May 2020 and May 2021.
53. The most popular brand of popcorn is Orville Redenbacher.
54. David Rush and Jonathan Hannon currently hold the world record for the most amount of popcorn thrown and caught in the mouth. They managed an impressive 54 pieces in 2020.
55. Popcorn balls were often given as gifts in the 19th and 20th centuries.
56. There have been some strange popcorn flavors launched, including dill pickle and ice cream (yes, together!), loaded baked potato, burgundy wine and cheddar cheese, and eggnog.
57. Native Americans used to use popcorn to make beer and soup.
58. The record for the most amount of popcorn eaten in one sitting was set in 2021. An impressive 28.5 24 oz servings were consumed in just 8 minutes.
59. The nation’s least favorite type of popcorn is plain.
60. Most modern microwaves come with a ‘Popcorn’ button. But you shouldn’t use it, as it typically cooks popcorn for too long and burns it.
61. The scientific name for popcorn is Zea Mays Everta.
62. There are different colors of popcorn – yellow, white, blue popcorn, purple, and red.
63. You can buy hulless popcorn, but it’s not really hulless; the hulls are just smaller.
64. The most common shapes of popcorn are mushroom and butterfly.
65. Unpopped kernels should not be stored in the fridge as they’ll dry out and won’t pop.
66. Many schools use popcorn for fundraising.
67. Popcorn is 100% wholegrain.
68. You can eat popcorn every day as long as you stick to plain, air-popped popcorn or use healthy oils to cook it in.
69. Caramel popcorn was first introduced in the 1890s.
70. You can add food dye to popcorn to make it whatever color you like.
Popcorn & Movie Theater Facts
71. It was only in the 1930s that movie theaters started to sell popcorn.
72. Movie theaters banned moviegoers from eating popcorn in 1949 because it was too noisy.
73. Popcorn sold at movie theaters has a 1,275% markup.
74. In 1994, AMC and Sony announced that they were no longer going to pop their popcorn in coconut oil because it was too unhealthy. They started using canola oil instead.
75. Despite this, most movie theaters today cook popcorn in coconut oil.
76. Movie theater popcorn is unhealthier than air-popped popcorn. A medium popcorn without butter typically contains 1,200 calories and 60 grams of saturated fat.
77. Movie theaters put flavacol on their buttered popcorn, which is a type of fake butter seasoning.
78. Movie theaters store, re-heat and sell leftover popcorn.
79. Moviegoers eat almost 50% more popcorn when it’s served in large containers.
80. Movie theaters make more money from selling popcorn than anything else – including tickets.
Health Facts About Popcorn
81. Plain popcorn is gluten-free.
82. Vegans and vegetarians can eat plain popcorn.
83. There are just 30 calories in 1 cup of air-popped popcorn.
84. Research has found that popcorn can help people lose weight.
85. Popcorn is considered a safe food for diabetics.
86. Popcorn can keep your heart healthy because it’s a whole grain.
87. There is more iron in popcorn than there is in beef and spinach.
88. Popcorn contains antioxidants.
89. Popcorn can help to relieve constipation because it’s high in fiber. There is around 3.6 g of fiber in 3 cups of popcorn.
90. Popcorn is GM-free.
91. Plain air-popped popcorn is almost fat-free.
92. There is 11 g of protein in 100 g of popcorn.
93. Popcorn is addictive and is featured on a blacklist of addictive food.
94. The Atkins diet allows you to eat popcorn.
95. Popcorn can be eaten on a Keto diet.
96. Popcorn can lower the risk of some types of cancer.
97. Popcorn is on the USDA child nutrition program.
98. Popcorn can relieve stress because it is high in carbs and has a low glycemic-index.
99. Eating popcorn can boost men’s fertility.
100. Popcorn increases serotonin levels.
101. You can get 15% of your recommended daily fiber amount from one serving of popcorn.
Now you know everything that there is to know about popcorn. We’ll sure you’ll agree that it’s a fun and interesting snack with a whole lot of history.
Next, check out how is popcorn a fire hazard?
Sources
https://laist.com/news/food/movie-popcorn-explainer
https://blog.aghires.com/10-popcorn-facts/
https://americasfavoritepopcorn.com/blogs/all-blogs/fun-facts-about-popcorn
https://www.popcorn.org/All-About-Popcorn/History-of-Popcorn
https://www.agrinews-pubs.com/news/science/2022/01/14/pop-ular-popcorn-indiana-a-top-producing-popcorn-state
https://www.rd.com/list/10-outrageous-markups-youd-never-guess-you-were-paying/#:~:text=2.,he%27s%20suing%20his%20local%20theater.
https://www.farmersalmanac.com/popcorn-history-34027
https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/103881-most-popcorn-thrown-and-then-caught-with-the-mouth-in-one-minute
https://www.heart.org/en/news/2019/06/18/popcorn-as-a-snack-healthy-hit-or-dietary-horror-show
https://www.factretriever.com/popcorn-facts
https://www.cyber-times.org/education/popcorn-and-school/
https://www.ars.usda.gov/plains-area/gfnd/gfhnrc/docs/news-2012/popcorn-a-healthy-whole-grain-snack/
https://www.mashed.com/155589/dont-eat-movie-theater-popcorn-until-you-read-this/
https://www.thenibble.com/reviews/main/snacks/popcorn-history-facts.asp
