Popcorn Facts
Science Project 1: Microwave vs. Stove-Top
Ever wonder how microwave popcorn compares to stove-top popcorn? Here's an experiment that lets you find out for yourself.
Materials needed:
- 7 bags microwave popcorn
- 1 quart measuring cup
- 1 medium saucepan with lid
- 1 cookie sheet
Instructions:
- Develop a data chart to record your results. Take a sheet of paper and create six rows down the page for your control variables and columns across the top for your results. Your six control variables are Microwave Samples 1, 2, & 3 and Stove-top Samples 1, 2, & 3. Your three results columns are volume, number of unpopped kernels, and texture.
- Pre-heat the microwave oven by placing a cup of water inside the oven and heating it for one minute. (This is the first step in making great microwave popcorn, by the way.) Then carefully remove the cup of water.
- Pop a test bag of microwave popcorn. Place one bag of microwave popcorn in the microwave oven. Set the microwave to high (full power) for five minutes. Listen carefully and stop the microwave oven when rapid popping slows to 2 to 3 seconds between pops. Note the popping time and set the time accordingly for subsequent bags. (See our popping tips for more information.)
- Begin the experiment. Place your first “real” bag (Microwave
Sample 1) in the microwave, setting the timer according to the test bag
you just popped. When the bag stops popping (or the oven stops) remove
the bag carefully. Now, conduct these tests:
Open the bag and pour the contents into a large measuring cup. Record the volume (how many cups) on your data sheet. Pour the popcorn from the measuring cups onto a cookie sheet, and then separate the popped corn from unpopped kernels. Record the number of unpopped kernels. Examine the kernels. Record the texture – what the popcorn feels and looks like – on your data sheet. - Pop two more bags of microwave popcorn (Microwave Samples 2 &
3). Repeat the rest of the procedure as described in Step 4 above. Record
the results for each batch.
- Pop a bag of stove-top popcorn. Cut open a bag from the remaining three bags of unpopped microwave popcorn and pour the contents into the medium saucepan. Turn the burner on high and place the saucepan with the lid on the burner. (Shake the pan back and forth across the burner to prevent the corn from burning.) After the popcorn stops popping, conduct the same tests as described in Step 4 above. Record your results.
- Pop the remaining two bags of stove-top popcorn as described in Step 6 above. Record your results for each batch.
Questions for discussion:
- Which cooking method popped the highest volume?
- Which cooking method produced a greater number of unpopped kernels?
- How do the textures compare between the two popping methods?
