Microwave Popcorn
Here is some fun trivia to spring on the family the next time you whip up a big batch of microwave popcorn to share with everyone during your big family movie night. Popcorn was actually the very first food to be cooked in a microwave because it was one of the prototype foods that was used when the technology was being developed. The story goes that a scientist who worked for the Raytheon Corporation by the name of Percy Spencer got the idea for the microwave oven when we was working on type of a vacuum tube called a magnetron.
As he worked, he noticed that the chocolate bar in his pocket had melted. Realizing it was the microwaves from the magnetron that had that effect on food, he set about to use the same scientific principle to make popcorn. You might say that Mr. Spencer's love of popcorn is what gave us this great invention called the microwave oven in the first place.
The great way that a microwave can pop a perfect batch of popcorn every single time is almost reason enough to own a microwave oven. Before we had microwaves to give us perfect popcorn every time, popcorn was made on the stovetop by adding corn to boiling vegetable oil. You had to stand there and shake the popcorn popper so the popped kernels did not burn to the bottom of the pan. But even doing that, you still got some burnt ones.
From an idea inspired by a melted candy in the pocket of scientist to today, microwave popcorn is now an industry. And that industry can thank its entire existence on how much we all count on the microwave ovens in our kitchens and how easy they are to use. Studies show that popcorn is the number one most often cooked food that is made with microwave ovens. Small wonder that on modern microwaves, there is a popcorn setting so all you have to do it put the bag that you bought at the grocery store in the microwave, hit the button that says "popcorn" on it and let the machine do all the work.
But even before the process of making popcorn in the microwave was automated came along, it was never difficult to make a batch any time you wanted one. By just putting the bag in the microwave folded out in accordance with the instructions, you just gave the popcorn three minutes or so on high. Its actually fun to watch the popcorn begin to erupt as the bag in the microwave begins to push out and you hear and smell the popcorn being made.
Even if you are using a microwave with an automated popcorn button, its best to stay close and listen to the popcorn being popped in the bag. When the popping begins to slow down, its time to take it out. If you leave it in the bag too long, even if you hear a few pops, it is easy to burn the popcorn. Then when you take it out, be careful when you tear open the bag. There is a lot of hot air in that bag that can scald you as it rushes out. But once you make a great batch of microwave popcorn, you have ready to eat one of the most fun and delicious snacks to enjoy by yourself, with friends or even with that special someone that would love to get cozy with you and enjoy that popcorn as a couple.