# Preparing popcorn

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preparing-popcorn/46759>\
**Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\
**Created:** [December 21, 2000, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preparing-popcorn/46759 "2000-12-21T21:20:06Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![onigame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9fc29f/32.png) [@onigame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/onigame)\
**Post date:** [December 21, 2000, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preparing-popcorn/46759/1 "2000-12-21T21:20:06Z")

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The mailbag answer at  
[http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mpopcorn.html](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mpopcorn.html)  
(“Does freezing unpopped popcorn make it pop fuller and fresher?”)

basically says that dried out kernels won’t pop as well.

Can I infer from this that soaking kernels in water will  
improve their poppability?

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**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\
**Post date:** [December 22, 2000, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preparing-popcorn/46759/2 "2000-12-22T15:10:20Z")

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You can certainly infer that in you wish. And we’ll eagerly await your report to learn whether it’s true.

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**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\
**Post date:** [December 22, 2000, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preparing-popcorn/46759/3 "2000-12-22T22:47:51Z")

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According to [http://www.popcorn.org/epoldtip.htm](http://www.popcorn.org/epoldtip.htm) you can soak the “old maids” and get them to pop. Never tried it myself.