# Why would popcorn burn instead of pop? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 9, 2018, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-popcorn-burn-instead-of-pop/825864 "2018-12-09T20:52:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2018, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-popcorn-burn-instead-of-pop/825864/1 "2018-12-09T20:52:34Z")
Tried to make popcorn but something went wrong 1. Put oil in pot 2. Heated oil over med-high heat 3. Add popcorn and shaked pot. 4. Instead of fluffy popping, all the kernels burnt. Occasional little pop noise, but all I have is burnt kernels. Can popcorn go bad and lose the moisture that makes it pop? ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2018, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-popcorn-burn-instead-of-pop/825864/2 "2018-12-09T20:54:05Z")
It’s possible your popcorn was old and dry. It’s also possible you didn’t use enough oil, and the heat wasn’t distributed throughout the kernels, but just concentrated on the bottom part, leading to burning. ---
**Author:** ![lingyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d2c977/32.png) [@lingyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lingyi)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2018, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-popcorn-burn-instead-of-pop/825864/3 "2018-12-09T21:09:27Z")
Popcorn can and does definitely dry out. There has to be just the right amount of moisture for the kernels to pop. This is why not all corn can be used for popcorn. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2018, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-popcorn-burn-instead-of-pop/825864/4 "2018-12-09T21:10:56Z")
A common practice is to toss a couple kernels into the oil when you think it’s about hot enough, and wait for them to pop before you toss in the rest. You need to heat the kernels quickly enough that they explode; if the oil’s too cold, they’re going to cook and get a little mushy and then the steam can just leak out without any exploding happening. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2018, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-popcorn-burn-instead-of-pop/825864/5 "2018-12-09T22:03:23Z")
Yes. Those are all good comments. The solution appears to be a bit simpler. Did you know that dried yellow split peas bear a remarkable resemblance to popcorn kernels when one is tired out? Mrs Piper suggests I shouldn’t operate any heavy machinery today. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2018, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-popcorn-burn-instead-of-pop/825864/6 "2018-12-10T00:03:18Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Yes. Those are all good comments. > > The solution appears to be a bit simpler. > > Did you know that dried yellow split peas bear a remarkable resemblance to popcorn kernels when one is tired out? > > Mrs Piper suggests I shouldn’t operate any heavy machinery today. OK, that got an actual belly laugh out of me! ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2018, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-popcorn-burn-instead-of-pop/825864/7 "2018-12-10T01:11:14Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Yes. Those are all good comments. > > The solution appears to be a bit simpler. > > Did you know that dried yellow split peas bear a remarkable resemblance to popcorn kernels when one is tired out? I do now! ---
**Author:** ![stillownedbysetters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/41988e/32.png) [@stillownedbysetters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stillownedbysetters)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2018, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-popcorn-burn-instead-of-pop/825864/8 "2018-12-10T16:36:27Z")
As someone who, exhausted after a long day of travel, once put hairspray on my armpits instead of spray deodorant, I know exactly how it feels to be THAT tired. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2018, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-popcorn-burn-instead-of-pop/825864/9 "2018-12-10T19:40:20Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Yes. Those are all good comments. > > The solution appears to be a bit simpler. > > Did you know that dried yellow split peas bear a remarkable resemblance to popcorn kernels when one is tired out? > > Mrs Piper suggests I shouldn’t operate any heavy machinery today. lol! I hope you feel better today. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2018, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-popcorn-burn-instead-of-pop/825864/10 "2018-12-11T05:03:28Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > I do now! As do I. ---
**Author:** ![dba\_Fred](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c37758/32.png) [@dba\_Fred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dba_Fred)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2018, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-popcorn-burn-instead-of-pop/825864/11 "2018-12-11T07:29:35Z")
So what **is** the proper procedure for popping dried yellow split peas? ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2018, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-popcorn-burn-instead-of-pop/825864/12 "2018-12-11T07:52:43Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Yes. Those are all good comments. > > The solution appears to be a bit simpler. > > Did you know that dried yellow split peas bear a remarkable resemblance to popcorn kernels when one is tired out? > > Mrs Piper suggests I shouldn’t operate any heavy machinery today. Glad I popped into this thread. That was funny! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![txjim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f07891/32.png) [@txjim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/txjim)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2018, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-popcorn-burn-instead-of-pop/825864/13 "2018-12-11T16:28:24Z")
> [@stillownedbysetters](#): > > As someone who, exhausted after a long day of travel, once put hairspray on my armpits instead of spray deodorant, I know exactly how it feels to be THAT tired. I once brushed my teeth using a tube of Icy Hot cream. ---
**Author:** ![Quercus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7ab992/32.png) [@Quercus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2018, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-popcorn-burn-instead-of-pop/825864/14 "2018-12-11T20:30:44Z")
> [@dba\_Fred](#): > > So what **is** the proper procedure for popping dried yellow split peas? Hmm. I imagine something like this: [Papadam - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papadum) Though I wouldn’t be too surprised if there’s an Indian dish that involves deep frying whole yellow split peas. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2018, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-popcorn-burn-instead-of-pop/825864/15 "2018-12-13T04:14:39Z")
> [@Quercus](#): > > Hmm. I imagine something like this: [Papadam - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papadum) > > Though I wouldn’t be too surprised if there’s an Indian dish that involves deep frying **whole** yellow **split** peas. I’m thinking that neither you nor Northern Piper should be near open flames or heavy machinery tonight :D. I’ve certainly had fried legumes; in fact they’re [sold commercially](https://nuts.com/snacks/asian/fried-green-peas.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&adpos=1o1&scid=scplp07002-01&sc_intid=07002-01&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIr4LgvPib3wIVjQOGCh2_ngncEAQYASABEgKBL_D_BwE).