About Popcorn

How is popcorn made?

Harvest It all starts by harvesting the grain. Beef maize grows best in rich soil. Hybrid maize varieties are selected for, among other things, tasty maize kernels, the right amount of moisture and the number of maize kernels per ear. Pollination takes place by wind. When the cobs are ripe, the plants are harvested in their entirety with a combine, during which the cobs are mechanically removed, peeled and stripped of the corn kernels. It is also possible for the cobs to be removed directly from the foliage during the harvest. With the latter method, the cobs are less damaged and not yet removed from the corn kernels. It is important to harvest at the right time, as the moisture content of the kernels determines whether the maize can be puffed. It is best to harvest when the moisture content is between 16 and 20%.

Drying and stripping After harvesting, the maize grains or cobs are dried naturally in maize bins for 8 to 12 months, depending on the harvesting method. However, the drying time can be shortened by passing hot air through holes in the bottom of the maize bins. The corn is dried until the corn kernels reach a moisture content of approximately 13.5% to 14.0%. This moisture content is ideal for the preparation of popcorn.   Depending on the harvesting method, the dried cobs are separated from the kernels in the factory using a scalper.

 

Cleaning and sorting

After drying and stripping, the maize grains are stripped of unwanted parts by a de-stoner and a series of sieves. Then the maize grains are polished using metal brushes to remove the husks. Gravity ensures that the good maize grains are separated from the bad ones. Ripe maize grains are lighter and the bad grains sink to the bottom of the centrifuge. In addition, undersized kernels are immediately separated from the ends of the cob.

Subsequently, any remaining dirt is blown off the kernels with the aid of a fan. If necessary, the kernels are then treated with a natural, inert fumigant that is permitted by law to prevent them from deteriorating during long-term storage.

 

Consuming popcorn makes your evening even more fun!

But what is popcorn actually made of? Put simply, popcorn is made of corn. When heated, a pressure of evaporated water is created in the corn kernel. This makes it pop.

The special thing about corn is that the skin of the kernel is virtually impenetrable to water or steam. As a result, the pressure of the water vapour inside the kernel builds up during the heating process, until the whole kernel 'pops', and then you get popcorn.

 

Fun facts about popcorn!

JIMMY's popcorn is made from two different types of corn: Mushroom and Butterfly.

• The Butterfly variety has a butterfly shape and plain salt and sugar adheres best to it.
• The Mushroom corn has a round shape and toffee coating adheres to it best.

 

National Popcorn Day

The 'National Popcorn Board' decided at the beginning of popcorn's popularity that this delicious popping treat needed its own day of celebration and recognition. National Popcorn Day was born! This day is celebrated every year on the 19^th of January.

 

Would you also like to enjoy this delicious snack on the 19^th of January? Enjoy JIMMY's ready-to-eat popcorn at the cinema or at home, or make your own unique flavour! See our Recipes page for some delicious popcorn recipes and inspiration. Why not make sweet popcorn necklaces or garlands with the kids? We at JIMMY's love to see your fantastic, so tag us on our social media (@jimmyspopcorn_uk)!

Vegan Products

Vegan products are now an integral part of the food industry. Popcorn is vegan by nature and JIMMY's is developing more and more products that are vegan-friendly.

JIMMY’s Toffee Popcorn and Salted Caramel recipes are unique, suitable for vegans and vegetarians.