Popping Corn

Ever wonder how corn goes from juicy and crunchy on the cob to hard, dry kernels ready to pop? It doesn't!

Popcorn on the cob, drying

Popcorn, a variety of flint corn, is hard when you harvest it. It lacks the soft starch that makes sweet corn such a treat to eat fresh.

If you buy a cob of popping corn freshly picked, it will need at least 2 months of drying time, even though it seems like the kernels are dry and hard already. On the plus side, as long as you store it in a dry place, it will last as long as you like.

When your kernels are ready, you can make gourmet popcorn in the microwave, on the stove-top, or in an  air popper.