Despite our best efforts, its next to impossible to get every last kernel of popcorn to pop when heating up a bag of movie theater popcorn. As a result, sometimes one of those stray kernels may make its way into our mouth. If so, does ingesting an unpopped popcorn kernel pose any risks to our health?
According to experts at the Dr. Joseph M. Perry dental office, if you were to eat an unpopped kernel of popcorn, you may potentially cause damage to your teeth. Most of us tend to chomp down on a piece of popcorn with our molars. However, our molars are particularly susceptible to cracks. If you were to accidentally bite down on a popcorn kernel and suffer a cracked tooth, treatment would be required to avoid potential pain, decay, or total tooth loss.
Even if you werent to eat an entire unpopped kernel, chewing on a small kernel shaving can potentially impact our oral health, too. Think of those tiny kernel flakes on the inside of a piece of popcorn. While they may be lightweight, theyre also sharp. These small flakes can cause injury to our gums, or worse, lead to a gum abscess if a kernel flake were to get lodged within your gums and become severely infected.
Popcorn pops when the heated corn kernel hull ruptures from steam pressure. Dud’s (unpopped kernels) either have too little moisture inside or a leaky hull that does not allow the steam pressure to build. Re-popping does not fix the the flaws in the dud kernels.
Other factors for popcorn popping success are being a good listener and popcorn storage. After the machine gun-like cadence at the height of a popping endeavor, listen carefully for when the popping slows down. Wait until there is a second or two between pops before removing the popcorn from the heat source. But don’t wait too long, or the popcorn will begin to burn.
For concessionaires, popcorn and cooking oil will often come in pre-measured bags and popping machines will generally be programmed for maximum popping efficiency. But small adjustments can still be made in regard to heating, oil amounts and agitation.
Unpopped kernels can be an unwelcome and somewhat painful surprise if they should find their way to your teeth. It’s also a shame when leftover kernels end up in the garbage instead of your mouth in popped form. For snack vendors and concession business owners, discarded unpopped kernels translate into dollars and cents. But steps can be taken to greatly improve the percentages and keep unpopped kernels to a bare minimum.
Don’t forget that any unpopped kernels can be reused. Just add a few drops of water to moisten them up, re-insert them into your popcorn maker … and happy popping!
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The risk of burns or choking
There is also the risk of burning your mouth if you were to eat an unpopped kernel of popcorn. The steam and pressure that build up inside a popcorn kernel are what eventually prompt it to pop as it cooks. Even for kernels that fail to pop, they still retain that heat after you pull your bag of popcorn out of the microwave. Without allowing enough time for popcorn to cool down, accidentally lobbing a kernel into your mouth after cooking could be a recipe for a painful burn.
But what might happen if an unpopped popcorn kernel were to make it beyond the mouth and travel down the esophagus? This can pose some unique risks for children, pediatrician Dr. Lyndsey Garbi told Romper. “Popcorn is one of the highest-risk choking hazard foods for little children. Toddlers do not have the ability to chew it well and handle the kernels, which can get lodged in their airways.” For this reason, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advises caregivers that popcorn should not be given to young children under the age of four.
Why some of the kernels in your popcorn don’t pop
FAQ
Can you reheat unpopped popcorn kernels?
Is it safe to eat unpopped popcorn kernels?
Can you microwave unpopped kernels in a bowl?
Can You reheat unpopped popcorn?
It is possible to reheat unpopped popcorn (or in other words, to try and pop it again). But, if the kernels didn’t pop the first time, they’re most likely defective and will never pop. Either the shell is split, or they’re just too dry.
Is popcorn considered unhealthy?
Popcorn is considered unhealthy when is cooked with sugar like honey. Popcorn alone and eaten in small servings is healthy. It should be part of a healthy lifestyle.
Why are my popcorn kernels not popping?
If you’ve tried both of these methods and still have no luck, the hulls may be too damaged to create the steam pressure needed for a pop. But popcorn kernels are pretty hardy, so most of those that are unpopped simply need this moisture adjustment. Never throw out those unpopped popcorn kernels again!
Can You RePOP unpopped popcorn kernels in the microwave?
You can simply reheat the popcorn again in the microwave or on the stovetop to try and pop any remaining kernels. And this is what we’ll discuss next – the best ways to repop unpopped popcorn kernels in the microwave. Now that you understand the science behind unpopped kernels, here is our step-by-step guide to repop them in the microwave.