Popcorn is a pretty uncivilized kind of treat if you guess about it . It ’s a collation created in an explosion of sorts , and it ’s culturally tied to the movies , where you’re able to watch other explosions on tremendous covert . People have been enjoying it for at leasta thousand years ; popped kernels have been recover in both Peru and Utah dating back that far .
But does it ever go regretful ? Yes , it can . So , we are going to break down all of the difference between popped and unpopped kernels .
Can You Tell When Kernels Go Bad?
Kernels that have n’t been pop are commonly more full-bodied , with that thick husk protecting the fat and oils indoors from pic to the extraneous world . There ’s a limitation to how long they can do this , though , and that point of accumulation is generally between one to two eld .
Over that metre , kernels tend to recede their moisture and become less potential to come out when you want them to , as their pop come from the water in their outer stratum once they ’ve been hot up up to the compass point of explosion .
Tell-Tale Signs Your Popcorn Has Expired
you could recount when Zea mays everta ’s past its prime quantity once you bite into it , and it feel more like eating packing material than nosh on literal nutrient conniption for human uptake . But there ’s a divergence between “ off - puttingly soft ” and truly thwart . And popcorn can hit its expiration day of the month whether it ’s in unpopped or popped variety .
Popcorn that has excess stuff on it — caramel , nut , even just butter — has more opportunities to go bad . No matter the topping , it all create additional opportunities for bacteria , mold , and other micro - hideousness to flourish , so be certain to look it over before you take a nibble .
That being said , eating microwave oven popcorn that has technically choke is unlikely to do you any serious harm . The odds are it just wo n’t pop very well ; if it does , it might seem a bit dry and soft . big Zea mays everta , basically .
How Long Does Leftover Popcorn Last For?
But what about Zea mays everta that has already been belt down ? Typically , that can last for up to two weeks but is only potential to do so if salt away well in an airtight container . Realistically , it starts to taste a petty stinky after a few sidereal day . Again , though , Zea mays everta tend to go stale rather than by rights spoil .
That said , mold and odor issues can take root anywhere food is , so if anything smells funny or has changed color , you might be better off tossing that remnant Zea mays everta in the trash than your mouth . It ’s not probable to be in particular tasty by that point , anyway .
However , if your popcorn is just soft and stale , you could always try reviving it bypopping it in the ovenfor a few minutes . you could even repurpose those remnant bits into Zea mays everta balls or even croutons .
All in all , the best thing to do is stupefy to only buying as much popcorn as you ’re ready to consume , then eat it all reasonably fleetly . Ideally , while it ’s still ardent and dripping in butter , and as sinewy dudes muff thing up and make witty one - liners on as enceinte a screen as possible .
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