Be it movie nights or game nights, popcorn is a must. Popcorn is cheap to come by. These days you don’t need an excuse of going to the movies to be able to chug some down. For less than $5, you can get a bag of popcorn.
One ounce of popcorn contains less than 100 calories. So, your waistline is going to be perfectly okay with a few ounces. However, even though popcorn is everyone’s to-go snack, it becomes stale after a few hours.
Can you freeze popcorn? Yes, you can. Freezing your popcorn would keep it fresh for about 2 weeks. However, your popcorn would taste a little bit different due to the dehydration that the freezing action causes.
How Do You Freeze Popcorn?
Popcorn can be frozen in two easy steps. Proper storage of fresh popcorn before freezing is the only way to keep it fresh and prevent it from going stale.
STEP 1: Cooling
Cooling is a very important part of freezing your popcorn. I know you might be eager to store your popcorn while it’s still fresh. But if your popcorn is still warm upon freezing, it causes condensation which isn’t great for your popcorn. Before bagging your popcorn ensure that it has cooled down to room temperature.
STEP 2: Bagging and Storage
Airtight freezer containers are best for freezing popcorn. You can put an extra layer of plastic between the popcorn to keep out excess air, before sealing the container. Place the container on a flat surface of your freezer for freezing. You can also utilize the standard Ziploc bag, just make sure you get out all the excess air before you put it in the freezer to freeze.
How to Defrost Popcorn
Frozen popcorn can be eaten straight from the freezer. Reheating will make it more crispy and chewy. However, frozen popcorn is dryer than its original fresh state. So if you need to reheat, be careful not to burn the whole batch. Popcorn can be reheated on cookie sheets in the oven at a temperature of 250°F.
Can You Freeze Caramel Popcorn?
Caramel popcorn would last for two weeks in an air-tight container and still maintain its freshness. You can freeze caramel popcorn and preserve it for up to a year. All you need to do is store it in an airtight container and remove all excess air before sealing and freezing.
What Is The Best Way To Store Unpopped Popcorn?
Some people might wonder what form of storage is best for unpopped kernels for popcorn. You can freeze unpopped kernels but the freezing action might cause the kernels not to pop properly when you want to pop them.
The popping action of the kernels is due to the moisture that is present at the core of the kernel. When you heat the kernels, the moisture changes to steam and creates pressure inside the kernel leading to that popping action. The Kernels are best stored in a dry, cool place for proper preservation. Unpopped popcorn will keep for an indefinite amount of time if stored under the right conditions.
Does Soaking Popcorn Kernels Make It Pop Better?
Although kernels might look and feel completely dry to touch, they contain about 13.25% water. The presence of moisture in the kernels is what makes them pop better. In every batch of popcorn you make, there are always unpopped kernels that are always referred to as old maids. This could be a result of a lack of moisture or a strong shell. The stronger the shells of your kernels, the better the pop.
Old maids that possess a weaker shell let all the steam in them evaporate through the shells hence they do not pop. Soaking kernels can indeed help it pop better. Soak the kernels in water for about 10 minutes, drain, and then pop it normally. It would pop better because of the presence of more moisture. Reviews have shown that cheap low-grade kernels have a 50% chance of not popping because they have dried out, or possess a weak shell.
How Do You Rejuvenate Popcorn?
The easiest way to get stale popcorn back in its fresh state is to reheat it. The reheating process would make it crisp again. Spread the stale popcorn on a cooking sheet in your oven and heat it for about 5 minutes at a temperature of 250°F. Keep checking to see if it has warmed through. You can dribble some butter on sugar on the stale popcorn before reheating to mask the stale smell and add a little bit of color and sweetness too.