corn on the cob popcorn
Emily Wong
Updated on May 31, 2026
Can corn pop on the cob? Yes, the kernels can be carefully and neatly removed from the corncob, or the unhusked corn on the cob can be left whole. Either way, the corn must be fully dried before the kernels will pop into popcorn.
Is corn on the cob the same as popcorn?
The most obvious difference between popcorn and corn on the cob is its appearance. Popcorn while on the cob has a deep orange-yellow color. Sweet corn is mottled yellow and white, field corn is solid yellow, and white corn is, of course, white. There are many other varieties as well.
Can you pop popcorn with regular corn?
Nope. The corn at your local grocery is called sweet corn, and it won’t pop. Neither will field corn, the type used in foods such as tortilla chips. Only the kernels from popcorn cobs will pop.
How do you dry corn on the cob to make popcorn?
Shell a few ears and lay the kernels on a dehydrator tray. Dehydrate between 120-130°F, checking few hours until it’s popping well. To save space, shell your popcorn and place it in airtight containers. It will keep for several years.
How does corn become popcorn?
As heat is applied to the dried kernels, the droplet of water converts to steam, and pressure begins to build. Once the hull can no longer hold the pressure of the steam, the kernel explodes. The starch inside the kernel turns into the white fluffy, crunchy stuff we call popcorn.
How do you grow corn for popcorn?
Plant seeds one inch deep in heavier soils, and up to two inches deep in sandy soil. Space the seeds about 8 inches apart. Plant in at least four rows, with 18 to 24 inches between rows. Popcorn germination takes longer than sweet corn, and most varieties require 90 to 120 days to reach full maturity.
Which corn is best for popcorn?
Some strains of corn (Zea mays) are cultivated specifically as popping corns. The Zea mays variety everta, a special kind of flint corn, is the most common of these.
Can you make popcorn from dried corn?
Directions: Place your dried corn on the cob in the paper bag. Fold over the bag twice to secure the end. Place it in the microwave for 2 1/2 -4 minutes or until the popcorn stops popping.
Can you eat field corn on the cob?
Fresh Field Corn
You can also eat field corn just like you eat sweet corn, boiled or roasted and slathered with butter and salt. Although roasting ears are not sweet and are sometimes less tender, some people actually prefer the flavor of field corn.
Is popcorn healthier than corn?
A cup of yellow or white corn kernels of the kind we eat has only about 85 calories partly due to their much higher moisture content. Not only is popcorn low in calories, it’s really good for you. Three cups of air-popped popcorn has 4 grams of fiber but less than 100 calories.