Can I pop popcorn in water instead of oil?

Question

I am wondering if it simply needs that moisture to pop, and has anyone ever tried substituted water as a lighter option to oil?

Answer 1

No, it doesn't get hot enough.

Answer 2

You can if you want soggy popcorn :-)

Answer 3

no  

Answer 4

No- i did a science project on that

Answer 5

I guess you could try it, but use an old pot just incase! I always am careful about trying new things in cooking because I used to ruin pots while cooking when I was younger >_< If you do try it and it turns out fine, email me with the results? I'm not sure that it will work because it might not get hot enough and then just boil away...

Answer 6

Liquid water does not reach above 212 F.  if you boil the corn in a pressure cooker, you end up with soup.  the poped kernals absorb the water and make a big mess.

You can pop the corn with steam, which gets hot enough, but then again, you get soup.

The best way to pop corn is hot air through a tall stack.

The best flavor is pop corn in bacon grease and peanut oil.

Answer 7

You can get a higher temperature in a pressure cooker but even if they did 'pop' then the result would immediately turn to something like a porridge with yellow bits in it.

Answer 8

im pretty sure you cannot use water.

Answer 9

uh no..it wont pop!!!

Answer 10

wow haha

Answer 11

Water won't work.

The best way to pop popcorn fat free is with a hot air popper (you plug it in to the wall) - you don't add any oil or anything else.

Otherwise - on the stove-top you can just use a tiny bit of oil - about half a teaspoon-  and it will still pop. You just have to be more careful, and shake it all the time.

Good Luck!

Answer 12

never tried it , but it might work go for it, just make sure you start on a low heat....im gonna try it to...sonds fun.

Answer 13

Popcorn works like this: each kernel acts as a miniature pressure cooker, the outer layer sealing in the water of the kernel while it gets heated to a temperature where it would be steam if not for the pressure. Finally the pressure cracks the outer layer and the water turns into steam suddenly, expanding the kernel into a puff. Moisture outside is not needed, only the heat is important. Oil is used to transfer the heat to the kernel (the oil stays liquid at steam temperatures; boiling oil is much hotter than boiling water) and to help keep the kernels from burning and sticking to the heating surface, and to hold on the salt (and oil tends to taste good, too). Popcorn can be popped with dry super-hot air if you have the equipment to do that. Even heating dry popcorn in a skillet works if you can move it properly to keep the corn from burning. Microwave popcorn works by the waves heating the water inside the kernels. No oil is really needed.

Puffed grains, puffed beans, and so on can be created by heating them in a pressure cooker with a quick-release lid, getting them up to temperature, and hitting the release. I saw this done in Korea, with a cooker shaped like a small cannon with a lanyard to a latch on a cover over the muzzle, and a huge wire basket fastened in front to catch the puffs. The motto on Quaker Oats Company's Puffed Wheat, etc., "shot from guns" refers to this process, though their equipment is more advanced.

Answer 14

no you cant pop popcorn with water. you should just uses the microwave that's the best way to pop popcorn.

Answer 15

Duh, no water only reaches 100C

Answer 16

You know I haven't tried but it might be a good experience.