Alex’s Popcorn Storage Science Experiment
Problem: What is the effect of storage temperature on microwave popcorn?
Hypothesis: (guess) I assumed that just like apple seeds, popcorn kernels would be negatively affected
by cold temperatures, and that they would produce the most popped kernels when stored in the pantry.
Materials:
1. 9 bags of microwavable popcorn - Orville Redenbacher’s single serve mini bags (1.5 oz)
2. Microwave
3. 9 bowls
4. Refrigerator & freezer.
Procedure:
1. We labeled and placed three bags of popcorn in each of the following;
a. The pantry at 70 degrees Fahrenheit
b. The refrigerator at 36 degrees Fahrenheit
c. The freezer at 0 degrees Fahrenheit.
d. Each was removed after 3 days.
2. We allowed all of the bags to warm up to room temperature.
3. We microwaved each bag of popcorn individually for 2 minutes, allowing the microwave to cool
down between each bag.
4. We poured the content of each bag into its own bowl and separated the popped kernels from
the un-popped kernels.
5. We counted the un-popped kernels for each bag and logged the information.
Observations/Data:
Number of Un-popped Popcorn Kernels
1. Pantry
a. Bag1 – 36
b. Bag2 – 32
c. Bag3 – 31
2. Refrigerator
a. Bag1 – 40
b. Bag2 – 30
c. Bag2 – 35
3. Freezer
a. Bag1 – 41
b. Bag2 – 42
c. Bag3 – 43
On average there were less un-popped kernels in the bags stored in the pantry than in the refrigerator
or the freezer. Overall, there were 5.7% more un-popped kernels in the bags stored in the refrigerator
than those stored in the pantry. There were 21.4% more un-popped kernels in the bags stored in the
freezer than those stored in the pantry.
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Alex’s Popcorn Storage Science Experiment
Conclusion:
Popcorn kernels stored in the pantry at room temperature have less un-popped kernels than popcorn
stored in the refrigerator or the freezer. It appears that something happens to permanently effect
popcorn stored in the cold, because even after it was brought back up to room temperature, those
stored in the cold had more un-popped kernels. Based on this experiment I would recommend storing
your popcorn at room temperature.
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