The History of the Popcorn Maker
See, here's the thing: it wasn't actually a popcorn maker when the machine was developed in 1885.
Popcorn was known - sure, it was a common snack that required putting corn on an open fire, which sometimes resulted in a wonderful snack but more often ended with charred corn kernels as a result.
It took a while for people to realize that a cooking mechanism originally designed for roasting peanuts could become what we know today as the popcorn machine.
This old fashioned popcorn maker came to produce such wonderful results that, years and years later it is still a main stay in many cultures around the world.
As you see, it wasn't the microwave oven that produced it.
On the contrary, at the risk of sounding boring, here's a little background: popcorn had been around for a long time, but it was a luxury - a wonderful by-product of roasting corn over the open fire.
People who lived off the land were, now and again, rewarded with fluffy kernels that softened the palate.
No one really thought of thinking the process through - the machine that came first was a coincidence.
In 1885, Charles Cretors, a man use to using a roasting apparatus, decided to improve on the old design and created his own roaster.
At that time, most of what was commonly roasted were peanuts, coffee or chestnuts, but because of his unique way of roasting - and the ancestor of the modern popcorn maker - popcorn grew in popularity and soon machines specifically for popping popcorn were designed.
The popcorn maker has, of course, evolved much since then.
We've learned what exactly makes the corn pop.
The tradition with a history of more than a century of refinement has led us to create not only specifically designed machines, but also modify our crops and create a new industry to insure that the corn that is produced makes the perfect popcorn puff.
It is easy to find popcorn machines if you take a look around - and some of them you can actually purchase for your own personal use.
Popcorn has become a tradition and having a popcorn maker in the home or popcorn popper in the stall is a safe investment.
The most beautiful aspect of this little history, however, is how you and I have been able to make an original luxury by-product into a common family practice that will surely continue on.
History is slow but recognizes good things when it sees it.
Think about it: how often have you paid attention to how much influence you can have with a simple popcorn maker? It's part of our history, in it's wonderfully modern form.
Popcorn was known - sure, it was a common snack that required putting corn on an open fire, which sometimes resulted in a wonderful snack but more often ended with charred corn kernels as a result.
It took a while for people to realize that a cooking mechanism originally designed for roasting peanuts could become what we know today as the popcorn machine.
This old fashioned popcorn maker came to produce such wonderful results that, years and years later it is still a main stay in many cultures around the world.
As you see, it wasn't the microwave oven that produced it.
On the contrary, at the risk of sounding boring, here's a little background: popcorn had been around for a long time, but it was a luxury - a wonderful by-product of roasting corn over the open fire.
People who lived off the land were, now and again, rewarded with fluffy kernels that softened the palate.
No one really thought of thinking the process through - the machine that came first was a coincidence.
In 1885, Charles Cretors, a man use to using a roasting apparatus, decided to improve on the old design and created his own roaster.
At that time, most of what was commonly roasted were peanuts, coffee or chestnuts, but because of his unique way of roasting - and the ancestor of the modern popcorn maker - popcorn grew in popularity and soon machines specifically for popping popcorn were designed.
The popcorn maker has, of course, evolved much since then.
We've learned what exactly makes the corn pop.
The tradition with a history of more than a century of refinement has led us to create not only specifically designed machines, but also modify our crops and create a new industry to insure that the corn that is produced makes the perfect popcorn puff.
It is easy to find popcorn machines if you take a look around - and some of them you can actually purchase for your own personal use.
Popcorn has become a tradition and having a popcorn maker in the home or popcorn popper in the stall is a safe investment.
The most beautiful aspect of this little history, however, is how you and I have been able to make an original luxury by-product into a common family practice that will surely continue on.
History is slow but recognizes good things when it sees it.
Think about it: how often have you paid attention to how much influence you can have with a simple popcorn maker? It's part of our history, in it's wonderfully modern form.
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