Process

• Popcorn kernels have a certain amount of moisture inside them. When they are placed in hot oil, the water turns to steam, which puts pressure on the kernel. At a certain point, the kernels basically explode into what we know as popcorn.
  
  

Unpopped

• You will lose a lot of the kernels, if not all of them, if you freeze them. Putting them in the freezer dries them out, and without moisture, there's no popping.
  
  

Popped: Open Bag

• Freezing popcorn from the theater or in an open bag or container also will dry out the kernels. Even if you take them out of the freezer and let them return to room temperature, you'll be left with dry, stale popcorn.
  
  

Popped: Sealed Bag

• If you buy popped popcorn in an airtight bag, you can freeze it for several months. When you take it out of the freezer, set it somewhere cool and dry for a few hours, when it will be ready to eat.
  
  

Fun Fact

• As long as you skip the butter and salt, popcorn is a great snack food, with 67 percent of the protein, 110 percent of the iron and the same amount of calcium as an equal amount of beef.