Do you love popcorn? It seems like everyone does! And there are so many different ways to make it. You can pop it on the stove, in an air popper, or in the microwave. You can also flavour it with salt, butter, cinnamon sugar, or even chocolate. But one question that often comes up is whether you should refrigerate popcorn.
You’ve probably seen those little kernels of popcorn at the grocery store and wondered if you should refrigerate them. Or maybe you’ve popped a bag of the best popcorn in Singapore and thought about storing it in the fridge.
Here are a few things you need to know about storing and refrigerating popcorn:
- The shelf life of cooked popcorn.
While most people think that popcorn goes bad after just one or two weeks, it can actually last for up to three months when stored properly. The time frame depends mostly on where you store your popped kernels and how long they have been exposed before being eaten.
Generally speaking, the fresher ones are greater in duration than older batches because bacteria growth speeds up with increased environmental stressors like heat, exposure, and moisture.
- Flavour becomes stale as time goes by.
A lot of people worry about the safety and taste of their popcorn if it’s been sitting around for a while, but this isn’t as big an issue. Popcorn mainly turns stale instead of spoilage like other foods do which will lead to less delicious products even though you can still eat them without being risky.
- Will refrigerating keep popcorn fresh?
It’s a yes and a no.
The answer to the question of how long your popcorn will last is dependent on two factors – storage conditions before popping and what you do with it once popped. For best results, store freshly popped kernels in an airtight container at room temperature or within one that has been refrigerated immediately after dispensing its contents into bowls!
Meanwhile, cooked popcorn is not recommended to be kept inside the refrigerator, since the colder temperatures will only make the popped hulls more difficult to chew. The flavour of the popcorn may also turn stale when inside the fridge because the chilly temperatures and the moisture of the cold environment have an impact on the seasonings or toppings added to the snack.
- Freezing may help popcorn last longer.
Instead of freezing, you may want to keep your popcorn inside the freezer to prolong its shelf life.
Before freezing, seal the popcorn in an airtight container and add some layers of plastic wrap between the lid or foil. Put them inside another sandwich bag so they don’t get contaminated while stored at room temperature before cooking again later on when you’re ready for another bite (which also helps prevent any mold).
You should also keep in mind that the oils used, as well as the seasonings or flavours added to the popcorn may change due to the colder temperatures. The popcorn should then be heated in the microwave in order to thaw and taste fresh again.
Lastly, one of the most common mistakes made when freezing the best popcorn in Singapore is freezing it again. Once you remove your freshly popped kernels, keep them out until they can be used.
