The Chilly Way People Are Eating Their Popcorn

Death, taxes, and a new viral TikTok craze. Folks who follow the social media platform are well aware that not every new hack someone claims to be life-changing is actually so, illustrated perfectly by the Taco Bell nacho cheese copycat trend that doesn't quite live up to expectations. Still, popcorn aficionados might be interested in one of the latest videos circulating online featuring frozen popcorn that may actually be worth trying.

One video, posted by @theroxiroxanne, shows the content creator taking a bag of popped popcorn out of the freezer and raving about how great it tastes while chowing down on the crunchy snack. But it might not be something that people who love popcorn for its buttery flavor would care to attempt because some folks report that the savory essence is lost when frozen. Yet, those who are into the salty notes will find that the salinity is slightly accented after being chilled. Fans of frozen popcorn also claim that it tastes fresher and has a more distinct crunch factor. Skeptics could chalk this new trend up to people having too much time on their hands and believing anything they see, but there may be some validity to frozen popcorn being better than freshly popped.

Popcorn can't pop without the presence of some water content inside the kernel before it hits the heat. That moisture causes steam pressure to build up until the starch and proteins within the kernel transform into a foam as the kernel explodes. After the foam quickly cools off, you are left with the crunchy puff we're all familiar with. But the act of heating the kernels doesn't necessarily eliminate all of the water content, and freezing the popcorn for a couple of hours may cause those water molecules to harden, creating an appetizing crunch. It could also be responsible for the saltier taste by compelling the salt to move toward the outside of the kernel, although it's also possible that chilling merely mutes other competing flavors, allowing the salt to take center stage.

Some fans of frozen popcorn are also pleased with the fact that the butter solidifies enough not to stick to their fingers while reaching into the bag for another handful. However, things don't stay frozen forever at room temperature. It doesn't take long for the popcorn to begin defrosting, and the quality of the butter on the outside could be diminished.

The concept of frozen popcorn might sound just as far-fetched as other TikTok popcorn hacks, but it isn't just social media recommending it. Professionals in the field of popcorn (Yep, that's a thing) also advocate for freezing or refrigerating popcorn to keep it fresh. If nothing else, it may prevent you from having to resurrect stale leftover popcorn that sat around at room temperature for too long.