Popcorn question

[Charleen]

For those of you that grow your own popcorn -

How do you store it after shelling?
Or do you store it on the cob and shell as you use it?
How long is it good for?
Any favorite varieties?

Thanks

[Jean]

Hi Charleen,
Woohoo, don't you love that homegrown popcorn. This is how we do it. When the stalks were turning brown it was picked and put in a box to dry in the garage. (BTW, away from mice because they love it) We are from Iowa and the popcorn is now ready to be shelled. Some of it may have excess moisture but it is shelled now and put in an open container and stirred two or three times a day. We store in tin coffee cans, plastic bags or about anything that will stay tight. We have used popcorn that has been over 2 years old. It doesn't pop up as fluffy as the newly picked corn but is just as good as store boughten. Years ago we did have some mold because I didn't know enough to let it cure enough before sealing in a container. Happy eating. Everyone should have a bowl of fresh popcorn as they don't know what they are missing.
Jean

[thebeav]

Once when I was a kid, my cousin and I were feeding their pigs some dried ears of corn. He said to me, you know that’s popcorn. Being from the city I never considered how we got popcorn. Usually we just opened a bag of Jolly Time. I said you got to be kidding. So he just rubbed some off a few ears went into the house, put it in a pan and popped it right there and then. I’m not sure to this day I’ve had as good.

Note to self:
Add popcorn to garden.

[uncle Will in In.]

We let it dry pretty well on the cob then shell it into a flat pan. There we stir it from time to time until it is dry enough to pop really well. Kind of a trial and error thing until it really pops good. Then we put it in large glass jars with tight lids. It's good for 2 years that way and it has the right moisture to pop well. Never had any left more than two years.

[Northumberland]

We take ours off the cob, let it dry and then pack it in quart sealers - never had a problem with it.

[dlangland]

I have had it last and used it for literally years. Shell in your free time, put it in a jar, or just seal the entire ears in a zip-lock baggy. Deb

[silentcrow]

Anyone ever plant the stuff you buy in the stores? Years ago, my dad planted kernels from a well-known brand. Just took them from the jar, planted them, and had "brand name" popcorn that year!

[Annemarie]

Do you use a special sort of corn for popcorn? Or is it just every sort of corn that 'does' the trick...