When microwaving a bag of popcorn, why doesn’t the first kernel that is popped burn by the time the last kernel is popped?
In: Chemistry
A lot of the answers miss the fact that only a small patch in the middle of the bag is catching the majority of microwave energy, converting it to heat. The kernels don’t see much of it, despite moisture content.
As the kernels pop, they become less dense and float towards the top of the pile, while the unpopped ones generally fall to the bottom (where the heat patch and oil are). If left too long, it is the popped kernels nearest this patch that may burn first, along with some of the outliers at the corners of the bag.
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