Jiffy Pop facts for kids
Jiffy Pop is a brand of popcorn that you can make right on your stove or over a campfire. It is owned by the company Conagra Brands. The popcorn comes in a special disposable aluminum pan with a handle. Inside the pan are the popcorn kernels, oil, and butter flavoring.
To make it, you remove the paper cover and hold the pan over a heat source. As you gently shake it, the kernels start to pop. The foil lid expands into a big, silver dome as it fills with popcorn. When it's done, you carefully tear open the foil and enjoy the warm popcorn.
Jiffy Pop is one of the few popcorn brands still sold in this classic, ready-to-cook pan.
Contents
The Story of Jiffy Pop
Who Invented Jiffy Pop?
Jiffy Pop was created in 1958 by Frederick C. Mennen, an inventor and chemist from LaPorte, Indiana. A chemist is a scientist who works with chemicals to create new things. Mennen started selling his fun popcorn creation in 1959.
Later that same year, a company called American Home Products bought Jiffy Pop. A scientist there named Alvin Golub helped make the product even better. Within a year, Jiffy Pop was being sold in stores all across the United States.
A Magical Treat
In the 1970s, Jiffy Pop became famous for its television commercials. One popular ad from 1976 featured the stage magician Harry Blackstone Jr.. The commercial had a catchy jingle that called Jiffy Pop "the magic treat — as much fun to make as it is to eat." This slogan perfectly described the experience of watching the foil top puff up like a balloon.
Was Jiffy Pop the First of Its Kind?
The idea for Jiffy Pop was similar to a product called E-Z Pop, which was designed five years earlier by Benjamin Coleman. The company that made E-Z Pop sued the makers of Jiffy Pop, claiming they had copied their idea. This is called patent infringement. At first, a court agreed with E-Z Pop, but later, a higher court overturned that decision, and Jiffy Pop continued to be sold.
Changes Over the Years
The company that owns Jiffy Pop has changed a few times. In 2000, Conagra Brands bought the brand, and they still make it today.
The product itself has also changed. The original Jiffy Pop pans were made of shiny silver aluminum. Later, the company started making the outside of the pan black. This wasn't just for looks; the black color helps the pan absorb heat better, so the popcorn cooks more evenly.
While there used to be other versions, like a "Natural" flavor and a microwave version, today Jiffy Pop is mainly sold in its classic stovetop form with butter flavor.
Advertising Fun
Jiffy Pop has been on TV for a long time, with commercials dating back to the 1960s. In a 1967 commercial, a genie appeared and gave two children Jiffy Pop as a fun snack. The famous slogan, "as much fun to make as it is to eat," was used often to show that making Jiffy Pop was part of the excitement.
See also
