How to Make Popcorn

Guide Note If popcorn is your idea of the perfect snack, expand your repertoire when it comes to making the crunchy tidbits. How to Make Popcorn will show you how to create a delicious batch on the stovetop or a single serving in the microwave. Follow these simple steps and you'll discover how easy it is to customize a batch of popcorn with the amount of salt, sugar or spices you desire.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Making Stovetop Popcorn
• Making Microwave Popcorn
• Variations
• References

Popcorn Tips

1. Got a stovetop? Heat the oil in a heavy saucepan over medium-high heat.
2. Choose oil with a high smoking point (like canola or peanut oil) to cook the popcorn properly.
3. Add the all of the kernels once the test kernels pop.
4. Swirl the pan to coat the kernels with oil.
5. Shake the pan as the kernels pop to avoid scorching.
6. Cover the pan, but leave the lid slightly ajar to so the steam can escape.
7. Got a microwave? Pour kernels and oil in a paper lunch bag.
8. Fold closed, stapling if desired.
9. Heat in the microwave for 3 to 4 minutes.
10. Sprinkle with your favorite toppings. Enjoy!

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Introduction

• Americans use about 1.12 billion pounds of popcorn each year, enjoying it as a snack, incorporating it into other recipes or using it in holiday decor at Christmas.¹ Whether you like it plain, slathered in hot butter or sprinkled with something like flavorful Parmigiano-Reggiano, learn how to make tasty homemade popcorn on your stovetop or in your microwave.²

Making Stovetop Popcorn

• Follow these simple instructions to create about 2 quarts of popcorn in less than 10 minutes.

What You'll Need

• 

  (Creative Commons photo by Rosana Prada)
  You only have to have a few basic ingredients on hand to make a healthy and satisfying bowl of popcorn.

• Ingredients
• 3 tablespoons Canola Oil (or any other oil with a high smoking point)³
• 1/3 cup Popcorn Kernels
• Butter and Salt to taste

• Equipment
• Stove
• 3 Quart Saucepan with Lid

What to Do

1. Pour the oil into the saucepan and place over medium-high heat.³
2. Test the temperature of the oil by placing a few kernels into the pan and covering it.³
3. When those pop, add the rest of the kernels and cover the pan, swirling it so the popcorn is evenly covered with oil.⁴
4. Shake the pan when the kernels begin to pop so they won't burn.⁵
5. Lift the lid slightly to let the steam escape to make crispier popcorn.⁶
6. Remove the pan from the stove when you can count to three after hearing a kernel pop.⁵
7. After pouring the popcorn into a bowl, place the butter in the hot pan to melt it. Sprinkle melted butter and salt on the popcorn to taste.³

• Small Notebook: How to Make Stovetop Popcorn (Time: 2:44)

Tips and Tricks

• If you've ever suffered with the smell of burnt popcorn in your home, you know there's a fine line between crispy and completely overdone. Use the following tips to get light and fluffy popcorn every time.

1. Store popcorn kernels in an airtight container in a cool, dry place to keep them fresh.⁷
2. Use a heavy saucepan to ensure a consistent temperature while the popcorn pops.⁷
3. If your popcorn frequently burns, consider holding the pot above the burner slightly and shaking it more often while the popcorn pops.⁸
4. Salt the popcorn after it pops rather than salting the kernels since that would reduce its fluffiness.⁹

Making Microwave Popcorn

• Is stovetop popcorn too slow or too old fashioned for you? In less than five minutes, you can have yummy homemade popcorn straight from your microwave.

What You'll Need

• Popcorn Kernels
• Microwave
• Paper Bag (lunch size)
• Butter or Oil (optional)
• Salt to taste

What to Do

1. 

   (Creative Commons photo by RogueSun Media)
   Measure out about 1/4 cup of popcorn kernels.¹⁰ You don't want to put too much in the bag, or you'll have a mess. Think of it as a single serving. ¹¹
2. Pour the kernels into the bag.
   • -If you don't have a paper bag, try using a large microwavable bowl with a microwavable lid.¹²
3. Pour a teaspoon of oil (any cooking oil with a high smoking point) over the kernels or slather butter inside the bag.^{10 11}
   • -For extra healthy popcorn, skip the butter and oil. When you cook popcorn in the microwave, the kernels release steam allowing them to cook without oil.¹³
   • -You can also add melted butter after you pop the corn.
4. Fold the bag closed at least three times.¹¹
5. Shake.
   • -You can also fold once then staple the bag closed.¹⁴
6. Place the bag in the microwave, fold side up.¹⁵
7. Nuke for 3 to 4 minutes.¹¹
   • -It's done when there are 5 seconds in between pops.¹⁴
   • -If you have a popcorn button on your microwave, go ahead and press that.¹⁵
8. Pour into a bowl and season to taste. Enjoy!

Variations

• If you're ready to go beyond butter and salt, try one of these flavorful additions to the basic popcorn recipe.

1. Try coconut oil as a healthy alternative.¹⁶
2. Add chili powder, cayenne and paprika to create popcorn with a spicy kick.²
3. Use grapeseed oil, herbs de Provence and garlic for a French popcorn flavor.¹⁷
4. Include sugar to turn your popcorn into sweet Kettle Corn.¹⁸

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References for How To Make Popcorn

1. ↑ The Popcorn Company: Fun Facts about Popcorn
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Epicurious: Parmesan Pepper Popcorn
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3} Simply Recipes: Perfect Popcorn Recipe
4. ↑ Popcorn.org: Perfect Popcorn Poppin' Tips
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} Lake Magazine: Best Buttered Stovetop Popcorn
6. ↑ Slashfood: How to Make Stovetop Popcorn
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1} Cookography: Stovetop Popcorn
8. ↑ Hub Pages: Stovetop Popcorn Troubleshooting
9. ↑ Popcorn.org: Popping Tips
10. ↑ ^{10.0 10.1} Instructables.com: Microwave Popcorn: Home made, cheap and easy
11. ↑ ^{11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3} Treehugger.com: How to Make Your Own Microwave Popcorn
12. ↑ YouTube: Microwave popcorn without the bag of chemicals (Time: 1:50)
13. ↑ YouTube: Good Eats S2E14P2: Ear Apparent (Time: 10:29)
14. ↑ ^{14.0 14.1} Food Network.com: Plain Brown Popper
15. ↑ ^{15.0 15.1} YouTube: How to make homemade microwave popcorn (Time: 2:27)
16. ↑ The Cancer Blog: Vicki's Healthy Popcorn  
17. ↑ Epicurious: Frenchified Popcorn
18. ↑ About.com: How to Make Kettle Corn  

Additional Popcorn Recipes

• Dux Computer Digest: How to Make Great Popcorn
• Recipezaar: Stovetop Popcorn
• Little House in the Suburbs: Stovetop Popcorn  
• Garden Guides: Cinnamon-Sugar Popcorn
• Presto: Cheesy Popcorn Italiano
• Diet-Blog.com: 61 Calorie Microwave Popcorn Recipe