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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.
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Popcorn Tips
- Got a stovetop? Heat the oil in a heavy saucepan over medium-high heat.
- Choose oil with a high smoking point (like canola or peanut oil) to cook the popcorn properly.
- Add the all of the kernels once the test kernels pop.
- Swirl the pan to coat the kernels with oil.
- Shake the pan as the kernels pop to avoid scorching.
- Cover the pan, but leave the lid slightly ajar to so the steam can escape.
- Got a microwave? Pour kernels and oil in a paper lunch bag.
- Fold closed, stapling if desired.
- Heat in the microwave for 3 to 4 minutes.
- Sprinkle with your favorite toppings. Enjoy!
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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.
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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.The Popcorn Company: Fun Facts about Popcorn 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.Epicurious: Parmesan Pepper Popcorn
Making Stovetop Popcorn
- Follow these simple instructions to create about 2 quarts of popcorn in less than 10 minutes.
What to Do
- Pour the oil into the saucepan and place over medium-high heat.Simply Recipes: Perfect Popcorn Recipe
- Test the temperature of the oil by placing a few kernels into the pan and covering it.Simply Recipes: Perfect Popcorn Recipe
- When those pop, add the rest of the kernels and cover the pan, swirling it so the popcorn is evenly covered with oil.Popcorn.org: Perfect Popcorn Poppin' Tips
- Shake the pan when the kernels begin to pop so they won't burn.Lake Magazine: Best Buttered Stovetop Popcorn
- Lift the lid slightly to let the steam escape to make crispier popcorn.Slashfood: How to Make Stovetop Popcorn
- Remove the pan from the stove when you can count to three after hearing a kernel pop.Lake Magazine: Best Buttered Stovetop Popcorn
- 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.Simply Recipes: Perfect Popcorn Recipe
- 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.
- Store popcorn kernels in an airtight container in a cool, dry place to keep them fresh.Cookography: Stovetop Popcorn
- Use a heavy saucepan to ensure a consistent temperature while the popcorn pops.Cookography: Stovetop Popcorn
- If your popcorn frequently burns, consider holding the pot above the burner slightly and shaking it more often while the popcorn pops.Hub Pages: Stovetop Popcorn Troubleshooting
- Salt the popcorn after it pops rather than salting the kernels since that would reduce its fluffiness.Popcorn.org: Popping Tips
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 to Do
- Measure out about 1/4 cup of popcorn kernels.Instructables.com: Microwave Popcorn: Home made, cheap and easy You don't want to put too much in the bag, or you'll have a mess. Think of it as a single serving. Treehugger.com: How to Make Your Own Microwave Popcorn
- Pour the kernels into the bag.
- Pour a teaspoon of oil (any cooking oil with a high smoking point) over the kernels or slather butter inside the bag.Instructables.com: Microwave Popcorn: Home made, cheap and easy Treehugger.com: How to Make Your Own Microwave Popcorn
- -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.YouTube: Good Eats S2E14P2: Ear Apparent (Time: 10:29)
- -You can also add melted butter after you pop the corn.
- Fold the bag closed at least three times.Treehugger.com: How to Make Your Own Microwave Popcorn
- Shake.
- Place the bag in the microwave, fold side up.YouTube: How to make homemade microwave popcorn (Time: 2:27)
- Nuke for 3 to 4 minutes.Treehugger.com: How to Make Your Own Microwave Popcorn
- -It's done when there are 5 seconds in between pops.Food Network.com: Plain Brown Popper
- -If you have a popcorn button on your microwave, go ahead and press that.YouTube: How to make homemade microwave popcorn (Time: 2:27)
- 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.
- Try coconut oil as a healthy alternative.The Cancer Blog: Vicki's Healthy Popcorn
- Add chili powder, cayenne and paprika to create popcorn with a spicy kick.Epicurious2: Chili Popcorn
- Use grapeseed oil, herbs de Provence and garlic for a French popcorn flavor.Epicurious: Frenchified Popcorn
- Include sugar to turn your popcorn into sweet Kettle Corn.About.com: How to Make Kettle Corn
