How to Make Popcorn

We pop ours on the range top. Put olive oil in a small amount at the bottom of the pan. I put in 3 kernels and wait for them to pop (I put the burner on high). Put lid on pan. After those 3 kernels pop, I turn down the burner slightly and add my popcorn kernels. Keep in mind, popcorn expands significantly so measure it out for future reference! Then we add our flavorings (salt/butter, MCbutter Alternative, etc).

This makes a great counting activity for our son. We wait and listen for all 3 kernels. Just make sure if you are in doubt if you heard all 3, have your child stand back. If that last kernel pops with lid open, it can burn them.

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though I have not done it, I have a friend who buys unpopped popcorn and pops it in a brown paper lunch bag in her microwave. She says she always does that.

We have a popcorn popper I had in college...it still works, plugs in. I'll bet you could find one cheap at a goodwill or something.

Third way- my grandma always made popcorn in a big kettle on the stove, but some oil in the bottom and stirred with a long handled spoon, keeping the lid on as much as possible so it wouldn't pop out.

It is very *possible* to make popcorn that does not use microwave...

We have this really nice aluminum popcorn pan for the stove. You can get them at Target or Bed Bath & Beyond.

http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/189-###-###-####-###...

It has a hand crank and makes a great batch of popcorn.

Hi Lynette,

I feel old too--like another responder....

Just wanted to say thanks for supporting your neighbor in Scouting! and how did you get bulk popcorn via that fundraiser? my son' s troop only has the microwave bags in his fundraiser (for "plain" popcorn--there's tons of the flavored stuff...)

Anyway, enjoy, and thanks!

K. Z.

I buy 'real' popcorn all the time. It's MUCH cheaper than microwave popcorn and much healthier since you control what you add to it (like no oil at all!). Making it is easy. Put 1/8-1/4 cup of unpopped kernels in a small paper bag lunch bag (extremely cheap - we often get a 100 pack for less than $1). Fold over the top a couple time, leaving plenty of air/room for the popcorn. Put in microwave, set timer for 3-4 minutes (just like normal microwave bags) and listen. When there's a couple seconds between pops remove from microwave. I just dump it into a big bowl and sprinkle some butter bits, random popcorn seasonings, chocolate milk powder, drizzle melted butter or whatever else the kids are in the mood for.

Get a heavy bottom saucepan (I use revereware) and cover the bottom with kernels. Then add enough oil (I use canola) to cover the kernels. Put it on medium high heat (I use 8 on an electric stove) and shake the pan around a bit while the kernels get a bit bronze-colored. They will start to sizzle. When the first kernel pops, turn the heat up to high, cover with a lid, and shake constantly. The kernels should pop very quickly as they will all be nicely heated up. When the popping is done, pour into a large bowl. I always add butter--I just put a pat of butter into the same pan after the popcorn is in the bowl, and let the butter clarify--melt the butter till it's clear--and then pour it over the popcorn. I add some salt, and sometimes nutritional yeast. YUM!

Hi L.,

You have some great ideas here, so I'm not going to tell you how to pop it, I'm going to tell you other things. We used to pop popcorn this way too when the kids were small because we had to make so much. We took the kids to the outside drive ins a lot and I would take a big paper grocery bag from the store, and that was our "bowl".....we would fill it up with popcorn and take it to the drive in with paper towel or coffee filters for individual popcorn bowls. You can also take this popcorn and make great popcorn balls for Halloween or Christmas. You can make a popcorn garland to hang around the tree by sewing the popcorn together on a string.

I hope you have a great adventure with your popcorn and you and your kids find lots of great things to do along with enjoying it's great taste.
D.

HI! My reply will probably give you a hint about my age LOL....I grew up without a microwave and the only way we did eat popcorn was cooking it ourselves on the stove. You can use vegetable oil or I recommend Butter Crisco-it adds a slight butter taste without adding butter afterwards. You need to put enough oil in the pot-about 1/2 inch or so-to cover the popcorn kernels. If you are using oil that does not need to be melted, put the kernels in first. Put enough kernels in to cover the bottom of the pot, but one layer only or they will not pop well. If you have an electric stovetop, I would start off at 6-8, you can leave the lid off the pot at first to make sure the oil is getting hot...you'll start to see the oil sizzle. Put the lid on, if you haven't. Make sure you use a pot with a tight-fitting lid and a handle is best also. As the oil gets hotter, the kernels will start to pop. We used to move the pot back and forth (just a little) to get the kernels popping (this is after they start popping) and to keep the popped ones from burning. I grew up with a gas stove and we had the flame medium-high to pop popcorn. I haven't looked at the directions for a bag of kernels lately, but it might be worth looking at. I'm sure your kids will think it is cool to make popcorn this way. Have fun!!!! Debbie

Hi L.
alot of your posts dont give many specifics on the AMT of oil to use but all your posts have great points
Use a big pot. I use the soup making pot for my popcorn when I am doing it for the whole family.
My measurements depends on how much I am making. To make ALOT, use 1 cup of oil (any kind but I use vegetable oil) to 2 cups of popcorn. OR 1/4 cup of oil to 1/2 cup on kernals if you are doing it for yourself. You just want to get the popcorn kernals about half covered with oil. Make sure you cover your pan.
Once you turn on the burners (to a medium/high setting..more medium until you get the feel for it). Once it starts to pop, you will want to shake the pan. You will be able to tell once its done when the popping gets less and less. careful not to burn the bottom.

Get the kids involved to watching the event. It was fun for me as a kid and the house smells wonderful.

Put canola oil or a stick of butter in a large pot WITH a lid. Heat the fat at a medium high temp. Drop in a kernel and if the kernel sizzles, it's ready. put in enough corn to be covered by the oil or melted butter. Shake it several times, periodically with the lid on. You'll know when it's done because the popping will stop.

You might want to try using the canola oil (DON'T use corn or vegetable oil - MORE saturated fats and less good fats). If you use butter, it will change the taste of the popcorn but it is good. That's the way my grandmother used to do it and it was the ONLY way she made it.

We were raised on popcorn cooked in LARD! You can change the seasoning too. There are multiple seasonings out there from white cheddar to cajun. I actually like pepper instead of salt. Sea salt is best.

Hi yep i too feel old :-) I put 1/4 cup of oil in a pan with a lid and 1/2 cup of popcorn put a lid on and shake until the kernels quit popping. Pour into a bowl I also melt 1/4 tablespoon of butter and pour over the popped corn and enjoy!!!

Hi L.!

I have tried the microwave option in the paper bag and it does work just fine. However, it does taste like air popped popcorn.

My fool proof method for the stove top for any size pan that you have with a lid. On medium heat, pour oil into the bottom of the pan to just coat the bottom - I use peanut oil as it is what most theaters use and I like it best. Then pour a single layer of kernels on the bottom of the pan and put the lid on. Once you hear the kernels pop, lift the pan off the burner and shake. Continue to lift and shake periodically until the popping starts to slow down. Take off the burner and let set until no more popping can be heard. Enjoy!!

Hope this helps.
K.

You already have oodlels of popcorn advise. I just wanted to comment. I am amused that this is like a huge historical lost art. I feel old.

You put it in a pan with a lid on it in enough vegetable oil to cover the bottom of the pan. Heat and wait til you hear the popping slow down. Pour melted butter and salt over it after you put it in a bowl and then shake it to get it mixed up.

Put 2 Tbsp of kernels into an opened brown paper lunch bag. Roll the top down to close it, put the bag in the microwave on its side, and hit the popcorn sensor button. When it's done, you can eat it plain or add melted butter or powdered seasonings to suit your taste.

Thanks for supporting scouting! My two sons are selling popcorn now, too. We appreciate everyone who's willing to buy!

I bought the same - as my grandparents always made "real" popcorn on the stove, I wanted to show my girls how "real" popcorn is made. She always used a big pot, poured some oil in the pan, and a small amount of popcorn (i can't remember if it was 1/2 cup or 1 cup), cover with a lid and turn on the stove. Obviously I need to look up better directions before my popcorn comes in, but wait til you taste it. Tastes so much better than microwave popcorn.

Hi L.!

That is nice that you supported your local Boy Scouts! I absolutely LOVE my Whirley Pop! It is fast, easy and fun (especially since I see you have a daughter). She will love helping you out. Here's a website (I couldn't find an original one) that lists the different products:
http://popcornpopper.com/stovetop-poppers.html?gclid=CPHz...

Good luck!
Jenn

My childhood recipe: Use a 4 quart pot with a lid, add a couple tablespoons oil- I like grapeseed b/c it is very healthy (you can get this inexpensively at Trader Joe's), put 4 or 5 kernels into the pot, place pot on Medium-high heat and wait for your kernels to pop- this means the oil is hot enough to add 1/2 cup popcorn. Shake pot periodically while cooking to prevent burning (pre-heating helps too)- remove from heat when popping slows (just like in microwave). Pour into a bowl & dress as you like. My husband & I love a little olive oil instead of butter (or do half melted butter half olive oil), sea salt & fresh ground pepper. You can also add a little nutritional yeast to give it a cheesy flavour- yum, now I'm hungry!:)

Buy an air popper. I got mine from Amazon.com for 14.99 and it works great. I think its Presto brand. After I pop the corn, I add about a tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil and stir it up, then add salt. Or you can add butter if you prefer. Very easy, fast, healthy and convenient.

I don't want to go through all the posts so I'm sorry if this is a repeat answer:(
You can get a cheap air-popper for $10-15 if you watch for them to go on sale. Or, you can put 1/8 cup in a brown paper lunch bag with or without butter or oil and pop it in the microwave. Just listen for it to stop popping like you would with a regular bag of microwave popcorn.

I prefer popcorn done over the stove....I think it tastes SO much better.

I use Olive Oil and Butter. About a 1/4 inch of olive oil in the bottom of a large sauce pan, plus about 1-2 TBL butter (depending on how much popcorn you're making).

Pour in the popcorn, cover the bottom of the pan, put the lid on. Heat. Popcorn will start to pop. Shake the pan over the heat and watch carefully.

When the popping slows (just like with microwave popcorn) remove from heat. Be careful...there may be a few strays that pop out while you are pouring it into a bowl.

Sprinkle with salt, if desired... and enjoy!

This is how my mom always made popcorn when I was a kid. Love it!

Hi L.,,
I love fresh popped popcorn better than microwave popcorn. Just use a 1 quart pan and about 1/2 C of veggie oil or canola oil. Let the oil get hot. Add about a 1/2 C of popcorn and cover. The popcorn is ready when it stops popping. If you like butter just dump the popcorn in a bowl and with the same pan melt as much butter as you want to use and pour over the popcorn. This sounds good. I'm getting hungry. I hope this works for you and enjoy!!

We really like using our air popper. They are quick and easy to use, and I don't have to mess with oil or risk getting distracting and having it burn over the stove. Ours was a present but I'm sure they are really cheap! BTW, thank you for supporting the Scout programs! My son is selling popcorn right now too!

Hi Lynette! Have you got a heavy sauce pan (about 2 qts)with a lid? Heat the pan. Using a heavy pan with lid, add a little oil in the bottom [about a tablespoon]; add 1/4 cup to 1/3 cup of popcorn; put the lid on & shake the pan & wait for it to pop! Or invest in a popcorn popper. There are several styles out there. This is a project that you can have fun with once you learn to pop your own corn!!!

Melt solid shortening in a pan over medium heat, put in several handfuls of the unpopped corn. Cover with a lid. When it begins to pop shake the pan to move popped corn to the top, if the lid starts coming off, pour the popped corn into a bowl and return to heat and continue to shake until popping stops or slows to less than one pop over a count of 1000 to 1003.
Or you can purchase a Presto Power Pop (they have them at Wal-Mart, Target, etc., and the filters. Put the filter in the bottom of the popper, put several handfuls of popcorn in it, and put it in the microwave and it will pop on it's own.

Hi L.,

I have a bowl specially made for popping pop corn in the microwave. It was a Christmas gift but I have seen them at Walmart. It's called the Presto PowerPop and it is endorsed by Orville Redenbacher. :) We stopped buying the popcorn in the bag since this is cheaper and healthier! We put our own seasonings on it and don't have all the artificial colorings. If you try it, let me know how you like it. We love ours!

All the Best,

C.

We do this all the time and we coconut oil which works great.

Stove Top Popcorn... This is the best "old fashioned" way...;-)... http://www.associatedcontent.com/pop

Microwave... Put 1/4 cup popcorn in a lunch-type brown paper bag (smaller than what your groceries are usually bagged in), fold the top over a few times and pop it in on high for about 1:30 min. If you hear the rate of poppong slowing before then, STOP it so it doesn't burn! I don't use any oil, and I toss the unpopped kernels into a container to reuse again later.
If you're really craving salt or some other seasoning on the popcorn, put it in a bowl, spray with a little bit of oil (Pam, or one of the sprayers you can fill and pump yourself) and salt lightly.

You can always buy an air popper - but I think it makes the popcorn really dry - like styrofoam.

Wal-mart sells poppers, I recommend a hot air popper. It doesn't require oil and in my experience the popcorn come out fuller popped and tastier.

If you don't want to buy a popper, then a saucepan a teaspoon of oil and a lid will work. Put the oil in the pan, add a cup of corn then put the lid on. Heat it on high and while it's cooking you need to keep the corn moving in the pan. listen and watch it like you would microwave popcorn, when the pops slow down you cane remove it from the heat and enjoy.

All in all, and air popper from the store will save you the trouble.

you can make it on the stove-- you just put some oil and popcorn in a pot and shake it constantly... look up a recipe online for kettle corn and follow the directions. it's super yummy!!!

we have a hot air popcorn popper... but you really don't need to buy one unless you'll use it often... it's way healthier though since there's no butter/oil...

Stove popcorn tastes so much better than microwave, and often the microwave has some nasty things in it anyway. Pour a little oil in the bottom of your pan - I don't use as much as the other poster and I skip the butter - add 3 kernels of popcorn and cover.

Put the stove on medium to med high. When the first of these kernels pop, the oil is hot enough, and add the rest of the popcorn you want. It really is trial and error to see how much you want. I use enough oil so that the popcorn is wet but there are no oil "puddles" on the bottom of the pan.

Let 'er go until the popping has slowed down. We always salt and sometimes we add melted butter. Really, if you use a decent oil, like olive oil, and don't salt too much, it's a healthy treat.

Put a little bit of oil in a med. size pot (enough to cover the bottom + a bit more). Then put your popcorn in. Pretty much just a single layer, a few more kernels is fine. Make sure you use a lid, and I always use an oven mitt on the hand that's holding the lid down. Turn the stove on like med/high. I kind of shake/slide the pot across the burner while it's popping . Turn the stove off and remove the pot from the burner when the popping gets about 2-3 seconds apart so you don't burn it. Burnt popcorn in the bottom of a pot is a b---h to get out!