You don't have to buy gourmet popcorn. When making popcorn, I have found it is better not to heat the oil on a high heat at first. I know this may sound stupid, but the kernels get more more heat distribution if you start out slow.
Think: You don't cook prime rib steak on blazing heat from the get go; you'll end up burning parts and other parts will be undercooked. After hearing the first few kernels pop, turn up the heat. Cook as normal.
I think you will find less kernels than before. I have and I buy store brand. My friends wonder why there are so little kernels left. They think I have used gourmet popcorn like ORVILLE REDENBACHER. HA. HA. HA.
It's like my grandma letting the city cousins think they were drinking delivered milk when all she was doing was putting the family cow's milk in a bottle she found!
By the way, I don't ever use a popcorn machine.
This page contains the following solutions.
This is the old-fashioned way of making popcorn. It is easy to make and tastes so much better than microwave popcorn.
After you're done popping your popcorn in the microwave, and before you open the bag, put it over the garbage can and shake the bag really hard. Make sure the opening of the bag is down. All your unpopped seeds will go into the garbage, no more seeds.
Here is a tip to release the aroma of popcorn but protect it from anything entering. Simply use a splatter screen cover. Great for home, picnics, or parties!
Get away from the microwave for popcorn. Cook the popcorn from the popcorn in a jar, using a Teflon pot and a cover. This way, you have nothing fattening in your popcorn.
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
How do you color popcorn? I have seen colored popcorn (unpopped kernels) in catalogs for sale, and it's rather pricey. Apparently when popped the popcorn is multicolor. I'd love to figure out how to do this.
I too remember when colored popcorn came in bags. The colors looks so neat we were sure we would be eating green, red and blue kernels but not so.
Tips for popping and flavoring popcorn. Post your ideas.
also try a few drops of Worchestershire sauce in the popper for a unique flavor.
If you want popcorn to pop like mad, pour the kernels into a strainer, wash in cold water & strain well, then pour the kernels into the popper.
You can add an interesting flavor to popcorn if you add 1/2 peeled clove of garlic to the melted salted butter you serve on popcorn.
By joesgirl
Use your butter flavored no stick cooking oil spray on popcorn. It is better than that stuff they say is for spraying the butter flavor on popcorn.
By ELAYNE
I admit I need "buttered" popcorn. However, I know that the butter isn't that good for us. So, I now do a little butter and a little olive oil together to pour over the popcorn and I can't tell the difference.
I make air popped popcorn in the microwave by putting 1/3 cup of popcorn in a lunch size paper bag, taping the top closed and nuking in the microwave like normal microwave popcorn.
Christy
This one's a bit messy, but delish. Using air popped popcorn, I pour on a few tablespoons of Mrs. Richardson's Butterscotch/Carmel Ice Cream Topping and put it in the microwave for about 15 secs., then toss to coat all the kernals. It's my favorite dessert. However, you gotta eat it with a spoon; I think it's probably the wrong consistency to make into balls or bars.
If you use olive oil when popping your popcorn, it tastes great, you won't miss not slathering it in hot butter. You might also want to sprinkle on such toppings as parmesan cheese, a dab of taco seasoning, or ranch dressing mix. These are just a few of our favorites. So when 'Movie Night' rolls around, try something different.... snackwise.
By Terri
Is there a way to refresh stale popcorn?
By Ray from Chicago, IL
I hope that someone can help me. I was given some Microwave popcorn. The only problem is I don't have a microwave to pop it in. Can I pop it on an electric stove and how do I go about doing this? Thank you for any help.
What kind of oil is 'healthy" for popping popcorn on the stove top?
By Mary Boerger
How do you make popcorn in a halogen oven? I have a halogen oven (like the Nu Wave ovens) and want to try to make popcorn in it. The instructions in the book I have said to preheat the oven. How do you preheat one of these ovens? Then it said to put on high rack for 6 minutes and let it rest for 5 minutes after the timer went off. I did everything the book said and I still had lots of kernels that didn't pop even after letting it rest. Does anyone have one of these ovens and can tell me how to make popcorn in it? Any information would be helpful. Thank you.
By Linda Delcamp from Brighton, MI
Skip the microwave and hot air poppers, cook delicious popcorn right on your stove. This is a page about making the best stovetop popcorn.