Easy Perfect Stovetop Popcorn

Let’s say it’s Movie Night…who wants popcorn??

I do! I do!

But I don’t want the icky microwave bag stuff. Or the stale air-popped stuff. And nothing that involves any fancy space-hogging single-function appliance.

When I want popcorn, I make Easy Perfect Stovetop Popcorn, and so should you!

Go grab a big pot, popcorn kernels, coconut oil and salt. Butter if you want it. That is all you need. Oh…and a stove, too…but I assume you’ve got one of those. This recipe is so easy, you’ll wonder how or why you never tried it before.

Measure out 1/4 cup of popcorn kernels.

Add them to a large pot with some coconut oil and salt (if you so desire…which I do…).

And you get THIS!

It makes you want to grab a handful and stuff it in your mouth, doesn’t it?

The first time I read about this stovetop method, I had questions. Do the kernels burn? Is the popcorn greasy from the oil? Can this really work? But I was intrigued enough to try it out, and I am so glad I did. The stovetop method produces the best crispy popcorn, and just about all the kernels pop. Bonus!

A quarter cup of kernels doesn’t seem like much, but it makes a lot of popcorn! I doubled the recipe once and the pot was so FULL…we had way too much! But in a simple quarter cup, those little golden nuggets explode into enough airy crispy nibbles to feed 3 or 4 of us…or alternatively, 2 hungry boys after school.

By the way, I tried doing this with olive oil once and it did not work as well as the coconut oil. The olive oil has a lower smoke point than coconut oil, so basically, the corn kernels got a bit burnt before they were even able to pop. Burnt popcorn is not good popcorn. So stick with coconut oil, or peanut oil is another good option.

Easy Perfect Stovetop Popcorn is simple and tastes great. Of course, one could argue that the microwave stuff is easier and faster. Whereas that is true, the corn kernels also cook in a bunch of chemicals and preservatives. Read the ingredients on a package of microwave popcorn. The list includes way more than corn, oil, and salt. And there are words we don’t know and can’t even pronounce. Who wants that? Popcorn is supposed to be a healthy high-fibre snack…making it on the stovetop keeps it that way.

Yes, I know…there is also the air popper way which is considered healthy because there’s no oil. But I find air-popped popcorn kind of chewy and stale. Chewy and stale popcorn is not good. The stovetop method makes crispy airy popcorn, as it should be! Also, remember that using oil is not necessarily a bad thing.

Eat it plain, or add salt at the start of the popping process. Melt butter or ghee in the hot pot and then drizzle it on the popcorn and toss. Sprinkle some spices or Parmesan over the buttered popcorn for a different flavor.

We like it with simply with salt and melted butter. YUM.

Don’t you want to try making Easy Perfect Stovetop Popcorn? Do you like to nibble while watching a movie? Are you looking for healthy after school snacks for the kids? 10-15 minutes is all you need to make it, from start to finish! Try it for your next movie night and leave a comment below!

~ Lisa.

Easy Perfect Stovetop Popcorn

Perfect popcorn made simply in a pot on the stovetop. An easy and healthy snack any time!

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Course: Snacks

Cuisine: Western

Keyword: popcorn

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Makes: 3

Author: Lisa from A Day in the Kitchen

Ingredients

• 1/4 - 1/3 cup organic popping corn kernels
• 3 tbs coconut oil
• 1/2 tsp salt (optional)
• 3 tbs butter or ghee (optional)

Instructions

• In a large pot, heat the coconut oil and 3 corn kernels (and salt, if using) over medium-low heat, pot lid on.
  
• Once you hear the 3 corn kernels pop, remove the pot from the heat.
• Add the remaining corn kernels, replace the lid, and count 30 seconds.
• Put the pot back on medium heat and set the lid slightly off the pot, but not much...just enough to let some steam escape.
• Corn kernels will start popping rapidly. Shake the pot back and forth occasionally.
• Once popping slows down dramatically or stops, remove the pot from the heat, leaving the lid on for a few seconds more to contain any straggling popping kernels.
• Pour popcorn into a bowl. Add the butter or ghee to the hot pot to melt. Drizzle over popcorn. Then add all the popcorn back to the pot to soak up any remaining butter and salt.
• Pour back into a bowl and enjoy!

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