Author Topic: The perfect popcorn maker is -- me!  (Read 7129 times)

KBecks2

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The perfect popcorn maker is -- me!
« on: December 07, 2014, 05:12:54 AM »
We used to have an air-popper but it broke.

I like having popcorn and so do my kids but I don't make it very often.  Because our popper broke, I was looking online for a replacement, $20 - $30.  In the meantime, I made the popcorn in a stockpot at home.

Well, my popcorn turned out fabulous.  Why do I need a popcorn maker when I can spend a little time doing it myself?   It is really not that hard to do at all!!  Just takes a little watching.. 

KMMK

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Re: The perfect popcorn maker is -- me!
« Reply #1 on: December 07, 2014, 07:37:11 AM »
I agree. I'm glad that an electic popper wasn't one of the things I bought when I moved out, just because my parents had one.

JeffC

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Re: The perfect popcorn maker is -- me!
« Reply #2 on: December 07, 2014, 09:04:05 AM »
Now that I've figured this out, I wonder why microwave popcorn is a thing, and popcorn poppers are things.  It takes exactly as long to just put any old pot with a lid on the stove on medium-high, add a little oil, wait 1 minute, add the popcorn, put the lid on, and watch it pop as it does to put the chemical-laden bag of microwave popcorn in a microwave and wait there while it pops.   Also, it is a pleasant activity to pop it on the stove.  When I figured this out, I got rid of my microwave due to lack of use. 

One thing I learned is not to ever use coconut oil for this.  They say it is the best for cooking at high temp, but it absorbs into the popcorn and then solidifies as the popcorn cools, and becomes gross in texture and overly heavy.

rosarugosa

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Re: The perfect popcorn maker is -- me!
« Reply #3 on: December 07, 2014, 09:11:53 AM »
My DH has been making wonderful popcorn in a pot on the stove for years.  A little bit of olive oil and some freshly grated black pepper after it's popped - perfect!

Spork

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Re: The perfect popcorn maker is -- me!
« Reply #4 on: December 07, 2014, 09:42:52 AM »
I am with you.  As far as I am concerned: oil popped popcorn is popcorn.  The rest of it is crap.

Air pop is tasteless.

Microwave popcorn is just wrong on so  many levels.  The texture is wrong and if you read the label, there's just a lot of non-food crap in there.

crazy jane

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Re: The perfect popcorn maker is -- me!
« Reply #5 on: December 07, 2014, 09:44:35 AM »
JeffC, try using less coconut oil. I alternate between I olive oil with Parmesan cheese topping and coconut oil and salt topping. Also, when we moved into our neighborhood 25 years ago I made stove-top popcorn for some of the kids who were playing with my son. Word spread like wildfire and for weeks, random kids from the neighborhood would knock on our door and say we heard you can make popcorn on the stove, will you show us. Sad they had only experienced microwave popcorn their entire lives.

Goldielocks

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Re: The perfect popcorn maker is -- me!
« Reply #6 on: December 07, 2014, 09:46:53 AM »
I did this a few times, then burnt kernels on the bottom, which took FOREVER (read days) to buff / scrub out -- had to use a drill with polishing bit on it finally.

I now pop in a glass bowl in the microwave, with a vented cover.   Oil is tasty but not required.  They used to say not to pop popcorn this way, as it would damage the microwave (lack of water to work on), but does not seem to be bothered by it.

mrs sideways

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Re: The perfect popcorn maker is -- me!
« Reply #7 on: December 07, 2014, 10:25:24 AM »
Alton brown shows you how to do it on a stove-top with a stainless steel bowl:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byqaZhMTwAs

happyfeet

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Re: The perfect popcorn maker is -- me!
« Reply #8 on: December 07, 2014, 05:08:11 PM »
Pop it in the microwave. 1/4 cup popcorn mixed with 1/4 tsp oil and some salt. Dump into brown lunch bag. Fold over. A few times.  Set bottom side down nd pop until done.   About 2 min in my micro.  Google it.  Works great.

igetit

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Re: The perfect popcorn maker is -- me!
« Reply #9 on: December 07, 2014, 06:11:31 PM »
Pop it in the microwave. 1/4 cup popcorn mixed with 1/4 tsp oil and some salt. Dump into brown lunch bag. Fold over. A few times.  Set bottom side down nd pop until done.   About 2 min in my micro.  Google it.  Works great.

I do this too. But I put the oil on after its popped. It tastes great!

jmusic

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Re: The perfect popcorn maker is -- me!
« Reply #10 on: December 07, 2014, 07:03:15 PM »
I did this a few times, then burnt kernels on the bottom, which took FOREVER (read days) to buff / scrub out -- had to use a drill with polishing bit on it finally.

I now pop in a glass bowl in the microwave, with a vented cover.   Oil is tasty but not required.  They used to say not to pop popcorn this way, as it would damage the microwave (lack of water to work on), but does not seem to be bothered by it.

The trick to avoid burning kernels is to vigorously swirl the pot around on the burner continuously as the kernels pop.  Me and my GF learned about this too when a local grocer was selling a lot of their bulk products for 50% off due to going out of business.  We used olive oil and sea salt.  It's important to add the salt before cooking as the popcorn absorbs the salt while popping; if you add it afterwards it just falls off.

I've been living without a microwave for the first time in my apartment since September, and this was probably the last hurdle.  I don't think I'll ever "need" one again...

Greg

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Re: The perfect popcorn maker is -- me!
« Reply #11 on: December 07, 2014, 08:45:50 PM »
I cover the bottom of a large deep pot with olive oil, then add a layer of corn kernels, one kernel deep, over medium heat.  Once they start popping, you have to shake it a lot, but that also helps spread the oil.  Once pops are 5 seconds apart, turn off the flame and continue shaking.  I add salt and pepper, and pour this into a large bowl.  Deee-lish!

N

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Re: The perfect popcorn maker is -- me!
« Reply #12 on: December 07, 2014, 09:01:16 PM »
you can also make delicious kettle corn- basically add sugar to the oil and pop, swirl a lot, take off and spread on cookie sheet to cool and prevent sticking/burning

Greg

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Re: The perfect popcorn maker is -- me!
« Reply #13 on: December 07, 2014, 10:47:09 PM »
you can also make delicious kettle corn- basically add sugar to the oil and pop, swirl a lot, take off and spread on cookie sheet to cool and prevent sticking/burning

Yep, but I like it warm.

kel

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Re: The perfect popcorn maker is -- me!
« Reply #14 on: December 08, 2014, 01:54:31 AM »
This is my new addiction. Stove pop with butter and some nutritional yeast (sounds weird but SO DELICIOUS, and great nutritional value).

Perfect pop every time, usually there are NO unpopped kernels left, and never ever burnt. Besides the 30s countdown there isn't even really much "watching" do be done.

Heat 3 tbsp oil on med high heat with 3-4 kernels in the oil. Once they pop, add 1/3 cup kernels, cover and remove from heat.

Wait 30 seconds.

Turn heat back to med high, tilt the lid a little to allow steam to escape. You can shake the pot to move them around but this isn't usually necessary for me. Kernels will all start popping at the same time and finish around the same time. Take off heat once they stop popping!

Add a couple tbsp butter... dump nooch (nutritional yeast) on top... yum yum yum

Got the recipe from here and haven't looked back to microwave corn since: http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/perfect_popcorn/
« Last Edit: December 08, 2014, 01:56:14 AM by kel »

SnackDog

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Re: The perfect popcorn maker is -- me!
« Reply #15 on: December 08, 2014, 02:14:44 AM »
If you want fabulous popcorn, chop up a slice or two of bacon and fry it up in the pan before you throw the popcorn in.  It is amazing.

Bbqmustache

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Re: The perfect popcorn maker is -- me!
« Reply #16 on: December 08, 2014, 04:17:07 AM »
Ooh, bacon.  We are beginning to save our bacon lard (filtering through a coffee filter and saving in the fridge).  Using it as popcorn "oil" could have yummy results!  Now, which pan to use.......

mcm29

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Re: The perfect popcorn maker is -- me!
« Reply #17 on: December 08, 2014, 05:45:05 AM »
This is my new addiction. Stove pop with butter and some nutritional yeast (sounds weird but SO DELICIOUS, and great nutritional value).

Perfect pop every time, usually there are NO unpopped kernels left, and never ever burnt. Besides the 30s countdown there isn't even really much "watching" do be done.

Heat 3 tbsp oil on med high heat with 3-4 kernels in the oil. Once they pop, add 1/3 cup kernels, cover and remove from heat.

Wait 30 seconds.

Turn heat back to med high, tilt the lid a little to allow steam to escape. You can shake the pot to move them around but this isn't usually necessary for me. Kernels will all start popping at the same time and finish around the same time. Take off heat once they stop popping!

Add a couple tbsp butter... dump nooch (nutritional yeast) on top... yum yum yum

Got the recipe from here and haven't looked back to microwave corn since: http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/perfect_popcorn/

+1 Absolutely agree - if you put a few kernels and then the rest, the popcorn is perfect every time. It's fun counting with the kids as well.

Spork

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Re: The perfect popcorn maker is -- me!
« Reply #18 on: December 08, 2014, 09:00:00 AM »
Ooh, bacon.  We are beginning to save our bacon lard (filtering through a coffee filter and saving in the fridge).  Using it as popcorn "oil" could have yummy results!  Now, which pan to use.......

I've tried this... and ... while it is delicious, it is surprisingly less bacon-y than you'd expect.  If you want it bacon-y you'll want to actually crumble up bacon in with it.

Bob W

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Re: The perfect popcorn maker is -- me!
« Reply #19 on: December 08, 2014, 09:25:43 AM »
The oil used in movie theatres is usually coconut oil.  You could try grape seed oil.

My favorite trick ---   

I use an electric wok.  Once it starts to fill up you can stir it without the kernels popping out.   Doesn't take a whole lot of oil, pops every kernel,  doesn't burn,  requires no shaking,  easy clean up.

Random Hangers

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Re: The perfect popcorn maker is -- me!
« Reply #20 on: December 08, 2014, 09:33:31 AM »
We've converted to air popping in the microwave as well (too many additives in the stuff you just buy from the store). Our problem is that we can't seem to get the hang of adding butter: we add it just after everything is popped and the popcorn turns soggy. Any ideas?

MgoSam

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Re: The perfect popcorn maker is -- me!
« Reply #21 on: December 08, 2014, 09:55:48 AM »
I'm a big fan of using a brown bag, pour the corn into it and just microwaving. I don't recall how long but I usually do it by hearing and then afterwards if I want I'll melt some butter and add a little salt to the butter to mix it with, but I'm working on just enjoying popcorn by itself. Advantage of this method is that you don't need to add any oil which means that the popcorn won't be as soggy.

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Re: The perfect popcorn maker is -- me!
« Reply #22 on: December 08, 2014, 12:14:53 PM »
Stove top popcorn with any kind of oil if you're eating it all right away. The reason the commercial poppers use coconut oil specifically is that it stays fresh for up to several days, thus reducing waste.

I do a similar method to what kel posted above. Kids love it and no burning ever.

La Bibliotecaria Feroz

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Re: The perfect popcorn maker is -- me!
« Reply #23 on: December 08, 2014, 01:56:42 PM »
I used to make popcorn on the stove in a pot, but then my husband bought me a Whirley Pop as a present (a stovetop popper with a crank that you turn to mix the popcorn. It's giant and it's what my dad calls a "uni-tasker," but oh my God, there is no comparison. It makes the fluffiest popcorn.