Cooking popcorn on the stove is a simple and classic method. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
How to Cook Popcorn on the Stove: Ingredients
- Popcorn kernels
- Cooking oil (vegetable oil, canola oil, or coconut oil)
- Salt (optional)
- Butter (optional)
- Equipment:
Large pot with a tight-fitting lid: Instructions:
Gather your ingredients and equipment:
- Measure the desired amount of popcorn kernels.
- Choose your cooking oil and measure it accordingly.
- Prepare any optional toppings like salt and butter.
- Heat the oil:
- Place the large pot on the stove over medium heat.
- Add a few popcorn kernels to the pot and cover it with the lid.
- Wait for the test kernels to pop:
- Once the test kernels pop, the oil is hot enough.
- Add the rest of the popcorn kernels:
- Pour in the rest of the popcorn kernels evenly across the bottom of the pot.
- Cover the pot:
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Quickly cover the pot with the lid.
Shake the pot:
Gently shake the pot back and forth to ensure that the kernels are evenly coated with oil.
Wait for popping:
Keep the pot on the heat and wait for the popcorn to start popping. This usually takes a few minutes.
Continue shaking:
- Continue shaking the pot intermittently to prevent the popcorn from burning and to ensure even popping.
- Remove from heat:
- Once the popping slows down to a few seconds between pops, remove the pot from the heat.
- Let it sit:
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Classic Buttered Popcorn:
- Follow the basic stovetop popcorn instructions.
- Melt butter in a separate pan and drizzle it over the popped popcorn.
- Toss the popcorn to coat evenly with butter.
- Add salt to taste.
Cheesy Popcorn:
- Make classic buttered popcorn.
- Sprinkle grated Parmesan, cheddar, or nutritional yeast over the popcorn.
- Toss until the cheese is evenly distributed.
Caramel Popcorn:
- Prepare a batch of caramel sauce by melting sugar and butter together.
- Pour the caramel over the popped popcorn and toss to coat evenly.
- Let it cool and break it into clusters.
Spicy Popcorn:
- Make classic buttered popcorn.
- Add a sprinkle of chili powder, cayenne pepper, or your favorite spicy seasoning.
- Toss the popcorn to coat evenly.
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Garlic Parmesan Popcorn:
- Sauté minced garlic in butter until fragrant.
- Drizzle the garlic butter over the popped popcorn.
- Sprinkle grated Parmesan and toss well.
Chocolate Drizzle Popcorn:
- Melt your favorite chocolate (dark, milk, or white) in a double boiler.
- Drizzle the melted chocolate over the popcorn.
- Allow it to cool and set before serving.
Truffle Oil Popcorn:
- Make classic popcorn and drizzle with truffle oil.
- Sprinkle with truffle salt or a bit of grated Parmesan for an extra touch.
Sriracha Lime Popcorn:
- Mix melted butter, Sriracha sauce, and lime zest in a bowl.
- Drizzle the mixture over the popcorn and toss to coat.
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Curry Popcorn:
- Combine melted butter with curry powder.
- Drizzle over the popcorn and toss to coat.
- Optionally, add a pinch of salt or nutritional yeast.
Ranch Popcorn:
- Sprinkle a packet of ranch seasoning over the popped popcorn.
- Toss well to evenly distribute the flavor.
- Keep the lid on for a minute to let any remaining kernels pop.
- Season the popcorn:If desired, add salt or melted butter to taste. Toss the popcorn to distribute the seasoning evenly.
Serve and enjoy:Pour the popcorn into a bowl or individual serving containers and enjoy your stovetop popcorn!
Remember to exercise caution while shaking the pot and removing it from the heat to avoid burns. Adjust the heat as needed to prevent burning the popcorn.
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