Cooking with Collin: Homemade Popcorn
Today is my first attempt at my new weekly segment called Cooking with Collin!
It features a favorite frugal recipe of mine (or a favorite of a Hip2Save reader). This first recipe I am going to feature is something that I LOVE to munch on at night and I can actually eat the whole bowl! Yes, I have done this on numerous occasions. 🙂 Any guesses?!
Why of course, Popcorn!
And, no, I am not going to tell you about a deal you can score on Pop-Secret or Jolly Time… but I’m actually going to tell you how you can make your own popcorn at home. You don’t need any sort of contraption… just a large Pan with a Lid. Now I will admit, I was pretty intimidated about even trying to make homemade popcorn at first. But now I am a popcorn popping fool and you will soon be too! 😉
Alright, so here is the recipe…
Homemade Popcorn
yield: 4 SERVINGS
Make this easy homemade popcorn with less than three ingredients!
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons of Coconut Oil, or any oil of your choice
- 1/2 cup of Popcorn Kernels
- Salt to taste
Directions
1
Put 3 tablespoons of oil in a large pan and cook on medium heat.
2
Add a generous pinch of salt.
3
Add the 1/2 cup of popcorn kernels to your pan. Make sure the pan lid is tilted slightly to let steam escape.
4
Now in a rocking motion move the pan back and forth over the burner. The kernels will start popping soon!
5
Once the popping slows, remove the pan from the burner. This is the hardest part of the whole process as you can easily burn the popcorn if you don’t remove it in time.
Additional Notes
I personally think it’s best to remove the popcorn before you think it’s done that way you’ll have a better chance of it not burning and kernels will still be popping even when you remove it from the heat.
Hip Tip: I love using Coconut Oil as it gives the popcorn a slightly sweet taste. Shhhh…don’t tell anyone as this is my super secret ingredient!
Wasn’t that easy?! Now you can go enjoy a bowl of delicious, freshly popped popcorn! Oh and if you have any popcorn seasoning ideas, please share in the comments! I would love to try out some new popcorn variations! Thanks!
Try this: Caramel Corn in the Microwave!
Seriously the best way to pop popcorn EVER! My husband resisted (he HATES change!) but once he tried it out himself, he hasn’t gone back to the expensive and fatty pre-packaged stuff 😛 And, it takes just about as much time as popping in the microwave but has a MUCHO better flavor 🙂 Yummo!
YUMMY! We do this but make kettle corn, just add sugar! or Brown sugar for caramel corn 😉
Now that sounds delicious!!!
we add sugar too, but be twice as careful cause it does burn quickly!
This sounds so yummy with the coconut oil! I am going to have to try this instead of cooking it from the bag. Thanks a ton.
Awesome…popcorn is a fav in my home and i never thought of popping it myself like that other then the bag. thanks for the great idea my kids will love:)
My mom used to make popcorn like yours, Collin. I had forgotten all about it. Thank you!
Lol…this is the only way my mother-in-law makes popcorn…she is one of 10 people in the United States who has never owned a microwave. I will admit this tastes delicious!!
Try adding some flavor when it’s done!
Cinnamon Sugar, Ranch Dressing packets, Lemon pepper, Taco seasoning, etc!
I will have to give this a try! Was wondering, what is the difference nutritionally between the 2? I know someone mentioned to me a while back that bagged popcorn can be really bad!
Love Brewer’s Yeast on Popcorn, Very Yummy!!!
Me too – it’s not very common!
This is the only way we make popcorn. When the oil is hot and you add the popcorn–generously sprinkle with sugar! When it’s done popping sprinkle with salt and it’s delicious kettle corn!!
Butter and seasoning salt add a unique taste that is soooo good, and not what you would think with seasoning salt!
We pop it and then spray with butter spray and sprinkle with garlic salt and parmasean cheese and it’s my kiddos favorite way to eat i!
YUM-O… you are makin’ my mouth water! 🙂
You can also make your own microwave popcorn by putting 1/4 cup of kernels in a brown paper lunch bag. Fold top of bag over twice and secure with a plastic clip, cook on high for 2 min (or till the popping slows). No oil = low cal. I have a plastic bowl with foot and a vented lid that I use instead of the paper bag.
This is how we do it at work all of the time. We don’t have a plastic clip and just fold it over, but the clip is a good idea.
We use this method at our house pretty much every night and top it with a little spray butter and some white cheddar seasoning. We don’t clip it, either. I just put 2 good, small folds in the top.
Can’t wait to try this for family movie night. How fun!
Thanks! I’m definitely going to try this. Popcorn is one of our family’s favorite snacks!
We LOVE popcorn at my house and just a few days ago we started popping it a brand new way and its SOOO cheap! Take a brown lunch bag, put 1/4 cup popcorn kernels in, fold the bag over a few times and tape it with scotch tape. Place the bag in the microwave and cook for 2-3 minutes or until you hear one pop every few seconds. Take out the bag, and viola- microwave popped popcorn that even your kids can do!!! Just pour whatever toppings on that you like- butter, sugar, etc. Inevitably, I would always burn popcorn when I tried to make it on the stove, so this has been a miracle discovery for me!
We happen to have some butter flavored popcorn oil in our pantry as well as popcorn salt, and we figured out that if you put a few tsp of oil and a few sprinkles of the salt in the paper bag with the kernels, it will end up tasting exactly like movie popcorn!!! (Of course, most people wont have these two rare ingredients in their pantry, and even without, it is fabulous!!!)
I may try this! I love the bag idea as I’m clumsy in the kitchen, lol.
They had that on the Today’s show last week I think (the part about using a brown lunch bag).
This is what I do – none of the nasty chemicals and super cheap!
I agree…this is the only way we eat popcorn! My dad made it like this growing up, and now I make it too….everyone always requests it when they come over! I use coconut oil also, or when I run out, grapeseed oil, which is pretty tasteless (a good thing) and is good on high heat. Making your own is cheaper and better for you than the packaged microwave types. YUM!!!!!
This is how we used to make popcorn all the time before the microwave bags came along. I miss this method – thought it tasted better than anything!! Thanks for the demo, Collin!!
I make mine in a $20 Whirly Pop popper, which is basically just a stovetop popper with a little crank thing to rotate the kernels and reduce the risk of burning (because I guarantee you, I would find a way to burn it otherwise!). I only use 1 tbsp of oil for 1/2 cup kernels though – the instructions suggested 1-3 tbsp and I experimented and found it does just fine with 1 or 1.5 tbsp, so that is all I use so it’s a little healthier. After popping, I use the zero fat/zero calorie I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter Spray on it and it is super yummy and *much* healthier than the microwave popcorn I used to buy. It’s also a lot cheaper.
I have one of those, too!!
Love it!!
Try some Old Bay seasoning on it or some Parmesan cheese (like you put on spaghetti)!
For a spicy kick we like to toss our popped kernels in a little old bay seasoning or barbeque seasoning. Chili powder and chipotle is also good for those who like it spicy!!
I love popcorn this way. You know exactly whats going in it. We purchased a Whirley Pop popcorn popper online, has a crank on the side so you don’t have to shake the pan. It makes the best popcorn ever.
I LOVE popcorn, I mean LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!! I eat waaaay too much of it but I only eat homemade.
Kettle Popcorn
3 T canola oil
1/3 C popcorn kernels
3 T granulated sugar
kosher salt to taste
Mix sugar and un-popped popcorn in small bowl. Add to hot oil, cover and shake what your mama gave you : ) thats what hubby says it looks like when I make this, hehe. I lay a towel across the lid of the pan so I don’t have to hold unto a hot pan but I do have an electric stove.
I also have an air popper, they are usually around $15. I use a scoop of popcorn and about a half stick of butter and salt to taste. I also LOVE Kernel Season’s popcorn seasoning Butter flavor-just use less butter and season to taste. Hubby likes their Nacho flavor but I’m not a fan.
for 7.99 on amazon buy the Nordic Ware 60120 Microwaver Popcorn Popper 12 Cup i do the exact thing add a few tablespoons of oil(you don’t even need the oil) and 1/2 cup of popcorn microwave for 5 mins and great popcorn without messing up any pots lol
Ok so I admit, this one isn’t healthy. However, my family is from the south, so we always have a big can of bacon grease in our fridge at all times. Instead of using oil, try a couple of heaping spoonfuls of bacon grease instead. This will be the most flavorful, awesome popcorn you’ve ever tried. I also throw on some additional salt when the kernels are done popping. Hey I said it was tasty, not neccessarily healthy, right?
I’m gonna have to try this : )
ooohhh…. I am so gonna have to try this. Thanks for the tip!
@Trisha….that’s how we make it, too! Everything is better with bacon or bacon flavor, right! We like to sprinkle it with ranch dressing powder and freshly cracked black pepper when it’s done popping. Peppercorn bacon ranch popcorn….omg…so so so good!
I bet this is sooo good! 🙂
yes, i love bacon, and bacon bits are the fairy dust of the food world!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’ve been wanting to make homemade popcorn since my kiddos love & eat them almost daily. I like to add grated parmesan cheese. So cheesy & yummy! I have a jar of tropical traditions’ coconut oil, so all I need to do is going to the store and get a bag of popcorn kernels.
I have a jar of the coconut oil too, from the freebie a few months ago. I’m so excited to try popcorn with it because so far I haven’t been adventurous enough to try it!
Coconut oil is the oil that actually helps you lose weight. Odd I know, but it does. So you don’t have to skip the oil to save calories.
AND…popcorn is naturally a whole grain…yummy and HEALTHY!!
Also, I have a microwave popcorn bowl for the microwave that I bought at Target, but Walmart carries it as well. It’s made by NordicWare (right next to the microwave bacon and microwave egg cookers). You can do this same recipe in it!!
Thanks for posting this!!!
This sounds good! I will definitely give it a try!!
We love to sprinkle a few plain M&M’s in ours!!! Salty & sweet!!
Warning: You might not want to try this, as it is TOTALLY addicting!! 🙂
Melt some butter and add taco seasoning mix into melted butter, stir to mix well, and pour on top of popcorn, then mix it around to distribute evenly…yummmmy! Start out with a little and then work your way up to your particular taste.
I totally love my air popper! I got it cheap at Target and as the previous commenter said, it’s so nice not to have to clean up pots and pans and you don’t need oil. Yummy!
I grew up on making popcorn this way and always do it at home. My dad would even melt butter in the pan (sometimes browning it) and add it and salt to the popcorn. So delicious! I have never used coconut oil before. I might have to try that or other’s suggestions for kettle corn! Thanks!!
Slap yo mama on popcorn is SO delicious too.
We have loved homemade popcorn for years:?) We have it a few times a week. In fact, growing up in a family with 9 kids, my mom popped popcorn EVERY morning for all of our lunches. Thanks for highlighting such a wonderful frugal treat!
Oh, the best tip ever is to add the salt before you pop it! Try it. You WON’T be sorry:?)
I cook in canola oil and put seasoned salt on it. My son calls it “mom’s special popcorn.” He had his teacher convinced one time that I did something extra special to make popcorn and she wanted the recipe. I swear it is the seasoned salt. My family LOVES it.
For awesome kettle corn, add 1/4 C white sugar to the oil and let it melt before you add the corn. If you want to be festive, you can add a few drops of food coloring with the sugar.
my husband mixes the following and my daughter calls it yucky popcorn which is of course her favorite: parmesan cheese, ranch seasoning/salad dressing mix, garlic salt and white cheddar popcorn flavor…..it is added to kettle corn so you got the sweet salty thing going on…yummy! I need to try and make it in a brown paper bag or on the stove…..we’d love it!
Jolly Time makes a buttery seasoning that is good. Kernal Season’s also makes some popcorn seasonings White Cheddar and Kettle Corn are our favorites. Kernal Season’s web address is http://www.nomorenakedpopcorn.com
did you know you can pop popcorn in the microwave? We do that, too!!
I will never go back to anything but coconut oil for my popcorn- then a good dose of pastured butter!!
jen
if I could have just 2 types of food, it would be popcorn & dark chocolate! Combine them together for near perfection! I love to put snowcaps or chocolate chips into my popcorn as soon as I remove the popcorn from the heat! Yummy!!!!!
oh yum I love chocolate stuff with my popcorn!! soo good! 🙂
We have one of those air-poppers from Orville Reddenbacher (sp?) that we got from Kohl’s for $9.99 (after a $10 mail-in rebate) last Black Friday. It pops the popcorn without any oil whatsoever, making it that much more healthy. Of course, the way I season it (which is delicious, but makes up for the lack of oil) is melt a few tablespoons of margarine, pour it over the popcorn, then sprinkle freshly grated parmesan cheese and a little salt on top of it. My husband makes this for me and it is sooo good. Plus, a bag of popcorn kernels are about $2 per bag for the Great Value kind and last me months!
We have a glass cooktop so I don’t do it this way anymore, but we just put regular popcorn in a brown paper lunch bag and microwave it. Super economical and you don’t have to worry about all of the nasty stuff in the bags of microwave popcorn!
We do this when we’re camping but over the camp fire. Just as tricky but twice as fun! Occasionally we will cut up a few pieces of bacon in very small pieces and cook them until they are 1/2 way done. Then add your popcorn and shake just like Collin mentioned until done. It is delicious and a huge hit with all of the families we camp with!
Hubby & my son are HUGE popcorn fans! We have the whirly popcorn maker as well. When I’m in a mood for something different, I’ll add about 1/2 cup of of those little red hot candies in with the popcorn. The candies melt and coat your popcorn and give it a nice cinnamon taste!
I gotta try this, thanks!
Funny, i just ran out of regular microwave popcorn bags about a month ago and every time I’ve wanted some popcorn, I’d have to beg my husband to make me some. Thanks for the recipe! Now I can make my own! Wish I had gotten some free coconut oil, I’d love to try it that way!
I used to make my own popcorn when I was a kid ( we didn’t have a microwave gasp!) I was good at it but then I did a stupid thing one day and walked out of the kitchen. Big mistake I came back and the whole top of the stove was on fire!! I threw water on it and that made it worse so I had to run and get my mom who was in the shower and she put it out but she never let me cook again and I think the fear has stayed with me cause now I’m scared of cooking anything with grease lol.
I have an air popper that I use a lot – but this is so tasty, I added popcorn salt to the oil and it tastes like buttered popcorn without all the butter, YUM!! Thanks for the instructions!
I use a stir crazy popcorn popper and i love it! So simple to use. We like to add rotisserie chicken seasoning and a little salt. Yummy!
Mmm… my mama always made popcorn with vegetable oil and a pot. I use olive oil for just about everything- would that work?
And where do find coconut oil? I don’t remember ever seeing in the grocery store, but then again I wasn’t looking…
Loving all the flavor ideas 🙂
Almost an heath food store will have it with the other cooking oils. In our Fry’s Food there is a small section of health foods but most of the time I find better deals online. Coconut oil is a very good oil we actually use it in place of all our oils in the house and use it at night like a lotion for really chaped hands and feet 🙂 (it will firm cream like if you put some in the fridge)
Oh thanks! I’ll have to look for it. We have a lot of issues with chpped lips and dry skin in the winter months here.
may not be the most frugal move, but I always buy our popcorn from the boy scouts. I just can’t turn down a scout. But getting the popping corn from them is much more cost effective than their popped flavored corn and much healthier. And the scouts get a large portion of what you pay, much more than other fundraisers I’ve seen. So I say yes to every scout who knocks on the door and buy popping corn from each, cook it on the stove or airpopper and have enough until next year and help out a great cause.
Thanks for supporting scouts, Jami! It really is a great cause!
WOW it is hard to believe that so many have considered pre-packaged popcorn as the norm. I guess in today’s microwave society it is. I’ve never liked microwave popcorn so I have always popped my own popcorn. Coconut oil is the secret to great popcorn! I also use a salt called Flavacol. It gives the popcorn that buttery/salt flavor that you USE to get in the theater. Since the theaters have gone ‘heart healthy’ you cant even get the popcorn popped in coconut oil any more. I wont buy popcorn in the theater anymore it just doesn’t taste the same. 🙁
we love the sour cream and onion powder sprinkled on our popcorn!!
We do it this way too!! My 3 girls will only eat popcorn that is “homemade” We even have to bring it to the Movie Theater because they won’t eat the popcorn they have there!!
Great Snack Collin!!