Perfect Popcorn Food

BEST STOVETOP POPCORN

Steps:

• In a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat, combine the oil and 2 popcorn kernels. Cover the pot and wait for the kernels to pop, which might take a few minutes. In the meantime, place a large serving bowl near the stove so it's ready when you need it.
• Once the kernels pop, turn off the burner, remove the pot from the heat and pour in the remaining popcorn kernels. Cover the pot again, and give the pot a little shimmy to distribute the kernels evenly. Let the pot rest for 60 seconds to make sure the oil doesn't get too hot before the kernels are ready to pop.
• Turn the heat back up to medium, put the pot back onto the burner and continue cooking the popcorn, carefully shimmying the pot occasionally to cook the kernels evenly. Once the kernels start popping, tip the lid just a touch to allow steam to escape (see photo).
• Continue cooking until the popping sound slows to about one pop per every few seconds. (If the popcorn tries to overflow the pot, just tip the upper portion of popcorn into your bowl and return it to the heat.)
• Remove the lid and dump the popcorn into your serving bowl. Sprinkle the popcorn with a couple pinches of salt, to taste, and any other topping you would like. Toss the popcorn and serve immediately, for best flavor and texture. The popcorn will taste good for several hours, though.

PERFECT POPCORN

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a 3-quart saucepan on medium high heat. If you are using coconut oil, allow all of the solid oil to melt.
• Put 3 or 4 popcorn kernels into the oil and cover the pan.
• When the kernels pop, add the rest of the 1/3 cup of popcorn kernels in an even layer. Cover, remove from heat and count 30 seconds. (Count out loud; it's fun to do with kids.) This method first heats the oil to the right temperature, then waiting 30 seconds brings all of the other kernels to a near-popping temperature so that when they are put back on the heat, they all pop at about the same time.
• Return the pan to the heat. The popcorn should begin popping soon, and all at once. Once the popping starts in earnest, gently shake the pan by moving it back and forth over the burner. Try to keep the lid slightly ajar to let the steam from the popcorn release (the popcorn will be drier and crisper). Once the popping slows to several seconds between pops, remove the pan from the heat, remove the lid, and dump the popcorn immediately into a wide bowl. With this technique, nearly all of the kernels pop, and nothing burns.
• If you are adding butter, you can easily melt it by placing the butter in the now empty, but hot pan. Note that if you let the butter get just a little bit brown, it will add an even more intense, buttery flavor to the butter and to your popcorn. (Here's more info on how to brown butter.) Just drizzle the melted butter over the popcorn and toss to distribute.
• Add salt to taste

PERFECT POPCORN

Steps:

• 1. Place a large pot on burner and turn on HIGH.
• 2. In the large pot, pour in oil and popcorn.
• 3. Place lid on top of pot and shake back and forth gently a few times.
• 4. When you hear the first pop, begin shaking vigorously.
• 5. As the pot fills to the top with popped popcorn, turn off burner and remove.
• 6. Pour into one or two large empty bowl depending on how big they are.
• 7. Coat with salt, parmesean cheese, and nutritional yeast flakes to your taste preference.

THEATER-STYLE BUTTERED POPCORN

Steps:

• Movie theaters use butter-flavored oil, which has a lower water content than butter so it makes popcorn less soggy. Real clarified butter has the same effect. To make it, melt 2 sticks butter in a glass measuring cup in the microwave. Let sit for a few minutes; the butter will separate into 3 layers. Skim off the top layer of foam, then slowly pour the clarified butter into a heatproof container; discard the bottom layer of milk solids. Use 3 tablespoons hot clarified butter for 10 cups popcorn; refrigerate the rest (it's great for sauteeing).

HOW TO MAKE STOVETOP POPCORN

Steps:

• Place a large (8-quart) pot over high heat and add the oil. The oil should just cover the bottom of the pan. Heat the oil until it's rippling but not smoking, then add the popcorn kernels and shake the pot so the kernels form a single layer on the bottom. Place the lid on the pan and immediately reduce the heat to medium. Once the kernels start popping, shake the pan every so often and listen to the pace of the popping: The kernels should pop rapid-fire and should continue as one long continuous burst. As soon as the popping slows to a few kernels at a time, turn off the heat. (If you find that your kernels are popping just a few at a time for a long time and aren't picking up speed, take a peek and see if the kernels are getting too dark without opening: You might need to start again if they're starting to burn. It'll be worth the redo!)Remove the lid and immediately add salt or other seasonings; tap the pot up and down to distribute the salt. Pour half the popcorn into a large serving bowl, then salt the remaining popcorn in the pan and add to the bowl.

HOW TO MAKE POPCORN ON THE STOVE

Steps:

• Pour approximately 2 tablespoons of oil in the bottom of a medium/large pan. The oil should generously cover the bottom of the pan.
• Heat the pan over Medium/High heat.
• Put 3 test popcorn kernels in the pan and put on the cover.
• After you hear the test kernels pop, take off the lid.
• Add popcorn kernels (see notes below) to the pan and put the lid back on.
• Allow the popcorn to pop.
• Gently slide the pan around on the burner during the first few minutes of the process to avoid burning the kernels.
• Take the pan off the heat when the sound of kernels popping slows down. (The whole popping process should only take 3-4 minutes.)

PERFECT MOVIE POPCORN

Steps:

• Pour in the oil and heat the pan until oil shimmers, to about 400 degrees F(or medium high heat).
• Test one kernel by throwing it into the oil; place the lid on the popper and wait until it pops. Pour the rest of the popcorn into the pan, stirring the kernels until they are evenly coated.
• Cook for three minutes, exactly.
• Here's a tip from the Popcorn Council: "Old Maids" is a term for kernels that fail to pop and are often found at the bottom of the popcorn bowl. They can, however, be rejuvenated. The water in kernels is what causes popcorn to pop, so all you need to do is re-hydrate the dried kernels. David Woodside, author of What Makes Popcorn Pop? suggests filling "a one-quart jar three-quarters full of popcorn and adding one tablespoon of water. Cover the jar with an airtight lid and give it a few good shakes every few minutes until the popcorn has absorbed all the water. Store the jar in a cool place." Woodside says in two or three days you can test-pop a batch of kernels. If you still get old maids, add a few more drops of water to the jar, shake it, and let it sit for a few more days.

PERFECT POPCORN

Steps:

• Place the oil, popcorn and salt in a large, 6-quart, metal mixing bowl. Cover with heavy-duty aluminum foil and poke 10 slits in the top with a knife.
• Place the bowl over medium heat and shake constantly using a pair of tongs to hold the bowl. Continue shaking until the popcorn finishes popping, approximately 3 minutes.
• Remove the bowl from the heat and carefully remove the foil. Stir in any salt that is on the side of the bowl.
• Melt the butter in the microwave. Slowly drizzle over the popcorn, while spinning the bowl. Serve immediately.