Perfect Stove Popped Corn 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 STOVE-POPPED CORN

Steps:

• Heat 1/3 cup vegetable oil (theaters use coconut oil) until very hot but not smoking (400 to 460 degrees) in a 5- to 6-quart heavy pan with a lid. Add a few kernels-when they pop, add 1 cup kernels in a single layer and put the lid on, leaving it slightly ajar. Shake the pan during popping to keep the kernels from burning. When the popping slows, remove the pan from the heat until the popping stops. Toss the popcorn with fine salt.

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.

POPCORN (STOVE TOP)

Steps:

• Put the oil in a 4 quart heavy pot and let it heat over medium heat for 30 seconds.
• Stir in the kernels, turning with a spoon so that they are evenly covered with oil, then spread them in one layer on the bottom of the pot. (I just shake them around a bit).
• Cover the pot, leaving a small space at the edge for escaping steam. As soon as the first kernel pops, move the pot gently and continuously back and forth over medium-high heat until the popping stops.
• Turn into a warm bowl. Toss with melted butter, if desired, and salt to taste.

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

KETTLE CORN POPCORN

Steps:

• Put popcorn and oil in a stove top popcorn popper over medium heat. When oil is hot and corn begins to sizzle, add sugar. Stir or shake constantly to avoid burning the sugar. When popping slows to once every 2 or 3 seconds remove from heat and pour popcorn into a large bowl.
• Mix vanilla extract into the melted butter and drizzle over popped popcorn. Toss popcorn well to distribute the butter evenly. Allow popcorn to cool for 3 to 4 minutes to crisp up.

STOVE TOP POPCORN

Steps:

• Heat oil in stove top popcorn popper.
• Add popping corn.
• When stirring becomes difficult or pan is visibly full, remove from heat.
• Dump into large bowl.