A Step by Step Guide to Easy Stovetop Popcorn
Trust us, those microwave bags are NOT good for you
Popcorn is basically the perfect snack for any time of the day. No judgement here if you’ve ever had it for breakfast or even twice in one day! But if you’ve been microwaving popcorn bags, may we suggest an easy healthier alternative? Stovetop popcorn is not as scary as it seems and is super easy to make. Plus, you can control how much butter and salt you add or try a dozen other fun topping ideas.
Have you ever wondered how a paper bag that is filled with buttery popcorn doesn’t break apart or leak any oil? It turns out that the bags are coated in basically a Teflon-esque substance. And unfortunately, that means your popcorn has traces of these PFAS chemicals on them too. PFAS (otherwise known around here as pretty freaking awful stuff) has been linked to all sorts of health problems from cancers all the way down to reproductive and developmental difficulties. But fear not, you don’t have to give up your popcorn habit. We have a step by step guide to making stovetop popcorn, as well as a list of fun toppings suggestions to try out. Give it a try!
Step by Step Guide
1. Put a 6 qt soup pot on the stove on medium high heat. Add 2 Tbsp neutral oil (like coconut or canola) to the pot.
2. Add 3-4 kernels to the pot and cover. Listen carefully and wait for them all to pop. Some people skip this step and just move on to the next one. We’ve done both!
3. Once the tester kernels have popped, add 1/2 cup popcorn kernels and cover.
4. Give the pot a good shake, and then let the popping begin! Shake 3-4 times as it pops, listening carefully to when the popping slows down.
5. When the popping slows down and stops, uncover carefully. While it’s still hot, add salt (how much is up to you). Adding salt when it’s hot helps the salt stick to the popcorn.
6. Add your melted butter or other toppings (optional). How good does this look, huh?
7. Eat, eat, eat!
Play with the popcorn toppings
A couple of favorites we go back to over and over again are:
- Parmesan and black pepper
- Cinnamon and sugar
- Nutritional yeast
- Garlic butter- sauté minced garlic in butter
If you’re feeling more adventurous, here are some links to tons and tons of great and wacky ideas:
101 Popcorn Toppings, from Basic to Insane
Movie Night Makeover: 15 Amazing Popcorn Toppings
25 Ideas for Both Sweet and Savory Popcorn Toppings