Popcorn Ideas??

[3boymthr]

We no longer cook microwave popcorn - ever. There was a disturbing story in one of the outdoor magazines (Sierra?) a couple of years ago about the teflon in pans & microwave popcorn being harmful/causing cancer, etc. We don't eat organic - just no teflon.

We now have the counter top air popper that looks like an old fashioned popping cart - very decorative. DS#2 was a microwave popcorn addict, so he got it as a christmas present a couple of years ago which made him like the popcorn more. (I paid $20 at Macy's for it.) I second or third the PPs and also recommend cooking on the stove top in melted butter. If you render the butter first it doesn't burn. If you don't like this option Jiffy Pop is very fun - still available at Target - and cheap.

With Air popped popcorn sometimes we just salt it. Other times we add butter, but it does melt. Then there are a couple of other options. Molly McButter is okay But I like to add shake on flavor toppings I've gotten them online and at Target. My favorite: Fireworks Carmel Pecan Popcorn Seasoning. I bought it at the Corn Palace a couple of years ago. Just sprinkle it on air popped or stove cooked popcorn. They have other flavors. I paid $2.25 for a 1.35 oz jar. A small jar goes a long way - it's still a quarter full. www.popcornlovers.com

Also, if you do go for air popping don't buy no-name/store brand popcorn. It doesn't pop as well - I find about half of it flies out of the air popper into the bowl vs. name brand where most of it pops.

 

[disynut]

I remember my mom used to do popcorn on the stove all the time....unfortunately she can never remember how she did some of the things she did when I was little How much popcorn/oil/butter do you put in the pan? Do you cook it on low, medium, or high? I remember they used to move the pan back and forth as they cooked it, is that right? The popcorn was delicious.

 

[rparmfamily]

I have found Orville's is much better popping corn than Jiffy. The directions are on the container but what I do is a few tablespoons of olive oil on med high heat, enough kernals to coat the bottom, lid on w/vent open...when I hear the hiss I start to shake. Takes just a few mins and my kids LOVE it that way!!!

Make sure to get it off the heat fast (not to burn) and into a big bowl immediately. Then I salt it and use spray butter.

Oh and it's SOOOO cheap to do this vs microwave popcorn! A whole container of kernals is a few dollars and lasts awhile.

 

[bookgirl]

I pop up my popcorn, give it a few spritz with the spray butter and then sprinkle on sea salt or flavored salt (ranch or parmesean garlic are my favorites).

I figure it's got a few more calories then plain but it's not drowning in high cholestral butter or oil.

 

[donald&daisy]

I have found Orville's is much better popping corn than Jiffy.

I would like to second this! At first I just bought generic popcorn and I was really disappointed but then I bought some Orville's and it was like night and day! Also I forgot to mention the type of airpopper I have: Presto Poplite. They sell them at Wally World and it was like $20. I would highly recommend it. It is a breeze to clean up--I just wipe it out.

 

[rparmfamily]

I would like to second this! At first I just bought generic popcorn and I was really disappointed but then I bought some Orville's and it was like night and day!

Exactly what happened to me! I thought the Jiffy pop wasn't bad...but WOW Orville's pops much better! (the actual corn tastes better,etc)

 

[tinytink]

I went to our local farmers market and I got actual "popcorn", it's small cobs of corn with the kernels still on it and you just pop it into a brown paper bag and microwave. Not all the kernels pop off the cob but the ones that come off are so delicious w/o all the butter, salt or anything. They are so light, airy and tasty. We usually make our popcorn on the stove top, a tsp of oil 1/3 cup of kernels on med/high heat, start to shake once you hear the ping, ping, ping. Once the popping start make sure to keep shaking till it stops and take it off the heat fast, I mean don't even stop to turn it off just dump into a big bowl then turn off the heat.

 

[becky7953]

I would like to second this! At first I just bought generic popcorn and I was really disappointed but then I bought some Orville's and it was like night and day! Also I forgot to mention the type of airpopper I have: Presto Poplite. They sell them at Wally World and it was like $20. I would highly recommend it. It is a breeze to clean up--I just wipe it out.

I use the wally world one too ($15.00)! Orvillle is much better... generic is good but has alot of hulls....

 

[aprilfoolwed]

Orville's popcorn is actually truly a better popping corn. It's a different variety. He came up with the hybrid which pops better than any other. So it's not a generic vs. name brand - it's actually just a better popping kernel. Worth the extra money!

 

[RichNKatHolly]

We make ours in my sauce pot with olive oil. After it's done we put it in a bowl, sprinkle with kosher salt and my DF's spice mix. So yummy!!! Never a kernel left.

His spice mix is onion powder, garlic, chili peper, some red pepper flakes and some other stuff that I don't know - just invade your spice cabinet and see how it goes! It's nice to have on hand to spice meats and sauces too!

Happy popping!

 

[newtodis]

Thank you all so much for all of the thoughts and suggestions! I'm excited to start checking this out more and eventually making a purchase. Maybe I can talk DH into buying this for me as my Valentine's or anniversary gift!

 

[Mad4Mickey]

Thanks for the popcornlovers website . My GH has a popcorn machine and he is obsessed with making it taste like the crap we get at teh movies !

Why I bought him that big thing I have no idea but he said our media room needed it LOL

 

[AllesonWonderland]

Okay, so I was just reading the thread about grapes and was getting hungry. Now I'm here and really craving popcorn! LOL

Anyway, I *LOVE* popcorn with butter and parmesan. DS likes it with taco spices.

 

[branv]

Okay, I put this on the Costco thread, and had to bump this one to tell you fellow popcorn lovers of a yummy item I found for popcorn. Our costco had this seasoning called Johnny's Garlic Spread Mix. It contains Garlic powder, parmesan cheese, salt, parsley, etc. On the popcorn it turned out so yummy! Highly recommend.

 

[TW27]

They just had a big article about popcorn in my Food Network Magazine. Suggestions they had for seasoning air-popped popcorn included:

Italian style - dried basil, oregano, and grated parmesan cheese
Tex-Mex - Chili powder and dark brown sugar
Asian - sugar, sea salt, and wasabi powder
Indian - salt, ground cumin, and curry powder
British - sea salt and vinegar powder

I think I might have some popcorn myself right now!