Stupid question--How do you pop popcorn?

[Kermit]

I want to make plain popcorn that's not microwave popcorn, and I don't have a popcorn popper. Is there a way to do that? I figure there must be, since people have been making popcorn since before they had electricity. I'm guessing I can make it on the stove, but I don't know how.

I want to string popcorn and cranberries on string for Christmas, but I don't want to pay for microwave popcorn since it's so much more expensive. Also, my grocery store doesn't carry any plain microwave popcorn, and I don't want butter hanging off the mantle for the next month.

Am I out of luck, or is there another way to make it?

 

[Michelle]

Get a large pot with a lid, put some corn oil in the bottom to cover, let it get HOT and then throw in some popcorn and cover it with the lid. Shake it on the burner until it starts popping, stop when the pops are 2-3 seconds apart.

We used to make popcorn that way all the time before the days of microwave popcorn.

 

[Pooh Girl 71]

yep that's the best way. Just make sure it's done popping before you lift the lid....I have a scar on my chest from a hot kernal (I decided to check on the popcorn ) and it HURT

 

[EROS]

Kermit, I wouldn't use a "good" pot. Sometimes the bottom can get blackened when the popcorn burns towards the end of popping. You also can buy wire baskets which allow you to pop the corn over a fire without oil. There also are some very inexpensive electric poppers which pop without oil.

Good Luck,

 

[helenabear]

My dad does what others have suggested in his cast iron pan. It really makes some excellent pop corn! Now that's all he does use it for!

 

[Cindy B]

Yes, you can get a big of kernels for about $1. That whole bag of kernels lasts a very long time...


Maybe 15-20 cups....

(Thats a lot of popcorn!)

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Awww yesss, now that brings back memories of my childhood. Mom with her big "popcorn" skillet banging and shaking it on the heat. We would melt the butter in a pot to put on the popcorn.
As someone said do not use a "good" skillet for this job, it will get black.
Sounds like alot of fun!

 

[MerryPoppins]

Of course if you aren't going to eat it, air popped corn would be less greasy. Do you know anyone with an air popper that you could borrow?

 

[Cindy B]

Kermit--

This is going to take a long time as well... I remember one year, maybe 77 or 78 me and my sister decided to do this... well, it takes a lot of popcorn for just one strand....

 

[SPAGo 98]

my friend made us popcorn like that, but she added spices to the oil too. we had rosemary popcorn, and curry popcorn. it was so good!

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

Do NOT try to string it fresh. It will split and crack hopelessly. Let the popped corn sit uncovered for a day or two and it will work better.

I always use a "good" pot to pop the corn in. The point is not to burn it! If you stay with it the whole time, you'll be fine.

Alternate cranberries and popped corn on the same strand if you like. It adds a bit of color.

Have fun!

 

[snoopy]

You could also use Jiffy Pop as well. Remember that? That was the equivalent to microwave popcorn back in the day. It was a real treat when Mom would let us get Jiffy Pop.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Stringing popcorn and cranberries, brings back some memories. My mom and I did that one year when I was a kid (I want to say in 82 or 83). You need LOTS of popcorn. We used an air popper. Oh and be prepared to stab your self a hundred times or more. But seriously it was lots of fun (bandages and all )

 

[MerryPoppins]

I've never done it for my Christmas tree, but one year we made some for an outdoor evergreen that we decorated for the birds. They loved it!

 

[Kermit]

Thanks for the help! I'm just going to make a strand for the mantle, not the tree, so I'm hoping it won't take forever. I'm also going to use some cranberries, and I'm going to hang sugar cookies shaped like stars and frosted white off of white ribbon at all the parts where the strand goes back up and touches the mantle. I knew there had to be a way to make popcorn without a microwave. I'd buy a popper, but I don't actually like popcorn.

 

[nativetxn]

Kermit, you make me feel very old. Back in the olden days we didn't even have microwaves

Your decorations sound like they are going to be pretty.