How to Make Popcorn on the Stove
My favorite quick and healthy snack, super easy Stove top Popcorn is super simple to make in just a few minutes. Homemade popcorn is so much better than the microwave popcorn packs you get in the store because it doesn’t contain chemicals or preservatives. Just pure, crunchy, perfectly popped corn kernels!
Stove Top Popcorn
In the mad rush of life, I used to eat microwave popcorn every single day. It was my go-to snack in the office. Then people started burning popcorn in the break room and management decided to ban it. Which was a good idea, in hindsight, because microwave popcorn supposedly has a lot of chemicals in it that’s not exactly healthy.
I’m not an expert but it kind of makes sense to me because what is exactly in that bag with the popcorn…..I just don’t know. And while I went through popcorn withdrawal every single day for a month after the ban, I did some research on the internet that totally supported the microwave popcorn/chemical theory. And again….I’m not an expert but if it’s on the internet, isn’t it true?
So, I saved my popcorn noshing for home and went back to making my popcorn on the stovetop in a big ole’ pot. The way it was meant to be made. Right? And honestly, it’s not much more difficult to make popcorn in a pot on the stove top.
Aside from being easy to do, stovetop popcorn is MUCH MORE cost effective because you can get a bag of popcorn kernels for less than $3 and it will last you months!!! Whereas, a box of 6 microwave popcorn bags can run you well over $6…..and in my house, that will be gone in less than 6 days.
You can also make your stovetop popcorn in vegetable oil, canola oil, olive oil, coconut oil…..the list goes on and on. And my personal favorite it bacon fat! Yes, that jar of bacon grease you’ve been saving in the fridge for a rainy day……use that puppy to make a batch of ultra flavorful stovetop popcorn!
How to Cook Popcorn on the Stove
Making homemade popcorn on the stove is so simple to do and you really only need two ingredients…….popcorn kernels and oil.
- Put enough oil in a large pot to just cover the bottom completely.
- Add two kernels to the oil and place the lid on the pot.
- Heat the oil over medium heat until the two kernels pop.
- Remove the popcorn and add enough kernels to cover the bottom of the pot. Replace the lid.
- Cook the kernels until they begin to pop, approximately 2-3 minutes.
- Shake the pan, occasionally, to help any unpopped kernels fall to the bottom of the pan.
- Continue cooking the popcorn until the popping slows down, popcorn usually takes about 5 minutes total to pop completely.
- Transfer to a bowl and season with salt or other seasoning as you prefer.
What Oil to Use for Stove Top Popcorn
My personal favorite, as I mentioned before, was bacon grease. I always save my bacon fat whenever I bake my bacon so I have plenty stashed away for making popcorn all the time.
Here are a few other oils I like to use to pop popcorn on the stovetop:
- Canola Oil
- Olive Oil
- Coconut Oil
- Grapeseed Oil
- Peanut Oil
- Avocado Oil
- Ghee (Clarified Butter)
- Sunflower Oil
- Walnut Oil
Cooking times will vary for each of the oils listed above so keep an eye on your pot and if the oil starts to smoke, turn down the heat. You will also need to watch the color of your kernels….if they get dark before popping, turn the heat down.
How to Make Popcorn without Oil
You can also make your stovetop popcorn without oil. Air popped popcorn is super easy to make, too, but you MUST use FRESH popcorn kernels only.
And this is why….popcorn kernels contain a small amount of water inside the shells. When the popcorn kernels are heated it creates an energy that makes the water molecules vibrate inside the shell. The longer the kernels are heated, the faster the molecules vibrate which creates an immense amount of pressure inside the kernel.
Once the pressure builds to a point where the kernel shell can’t contain it any longer, the kernel will POP!
Because fresh kernels contain a bit more water than older kernels, it’s easier to air pop your popcorn without using oil. Older kernels that have been sitting on the shelf for a bit of time and have been exposed to air tend to dry out.
Added oil is not always needed to pop your popcorn, it’s more for added flavor and to coat the outside of the kernel to help keep it from burning.
To make your Stovetop Popcorn without Oil:
- Add enough kernels to cover the bottom of a nonstick skillet with a tight fitting lid. Replace the lid.
- Cook the kernels until they begin to pop, approximately 2-3 minutes.
- Shake the pan, occasionally, to help any unpopped kernels fall to the bottom of the pan.
- Continue cooking the popcorn until the popping slows down, popcorn usually takes about 5 minutes total to pop completely.
- Transfer to a bowl and season with salt or other seasoning as you prefer.
Easy Recipes Using Popcorn
- White Chocolate Strawberry Popcorn….this is amazing!
- Easy Chili Cheese Popcorn
- Pumpkin Spice Popcorn Balls
- Bunny Bait Trail Mix
- Easy Leprechaun Bait
- Popcorn Balls
- Popcorn Salad
OR you can try this super easy WHITE CHEDDAR POPCORN! It’s seriously so addicting and simple to make. We also love making this Hurricane Popcorn because it’s just a flavor packed snack!
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Get the Recipe: Stovetop Popcorn Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp canola oil, plus more, if needed
- 1 cup popcorn kernels, plus more, if needed.
Instructions
- Put enough oil in a large pot to just cover the bottom completely.
- Add two kernels to the oil and place the lid on the pot.
- Heat the oil over medium heat until the two kernels pop.
- Remove the popcorn and add enough kernels to cover the bottom of the pot. Replace the lid.
- Cook the kernels until they begin to pop, approximately 2-3 minutes.
- Shake the pan, occasionally, to help any unpopped kernels fall to the bottom of the pan.
- Continue cooking the popcorn until the popping slows down, popcorn usually takes about 5 minutes total to pop completely.
- Transfer to a bowl and season with salt or other seasoning as you prefer.
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