Campfire Popcorn

Cooking popcorn over a campfire is a fun way to make this traditional snack. Youngsters love this activity, as well as eating the finished product! There are a few different ways to make popcorn over a campfire, including using a simple foil pack, a coffee can, or a campfire popper you can purchase at a store.

Function

The easiest way to make campfire popcorn is with an 18-inch square piece of aluminum foil. Place two teaspoons of cooking oil and four teaspoons of popcorn in the middle of the foil. Then make a tent by bringing two opposite corners together and folding them over three times, and then bring the other two corners together and roll them so the tent is sealed. Make sure there's enough room for the corn to pop. Next, poke a campfire fork or a stick through at the top, and set the foil pack into the coals until a kernel pops. Then you can shake the pack over the coals until popping is complete. Add melted butter and salt if you prefer.

Features

Another way to make campfire popcorn is to use a two-pound coffee can. You'll need to prepare the can ahead of time by punching two holes into it, about 2 inches from the top and about 2 inches apart. Insert a metal stick into the holes, and bend the ends around the can.
Once your campfire has some hot coals, add two teaspoons of cooking oil to the can and then cover the the bottom with a single layer of popcorn. Cover the top of the can with foil, and then place it over the fire. When you hear the first kernel pop, start shaking the can until the popping finishes. Again, add butter and salt to taste.

Types

A more luxurious way of making campfire popcorn is with a metal campfire popcorn popper that can be purchased from various retailers, which holds up to four quarts of popped corn.

Considerations

Campfire popcorn doesn't have to involve camping. It can be made at a picnic in the park, or in the backyard. It can even be cooked over the fireplace!
Making campfire popcorn is a popular scouting activity, and kids really enjoy cooking it this way.

History

Popcorn most likely originated in Mexico thousands of years ago. Native Americans cooked it by piercing the cob with a sharp stick, covering the corn with oil, and then laying the cob by a fire. When the corn popped, it would stay attached to the cob. They also made popcorn by cooking it on hot stones, or by mixing it with hot sand.