How to Cook Popcorn on the Stove

Anyone can learn the tricks to cooking popcorn on the stove.

Cooking popcorn on the stove is an old-fashioned twist on modern day life. Some kids nowadays might not even know it's possible to cook popcorn outside of a microwave or a hot air popper. If you're holed up in a rental cabin with no microwave and a four-burner stove, consider trying to make popcorn the old fashioned way. Making popcorn the old-fashioned way might bring back memories as well as make your kids think you're some kind of genius.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Big pot with lid
• Few tablespoons of vegetable oil
• Popcorn kernels
• Salt
• Stove

Cooking Popcorn on the Stove

1. Put your pot on the stove and set the heat to medium high.

2. Add 2 to 3 tbsp. of vegetable oil. Roll around the pot to coat the bottom. Add one popcorn kernel.

3. When the oil starts to smoke, or when the one kernel pops, the pot is ready.

4. Pour in 1 cup of popcorn kernels. Let them heat up, shaking the pot gently over the flame, back and forth, to roll the kernels around. When one pops, put the lid on.

5. Continue shaking as the popping continues, shaking pot quickly across the burner. Don't stop shaking the pot or the popcorn will burn.

   When the pops start slowing down (or the lid starts rising off), take the popcorn off the burner, turning off the burner.

6. Sprinkle the popcorn with salt, tossing the popcorn by gently lifting the pot up and down. Enjoy. Add melted butter, if you're inclined.

Tips & Warnings

• Seasoned salt, garlic salt or many other flavors can be added instead of using plain salt.

• The hot oil can be very dangerous, be sure to use hot pads when cooking popcorn on the stove.

References

• Urban Cooking Guide: Popcorn On a Stove

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish