How to Make Kettle Corn Popcorn

If you love the sweet, sugary taste of kettle corn popcorn sold at fairs and festivals, why not whip up a batch in your home kitchen? Unlike the microwave varieties, this recipe yields kettle corn that maintains its crunchiness without sacrificing flavor. To learn how to make your own kettle corn popcorn, read on!

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 1/4 cup canola oil or butter-flavored shortening
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup popcorn kernels (unpopped)
• 1/4 tsp salt
• large pot with lid
• potholders

1. ASSEMBLE YOUR SUPPLIES
   To make kettle corn popcorn on your home stove, you'll need a large pot with a lid, such as one used for making pasta or soup. High sides and sturdy potholders are a must, and a heavy base, while not absolutely essential, will make the job easier.
   
   Once you start cooking, the process moves fast, so it's good idea to pre-measure all of your ingredients, especially the sugar and the popcorn kernels.

2. HEAT THE OIL
   Pre-heat the cooking pot over medium heat for a minute or two, then add all of the oil or shortening along with 3 popcorn kernels. Cover the lid and then listen for the sound of popping. This generally takes about 2-3 minutes. When all 3 kernels have popped, the oil is hot enough.

3. ADD THE REMAINING INGREDIENTS
   Pour the sugar into the hot oil and stir vigorously a few times until it melts and you can no longer see the grains. This will happen quickly - about 10 seconds or so. Once the sugar has melted, add the popcorn and place the lid on the pot.

4. COOK THE KERNELS USING THE "3 SECOND RULE"
   To avoid burning the kernels or popped corn, use the "3 second" rule: Leave the covered pot on the burner for 3 seconds, them lift the pot (still covered) off of the burner and shake for 3 seconds. Continue this alternating pattern of heating and shaking until you hear the popping slow down to about one pop every second. At this point, uncover the pot and sprinkle the popcorn with the salt. Recover, and shake several times to distribute the salt and break up clumps. Pour the kettle corn popcorn into a large bowl and enjoy!

Tips & Warnings

• Wash out the pot immediately using hot water to melt the crystallized sugar.
• For a fun variation, add a few drops of food coloring to the melted sugar for colored kettle corn.
• Resist the urge to speed up the cooking by cranking up the heat. Too much heat will cause the sugar to caramelize or burn.

[fortunate]

on 10/3/2009 Sounds great! Something new I can try. Thanks for posting! 5*!

[sonni57]

on 10/2/2009 I love kettle popcorn I might make some right now.