Old-Fashioned Way to Pop Popcorn

Popcorn is a tasty and healthy snack

Making popcorn using the old-fashioned method is easy, quick, and lots of fun. Popcorn is made from dried corn kernels and is a great low-fat, high-fiber snack. Making your own ensures that there are no hidden ingredients and that it is made exactly to your own taste. It is also much cheaper than buying the microwave or prepackaged varieties. Popcorn is a yummy snack and the perfect way to enhance movie night at home, so grab your saucepan and start popping.

Things You'll Need

• Heavy bottomed saucepan with lid
• Stove
• Cooking oil (sunflower or vegetable varieties are ideal)
• Dried corn kernels
• Large bowl or container
• Salt or sugar (optional)

Instructions

1. Place your saucepan onto the stove over a medium heat and add enough cooking oil to just cover the bottom of the pan.

2. Add a single layer of corn kernels to the pan and cover with your lid. Use a clear lid if possible; the process is much more fun if you can watch the corn pop. Shake the pan lightly every minute or so to stop any burning. After a couple of minutes, the corn will start to pop. Continue to shake the pan at regular intervals until the popping stops.

3. Add your popcorn to your chosen container and toss with salt or sugar to taste.

4. Choose a good movie, grab some friends and enjoy.

Tips & Warnings

• Experiment with flavor. Sugar and salt are the most common flavors for popcorn but there are a number of other options. Try powdered cinnamon, vanilla sugar, maple syrup or melted butter.

• Avoid the temptation to add extra kernels to your pan. It may not seem like much, but popped kernels are far larger than unpopped corn. You will be amazed at how much popcorn can be made from a small amount of kernels.

• Make sure to toss the corn as it is popping. The oil in the pan is hot and any corn resting at the bottom of the pan could catch and burn.