How to Make Popcorn in a Whirley Pop in 6 Simple Steps

Once you discover that making stovetop popcorn can be nearly as easy as popping a bag of the microwavable stuff, you'll never go back. A Whirley Pop pot is a tool that allows you to make a fresh batch of popcorn in just a few minutes using the oil of your choosing instead of the congealed fake butter used in microwavable popcorn bags.

Following the Whirley Pop directions is easy enough for a kid, but this is a project that is best handled by an adult — hot oil can cause painful burns if you're not careful. Let's discuss how to season your Whirley Pop and use it to make a tasty bowl of popcorn.

If you haven't used your Whirley Pop in several months or if you're using it for the first time, season it to make sure it's naturally nonstick. Despite its name, the process of seasoning isn't about flavoring. Seasoning a pan means baking on a thin layer of oil, protecting the pan and making it nonstick. This is useful for making popcorn because you want the kernels to be able to move freely inside the pot, not stick to the bottom and burn.

Here's how to season your Whirley Pop in a few simple steps:

1. Pour in one tablespoon of vegetable oil and swirl it around until the entire interior surface is coated.
2. Heat the Whirley Pop on a burner over medium heat for about a minute, rotating it slightly to make sure the hot oil is distributed evenly.
3. Let the pot cool and wipe out any remaining oil with a paper towel.

The instructions for how to make popcorn in a Whirley Pop are fairly simple. Here's how the company suggests to do it:

1. Add 1 tablespoon coconut or canola oil and 1/2 cup of unpopped popcorn kernels to your Whirley Pop.
2. Place the Whirley Pop on a stove burner and turn it to medium or medium-high heat. You want to kernels to heat up slowly (otherwise they could burn), so don't preheat the burner ahead of time.
3. Gently turn the pot's crank the entire time it's on the stove. You should start to hear the kernels pop within a few minutes.
4. Continue turning the crank until the popping slows to a stop or the crank becomes hard to turn.
5. Take the Whirley Pop off the stove and open it facing away from you to vent the steam.
6. Pour the finished popcorn into a bowl and add salt or other seasonings.

The fun thing about making fresh popcorn is that it's easy to experiment with different flavor combinations. There's no wrong Whirley Pop recipe — making the perfect bowl depends on what flavors you like. The additions and flavor combinations are virtually endless,. Try stirring in the following:

• Salt
• Black pepper
• Parmesan cheese
• Garlic powder
• Onion powder
• Chili powder
• Nutritional yeast
• Melted butter
• Ranch seasoning
• Cinnamon and sugar
• Mini chocolate chips
• Nuts