If I had to pick my top five favorite snacks, popcorn would definitely be at the top of the list! It is a quick, healthy snack that is easy to make and take on-the-go! Here’s how to make the best homemade popcorn.
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Is Popcorn a Healthy Snack?
Popcorn is a healthy source of fiber and antioxidants. It is healthier if air popped, and is very low calorie if you don’t add toppings.
While butter and salt do make it a higher calorie snack, using high quality, organic ingredients makes a big difference! Organic butter includes beneficial nutrients like vitamin K2 and may help improve bone health and reduce inflammation.
Although low-salt diets are generally encouraged, unrefined salt, like Redmond’s Real Salt, contains minerals that your body needs such as potassium.
Supplies
You’ll need a few supplies to make the best homemade popcorn! Here’s what I like to use:
Popcorn Maker
I love my air popcorn popper! Some other popular methods are stovetop and hot oil popcorn makers, but both of these options require using oil. I personally prefer butter popcorn, and one of my kids prefers plain popcorn without butter or oil.
Air-popped popcorn, without added butter or oil, is also much healthier if you are looking for a low calorie snack! This is the popcorn maker that I love and use multiple times a week! It has a spot to melt the butter and it is larger than other air poppers so that you can make more popcorn at once!
Bowl
You will need a large bowl to pop the popcorn into. I prefer to use a large glass mixing bowl like this!
Popcorn Containers
I picked some popcorn containers up from the Target dollar section a few years ago. They are so fun for the kids to use for snacks or for family movie nights! Here are some similar ones that I found online!
Ingredients
I have made a lot of popcorn, and I have found that the quality of the ingredients you use makes all of the difference! Personally, I prefer to buy my ingredients from Azure Standard.
About Azure Standard
Azure Standard is a bulk-food co-op that offers organic and non-GMO foods at excellent prices! You can order in small or large amounts for most of their dried, fresh, and canned goods. Azure operates by delivering bulk foods to drop sites usually on a monthly basis. Read this post to learn more about Azure Standard.
These are my all-time favorite ingredients to use for making homemade popcorn!
Popcorn kernels
I keep this popcorn on display in these glass jars on an open shelf in our kitchen. My kids love the multi-colored kernels, and I love that it is organic!
Salt
I recently started using Redmond’s real salt. It is natural, unrefined, and mined from an ancient seabed in Utah.
This salt is free of additives and full of natural minerals! It is absolutely delicious and a little bit really enhances the flavor of dishes and snacks I use it in!
Another salt that I like to use for popcorn is from am. Niccoli. Their signature salt is a flake salt mixed with herbs and spices. The flavor is subtle yet delicous! Use my code THEMILLERACRES to save!
Butter
This is THE best butter I have ever tasted. It is European and lightly salted. Once you try fresh, organic butter, you won’t want to go back!
Alternatives
If Azure doesn’t deliver to your area or you need something more convenient, here are some ingredient alternatives that are available for delivery straight to your home.
How to Make the Best Homemade Popcorn
Use the scoop on top of the air popper to scoop the recommended amount of popcorn into the base of the popper. Do not put over the maximum recommended amount into the popper. The popper that I use has a ½ cup capacity. Put the plastic topper and scoop back into place.
Popcorn kernels can expand to be 20-50 times larger than the original size! 1/2 cup of kernels will yield about 16 cups of popcorn. 3 cups of popcorn is about 1 serving, so this recipe makes enough for 5 people with a little leftover!
Cut butter into thin slices and lay it in the scooper across the bottom. For ½ cup of popcorn, I recommend using 1 tablespoon of butter. For ¼ cup of popcorn, use ½ tablespoon of butter.
Plug the popcorn maker in and put the glass bowl under it. Make sure to stay in the room while the popcorn is popping.
Once the popcorn has completed popping, unplug the machine. Pour the butter on to the popcorn and sprinkle salt to taste on top. I use 1 tsp of salt for 1/2 cup of kernels. Use your hands or a spoon to mix it in.
Pour the popcorn into popcorn containers if sharing. Enjoy!
Alternative Recipes
If you want to get creative, you could try some of these alternative popcorn recipes!
This post was all about how to make the best homemade popcorn.
The Best Homemade Popcorn
Equipment
- 1 Air Popcorn Maker
- 1 Large Glass Bowl
- 5 Popcorn Containers
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup organic popcorn kernels
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1 tsp salt
Instructions
- Use the scoop on top of the air popper to scoop 1/2 cup of popcorn kernels into the base of the popper. Do not put over the maximum recommended amount into the popper.
- Cut butter into thin slices and lay it in the scooper across the bottom. If it doesn't fully melt, you can melt it on the stove or in the microwave in a separate bowl.
- Plug the popcorn maker in and put the glass bowl under it. Make sure to stay in the room while the popcorn is popping.
- Once the popcorn has completed popping, unplug the machine. Pour the butter on to the popcorn and sprinkle salt to taste on top. Use your hands or a spoon to mix it in.
- Pour the popcorn into popcorn containers if sharing. Enjoy!
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