The BEST Popcorn Ever
Are you a popcorn lover? The world recently celebrated National Popcorn Day and that had me realize that of all of the recipes I have shared, I haven’t shared my husband’s talent for popcorn making. You see, he is really good at it. Like–better than movie popcorn–making. So, today…join me for the BEST popcorn ever.
With the Super Bowl coming up…or family movie nights…or sleepovers with kids…you NEED to have the BEST popcorn close at hand. Be it microwave, Whirley-Pop OR a popcorn machine made, here’s the BEST versions of all three.
We have a monumental birthday coming up in few days. An Oreo variation will be added to the menu for that event–and of course, made from the best popcorn.
What type of corn do you prefer?
White…yellow..without hulls? If you have a favorite, by all means stay with that one.
We buy 6 gallon buckets of yellow popcorn from Breadbeckers. The buckets keep the corn fresh and we never run out. Always handy when there are events or littles requesting a batch from G.
If you don’t have access to Breadbeckers, you might love the Amish brand or Bob’s Red Mill, too. Buy locally raised if you can find it.
Here are our favorite ways to make the BEST popcorn.
FAVORITE WAYS TO MAKE POPCORN
1. Microwave
A few years ago I was guilty of buying the microwave popcorn bags and adding them to my microwave when a snack or movie night warranted popcorn. After researching the contents, and perhaps you have, too, the ingredients of those bags had me removing them from my pantry.
During one of my weight loss journeys, I discovered the BEST microwaved popcorn using a glass microwave popcorn maker. It was a true game changer. No oil. Just pure popcorn that could be sprayed with coconut oil and popcorn salt added to reduce WW points and be a healthier version for my love of popcorn.
If you don’t have one of these poppers, click on the photo to add one to your life! Promise you won’t regret it.
Microwave Popcorn
Equipment
- 1 microwave
- 1 microwave popcorn maker
Ingredients
- 1/3 C popcorn
- coconut oil spray
- popcorn seasoning salt
Instructions
- Add your favorite popcorn to the measuring indention in the top of the microwave popcorn popper. NOTE: There are different sizes of this popper, but the indention on ours holds about 1/3 C popcorn.
- Pour popcorn from lid into the popcorn popper and cover with the lid.
- Pop your popcorn until it slows down in your microwave. The size and settings of each microwave are different so monitor to make sure that it doesn't burn.
- Empty contents of popcorn into a large bowl.
- Spray lightly with coconut and sprinkle with flavocal or your favorite popcorn salt.
Notes
2. Whirley-Pop Stovetop
A friend of ours gave us a Whirley-Pop for Christmas one year. Who knew this was the greatest invention for making popcorn EVER??? You need this in your life…along with my husband’s recipe for making it better than movie theater popcorn!
G’s Fabulous Movie Popcorn
Equipment
- 1 Whirley Pop popcorn popper
- Stove
- measuring spoons and cups
Ingredients
- 1/2 C popcorn
- 2-3 T butter flavored coconut oil
- 1/2 t flavacol salt
Instructions
- Pour salt over measured popcorn in measuring cup.
- Place lid onto the popcorn popper and set onto the stove eye.
- Add oil to the popcorn popper and a few kernels of popcorn to one side of the lid and close.
- Turn on the burner to medium high.
- When you hear a popcorn kernel pop, add the rest of the popcorn and salt mixture by lifting the lid of the popper on one side.
- Crank the handle on the popcorn popper slowly until it pops and it's too difficult to turn anymore.
- Immediately pour into a bowl and serve!
Notes
3. Popcorn Machine
Now, if you know my husband, you know his family spent years at the amusement parks they owned, making thousands of popcorn machine loads of popcorn. Seriously, theirs was always the best. Years of refining their trade, created the most amazing popcorn.
If there are lots of family and friends gathered, a popcorn machine may appear with batches pouring out to everyone’s delight!
Although our machine is not THIS fancy, here’s one that’s similar to the one we have.
Here’s G’s recipe for that machine popped popcorn.
Popcorn Machine Popcorn
Equipment
- 1 popcorn machine
- liquid and dry measuring cups
- measuring spoons
Ingredients
- popcorn
- butter flavored coconut oil
- flavocol
Instructions
- Follow your manual for the size of popcorn machine that you have. NOTE: The KEY is using butter flavored coconut oil, popcorn, and flavacol to get the same great flavor as movie theater popcorn.
- Dump the popcorn kettle when it begins overflowing. Always turn the kettle off after dumping unless you are making another batch of popcorn.
Notes
Other Sweet Favorites…
Popcorn balls are one of our favorites.
Feel free to change these with sprinkles or flavors for ANY time of year!!
Hope you love all of these ways to make the BEST popcorn. I’d love to know which is your favorite in the comments!
Hope you enjoy, friends!
9 Comments
Dee
Well I’ve never heard of that butter flavored salt before, and of course I’m not familiar with the popcorn that you buy there but I’ll definitely have to try Bob’s Red Mill! It’s interesting to learn about Gary’s past and the amusement parks and popcorn making, and the different ways that you all make popcorn! Sounds great to me, I haven’t used a microwave bagged popcorn in years, too many chemicals yuck! So this is just fabulous! Thanks for all the great ideas for a delightful treat!
Leslie J Watkins
I hope you love them all. If you are a popcorn lover…G’s recipe will be life changing! Enjoy!
Cindy Walker
I absolutely LOVE popcorn! Thanks for sharing all these great ideas. I have a large popcorn machine that my Dad gave me many, many years ago. It’s definitely a commercial size & makes delicious popcorn for a large crowd. Took it apart for a good cleaning & now it won’t work. I look forward to trying your recipes.
Rachel
I love my whirly pop… well I’ve actually worn out several
Popcorn is my favorite snack. I’ll try G’s recipe for sure. I need to figure out what flavocol is.
I agree. We quit buying microwave popcorn also.
Leslie J Watkins
Isn’t it the BEST popcorn machine? G’s recipe is worth the try. Just hit the photo of the flavacol in the post and it will take you to the link to find out more. I’m sure it’s not the healthiest salt in the world…we just love it so much!
Martha+Wallace
Goodness, me! We love popcorn and I own none of the above mentioned popcorn makers! Seriously! I’ll have to invest in one.
The younger Wallace’s bought the Copes a huge popcorn machine for Christmas! They use it all the time and they love it! Popcorn for every party and movie night for sure! Yummy!
Leslie J Watkins
Gary’s ingredients always make it the best!
Anne from Simply2Moms
Popcorn is a favorite around here too! My whirley pop was a gift from my grandparents and I think of them every time I pop a pot. It really does make the best popcorn! I’m gonna have to try that flavored salt… Happy Friday!!
Leslie J Watkins
What a wonderful memory of that popcorn maker. Hope you will give this recipe a try and love it as much as we do!