Old-Fashioned Homemade Popcorn Recipes

Forget the Microwave and Serve Up a Delicious Comfort Food

© Marie Brannon

Jul 15, 2009

To yield 2½ quarts (or ten cups) of popped popcorn, use a ten-inch cast-iron skillet with a domed lid and ½ cup popcorn kernels. For smaller servings, adjust these proportions appropriately. For reference, it may be useful to know that an average bag of microwave popcorn also makes about ten cups of popped corn.

Basic Homemade Popcorn Recipe

Ingredients:

• ¼ cup vegetable, olive or peanut oil
• ½ cup popcorn kernels

Directions:

1. Heat the oil over moderate heat until it just begins to smoke
2. Sprinkle popcorn kernels evenly into pan, no more than a kernel or two deep
3. Cover the skillet and “shake”, with one hand on the lid and the other on the handle, using a quick horizontal movement
4. When the sound of popping diminishes, remove skillet from the flame
5. When corn is completely popped, remove lid and pour popcorn into serving bowl

Sesame Popcorn

Ingredients:

• 2½ quarts popped corn (from basic recipe above)
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 4 teaspoons Oriental sesame oil
• 1 teaspoon soy sauce

Directions:

1. Melt the butter in a saucepan over moderately low heat
2. Add the soy sauce and sesame oil
3. Drizzle the mixture over the popped corn in a large baking pan
4. Sprinkle with salt and bake in a preheated 300F oven for ten to fifteen minutes

Parmesan Popcorn

Ingredients:

• 2½ quarts popped corn (from basic recipe above)
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• ½ teaspoon fresh lemon juice
• ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan

Directions:

1. Melt the butter in a small skillet and add the lemon juice
2. Drizzle the mixture over the popcorn in a large baking pan
3. Bake in a preheated 300F oven for 10 to 15 minutes
4. Sprinkle Parmesan over the top, toss and add salt if desired

Cheddar Bacon Popcorn

Ingredients:

• 4 slices of bacon, chopped
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• ½ cup popcorn kernels
• ¼ pound sharp Cheddar, finely grated

Directions:

1. Fry the bacon over moderate heat in a heavy skillet, stirring until it is crisp
2. Place the bacon on paper towels to soak up excess oil
3. Put 3 tablespoon of the bacon grease into a cast-iron skillet with a domed lid
4. Heat the grease until it begins to smoke, then add the popcorn kernels
5. Cover the skillet and shake, as described above
6. Pour the popcorn into a large baking pan and toss with the Cheddar, bacon and salt
7. Heat in a preheated 250F oven for three to five minutes or until the cheese is just melted

Popcorn is a healthy treat and its preparation can be a fun activity for children and adults alike. Experience the joys of making your own popcorn balls, holiday decorations or any of numerous other crafts once you learn the basics of making old-fashioned homemade popcorn.

Old-Fashioned Homemade Popcorn

Unpopped Popcorn in Cast-Iron Skillet

Popping Corn On A Gas Stove

Basic Homemade Popcorn Is Used in Many Recipes

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