How to Make Popcorn on the Stove

Your brand-new stove can keep your home warm, but you can use it for more than just burning wood. Your stove is the perfect tool to prepare a delicious serving of popcorn for a family night or when you want a snack with few calories.

Popcorn is a fast and easy snack you can make with a couple of ingredients. It  doesn’t require you to be an expert cook. It is also a cheap alternative to other common salty treats like tortilla chips or fries.

In today’s guide, we’ll take a look at how to make popcorn on the stove. We’ll give you all the tips and tricks to make your popcorn taste delicious while remaining healthy. You’ll also learn more about the different ways you can season your popcorn.

Is Popcorn Healthy?

When it comes to salty snacks, popcorn is one of the healthiest options. However, that only goes for homemade popcorn you prepare with high-quality oil and no butter. If you make it right, you’ll get a delicious treat with fewer calories than most salty snacks.

Popcorn is a whole grain, meaning that, unlike some other other snacks, it will offer some nutritional value. If you use coconut or extra virgin oil, you’ll be getting a good amount of fiber with minimal fat and salt.

Stovetop popcorn also doesn’t require any fancy ingredients, and it is quite cheap compared to a microwaveable packet.

Note: Microwave popcorn and popcorn from movie theaters are not healthy options. They use highly refined oils and artificial chemicals for flavor. So, if you want to have popcorn, you’re better off making it yourself.

Best Ingredients for Homemade Popcorn

You can make popcorn on your wood stove with just the popcorn kernels and oil. However, if you want to make the best popcorn, you’ll need the following ingredients:

• Two tablespoons of coconut oil, extra virgin oil, or regular cooking oil
• ½ cup of popcorn kernels
• Salt and other seasoning ingredients

You can make seasoning with almost every ingredient you can think of because popcorn goes well with almost everything:

• Black pepper seasoning. This seasoning will make you want more. All you have to do is get two tablespoons of olive oil and black pepper. Add them to the popcorn before turning the fire on for better flavor.
• Spicy pepper seasoning. This option is similar to the previous seasoning but a lot spicier. Depending on how spicy you want your popcorn to be, you can use cayenne pepper, white pepper, or red pepper flakes.
• Cinnamon honey butter. Are you looking for something sweet? This could be the right seasoning for you. All you need is two tablespoons of melted butter, ¼ tablespoon of cinnamon, and one tablespoon of honey or maple syrup.
• Avocado oil. You can combine two tablespoons of avocado oil and a pinch of salt for an even healthier snack.
• Melted butter. This one is the most common seasoning for homemade popcorn. However, be careful with how much butter you use. The more butter, the more calories, and the less healthy the popcorn becomes.
• Nutritional yeast. All you need is the nutritional yeast, two tablespoons of any oil, and some salt. It is the ideal vegan option if you love the taste of butter but cannot eat it.

When it comes to making popcorn, you only need a heavy-bottomed saucepan or pot with a lid. The lid is essential because the kernels will start popping once the oil gets hot enough. You will also need a big bowl to put the popcorn in once it is ready.

Steps for Making Popcorn on the Stove

Making popcorn on a wood-burning stove is not a challenging task that requires deep knowledge of cooking. In reality, it is quite an easy and fast process that you can do at any time. You’ll just need around ten minutes before the movie night starts.

Preparation Steps (2 – 3 Minutes)

1. Now that you have all the necessary ingredients, you can prepare your popcorn. Make sure that your fire is moderate with medium heat for better results. Remember, if the fire is too strong, the popcorn will burn.
2. Now, combine the oil with the popcorn kernels inside the saucepan. Depending on your pot, you will have to divide the kernels in two to allow each grain to pop.
3. Get your serving bowl ready. Keep it next to you in case the popcorn starts to overflow the saucepan.

Cooking Time (8 – 10 Minutes)

1. It is time to start making your popcorn. The first thing you need to do is place the pot on top of the stove. Ensure it is the right heat to allow all the kernels to pop.
2. You’ll need to shake the pot slightly now and then. This can allow the unpopped kernels to cook evenly. Be careful when moving the pot. We recommend using cooking gloves even if the pot has a handle.
3. When the kernels start popping, you can tilt the lid to allow the steam to leave. Do it just enough to let the steam out, but not too much to let the popcorn escape the pot. Always be careful with the steam, as it can cause severe burning.
4. Pay attention to when the popping slows. When you hear a pop every minute, it means it is time to remove the pot from the heat. Once again, do it carefully to avoid any burns.
5. Now that you’ve removed the pan from the heat, you need to place it somewhere safe. Remove the lid and dump the popcorn in your serving bowl. If you haven’t used any seasoning, you can now add the popcorn salts. Flavor the snack to your taste, but ensure you’ve shaken the bowl so that the salt reaches every part.

Safety tip: When using a wood stove for cooking anything, you need to avoid placing any flammable ingredients close to the fire.

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