How to Make Popcorn on the Stove

Learn How to Make Popcorn on the Stove with step-by-step directions to help you go back to basics and make popcorn the way it should be made.

There is nothing better than stove popped popcorn.  It has been a family favorite for as long as I can remember.  I learned how to pop popcorn on the stove at the knee of my father, who learned from his father, and so forth and so on.  Okay, that’s not true, while my dad did teach me, I have no idea where he learned How to Make Popcorn on the Stove.   All I know is that stove popped popcorn is the best.

Popcorn Kernel Guidelines

How many popcorn kernels to use depends on how big a pan you have and how much popcorn you want to make.  Here are some guidelines:

• 1/4 cup Popcorn Kernels = approximately 7 cups of popped popcorn
• 1/3 cup Popcorn Kernels = approximately 10 cups of popped popcorn
• 1/2 cup Popcorn Kernels = approximately 15 cups of popped popcorn

(For comparison purposes 1 regular-sized bag of Microwave popcorn yields approximately 4.5 cups of popped popcorn.)

How to Make Popcorn on the Stovetop

Step 1: Pour 2 Tablespoons (or so, depending on how big of a pan you use) of oil in the bottom of a medium/large pan. The oil should generously cover the bottom of the pan. Heat the pan over Medium/High heat.
Step 2: Put 3 test popcorn kernels in the pan and put on the cover on the pan.
Step 3: After you hear the test kernels pop, take off the lid.
Step 4: Add 1/2 cup of popcorn kernels to the pan and put the lid back on.

Step 5:  Allow the popcorn to pop.  Gently slide the pan around on the burner during the first few minutes of the process to avoid burning the kernels.   This is not so important once the popcorn really starts popping as everything is moving around pretty good when that happens.  Take the pan off the heat when the sound of kernels popping slows down.  The whole popping process should only take 3-4 minutes.

Step 6: Easy Peasy – that all you need to do to make perfect popcorn. And popcorn cooked this way tastes so much better than popcorn from the microwave. Once you have the popcorn made, salt it liberally.  We use Morton Popcorn Salt, it is super fine and really sticks to the popcorn.  Finally, add melted butter if you’d like. And WE do like! Now you know how to make perfect popcorn.  It is so easy and the finished product is 1000 times better than Microwave Popcorn.  You’ll love it … we promise!

Other Popcorn Recipes You Will Love

• Easy Homemade Caramel Corn
• Marshmallow Popcorn
• Peanut Butter Popcorn
• Oreo Cookie Popcorn

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