Perfect Popcorn Tips & Recipe
Don’t you just love the smell of popcorn? Wow! I love it, and it happens to be my favorite comfort food. Did you know that:
- Americans eat 17 billion quarts of popcorn every year.
- Popcorn has more protein than any other cereal grain, It also has more iron than eggs or roast beef, it has more fiver than pretzels or potato chips. Making it a better choice for snacks.
- Popcorn kernels can pop up to 3 feet in the air.
- By volume, popcorn is America’s favorite snack food.
- Americans eat more popcorn than any other country in the world and most of the popcorn eaten around the world is grown in America.
- Popcorn kernels contain a small amount of water. When the kernels are heated the waters turns to steam and the kernels pop. When popcorn is old or poor quality it does not pop.
- Don’t dispose of kernels that do not pop. If you have popcorn that does not make great popcorn don’t throw is away, did you know that popcorn makes the best cornmeal for corn bread ever. Just grind the kernels in your Wondermill and use it for corn meal in any recipe that calls for corn meal.
- Ground Popcorn has 40% less starch then field corn making it a better choice for cornmeal.
Popcorn is amazing in so many ways. I have to say that I am opposed to microwave popcorn. It may be easy, but normally it is filled with chemicals and poor quality ingredients. From the popcorn used, to the oil, it really is not a good choice for popcorn. I love the stovetop whirly-pop style poppers, and the countertop electric poppers. As long as we pop our corn in good quality oils, popcorn can be a healthy snack food.
I love the good oils and my recommendations are the following oils. They are the good oils that can handle the high heat, and retain the integrity of the oil meaning it stays good for you. Hydrogenated oils are the culprits of bad popcorn, and are used in microwave and theater popcorns.
Good oils for popcorn:
- Extra virgin coconut oil
- Naturally refined coconut oil
- Palm oil
- Avocado oil
- Extra virgin cold pressed olive oil
- Bacon drippings from clean nitrate free bacon
Seasonings are also great for popcorn. Quality herbs and spices make wonderful popcorn, and can even add healthy benefits to eating popcorn. I have tried so many different herbs and spices. Number one rule is fresh and clean. Here are a list of my favorites. Most all, except the last, can be found at Penzeys. The last one can be found almost anywhere.
- Italian
- Tuscan Sunset
- Smoked Spanish Paprika
- Southwest Seasoning
- Arizona Dreaming Seasoning
- Jamaican Jerk
- Cajun, salt free
- Junior Mints
Salt is the number one ingredient that makes or breaks popcorn. Air poppers don’t allow for salt to stick. And most often poor quality salts are used that take away from the great health value of popcorn. Good salts are essential for great health and great popcorn. I love Redmonds salt, and Pink Himalayan salt. I use the rock or extra course salt and grind it in my Wondermill. It makes the best popcorn salt ever.
How to pop your popcorn:
-In your popper, place 3 tablespoons of oil and 1 teaspoon of fresh ground salt
-Add popcorn according to your popper instructions (typically 1/2 cup for a whirly-pop, and about a cup for countertop poppers).
-Once the popcorn starts to pop add 1 Tbls of the seasoning.
-Keep popping until done.
NOTE: If the seasoning has salt, cut the salt in half. Make sure your corn is popping before adding the seasoning, if you don’t the seasoning will burn before the popcorn is done popping.
Enjoy!
Chef Brad~America’s Grain Guy
