Kids In The Kitchen: Homemade Popcorn (2 Ways!)

Do you let your kids in the kitchen? Now that my twins are ten I have been excited to get them more comfortable making small meals and snacks for themselves (and for me!). My daughter’s favorite snack, hands down, is making popcorn. As a popcorn lover myself, I gladly partake of the spoils when she is finished in the kitchen.

There are two very easy ways to make homemade popcorn – on the stove or in the microwave. If you are buying bags of popcorn lined with funny chemicals and sticking them in your microwave at snacktime, stop doing that. These two options are much, much less expensive and way better for you.

STOVETOP: On the stovetop, all you need is a saucepan, some oil, and some popcorn kernels. You can use canola oil, vegetable oil, or coconut oil if you have that on hand. My daughter no longer needs to measure the popcorn kernels – she knows the right amount by sight – but the general ratio is 1/3 cup of kernels and 3 tablespoons of oil in a 3 quart saucepan. (Like the rule of 3s there? Easy to remember!) When she wants to make a smaller amount, she will use about 1 tablespoon oil and 3 tablespoons popcorn kernels. The measurements are very forgiving, I promise.

Julia even made a quick instagram video to show off her mad popcorn making skills …

Julia’s favorite snack to make for us is POPCORN! And it’s so easy… She doesn’t measure but the rough measurement is 3 tablespoons popcorn to 1 tablespoon oil. 5 minutes. Done. #video #cookingwithkids #summer #howto

A video posted by Erin Brighton (@erin_brighton) on Jul 9, 2015 at 10:24am PDT

MICROWAVE: My mom’s favorite way to make homemade popcorn is in the microwave. All you need is a brown paper bag and some popcorn kernels. Pour enough kernels into a brown paper lunch bag to cover the bottom. Fold down the top of the brown paper bag. Use a small piece of tape to tape down the top of the bag so the popcorn doesn’t pop all over the microwave. If your microwave has a POPCORN button, use that. It should take about a minute for all of your popcorn kernels to pop depending on the power of your microwave. Stay close to the microwave and stop the cooking process when you hear more than 2 or 3 seconds in between popping sounds. If you like, toss your favorite seasonings in the bag to add a fun flavor to your freshly popped popcorn. Cinnamon sugar? Salt? Or just leave it plain! Enjoy!

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Homemade Popcorn (2 Ways!)

Making popcorn at home is so easy and inexpensive!

Course Snack

Prep Time 1 minute

Cook Time 5 minutes

Total Time 6 minutes

Servings 2 - 3 servings

Author Erin Brighton

Ingredients

Stovetop Popcorn

• 1/3 cup popcorn kernels
• 3 tablespoons oil
• 3 quart saucepan

Microwave Popcorn

• 1 brown paper lunch bag
• 1 small piece of tape
• About 2 tablespoons popcorn kernels (enough to cover the bottom of the brown paper bag)

Instructions

Stovetop Popcorn

1. Heat 3 tablespoons oil in the bottom of a 3 quart saucepan.
2. Add 1/3 cup of popcorn kernels. Cover.
3. Gently shake the saucepan to evenly distribute the popcorn kernels.
4. Allow the popcorn kernels to pop consistently. Remove the saucepan from the heat once you stop hearing constant popping.

Microwave Popcorn

1. Pour enough popcorn kernels to just about cover the bottom of a brown paper lunch bag.
2. Fold the top down of the brown paper bag and secure with a small piece of tape.
3. Use the popcorn button on your microwave or cook on high for about 1 minute. Stop the cooking when you hear more than 2 or 3 seconds between popping sounds.