Popcorn - as easy as it sounds?

[TrillianAstra]

You put the corn in a saucepan, put the lid on, and heat it up.

Is there some secret difficulty?

A special trick?

What kind of mess am I going to create?

No, it really is that simple! Remember the lid on the pan!

Butter.

Add butter to the pan so it melts,before putting the corn in.

Shake. (pan)

And wait for popping sounds.

Dont take the lid off too much either.

Do I heat it up really really hot or to a medium sort of heat?

I won't be taking the lid off at all, I've already splattered myself with hot soup while blending today

Keep heating until the popping slows right down. You really can't go wrong!

I use oil. Butter is too easy to burn. If you like spice, add some chilli powder to the oil too.

i use oil. only put enough corn in to cover the base of the pan. don't go filling the pan!

Ok I'm ready to go, but should I cover the whole base of the pan with oil or does it just need a little bit? Will the popcorn come out oily or does it not notice?

a table spoon of oil. the corn comes out gorgioso!

oh and keep the pan moving. shake it bout so the un popped corn gets oiled up.

Yes just enough to cover the bottom of the pan.

You are not trying to deep fat fry them.

The popcarn will be dry as a bone.

Lovin this real time cooking advice !

More than just a litte, otherwise corns may burn and stick to base of pan.

Never noticed oiliness myself.

Bought some yesterday. GOing to be popping later myself...

Will you add sugar or salt? I leave it as I like sugar, DH likes salt.

I dont add anything, but I do use butter mostly, slghtly salted.

Well Trillian ... how's it going ?

Ooh, exciting. I was in the ethnic food shop looking at all the lentily things that DP won't let me cook (he had pulse overload from a slightly lentil-weavery childhood) and saw popcorn.

Right, off to do it now, will report back

I just started making popcorn recently using this technique which is really good - you pop all the kernels and don't burn anything!

I put Marigold veg stock and smoked paprika on mine... mmm

Wow, it makes LOADS!

Just salt on this but Nigella Express has a yummy-looking thing with melted butter and cinnamon and cumin and paprika, which unlike most other Nigella things doesn't rquire expensive ingredients and isn't 5000 calories a spoonful.

Thanks everyone!

Butterscotch it!!!

Tip the popped corn out of the pan,

put an knob butter and spoon golden syrup into pan,

melt together and pour over popcorn.

Thats what my kids had on Sunday after doing a 7 mile sponsored walk.

If I'd just walked 7 miles I might be allowed that, otherwise perhaps not

Here's my own special popcorn topping:

loads of grated parmesan

a good shake of garlic salt

olive oil (instead of butter, but butter would work too)

paprika or oregano

bacos if I have any

cheese and bacon on popcorn!?!! That really is the high-calorie version

tsp of oil in pan is plenty. don't put too much corn in or there'll be no room for it when it's popped. keep shaking while it pops, doesn't need to stay on heat all time once it's started popping. a nice non-sickly sweet version is to put it in e.g. big cake box still warm with a tbsp or 2 of icing sugar and give it a good shake, it kind melts onto the corn. nom.

(wonders if bacos really are bacon or some other product she's walked straight past in the supermarket)

meltedmarsbars bacos are not really bacon, just these veggie sprinkly things that taste a bit like bacon but are very low calorie, promise! And you don't need a lot of parmesan for it to give a strong flavour.

to you too!!

I like all chocolate!

I do love the microwave, but if there's the exact same amount of washing up involved I'll do it in a pan and have fun listening for the right time to stop heating.

So, shall we have meltedmarsbars as a popcorn topping?