At home popcorn

Nothing says movie night like some home cooked popcorn. We often sit down as a family and make popcorn for a Friday night movie. A great addition to the school lunchbox as well – and preservative free. We show you three easy ways to get your corn popping. 

Popcorn at movie night at home makes it feel just like the real thing – you get the cinema feel in the comfort of your own home. You need to find a cooking container that will comfortably hold the popcorn when cooked. We use a microwave proof container that takes 1.5 litre capacity with a lid. Or do individual serves in paper bags– too easy.

Ingredients

• ¼ cup of popping corn
• 20ml of vegetable oil
• ¼ tsp of salt (iodised)

Microwave method

1. Put the popping corn in the microwave proof bowl (at least 1.5 litre capacity bowl with a lid). Add the oil and salt, and ensure the corn is coated with oil.
2. Cover with a tight-fitting lid. Do not use cling film as it melts with the hot corn.
3. Cook on HIGH heat for two minutes. If you hear it finish popping before this time, stop the microwave and leave for a minute with the lid still on.
4. Sprinkle with little more salt and toss through. Serve!

Stovetop method

1. Heat a saucepan with 5 tablespoons of vegetable oil slowly. Drop a corn piece into the pan and you will know the oil is hot enough if it spins.
2. Add half a cup of popping corn and some oil into the pot. Coat the popcorn with the oil, then put the lid on.
3. The corn should start to pop. Then it will start popping wildly. Take it off the stove when you go a few seconds without hearing any further popping.
4. Serve with a bit extra salt if required, or as is.

Brown paper bag method

• 1 tablespoon of popping corn
• spray olive oil
• pinch of salt

1. Put the popcorn in a brown paper bag. Place the bag in the microwave on high for 2 minutes on HIGH.
2. Once cooked (no more popping), tip out of the bag, spray with oil and add a sprinkle of salt, then return to the bag to eat or place in your lunchbox.