Instant Pot Popcorn - Easy Budget Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret of perfect popcorn popping? ›

Cover but Crack

A good lid is important when making popcorn, but there's a bit of a strategy here. For the best results, and lowest number of un-popped kernels leave the lid open just a hairline amount. It allows any steam or moisture to get out as well, resulting in fluffy kernels.

The DIY route to popcorn — on the stovetop — is four times cheaper and yields delicious results.

The reason for this is that you could be using old popcorn kernels. What is this? Old kernels mean that the hulls are weak and they won't expand in the pressure cooker. You'll want to use fresh kernels for this recipe so your popcorn will pop!

Add Some Fun Flavors To Your Popcorn

Make it sweet: Add a dash of cinnamon and sugar, or drizzle it with a bit of honey and butter. Bump up the savoriness: Can't beat a garlic parmesan combo! Just add a sprinkle of garlic powder and parmesan cheese.

There isn't enough moisture in unpopped kernels to create the pressure, so they fail to burst and open. To make your popcorn pop better, try soaking the kernels in a bowl of water for 10 minutes and then draining them. Then, pop the kernels as usual.

One of the most critical factors is the moisture content of the kernels. As mentioned earlier, the moisture content should be just right to ensure optimal popping. Kernels that are too dry may not pop at all, while kernels that are too moist can result in a less desirable texture.

Shake the pot so the kernels spread out evenly and let it sit for 1 minute. Turn the heat back to medium. Leave the cover slightly ajar so steam can escape. When it's been 10 seconds since you heard the last pop, that was the last kernel!

Kernels that have too much of oil slathered around them are difficult to pop and they end up being soggy. In order to avoid this from happening you can use two tablespoons of oil for half a cup of popcorn.

The secret weapon: Popcorn coating

One surefire way to enhance seasoning stickiness is to make sure your popped corn has some sort of moisture on it - essentially a popcorn coating. You can use a drizzle of melted butter, a spritz of truffle oil, a glaze of caramel or even toss the popcorn in a bit of melted ghee.

What can I add to popcorn for more flavor? ›

Is Eating Popcorn Safe for Dogs? Yes and no. Plain, air-popped popcorn is safe for dogs to eat in small quantities. Buttered popcorn or popcorn with other toppings is not safe for your dog on a regular basis, although eating a few dropped pieces here and there probably won't hurt them.

The flavor all comes down to one ingredient: Flavacol. You've likely never heard of Flavacol because, really, only movie theaters use it. Essentially, it's butter-flavored salt. It's a really fine, bright orange powder that adds that buttery flavor you crave and the signature yellow color.

The reason why popcorn pops is the water trapped inside its kernel. If the kernel is heated to a high enough temperature, this water will transform into steam. Due to the hard and mostly nonporous shell, the steam has nowhere to go, resulting in a buildup of pressure inside the kernel.