Popcorn has to be one of the most popular snack foods there are. Most times, when you think of popcorn, you imagine salty, buttery popcorn being popped into your mouth and experiencing a wonderful taste sensation.
Popcorn is high in a number of important nutrients, apart from being high in fiber and antioxidants. Popcorn nutrients include –
- manganese
- zinc
- copper
- potassium
- folate
- panthenic acod
- several vitamins
- riboflavin
- niacin
Popcorn is low in fat and sugar and you can be confident that air-popped popcorn without any oil provides some seriously good health benefits. But what about flavoring? How do you add flavor to your popcorn maker? How do you know you’re buying the best popcorn brands?
The manufacturers of popping-corn have made sure that you can choose the best brands for your particular popcorn-making method.
How to Flavour Popcorn From a Popcorn Maker
You can’t add popcorn flavoring direct to every popcorn maker
The way you flavor your popcorn will depend on whether you have a small home-type popcorn maker or whether you operate a large commercial popcorn maker. Certainly, making your own popcorn at home allows you to control the amount of salt, flavorings, and oil you use.
Kitchen experts tell us this kitchen appliance can actually be any utensil that you choose to use to pop your corn kernels. It can even be a pot with a lid as mentioned above. Can you believe that there are even popcorn makers that are held over an open fire?
They’re particularly popular for campers who don’t want to give up on their favorite snack even for a short weekend camping trip.
This type of popcorn maker has been around for a long time since it was first discovered that corn popped when tossed into a hot fire. So yes, there are different kinds of popcorn makers, from stove-top pots to electric popcorn makers to air poppers.
You can certainly flavor popcorn with some delightful toppings or flavorings but will it damage your popcorn maker? Shouldn’t you sprinkle butter and salt on a tray and pour your freshly popped popcorn over it?
- Air poppers are a healthier popcorn option
People are looking for healthier alternatives and they look at air cookers or poppers that use hot air and no oil. Then you also get microwave poppers in different styles.
Some of these popcorn makers are even as simple as a plastic container device with a lid that allows the butter to be drizzled onto the corn as it pops. You need to exercise some caution when you choose how you make your popcorn.
You have to be careful with electric popcorn makers because it is only microwave and stovetop popcorn makers where you can add seasoning direct to the utensil..
- Small parts of the popcorn maker can clog up
Don’t be tempted to add seasoning to your electric popcorn machines. Electric popcorn makers have lots of little parts and chambers and seasoning can clog these unreachable parts. So when do you add the flavoring? Once the popcorn enters your popcorn bowl.
But that’s not the only thing. When you add seasoning to stovetop- and microwave popcorn makers, before the kernels have popped, the result is tough, chewy popcorn with not much flavoring. Flavoring your popcorn after it pops is the recommended way to enjoy light, fluffy, tasty popcorn.
Remember that seasoning doesn’t stick to the popcorn because the popcorn is dry. You have to use a binding agent such as oil. Without oil or butter, you’ll find all your seasoning salt lying at the bottom of the bowl.
- See what the manufacturer’s manual says
So there you have it. You should never add flavoring to your hot air popcorn makers and your electric popcorn makers.
Before you use your electric popcorn maker or your hot air popcorn maker, read the manufacturer’s instruction manual as you will get a good idea of how to use these kitchen appliances. You will get an idea of what you can put inside them.
If you add flavoring to these machines, you can possibly end up damaging them. Also, if you just go ahead and add flavorings when the instruction manual advised against it, the technicians will know it.
They know what can clog up an appliance and damage your popcorn maker because of disregard for the instructions and this will mean your machine is no longer being covered under the manufacturer’s warranty.
- The stove-top method
Fortunately, this immensely popular whole-grain food is easy to prepare at home. If you’re on your own at home and you’re wanting a quick snack, get half a cup of popcorn kernels ready.
You’ll need a pot with a lid and about 3 tablespoons of oil. You can use canola oil, avocado oil, coconut oil, or olive oil. Heat your pot over medium heat, pour your kernels in, and wait to hear the kernels popping. You can opt for sweet or savory-flavored popcorn.
There are plenty of spices and flavorings in little bottles at your local grocery store to use on your popcorn. You can also check out flavored popcorn recipes on the internet for ideas on how to spice up your movie night snack.
A top favorite is garlic salt or powder while others love grated Parmesan cheese. You’ll want to salt and flavor your popcorn once it’s done popping.
Remove the pot’s lid and put your flavoring generously over your popcorn. Shake the pot around to distribute the salt down to the lower layers of popcorn.
Discover the coolest way to enjoy popcorn
Know your popcorn makers. Hands down, the best way to add seasoning to your popcorn is after the kernels have popped.
Do some information prep for making- and flavoring popcorn in different popcorn maker then all you need to do is to get the corn popping and enjoy your favorite snack with your own seasoning to taste.