Popcorn makers

[bosco0633]

I have been doing some reading on popcorn makers on the internet.  I just purchased a whirley pop stove top pop corn maker.  My friend made it and I loved it.  The popcorn is so much more crunchier than microwave popcorn.  I should have it this week and I was wondering if anyone could recommend the oil to corn ratio as well do you add butter salt and how much.

I cant believe how much info there is on popcorn on the internet. There are all different strands of corn etc.  this sounds so stupid, I just am sick of chips and love the popcorn.  great healthy snack.  I think I will use extra virgin olive oil instead of coconut oil to lower the fat.  

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Brewman]

I cant believe how much info there is on popcorn on the internet.

Everything, apparently, except for how much oil, butter, and salt to use.

[Dr. Spa™ Ret.]

So, what's the best pop corn............... oh, and that new fangled popcorn popper, full foam or thermopane?

[anne]

great healthy snack.  I think I will use extra virgin olive oil instead of coconut oil to lower the fat.  

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I dont have any information on popcorn types or poppers, but here's a little to think about in the fat category: All fats have virtually the same number of Kilocalories per gram: 9. Some fats are still better for you than others, depending on the fatty acids that they are made of and how saturated they are. Coconut oil is considered unhealthy by some because it is so high in saturated fat (like 90%). Olive oils and other vegetable oils are lower in saturated fat. Assuming that you are still taking in the same number of grams, unsaturated fats are better for you than saturated fats not from a caloric standpoint, but because they increase your HDL's and lower your LDL's, so they reduce the chances of atheroscloerosis. If the details matter, I'll look it up, but I cannot remember how. (Fun fact for the day: dogs cannot develop atherosclerosis. They dont have "heart attacks" as we know them. Understanding what about their fat metabolism prevents this may lead to preventing human heart disease!)  

Olive oil is really healthy not only because it is high in unstatuated fats, but has lots of antioxidants. (those italians and greeks have it goin' on with their oil and their red wine.) Unfortunately, I dont think it would be the best choice for popping corn because it burns at a lower temperature than a lot of oils. One of the convenient things about coconut oil is that it has a really high burning point, so it is good for hot frying.

Sorry for the novel.

[anne]

sorry-I have more: I got myself thinking about burning temps of oils, and realized that I criticised olive oil without giving you an alternative. I looked up the "smoke points" of a bunch of different cooking oils:

Coconut oil: 450F
Corn oil "refined": 420F
Corn oil "unrefined": 320F
Safflower and sunflower oils, refined: 450F
Extra virgin olive oil: 320F. But "pomace" olive oil has a smoke point of 460F! I dont know what pomace is, but that may be your ticket. Betcha its pricey.

[96SC]

When I was much younger we would make popcorn on the stove top.

We'd melt enough butter to cover the bottom of the pan about 1/16 of an inch (not like you're frying chicken)  Then pour popcorn kernels one layer thick on the bottom of the pan.  Seems like we used medium to medium/high heat.  

Let it heat until the first kernel popped, then would cover the pan tightly and fairly often shake the pan to keep the kernels that had popped from burning on the bottom of the pan.  

When the kernels didn't pop anymore (just like microwave p-corn) we'd take the pan off the stove top.
Then we'd pour the popped corn into a paper bag (paper bag?  see it was a long time ago) and add salt and butter(how much?  I'd have to be there to show you).

Very simple, no special equipment or cooking medium.  You may have trouble finding a paper grocery bag though.

[Campsalot]

I had a Whirley Pop.  I sold it at the last rummage sale.  I hated it because it would TAKE FOREVER on an electric stove.  I now use an electric popcorn maker that stirs the kernels.  Kind of like a commercial one then you flip it over into its own bowl.  I use the Orville Redenbachers popcorn oil in it.  I used the same oil in the Whirley Pop.

[Brewman]

Remember those air poppers?  We've still got one from the early 1980's- it was a wedding gift.  Talk about blah popcorn.  It tastes much better popped in hot oil of some type.  

[anne]

Remember those air poppers?  We've still got one from the early 1980's- it was a wedding gift.  Talk about blah popcorn.  It tastes much better popped in hot oil of some type.  

I got one as a high school graduation gift, and with that along with a mini-fridge and TV, my roommates really liked having me around   We were slightly nutty health freaks (I've toned it down A LOT). I'd spray a tiny bit of water on the popcorn with a very fine mister so that salt would stick to it. No butter.

I cannot believe that I liked it, but it was my main studying food.

[IdahoGuy]

Have you tried this



In one of these



Works great!   Everything's pre measured and you can get them with either coconut oil or sunflower oil....for the health conscious.

http://www.deusterco.com/enter.html

[anne]

I was thinking about getting my boyfriend something like that for his home theater. So you have used that brand, and it works well? Reliable company? I assume it was an internet purchase?

[ndabunka]

Best Home Theater site....LOTS of popcorn details there...
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?s=1cf9b7af5a6bea9cb2a2143d19983317&f=118

[anne]

Yeah, he spends most of his free time there...... I myself did not know that that site had popcorn info though!

[Bonibelle]

BJ's has a nice one for about $200.00. It is easy to use and not too bad to clean. We bought one for my son's school and we use it when we have movie night.
check out this site. http://famisemall.com/index.html Look through the pictures...

[IdahoGuy]

http://www.costco.com/Common/Search.aspx?whse=BC&topnav=&search=popcorn&N=0&Ntt=popcorn&cm_re=1-_-Top_Left_Nav-_-Top_search

I found the popcorn/oil/seasoning packets in bulk at the local wholesale food place, which also sells retail.  About the same price as ordering on line.