Perfect Popcorn

Recipe courtesy Alton Brown, 2006

Show: Good EatsEpisode: Pop Culture

Rated: 5 stars out of 5Rate itRead users' reviews (64)

RECIPE
COMMENTS & REVIEWS(64)

Cook Time:
3 min
Level:
Easy
Yield:
3 1/2 to 4 quarts

Times:

Prep: 5 min
Inactive Prep: --
Cook: 3 min
Total:: 8 min

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Ingredients

3 tablespoons peanut oil
3 ounces popcorn kernels, approximately 1/2 cup
1/2 teaspoon popcorn salt
3 tablespoons unsalted butter

Directions

Place the oil, popcorn and salt in a large, 6-quart, metal mixing bowl. Cover with heavy-duty aluminum foil and poke 10 slits in the top with a knife.

Place the bowl over medium heat and shake constantly using a pair of tongs to hold the bowl. Continue shaking until the popcorn finishes popping, approximately 3 minutes.

Remove the bowl from the heat and carefully remove the foil. Stir in any salt that is on the side of the bowl.

Melt the butter in the microwave. Slowly drizzle over the popcorn, while spinning the bowl. Serve immediately.

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Comments & Reviews

recipe Perfect Popcorn
CINDY Weston, FL 01-23-2010
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true to its name!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I came across this recipe while looking for one from Michael Chiarello (saw him make it on his show) and decided to try it.... Very simple recipe. I agree with the others that using tongs is a bit uncomfortable and I did have trouble. I used a kitchen towel and it worked fine. I think I need a bigger bowl next time. The popcorn came all the way up to the top, no unpopped kernals, no burnt popcorn, and no scorched bowl. I didn't use butter because I used Orville Reddenbacher popping and topping oil to pop mine. Reminded me of movie theatre popcorn. yum!Read more
recipe Perfect Popcorn
Keith Vienna, VA 01-09-2010
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Great recipe and easy to dress up
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

This really is great popcorn. You can easily dress it up into a gourmet treat by omitting the butter and salt. Drizzle a... little white truffle oil (the oil I have is grapeseed infused with white truffles - gives it a rich earthy taste) in place of the butter and grate some Parmigiano-Reggiano over it instead of salting it.Read more
recipe Perfect Popcorn
michelle westbank, BC 11-11-2009
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woweee
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I love this so much better for me and my kids and they just gobbled it up, the other thing is, is you do not get that after... taste of the microwave popcorn, or that yucky coating all over your mouth this was great thanks soo much!Read more
recipe Perfect Popcorn
Kindred Oklahoma City, OK 08-09-2009
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Wilted popcorn ...
Rated: 1 stars out of 5

How do you keep the butter from "wilting" the popcorn? Every time I add the butter, the popcorn turns into ... well, it... ain't fluffy ... P.S. Forced to add a rating in order to post this question ...Read more
recipe Perfect Popcorn
Jonathan Carol Stream, IL 06-07-2009
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True to it's name
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I just made this popcorn for the first time and immediately after tasting it I threw out the microwave popcorn we had in the... cupboard. Not a single unpopped kernel remained and not a single burn mark appeared in the bottom of my bowl. I found that wearing an oven mitt on each hand and grasping opposite ends of the bowl lip to shake things around worked much better than a pair of tongs; as soon as a couple of seconds passed without any popping I removed the bowl from the heat, added the butter, and voila: Perfect Popcorn. Highly recommended!Read more
recipe Perfect Popcorn
ALLISON Norcross, GA 05-22-2009
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Perfect
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I loooove this technique! I've never been able to make stove-top popcorn before, and this came out perfect the first time. ... It's all the fun of Jiffy Pop without the heavy (unhealthy) synthetic butter flavoring. I did have to scrub the pan for a bit afterwards, but the fresh flavor of the p-corn made it well worth it. I might try the wok suggestion next time... Thanks Alton!Read more