How To Make Popcorn Without A Popcorn Maker

Discover our 3 practical tips for making homemade popcorn without a machine. Simple, fast, and effective!

Don’t know how to make popcorn without a popcorn maker? No worries, we have unearthed 3 effective ways to make popcorn differently. In the pan, in the microwave, or even without electricity on the stove … With our tips, you won’t need special equipment to enjoy your favorite movie. We tell you everything!

How to make popcorn without a popcorn maker?

Here are some of the ways how to make popcorn without a popcorn maker:

In a microwave

The microwave not only heats our dishes, but it also allows us to make many easy and delicious recipes. And it’s probably the easiest and fastest way to make popcorn.

Here’s how to make homemade popcorn in the microwave in 5 minutes flat! You’ll need :

• unpopped popcorn (easily found at the supermarket).
• 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
• 1 half teaspoon of salt
• 80g sugar
• 1 paper bag

For the preparation :

1. In a small bowl, mix the unpopped popcorn with the oil.
2. Pour the coated corn into a paper bag and sprinkle with salt. If you do not have such a bag, your bowl covered by the microwave lid during cooking will do just as well.
3. Cook on full power for 2-3 minutes.
4. Carefully open the bag to avoid steam, and pour it into a bowl.
5. If you prefer sweet popcorn, sprinkle them with sugar and stir your popcorn so that the sugar spreads all over the bowl.
6. Then return the bowl to the microwave for 10-20 seconds, so the sugar can melt and soak into your popcorn.

In a skillet

This is the best-known way to make popcorn when you don’t have a machine: the pan! Very easy too, like in the microwave, this technique allows you to make popcorn quickly.

The ingredients for this variant remain largely the same. You’ll need :

• 3 tablespoons coconut oil or extra-virgin olive oil
• 80g popcorn kernels
• 1 tablespoon of butter (optional)
• 1 half teaspoon of salt
• 80 g of sugar (if you want it sweet).

For the preparation :

1. Start by heating the oil in a heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium-high heat. If using coconut oil, let all the solid oil melt.
2. Put 3 or 4 kernels of corn in the oil. Wait for the popcorn seeds to pop.
3. Then add the rest of your kernels so they can pop in turn.
4. Cover the pan with a lid, remove it from the heat, and count to 30. With this technique, they all pop at about the same time.
5. Put the skillet back on the heat. The popcorn should start popping all at once.
6. Then shake the pan, moving it gently back and forth on the hob. During this step, keep the lid slightly open to let the popcorn steam out (it will be drier and crispier).
7. Once the popcorn slows to several seconds between pops, remove the pan from the heat, remove the lid, and immediately pour the popcorn into a large bowl.
8. Melt the butter in the empty hot skillet.
9. Then pour the melted butter over the popcorn and stir to distribute.
10. Finally, sprinkle the popcorn with salt and sugar as desired.

Like making popcorn on the fire?

Planning a camping weekend and craving some popcorn? Don’t bother with a machine, you can very well do it without electricity, outdoors, directly on the fire!

It could not be easier. You will need a campfire, a pie pan, aluminum foil, and the same ingredients as the other techniques, namely:

• unpopped popcorn kernels
• 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
• 1 half teaspoon of salt
• 80g sugar

For the preparation :

1. Mix the popcorn kernels and vegetable oil in the pie pan.
2. Cover tightly with foil, cupping the top to leave enough room for the kernels to pop, and place over the campfire.
3. Using tongs, gently shake the pie pan until the popcorn stops popping.
4. Season with salt and sugar if desired and it’s ready.