Kettle corn is the right anytime deal with. It’s popcorn, however higher as a result of it’s salty and candy!
I’m hooked on kettle corn. It doesn’t matter if it’s from a summer time honest or from a retailer purchased bag (I all the time make eyes on the one which is available in a pastel purple bag), kettle corn is my primary weak point. It’s so unhealthy that a few weeks in the past I known as a grocery retailer to verify they’d a seasonal taste in inventory. Then Mike and I went on a stroll, within the rain, so I may purchase 5 luggage. Simply in case.
I’ve now completed 4 out of the 5 luggage and I’ve informed myself, no extra! No extra shopping for costly luggage of kettle corn. Not when making do-it-yourself kettle corn is tremendous straightforward and simply pretty much as good. Plus, have you ever ever had heat kettle corn? It’s magic.
I’ve been making kettle corn at residence for two years now and it’s significantly the perfect factor ever. It’s superb how a lot taste and crispiness you may get from simply 4 elements.
What’s kettle corn?
Kettle corn is a candy and salty popcorn snack! Historically, it’s popcorn made in large copper kettles with oil, salt and sugar, stirred up with huge picket paddles. The kernels of corn get a light-weight golden caramelized crust that’s irresistible attributable to its candy and salty flavors and crispy crunchy texture. At residence, as an alternative of a large copper kettle, you can also make do-it-yourself kettle corn with only a common pot. One of the best half is, it solely takes about 5 minutes from begin to snack!
Learn how to make kettle corn
- Heat the oil: warmth some oil over medium excessive warmth and when shimmery, add 3 kernels and canopy, till the kernels pop.
- Heat the popcorn: add the popcorn to the pan in a single layer and sprinkle with sugar. Cowl and take the pan off the warmth and swirl every thing round. The residual warmth within the pan will deliver the popcorn kernels as much as close to popping.
- Pop the popcorn: Put the pan again on the warmth over medium excessive and begin shaking, with the lid on. The popcorn will begin to pop. Flip the warmth to medium, and shake every now and then, with the lid a bit of ajar so the popcorn stays crispy. The popcorn will begin popping virtually instantly. Let it pop till there’s about 1-3 seconds between the popping.
- Season: As soon as the popcorn is popped, instantly unfold it out onto a baking sheet, and sprinkle with salt. Take pleasure in!
Kettle corn elements
- Popcorn kernels. Attempt to get recent, plump kernels, they pop greater and higher.
- Oil. Seize a impartial oil or oil you want the flavour of – extra on oil decisions under!
- Sugar. Traditional kettle corn is made with common granulated sugar.
- Salt. The crunch of flaky sea salt is ideal for kettle corn. You need to use kosher sea salt too.
Which popcorn kernels are the perfect for kettle corn?
One of the best popcorn to make use of for kettle corn is recent popcorn. The brisker, the higher as a result of as popcorn ages, it will get drier and drier. More energizing popcorn has extra moisture inside which is what helps it POP!
That being mentioned, I like mushroom popcorn over butterfly popcorn.
Mushroom ball popcorn is a roundish popcorn, in comparison with butterfly popcorn, which has wings or flakes. Most caramel popcorns are mushroom kernels whereas movie show popcorn is butterfly. The roundness of mushroom ball popcorn makes it simpler to coat in that salty-sweet goodness.
What’s the finest oil to pop popcorn in?
I take advantage of grapeseed oil, however numerous individuals love popping in coconut. You don’t want lots of warmth when popping popcorn, so the perfect oil is the oil you like the flavour of. Popcorn pops at 355°F so so long as your oil is secure as much as that time, go for it!
Listed here are some popcorn oil ideas: grapeseed oil, safflower oil, sunflower oil, avocado oil, canola oil.
What pan is finest to pop popcorn in?
That is going to sound loopy (and I didn’t do that for the images) however the perfect pan for kettle corn is a LARGE non-stick pot or pan with deep sides and a lid. As soon as the sugar caramelizes, the non-stickiness helps the caramel glide round and coat the kernels of popcorn higher. The non-stick coating helps the popcorn transfer round freely ensuring that not one of the kernels stick and burn. Plus clear up is a breeze. Because you by no means take the warmth up very excessive (maintain it at medium to medium-high), non-stick is ideal.
Suggestions and tips
- Be sure you shake. Make certain each kernel of popcorn is coated by shaking the pan each 10-15 seconds or so.
- Don’t burn it! If you begin to hear the popping gradual to a few seconds between pops, take away the pan from the warmth. You’ll have some up popped kernels, however honestly that’s a lot better than burnt sugar popcorn.
- Preserve the lid barely ajar. This lets steam out and makes certain your popcorn is good and crisp.
- Salt it instantly. Salt the popcorn whereas it’s sizzling so the salt sticks. I prefer to salt afterwards – not throughout popping – so I can higher salt to style.
Learn how to retailer kettle corn
Kettle corn will maintain crisp in an air tight container on the countertop for 2-3 days, if it lasts that lengthy 🙂

Kettle Corn Recipe
Kettle corn is the right anytime deal with. It’s popcorn, however higher as a result of it’s salty and candy!
Serves 6
- 2 tbsp oil eg. grapeseed
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 1/4 cup popcorn kernels mushroom fashion most popular
- flaky sea salt