What Is the Best Oil for Popcorn

What Is the Best Oil for Popcorn

If you're looking for a way to recreate the cinema popcorn experience at home, we're here to help. We know that that buttery, crispy popcorn goes hand in hand with a good time, which is why we've researched to find out what it is about theater popcorn that makes it so delicious. While quality popcorn is the key to creating a good batch, there's one more ingredient that plays an essential role in great popcorn making. The type of oil used to prepare popcorn not only affects its flavor but can also affect the texture of this snack. Create the popcorn of your dreams and review the best types of oil to use for popcorn below.

Different Types of Oil for Popcorn

Eager to know the secret to making movie theater-like popcorn? The truth is that while theater popcorn is known for its rich, buttery taste, most theater popcorn doesnt contain actual butter. Instead, the oil its cooked in is flavored with butter to replicate the taste without weighing it down, no matter which type of popcorn is used. Adding too much butter to already cooked popcorn can result in soggy, greasy and oily kernels. Now, we understand that not everyone has butter-flavored oil at home, and that's okay! While we don't advise cooking popcorn kernels with butter, butter can be added to popcorn after it's made to boost the flavor. So, what should you cook popcorn with? Here are the best types of oil for popcorn.

Olive Oil

Olive oil is by far the most popular oil used when making popcorn. Olive oil comes from the fruit of the olive tree and is made by pressing whole olives. Additionally, the smoke points for olive oil ranges from 325-465F, making it a just-right oil for popcorn. Additionally, olive oil's mild taste makes it easy to create a great-tasting popcorn that takes on the flavor of whatever seasonings you add to it.

Coconut Oil

One of the best oils to use to make popcorn is coconut oil. Coconut oil is made by pressing fresh coconut (virgin coconut oil) or dried coconut meat (refined coconut oil). It can be used in many ways that olive oil can; however, coconut oil does have a subtle tropical flavor that will transfer to your popcorn. Though some individuals enjoy this flavor, others may find it overpowering.

Avocado Oil

Avocado oil Avocado oil is made from fresh avocado pulp and loaded with healthy fats. Its high smoke point (510-520F) makes it a great choice to use when cooking. Like olive oil, most avocado oils are unrefined and produce a subtle creamy flavormuch like that of an avocado.

Grapeseed Oil

Wondering where grapeseed oil comes from? As the name suggests, grapeseed oil is made from the seeds of grapes, often discarded during the wine-making process. Its clean taste and high smoke point make it a well-rounded oil that can be used for just about anything. Grapeseed oil is also a source of omega-6 fatty acids, making it a more heart-friendly option than butter or margarine.

Peanut Oil

Peanut oil is a hit or miss when making popcorn. Though some people enjoy its rich, nutty flavor, others are not as impressed. If you enjoy the nutty flavor of peanuts and want to add it to your bowl of popcorn, peanut oil is a great option. And, like grapeseed oil, it is also a source of omega-6 fatty acids. When using peanut oil, it's important to note that individuals who are allergic to peanuts can consume peanut oil symptom-free. This is because the proteins in peanuts that typically cause an allergic reaction are removed when refined into an oil.

Sunflower Seed Oil

While you may not be as accustomed to using sunflower seed oil as you are to olive oil, it's an excellent oil for cooking popcorn. Made entirely from the tiny sunflower seed, sunflower seed oil boasts a slightly nutty flavor that's commonly used for sauteing, stir frying, deep frying, and baking. Like peanut oil, it will affect your popcorn taste, which some individuals enjoy.

Methods for Cooking Popcorn

Sunflower seed oil Now that you know the many oils that you can use when making popcorn, let's review the different ways to cook it. When cooking popcorn, there are two popular methods: stovetop and microwave. Though each method has its benefits, most individuals choose to cook on the stovetop when making popcorn from scratch. To help you better decide which method you'd like to use, here's an overview of each.

Stovetop

All you need to cook popcorn on the stovetop is a saucepan, a lid, popcorn and oil with a high smoke point. Add the oil and three popcorn kernels to the saucepan over high heat. Once the three kernels have popped, add the rest of the popcorn and cover with a lid. Remove the popcorn from the heat once the popping begins to slow down and pour it into a bag.

Microwave

To cook popcorn in the microwave, simply place popcorn kernels into a paper bag, fold the top over a few times and set the microwave to 4 minutes. Allow the popcorn to pop until there is a pause in the popping and voila! A bag of perfectly microwaved popcorn.

Tips for Making the Best Homemade Popcorn

If reading this article caused you to crave a big bowl of popcorn, you're not alone. In fact, we're getting hungry just thinking about it. But before you run off to make your next batch, take a moment to read the tips below. Follow these popcorn-making tips, and we're confident that your next bowl will be the best yet.

Know What Makes Popcorn Pop

Popcorn popping wildly When making popcorn from scratch, knowing how and why it pops is the secret to helping all kernels crack open. For a popcorn kernel to pop, steady heat must be applied to the kernel. When heat is used, the proteins and starch within the endosperm soften and expand. The rigid hull on the outside allows the endosperm to decompress and create steam until it eventually breaks, producing fluffy and crunchy popcorn. To ensure a perfectly popped and textured popcorn, you must apply a steady heat stream to all the kernels. Choosing a pan that distributes heat well and rotating the kernels often will ensure that all kernels pop quickly.

Re-Pop Unpopped Kernels

If, when making popcorn, you notice that a lot of kernels remain unpopped, there could be several causes. Temperatures that are too high or low can cause some kernels to pop before others. Additionally, improper rotating of kernels could cause some of them not to receive heat at all. Luckily, unpopped kernels can be re-popped to ensure that your popcorn bowl is as big as ever. To pop remaining kernels, remove all the popped popcorn and place the unpopped kernels over the stove once again. Add oil, shake and wait just as you did before, and they should pop. Or, for an even quicker method, gather up all unpopped kernels and place them in a microwavable bag and microwave on low for a few minutes until you hear the popping begin to slow down.

Start with a Few Kernels

Making popcorn on the stove can be a bit tricky. If you're worried about your pan heating up too quickly, this simple solution is sure to help. The next time you make homemade popcorn on the stove, add the oil to the pan, turn up the heat and start by adding just a few popcorn kernels. Then, place the lid over the pan and wait until all kernels pop. Once they've popped, you'll know that the pan is hot enough to add the rest of the popcorn.

Let Some Air Escape

If your homemade popcorn always turns out a bit more damp than you'd like, then there may be too much moisture building up in the pan. A quick way to fix this is by leaving the lid on your pan slightly ajar as your popcorn cooks. Though you'll want to be careful when shaking the kernels so that the top doesn't fall off entirely, allowing some water vapor to escape will create a light and fluffy result instead of a chewy one. Ready to make a batch of your favorite popcorn? Now that you know which oils work the best, you can create a perfectly cooked bowl of popcorn. Get creative in the kitchen and try out unique recipes like these Chicago Style Popcorn, Truffle Popcorn, Curry Coconut Popcorn or Cheddar Cheese Popcorn for a true burst of flavor. From everyone at Bob's Red Mill, we wish you a fun and flavorful day! Do you have a specific oil that you enjoy cooking popcorn with? We'd love to hear which ingredients you use to make popcorn. Share your best popcorn-making tips and tricks with us in the comments below.
Bob's Red Mill
March 31 2022

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