Air-Popped Popcorn

Popcorn is everywhere in American culture. We eat it at sporting events, send each other tubs of caramel corn for the holidays and string it up around the Christmas tree as an edible decoration. Half the fun of going to the movie theater is eating the ultra-greasy, buttery popcorn!

While microwave popcorn has become the norm in most households, traditional popcorn-making methods have regained popularity. Not only that, but air poppers once reserved for carnivals and movie theaters have shrunk in size to fit on the countertop, opening up a whole new world of homemade popcorn options. We’ll show you how to make air-popped popcorn—with and without an air popper.

What is air-popped popcorn?

Although you can make popcorn in a bag in the microwave (and we’ll tell you how in a minute), popcorn is traditionally made with a special appliance. The air popper circulates hot air around the popcorn kernels. When it gets hot enough, the kernels pop, forcing themselves out of the popping bowl and into a storage area. Air poppers are used at movie theaters and carnivals, and they were once so large that they were impractical for home use. Today, you’ll find electric versions small enough to fit on the countertop.

Movie-theater popcorn might be far from healthy, but air-popped popcorn is actually one of the healthiest kinds of popcorn. Air-popping popcorn doesn’t require any oil—that’s added later to create flavor. This type of popcorn is also hard to burn or overcook since the popcorn is no longer in contact with heat after it pops.

Ingredients for Air-Popped Popcorn

• Popcorn kernels: Did you know there’s a difference between white and yellow popcorn? It’s true! White popcorn is flakier and more delicate, with a faint popcorn flavor. Yellow popcorn (the kind the movie theaters pop) is sturdier, less flaky and bigger, with a more pronounced popcorn taste. For this air-pop popcorn recipe, you can use either type of popcorn.

Directions

Step 1: How to Microwave Popcorn in a Paper Bag

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To make air-popped popcorn in a paper bag in the microwave, place 2 tablespoons popcorn kernels in a brown paper bag. Fold over the top of the bag to trap the steam inside. Pop the bag in the microwave and microwave on high heat for two to three minutes.

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Step 2: How to Make Popcorn in an Air Popper

You’ll want to locate your air popper’s manual for this one! Every air popper is different and requires different times and measurements of popcorn. For example, your air popper might suggest using more than 2 tablespoons popcorn kernels (the measurement used in our microwaved popcorn version).

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Recipe Variations

• Popcorn in the air fryer: To make popcorn in the air fryer, preheat the air fryer to 400°F. Line the bottom of the basket with aluminum foil, and add 1/2 cup popcorn kernels in a single layer. Cook the popcorn kernels for 8 to 10 minutes, turning the air fryer off when the popcorn stops popping. Let the popcorn rest for one to two minutes in case any extra kernels pop after the fact.
• Popcorn on the stovetop: To make popcorn on the stovetop, heat 2 tablespoons canola oil in a large, heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Pour in 1/2 cup popcorn kernels. Cover the pot with the lid (if you don’t have one, aluminum foil is fine). Once the kernels start popping, shake the pot to help the popcorn heat evenly. Cook the popcorn for two to three minutes, until all the kernels have popped. Let the popcorn rest for one to two minutes in case any extra kernels pop after the fact.

How to Store Air-Popped Popcorn

To store air-popped popcorn, allow the popcorn to cool to room temperature so it doesn’t become soggy in the bag. Transfer the popcorn to a resealable bag, then close the bag and keep the popcorn at room temperature. The popcorn’s quality will diminish over time, but it can be kept for up to five days.

Can you make air-popped popcorn ahead of time?

Yes, you can make air-popped popcorn ahead of time. It can be made up to five days in advanced, but keep in mind that its quality will diminish over time. To make air-popped popcorn ahead of time, pop the popcorn, let it cool to room temperature, then store the popcorn in a resealable bag at room temperature.

Air-Popped Popcorn Tips

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How can I season air-popped popcorn?

There are lots of flavored popcorn recipes to try, both sweet and savory! Plain air-popped popcorn is a wholesome snack because popcorn is a low-fat, high-fiber, whole-grain food. That said, popcorn always tastes better with a little seasoning. The seasonings stick best with added oil or butter, but spritzing the popcorn with water works almost as well for oil-free popcorn.

Our favorite simply seasoned popcorn recipe uses a little melted butter, Parmesan cheese, salt, dried oregano and garlic salt. If you want to keep things vegan-friendly, use olive oil and skip the cheese, using nutritional yeast instead. We also love adding spice to the mix, like cayenne pepper, smoked paprika or ancho chile powder.

Don’t be afraid to turn your popcorn into a sweet treat either. Try adding confectioners’ sugar or brown sugar to your popcorn along with warming spices like cinnamon, nutmeg or cloves. I also love to simply toss popcorn with M&Ms or chocolate chips.

What’s the difference between air-popped popcorn and microwaved popcorn?

The major difference between air-popped popcorn and microwave popcorn is the way the kernels are heated. Air-popping popcorn requires hot air to heat the kernels. The microwave, on the other hand, sends microwaves (radio wave particles) through the kernels. The kernels are kept in a bag to trap steam and help the popcorn pop.

Air-popping popcorn doesn’t require any added oil or flavorings, but store-bought microwave popcorn has additional ingredients like salt, oil and chemical flavorings that taste like butter. The bags themselves also contain perfluorinated compounds (PFCs), which keep oil from seeping through the container. These chemicals make their way into the popped popcorn, leading many to question whether microwave popcorn is healthy.

Which are the best air-pop popcorn makers?

There are dozens of electric air poppers that make it easy to air-pop popcorn without using any oil. They range in size and storability, and some are louder than others. We tested several different brands to find the best air-popped popcorn makers.

Better yet, pick up a reusable microwave popcorn maker, like this collapsible Cuisinart container. This allows you to pop popcorn with or without oil, and it’s easier to clean and store than a dedicated appliance.

We’ve also had success making air-pop popcorn in an air fryer like the Ninja Max XL Air Fryer. But you’ll definitely want to line the bottom of the basket with aluminum foil to keep from making a mess.