What is popcorn made from? Features of preparing delicious treats with your own hands: how to make popcorn from corn at home

To make popcorn at home, we need corn kernels. Be sure to pay attention to the composition; it should not contain anything other than corn and vegetable oil. You can simply fry on the stove or in microwave oven. It’s easier to make popcorn in a frying pan or pan, as it’s easier to notice if it starts to burn.

Now let's look at how to make homemade popcorn:

If your choice is a microwave:

• take a plastic container, pour a little on the bottom sunflower oil and put corn in it. Please note that the grains will greatly increase in volume; there is no need to place more than one row.
• To coat the grains with oil, shake the container. Next, set the power to full, cover the container with corn with a lid and place it in the oven for about two to three minutes. Do not leave the place of preparation. At first you will hear frequent loud bangs, over time they will become less and less frequent, as soon as the interval between them exceeds a few seconds, stop roasting, otherwise the popcorn may burn

If a stove will be used:

• Pour vegetable oil into a frying pan or saucepan with a transparent, tight lid and heat it. To test, throw a grain into the oil, if it opens, then it’s time to pour out the rest, then shake and close. As soon as the first pops are heard, remove the pan from the stove; due to the fact that the oil is hot, the grains will open without fire.
• Now comes the time for the most interesting part - adding aroma and taste. The dish can be made salty, spicy, sweet, citrus-flavored or caramel-flavored. Choose any option.

Children, of course, love sweet popcorn. It's best to sprinkle it powdered sugar while it's still hot. You can also use coconut flakes or vanillin.

• To keep the popcorn salty, add fine salt while the popcorn is still hot. You can diversify the taste with spices, seasonings, black pepper, which is often used together with nutmeg.
• An interesting option is popcorn with citrus taste. To prepare it, you will need flavoring. To do this, dry the orange or lemon zest and grind it with sugar in a coffee grinder. This mixture should be poured onto hot popcorn.
• If you want to add caramel, you need to melt it in a frying pan. butter, add sugar and, stirring, cook until homogeneous mass. Then drizzle the caramel over the cooked corn. Can be obtained

Today I want to introduce you to the recipe popcorn at home. In fact, this is quite simple to do. The main thing is to stock up on corn for popcorn, and it is sold in any supermarkets and even at grandmothers' markets. I'll talk about how to make popcorn in two ways: on the stove and in the microwave. Both options are good; the corn kernels will fully open and not burn if you follow the rules that I will introduce you to in this recipe. I made classic salted popcorn, but don't stop there. You can use your imagination and prepare various types of puffed corn - it all depends on your taste. So let's begin.

Ingredients

To make popcorn at home you will need:

corn for popcorn - a handful;

vegetable oil- 2 tbsp. l.;

salt - to taste.

Cooking steps

Prepare the required set of ingredients.

Pour vegetable oil into a saucepan with a thick bottom (you can also cook in a cauldron or thick-walled frying pan) and send it to the fire. Heat the oil well. Add corn in such quantity that it covers the bottom in one layer, otherwise there is a high probability that the grains will not open. Immediately close the lid tightly. Cook over medium heat, shaking the pan occasionally to mix the grains, but do not open the lid.

After 1-2 minutes, the popcorn will begin to “explode” and you will hear popping sounds. When the sound of popcorn popping stops, you can turn off the heat. Homemade popcorn is ready. Transfer it to a suitable bowl and add salt to taste, stir.

You can also make popcorn at home in the microwave. Pour vegetable oil into a glass container with a lid and add corn kernels (the kernels should lie in one layer).

Cover with a lid and microwave. Cook popcorn at maximum power (I use 800 watts) for about 3-4 minutes. During the cooking process we also focus on sound. When the popcorn stops exploding, we take it out. Microwave popcorn, add salt to taste and stir.

This is how easy it is to make delicious popcorn at home.

Bon appetit!

Delicious, golden and crispy, popcorn is a great snack for watching your favorite movies and TV shows. Both adults and children love him. But those who watch their figure need to be careful and not get carried away with such delicious snack, because pokorn is very high in calories!

You can make it salty or sweet, caramelized, or flavored with cheese, bacon, etc., as long as you like the taste of those popped corn kernels! Popcorn is created from special type corn, its name translates as “popping corn.” Popcorn was first discovered by the Indians, who even predicted the future of the person who approached them by the popped grain.

Nowadays, popcorn can be easily made at home.

Ingredients

• 2 handfuls or 0.5 tbsp. corn grains for popcorn of the required variety
• 2-3 pinches of salt
• 50 ml vegetable oil

How to cook popcorn in a frying pan

1. To prepare popcorn, you need to choose a container with a non-stick bottom: a casserole, a saucepan, etc. Immediately pour salt into the container and pour in vegetable oil - the grains will be fried in it. Some popcorn makers prefer to salt it after cooking, but the oil envelops the grains in a greasy film and the salt only gets on it, and not on the product itself, so add salt directly to the cauldron or saucepan itself.

2. Place the container on the stove and heat it until the oil begins to bubble. Just then pour the corn kernels into it and immediately cover with a lid.

3. On high fire simmer the grains in the oil for about 1 minute so that they warm up and, if your container has a glass lid, you will be able to see how one by one the corn grains open when heated, increasing three to four times. This is real culinary magic!

4. Keep an eye on the time - 2-3 minutes is enough for all the grains to open. Remove the container from the heat immediately as soon as the interval between “shots” becomes as long as possible, since your popped popcorn may burn in a second. It is better to remove the container from the heat in advance than to taste a burnt dish. Immediately pour the finished popcorn into the prepared dish and serve hot.

However, it is delicious cold too!

Note to the hostess

1. How long the grains will crackle after being removed from the burner depends on the pan. Teflon frying pans with marble chips take a very long time to cool down. In terms of storage duration high temperature cast iron shares second place with stone (with additions of granite in the material). Thin stainless steel pans are not able to accumulate heat and give it away quickly. Based on the above data, you need to calculate when to remove popcorn from the heat.

2. When preparing this delicacy, the cook should be at the stove, so let him be more than just a passive observer: it is advisable to shake the pan while holding the lid. Then there will be no unpopped or burnt grains in the popcorn. A flame divider will also contribute to high-quality roasting, but not the one designed for Turkish coffee - a small square one, but a large, round one, dotted with holes.

3. How you want to grab at least one grain of corn from the hot mass, blow on it a little and swallow it right away! This is a harmful desire. Any starch-containing foods in the heat are extremely harmful to all organs of the digestive tract. The optimal temperature for popcorn consumption is 35–38 degrees. And you should chew it thoroughly.

Popcorn has long become popular all over the world and has won the love of millions of people. This dish represents grains of a certain variety of corn that have been subjected to heat treatment. Due to exposure to high temperature (about 200 degrees), the liquid starch inside the grain explodes its shell, forming a foamy bulk mass that instantly hardens. The calorie content of “pure” corn without additives is 300 kcal per 100 g, and with the inclusion additional ingredients it can reach up to 500 kcal.

This airy delicacy is immediately associated with relaxing in the park or going to the cinema. But often not entirely added to its composition useful components, so many people began to make their own popcorn at home. It's very simple and fast, and most importantly - harmless. Let's look step by step and with photos at how to make popcorn at home in several ways.

The benefits and harms of popcorn

Puffed corn without third-party additives and spices has a relatively low calorie content, but at the same time is very nutritious. It contains B vitamins, which help maintain body tissue in tone, and also have a beneficial effect on the condition of nails and hair. Eating fried corn grains normalizes metabolism and heart function.

The product is rich in potassium, calcium and vegetable fiber, the benefit of which is to cleanse the intestines and fight extra pounds.

Unfortunately, in many retail outlets, popcorn is prepared with an abundance of flavor enhancers and other foreign substances that can harm the body. No matter how tasty such a delicacy is, you should not abuse it or consume it. in large portions. It is recommended to eat this delicacy no more than 2-3 times a week and always on a full stomach.

Corn selection

Not all types of grains are suitable for preparing an airy delicacy. Corn for popcorn should preferably be from wild, uncultivated varieties, where the grains have a durable shell that can withstand high temperatures. An ordinary crop intended for cooking will not be suitable, as it will quickly burst without reaching the required degree of roasting. This is one of the main reasons why homemade popcorn it may not work out.

You can also purchase ready-made special grains for dry popcorn. The contents of the package can be easily and quickly prepared in a microwave oven, or in a dry frying pan. You just need to follow the instructions indicated on the pack itself.

Popcorn in a frying pan

To prepare popcorn using this method, you only need two ingredients and a minimum amount of time.

You will need:

• Large frying pan with a thick bottom and a lid (can be replaced with a saucepan);
• Corn grains – 100 g;
• Refined corn or sunflower vegetable oil – 30 ml.

The cooking scheme is very simple:

1. Pour oil into a frying pan and heat thoroughly, reduce the flame level to minimum. You don’t have to use butter at all, but the cookware should be non-stick or Teflon coated;
2. Quickly place the corn evenly in one layer on the hot oil. This is necessary so that all the grains open and fry;
3. Close the lid tightly, add gas and wait. After a while, popping sounds will begin to be heard from the bursting grains. They can be very strong, so you may have to hold the lid to prevent our popcorn from shooting out and spilling onto the stove;
4. When the frequency of the pops decreases, you need to gently shake the frying pan without opening the lid;
5. After the mixing process, remove the corn from the flame and leave to cool for 10 minutes under the lid. During this time, the remaining grains should open in hot oil. After this time, open the lid slightly. The popcorn in the pan should be ready. The product must be consumed completely cooled.

If you love salted popcorn, then immediately after removing the lid, sprinkle the corn with finely granulated salt, but you can also use regular or iodized salt. Sweet option can be obtained by sprinkling the hot delicacy with powdered sugar, which can also be additionally flavored with cinnamon or vanilla.

Popcorn in the microwave

This method is particularly simple, so popcorn in the microwave is ideal option instant cooking favorite treat for a home movie show.

You will need:

• Container or glassware with a lid for a microwave oven;
• Corn grains;
• Vegetable oil.

How to make popcorn:

1. Place the grains on the bottom of the container in one layer. It's better not to take too many of them at once. It is necessary to calculate the amount based on the fact that 25 g of corn when frying will fill a volume of 1 liter;
2. Pour a small amount of oil over the corn so that it is lightly coated with an oil film;
3. Close the container tightly with a lid and microwave for 4 minutes at full power. As soon as the intense popping sounds stop, the product is ready. You can immediately sprinkle the treat with powdered sugar or salt, making the popcorn sweet or salty, respectively.

You can also make caramel deliciousness. To do this, pour a glass of sugar and 30 g of high-quality butter into a small saucepan. Cook the mixture for 10 minutes on low gas, stirring regularly, at the end add two tablespoons of water and mix everything again. Pour the finished caramel into the puffed corn in a thin stream and stir well.

An even simpler option is to make popcorn from ready-made packaged grains. To do this, you need to carefully remove the bag without breaking the seal and place it in the oven with the picture down. You also need to make sure that when rotating the bag does not touch the inner walls of the device, otherwise some grains may not open or burn. You need to cook the yummy food for three minutes at maximum power. Once the cracking stops, the product is ready.

Popcorn in a special machine

The simplest and quick way cook favorite treat- This is a popcorn machine. But at the same time, this option is more expensive, and you can purchase the unit itself in regular stores household appliances rarely possible. You can order it mainly in specialized online stores. In addition, it will be possible to purchase raw materials and additives for making popcorn.

These devices come in a variety of sizes, functions, appearance, and accordingly have different performance and cost. Therefore, when choosing a device, you should pay attention special attention for all specified parameters.

To make your favorite delicacy using such a machine, you just need to follow the instructions: pour a little oil and pour required quantity grains Additionally, flavoring and non-stick additives are added. The boiler is preheated to a high temperature, reaching approximately 300 degrees, under the influence of which the grains burst. In a word, everything is exactly the same as in a frying pan or in the microwave, only more automated.

But do not forget that any equipment requires careful care. Therefore, the device must be washed after each cooking process, and each time cooked with new oil. Careful operation will help avoid breakdowns and allow you to regularly delight yourself and your loved ones with the freshest, airy delicacy.

Video: Popcorn at home

Today, any place associated with public recreation is associated with popcorn. The caramel smell of warm puffed corn attracts not only children, but also adults, so retail outlets with special machines are never empty. Children can eat several servings at a time, so parents ask themselves the question: “Is popcorn healthy?” The benefits and harms of this product have become the cause of ongoing debate about how safe such food is, so it is worth understanding the issue in more detail and finding the answer.

What is popcorn?

Popcorn is a dish that is prepared by cooking individual kernels of a certain type of corn. Each grain contains liquid starch, which, when heated to 200 degrees, explodes the shell. The foamy mass instantly hardens, which is why the volume of popcorn is much greater than the volume of raw materials.

Properties of popcorn

If the grains are prepared without additives, then the calorie content of 100 grams will be about 300 kcal. The Indians fried popcorn in spices, and today many not quite healthy ingredients: salt, flavorings, dyes and flavor enhancers. The amount of salt or sugar that one grain may contain is undesirable even for an adult, let alone a child. And a product with caramel can harm a child’s body. When parents buy popcorn, the benefits and harms of it should be assessed by them from the point of view of the basics of proper nutrition.

What kind of popcorn should you eat?

Corn kernels cooked without harmful additives and an abundance of spices, sugar and salt - rather, useful product. It contains B vitamins and polyphenols, which help body tissues maintain youth. A large amount of fiber helps fight overweight and also cleanses the intestines.

The dangers of popcorn that tastes too sweet or salty are undeniable. This product should be consumed in small doses and very rarely. In addition, after using it you are very thirsty. Large amounts of fluid can cause swelling, especially if it sweet soda. Such nutrition is the first step to obesity and diabetes.

What are the benefits of popcorn?

Many novice cooks are interested in what popcorn is made from. Roasted corn kernels are independent dish, which contains all the necessary elements and a sufficient amount of calories. Therefore, in order not to get additional folds of fat, you need to eat popcorn in small portions.

Thanks to vitamin B1, this snack is good for the condition of nails and hair. It also normalizes metabolism and the functioning of the heart and blood vessels. This product is especially useful for people of retirement age, athletes and those who receive physical activity.

Vitamin B2, which is contained in popcorn, is indispensable for stress and depression. It helps overcome these conditions and provides beneficial influence on the body as a whole. If consumed roasted grains V pure form, they will only bring benefits.

What's wrong with popcorn?

People need to remember that the effect of this product on the body depends solely on how it is prepared. In retail outlets it is offered with flavor enhancers, synthetic ingredients and caramel, and you can also try salted popcorn.

The buyer has the opportunity to choose a snack to suit every taste, but it is better to give preference to one that contains a minimum amount of additives. Otherwise, popcorn will turn into a rather dangerous product.

For those who are wondering whether to buy popcorn, the benefits and harms are important criteria for making a decision. American scientists have proven that using the product in large quantities provokes the development of many diseases.

The healthiest popcorn is homemade!

Buy today popcorn it won't be difficult. Retail outlets offer to clients various types popcorn. But the benefits of such a product are very doubtful. It's much better to make popcorn at home. Some people think that this is very complex process, but in reality everything is not like that. It is enough to purchase special dry grains that are used to make popcorn. The package should be placed in a microwave oven or the product should be fried in a dry frying pan. Of course, it is better to give up salt, sugar and seasonings completely, but if you wish, you can add salt or sweeten just a little so that the body does not experience stress.

By showing your imagination, you can give the dish a new and unusual taste, sprinkling it with something on top, such as powdered sugar or grated cheese. Italians add ready-made roasted grains tomato paste and basil.

Some experts believe that popcorn can be harmful to humans, since when diacetyl is heated, special substances are formed. These are flavorings in oil, they are used in cooking.

How to cook popcorn?

To please your family, you can cook at home healthy treat. What is popcorn made from and what raw materials are needed? You need to purchase natural corn, and before cooking it, you should put the grains in the freezer for several hours. Place it in the pan when it is very hot. It is important that there is a sharp temperature change, then the explosion of the grains will be very strong, they will practically turn inside out.

Making popcorn involves a little finesse. When the grains are laid out, it is better to remove the frying pan from the heat and then quickly pour in any oil, one spoon is enough. To ensure that they are all covered with a film, you need to twist the vessel.

Then you should immediately return it to the heat and cover with a lid. It is not removed until the cracking sound of popping grains stops. For the treat to be beneficial, you need to season it with a small amount of salt or sugar, without using chemical additives.

Another useful recipe

Many people worry about whether popcorn is safe. The benefits and harms are easily assessed if you make the snack yourself. It is better to cook the puffed grains correctly right away. For this you will need fine salt and frozen butter. It requires approximately 40 g per 100 g of corn. The dishes should be heated and the product and salt should be added there. After all the grains have fully opened, they need to be removed from the heat and sprinkled with shavings of butter while they are hot. It is worth remembering that even homemade popcorn should be eaten in small quantities.