iso: kettle popcorn

[HedyL]

i was at a local fair last weekend and dh and i got a bag of "kettle corn"...popcorn stirred in a large kettle, and it's slightly sweet. i can't get enough of the stuff! it's probably not too "light". anyone have this or made it and know how to make it at home?

[sneezles]

I've not tried it at home except for the microwave stuff but here's a recipe:

"Kettle Corn"


You’ll need:
1/2 cup JOLLY TIME Pop Corn, unpopped
Oil for popping
3 Tbsp. granulated sugar
a dash of salt
Here’s how:
Heat oil in heavy medium pan until hot. Add pop corn and sprinkle all of the sugar over it and add a small dash of salt. Cover and shake quickly and CONTINUOUSLY until popped. Remove from heat immediately.
Makes about 1 quart

[valchemist]

I don't know what the "real" stuff tastes like, but I like the Orville Redenbacher Microwave Kettle Corn. A tad salty and sweet...

yum.

[little_bopeep]

OMG, kettle corn is to die for! I even bought some that is apple/cinnamon flavored...weird, but tasty. ;)

[AZLorena]

My dad actually has a kettle for kettle corn. He found the market kind of saturated where he is, so his kettle sits in the truck in the yard.....its a **** shame because his popcorn is the best.

Anyway, he showed me how to make it in the micorwave. I have one of those microwave popcorn bowls ($5 at Walmart).....I used to do a small amount of oil maybe a tablespoon with a teaspoon of sugar mixed in......to a 1/2 cup of popcorn. Then just pop it in the micro for how ever long yours takes....salt it when you are done. You can play with the quantities to get it just the way you like it.

Enjoy....Lorena

[AZLorena]

Here's a picture of the microwave popcorn bowl that I use for this but any bowl with a vented lid should work.

Lorena


http://www.microwavecookingforone.com/images/NWPopcornPopper.jpg

[beckms]

OK, I made the recipe sneezles posted after tasting some kettle corn my roommate brought home yesterday. Only about 1/2 of my kernels popped, and the sugar caramelized! My roommate's popcorn wasn't caramelized, it was just slightly sweet.

Did I do something wrong?

[sushibones]

I've made sneezles kettle corn before and didn't have any problems.


Two things that might make a difference—the heat and the amount of oil. I always heat the oil on high heat with a few popcorn kernels until they pop, then add the rest of the popcorn (and sugar for this recipe). I also pop the popcorn over high heat (on an electric stove) and keep shaking it while it pops. The only other thing I can think of that might cause a problem is if you didn't used much oil. I use at least 2 Tbs of oil to pop 1/2 cup. If there wasn't much oil, perhaps the sugar cooked too quickly.

This turned out really well for me, but I would increase the amount of salt next time to get the contrast between the salt and the sugar.

[Beth]

I bought some flavored stuff to make cinnamon kettle corn, and another one for the boys. The instructions said to add the sugary stuff with the popcorn and the oil, but it didn't say to shake. It went way beyond carmelizing to burnt and was the nastiest burnt mess! :( I decided just to sprinkle it on after popping at that point, which I've also done with cinnamon sugar. Maybe now I know what to try if I get brave again! :D

[beckms]

So Sushibones, your kettle corn doesn't turn out caramelized?

[sushibones]

It just appeared the sugar had melted and glazed the popcorn. It was sticky when it was done, and kind of clumped together, but after it cooled the pieces could be separated. It's been a while since I made this, so the details are fuzzy. There was no brown color that I recall, just sticky popcorn.

I know I made it fully expecting the sugar to burn and make a mess, but it didn't. I can't remember if I reduced the heat (I don't think so). I usually add butter along with the popcorn when I make regular popcorn, but I think I just used the oil when I made the kettle corn.

[wendstress]

Originally posted by beckms
OK, I made the recipe sneezles posted after tasting some kettle corn my roommate brought home yesterday. Only about 1/2 of my kernels popped, and the sugar caramelized! My roommate's popcorn wasn't caramelized, it was just slightly sweet.

Did I do something wrong?

I've had the same problem. I fixed it by adding the sugar towards then end of the process. If you ever watched the carnival kettle corn poppers at work, that is what they do....oil first, then popcorn and salt, then sugar about halfway throuhg.

[Beth]

Okay, after reading this thread, I tried it again, shaking and shaking away. I was afraid I would have a burned mess, but it worked! :)

[sharsell]

I have one of those "turn the crank handle" poppers from Crate & Barrel, and it came with the following recipe:

1/3 cup corn
4 T oil
4 T sugar

Throw it in, stir away, and it's to die for! I've also tried lightening it up with half the oil and half the sugar and it tastes fine, but not nearly as decadent. Of course. :D I think it's all about the stirring that makes it come out nicely.