Popcorn is a delicious, healthy snack that you can make on your stove with just a few minutes of preparation.
Making it this way will save you money and the hassle of using an air popper or microwave as well as eliminate any potentially harmful chemicals from leeching into your popcorn during cooking.
Although everyone will have their preferred way of preparing this yummy snack, we have simple, step-by-step instructions on how to pop popcorn on the stove with vegetable oil.
At a Glance – What You’ll Need
Can You use Vegetable Oil for Popcorn?
Can you make popcorn with vegetable oil? Yes! In fact, the different types of vegetable oil are a popular choice for popping popcorn.
How To Pop Popcorn On The Stove With Vegetable Oil
Light, fluffy kernels, here we come!
This recipe costs around $0.80 per serving, depending on where you buy your ingredients.
You will need:
- Popcorn kernels
- Vegetable oil
- A pot with a lid
Step 1
Put a tablespoon of vegetable oil and place it on the stove at medium heat, allowing a few minutes to heat up.
Vegetable oil has a much higher smoke point than butter, so it’s the perfect choice for getting the kernels super hot without the oil burning.
Step 2
Add two kernels to your pot and wait for them to pop (this will tell you if your oil is hot enough).
If both kernels pop immediately, proceed to step three; if they don’t, wait a few more minutes for the pan to heat up.
TIP – We’re making sure our pan has reached a high enough temperature so when we add in our popcorn kernels, they’ll instantly start popping.
Step 3
Pour in an even layer of popcorn kernels into your saucepan or pot, making sure not to overfill the pan.
Step 4
Cover your pan with a lid and constantly shake it. Make sure to keep shaking until almost all of the popcorn has popped (you don’t want any un-popped kernels at the bottom).
Step 5
Once all the kernels have finished popping, remove the saucepan from the heat immediately; if you leave the popcorn on the stove for more than 30 seconds, it’ll burn and taste bitter instead of delicious.
Step 6
Add salt and seasonings like sugar or butter once they’re off the stove.
Following these steps should ensure a fluffy bowl of homemade popcorn made with vegetable oil is heading your way.
Why Use Vegetable Oil To Make Popcorn?
What’s the best oil for popping popcorn? Vegetable oil is an excellent option for popping popcorn as it helps coat the pan to prevent sticking. It has a high smoke point (400-450°F) and a neutral taste. Some vegetable oils are considered healthier than other oils but remember that all oil has a high-calorie count and you should use it in moderation.
If you are particularly interested in a healthy option, look for oils produced with traditional crushing and pressing methods, not chemical extraction.
Reasons to use vegetable oil include:
- It contains polyunsaturated (omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids)
- Monounsaturated fats
- Vegetarian and vegan friendly
- Neutral taste allows the flavor of toppings to shine
Popcorn is one of the most popular snacks in the US, and with some thought about what you add to it and how you make it, you can make healthier choices.
Check out our article on using olive oil for making popcorn.
What Types of Vegetable Oil are Good for Popcorn?
The term vegetable oil is used to describe oil that comes from a plant source. There are now a plethora of readily available vegetable oils in our supermarket – some of the most common are:
- Olive oil
- Sunflower oil
- Canola oil
- Coconut oil
- Soybean oil
- Rapeseed oil
- Grape seed oil
- Corn oil
- Cottonseed oil
- Sesame oil
- Peanut oil
- Avocado oil
When choosing a vegetable oil, prioritize either a neutral taste or a taste that you like eg. many people love using coconut oil.
TIP – A tablespoon of oil should suffice for a popcorn batch. Using a more neutral flavor means adding melted butter or other toppings without having a flavor clash.
Is Popcorn a Vegetable?
Popcorn that is harvested when dry and mature is considered a whole grain, not a vegetable.
Can you use Vegetable Oil for Popcorn Machine?
Yes, in fact, the most common (and delicious) choice of vegetable oil for popcorn machine sis coconut oil.
Vegetable Oil for Popcorn
Using vegetable oil to pop popcorn will keep your pan stick-free and produce some tasty, crunchy popcorn. Whether you are utilizing a pan or a pot, using an oil with a high smoke point like vegetable oil, allows for optimal popping and less burned kernels.
You might also like our article on oil for popcorn machines.
Sue’s favorite pastime? Watching a good movie with a giant tub of popcorn by her side. Her friends and family know that if they want to get her something, popcorn is always a safe bet. Sue has an adventurous spirit and loves to travel exploring new places – she’s been to more than 40 countries!
