I want to avoid vegetable oils in particular. Butter may be acceptable but I would like to cook popcorn as-is.
I have a popcorn machine that uses hot air and spins them to pop them. After they are done I add a bit of salt and olive oil.
It looks like that: https://www.joom.com/en/products/5c9c6d388b451301012ba1fa
Sure… It’s the only way I make it. I used to use an air popper, but then I got a silicone bowl that goes in the microwave. It takes about 2.5 minutes for 1/4 C of kernels. I know some people use a paper bag in the microwave instead….
Afterwards, I toss with a bit of seasonings, and enjoy. My older child likes hers with nooch (nutritional yeast) and salt. My younger child likes his all different ways, but one way he is fond of is with cinnamon and cardamom. My husband likes his with curry powder, nooch, salt, and a bit of chili powder. I sometimes do mine plain, sometimes with this mushroom umami seasoning we have, sometimes with red curry powder, sometimes zaatar…. Just whatever seasonings sound good from the spice rack.
I use one of these…
Silicone Microwave Popcorn Popper with Lid for Home Microwave Popcorn Makers with Handles Collapsible Popcorn Bowl https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MT1JJVQ/ref=cm_sw_r_awdo_navT_g_EJA3Z6QGE9EVASD8J825
It folds in on itself for easy storage.
I used to popcorn in a paper bag. You have to really dial in the time and power setting. You could set a time for 3 minutes but set the power to 30-40%. That might work. You have to watch because the paper bag might catch fire.
Google “How to Air Pop your popcorn” and it gives you ways to prepare popcorn without oil or extra amazon stuff. Corn is popped by releasing this moisture within, so salt, sugar, butter and oil are only added flavours. They don’t do anything to achieve the wanted popcorn.
Yes! Air pop it! Hamilton Beach Electric Hot Air Popcorn Popper, Healthy Snack, Makes up to 18 Cups, Red (73400) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JR5ADG0/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_fabc_GM6VHD5C0BH56GVX5YA5?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
Hello, I use ghee or the red palm fruit oil. Palm fruit oil, I don’t think is the same as the troublesome oil used in processed food and is traditionally used in West Africa. It is high in carotenoids and also gives popcorn that cool yellow color without the fake ingredients. It has good saturated fat like coconut oil.
So the fat used in the cooking process actually facilitates the rapid consistanr heating and thermal expansion necessary to pop popcorn. Although theoretically you could pop it without it, I would consider it overall unadvisable, because you are significantly more likely to burn the popcorn without the presence of a fat. The one exception might be an air fryer, but this may be impractical due to the popcorn increasing in mass 10x in the cooking process. Might I ask, are you avoiding gmos?