Lights, Camera, Popcorn! How to Make the Perfect Movie-Theater Popcorn at Home
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Is there anything better than a giant bucket of salty, buttery popcorn at the movie theater?! That distinct flavor and smell is the essential sidekick to a great movie night.
But what if I told you that you could recreate movie theater popcorn at home? If you own a tabletop popcorn machine (the kind with a kettle), you’re already halfway there! You already have the perfect equipment, but the real secret to that authentic cinema popcorn comes down to three things: The Oil, The Salt, and The Technique.
Leave those expensive microwave bags behind- here is your step-by-step guide to making the best movie night popcorn that tastes exactly like the concession stand!
The Three Secrets to Authentic Movie Theater Popcorn
Believe it or not, the professionals don’t just use regular butter and salt. They use a specific combination of ingredients that gives the popcorn that signature perfect mix of buttery-salty punch and bright yellow color.
Popcorn Kernels | Flavacol | Coconut Oil | Topping Oil
Secret 1: Coconut Oil
You read that right, I wrote coconut oil - specifically Dutchman’s Buttery Coconut Oil.
Why it Works: Coconut oil has a high smoke point and provides a clean and natural base. No, this won’t give your popcorn a coconutty flavor! The buttery flavor of Dutchman’s gives it the perfect amount of butter flavoring and color, just like the popcorn at your favorite movie theater.
Tip: You could use normal coconut oil if you prefer, but your popcorn won’t have that signature yellow movie theater popcorn color.
Secret 2: The Salt
If you get anything out of this post, make it this one: Flavacol is the key ingredient in making movie theater popcorn.
What is it? It’s a finely ground salt with artificial butter flavor and coloring. It sticks perfectly to the popped kernels, providing a perfect salty and buttery taste in every bite.
Where to buy it? I bought a 35oz. carton on Amazon for $9.99 over 2 years ago and it is still going strong. You don’t need much, and it packs a yummy, salty, buttery punch.
Secret 3: The Topping
The “butter” that gets added to your popcorn at the movie theater is actually butter-flavored oil. There are two options that you can try at home if you like added butter:
Ghee: This is real butter with the water and milk solids removed. Regular melted butter will make your popcorn soggy, but ghee gives you pure butter flavor that will coat the popcorn to perfection without turning it into a soggy mess.
Butter-Flavored Topping Oil: There are several brands you can try - we use Orville Redenbacher’s if we are looking for an extra buttery flavor, but we usually skip this step, even at the movie theater. It’s all a matter of preference and how you normally take your movie theater popcorn.
Your Step-by-Step Guide to Making Movie Theater Popcorn At Home
The key to making the perfect movie theater popcorn at home is how much of each ingredient to use. Lucky for you, we’ve tried several different ways to get that perfect mix of salty, buttery flavor in every bite, so you don’t have to experiment. All you have to do is make and enjoy!
We have a tabletop popcorn machine that has a capacity of making 4 quarts of popcorn.
Ingredients:
1/2 a cup of popcorn kernels
1/2 teaspoon of Flavacol.
2 tablespoons of of Dutchman’s Buttery Coconut Oil
Drizzle of butter-flavored topping oil or ghee
Steps:
In the kettle, put in 1/2 a cup of your popcorn kernels of your choice.
Sprinkle about 1/2 tsp. of Flavacol all over the popcorn kernels.
Add 2 tbsp. of Dutchman’s Buttery Coconut Oil over the kernels.
Turn on the Machine, close the kettle lid, and let the machine do its job. When the sound of popping slows down to a few seconds between pops, quickly turn off the kettle heater and carefully dump the finished batch into your serving container.
Add Topping (Optional) Drizzle the popcorn with your choice of ghee or butter-flavored topping oil. Give the bowl a good shake to ensure even coverage. If you want an extra salt kick, you can sprinkle a tiny bit more Flavacol on top!
Congratulations! You now have a batch of hot, golden, buttery popcorn that will instantly transport you to the movie theater lobby. Enjoy the show!
I’m a mom of two and wife to a seriously supportive hubby, living our best life in our forever house by the preserve! I'm all about helping you create a stylish, Pinterest-worthy home on a budget. Let's obsess over interior design, home decor, DIY, and home improvement projects to help you create your best home. Follow along and say hello! I love hearing from you.
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