Popcorn: Carnival Kettle Style

Love the kettle corn you buy at carnivals and fairs? Did you know it’s easy (and inexpensive!) to make at home?

Health Information

Prerequisites

  • Pot: large, like 6 quarts
  • Lid for the pot
  • Optional: spatula or wooden spoon

Ingredients

  • Popcorn: 0.5 cup/100 mL
  • Sugar: 0.25 cup/50 mL, white
  • Oil: vegetable/canola
  • Salt

Instructions

Cooking

  1. Heat the pot, set to high
  2. Add enough oil to thinly coat the bottom of the pot
  3. Add a few kernels of corn to the pot.  Do not continue until after the kernels pop
  4. Add the sugar
  5. Mix the sugar with a spoon or spatula to incorporate it. It doesn’t have to be perfect, and don’t expect it to all dissolve.
  6. Add the remaining kernels
  7. Continue mixing the sugar/kernels/oil with a spoon or spatula
  8. Cover the pot
  9. Turn the heat down to medium/low
  10. Shake the pot in order to coat the popcorn with the sugar while keeping the popcorn from burning to the bottom of the pot.  Do not stop shaking
  11. Remove from the heat when popping slows to 1-2 per second
  12. Add a pinch of salt
  13. Serve

Tips

  • Having issue with burning?  Try less heat.