How to Make Pressure Cooker Popcorn
Make a fast bowl of pressure cooker popcorn in minutes using your Instant Pot! It’s quicker, less messy, and easier to cook than in a regular pot. Every time there is delicious and perfect homemade popcorn which you can eat plain or flavor with your favorite ingredients.
Why You’ll Love Homemade Instant Pot Popcorn
- Fun and Fast: Make popcorn in a jiffy with your pressure cooker’s efficiency.
- Healthy Snack: Control the ingredients for a healthier, homemade popcorn treat.
- Perfect Movie Companion: Create cinema-style popcorn at home for your movie nights.
Let’s Make Homemade Instant Pot Popcorn Today!
Today I’ll show you how to make Instant Pot popcorn quickly and easy and discuss the best popcorn popping oil to use.
Once you’ve tried making Instant Pot popcorn this way you won’t want to make it any other way again! It’s just as good as movie theater popcorn and is a light and healthy snack to enjoy with the family.
Ingredients for This Instant Pot Popcorn Recipe
Here are the ingredients you need to make your pressure cooker popcorn:
- Corn Kernels: These are the heart of the recipe – when exposed to heat, they pop and expand into fluffy popcorn.
- Canola Oil: Used to evenly distribute heat among the corn kernels. This oil has a high smoke point, making it ideal for high-heat cooking like popcorn popping.
- Flavorings: These can be customized according to your preference. Salt gives the popcorn a classic savory flavor, sugar adds a sweet touch, butter makes it rich and creamy, and melted chocolate provides a luxurious, indulgent twist.
Pressure Cooker Popcorn Cooking Times
- Prep Time: 1 Minute
- Cook Time: 12 Minutes
- Serves: 2-4
How to Make Pressure Cooker Popcorn?
Here is a step-by-step guide for making homemade popcorn in the pressure cooker.
Step One: Heat up Your Oil
Set your Instant Pot’s Saute function to high and immediately add the oil inside.
If using a pressure king pro, you will need to press the browning button.
Allow the oil to heat up for about 2 minutes, or until your instant pot displays the word “hot”.
Step Two: Add Popcorn Kernels to Pot
Add the popcorn kernels to the Instant Pot.
Step Three: Stir Popcorn Kernels
Stir the popcorn kernels for about 1 minute before placing the glass instant pot lid on the top.
The glass lid is great as it allows you to see the corn popping.
Step Four: Wait Until Kernels Popped
The popcorn kernels will begin to pop after around 2-3 minutes of heating while covered, you will start to hear the popcorn kernels popping. Turn off the saute button once most of the kernels have popped.
Step Five: Season Plain Popcorn
Add your fresh popcorn into a large bowl. You can now choose how to flavor your hot popcorn.
Pressure Cooker Popcorn Flavors.
There are a number of flavors for Instant Pot popcorn. You can have plain popcorn or add melted butter and salt for a savory popcorn snack.
Add Salt or Sugar to Your Popcorn
Add salt or sugar or even both depending on what flavor popcorn you wish to make. Some people enjoy sweet and salty homemade popcorn. Others like to add seasonings such as cinnamon powder or even chili powder.
Chocolate Pressure Cooker Popcorn
You may want to be adventurous and try melting some chocolate into your popcorn if you want a sweet treat, why not try this Starwars Popcorn topping or you could go one step further and make delightful caramel chocolate popcorn balls.
You could even try our Smores Popcorn recipe. This is a fantastic Instant Pot popcorn recipe and it’s a real winner in our house!
Don’t Burn Your Popcorn!
You’ll want to be able to see your popcorn kernels to ensure they’re not burning after a couple of minutes of popping. If you don’t have a glass lid, you’ll want to check it every once in a while, under the lid.
Tips for Cooking Instant Pot Popcorn
- Be sure to use fresh kernels of corn for the best popcorn result.
- To get a more even pop, stir the popcorn or shake your instant pot every minute. This will help the unpopped kernels get better heat and pop evenly.
- If you want buttery popcorn, you can add 2 tablespoons of butter with the oil. Once it’s melted, you can add your popcorn kernels.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is Pressure Cooker Popcorn?
Pressure cooker popcorn is a quick and easy way to make homemade popcorn in an Instant Pot. Not only does it cook faster, but it produces less mess and the finished product tastes much better than microwave or stovetop popcorn.
How Many Carbs in Popcorn?
Popcorn is a low carbohydrate snack with each cup containing roughly 5 grams of carbs. It’s also high in fiber and a good source of whole grains which makes it a great choice for those watching their carb intake.
How Many Calories in Popcorn?
Popcorn contains approximately 31 calories per cup, most of which are from carbohydrates. With minimal fat and added sugar, it’s a great snack for those watching their calorie intake as well.
Is Popcorn Gluten Free?
Yes, popcorn is naturally gluten free and can be enjoyed as a healthy snack when prepared with the right ingredients. Be sure to check the label of any seasoning or condiment you use to make sure it’s gluten free if necessary.
What Is the Best Popcorn Cooking Oil?
You can use any type of oil you would like to make your pressure cooker popcorn. We recommend using an oil with a high smoking point, such as avocado oil, canola oil, or peanut oil.
Avocado Oil Popcorn
Avocado oil is full of healthy fats and has a high smoking point, making it ideal for cooking popcorn.
Canola Oil Popcorn
Canola oil is a neutral-tasting oil. Canola oil has health benefits that include being lower in saturated fat than other oils.
Coconut Oil Popcorn
Coconut oil is a popular choice for making popcorn because it has a sweet and nutty flavor. However, coconut oil has a lower smoking point, so it is not as ideal for making popcorn as avocado oil.
Peanut Oil Popcorn
Peanut oil has a great nutty flavor that makes it a popular choice for cooking popcorn. However this should be avoided if anyone in the family has a peanut allergy.
Olive Oil for Popcorn
Olive oil is one of the healthiest oils for popcorn. Oil popped popcorn is delicious and the olive oil has a subtle but delicious flavor.
What Is the Best Type of Popcorn for Pressure Cooker Popcorn?
We recommend using popcorn kernels that are specifically designed for popping corn. These types of kernels will have a higher popped to un-popped ratio. You can find corn kernels at your local grocery store in the popcorn aisle or online.
How Long Does Popcorn Take To Pop in the Pressure Cooker?
The popcorn will take around 5 minutes to pop in your Instant Pot.
Can I Use Vegetable Oil for Pressure Cooker Popcorn?
Vegetable oil is a great choice for making popcorn because it has a high smoking point, which makes it less likely to burn. However, vegetable oils are higher in saturated fat than coconut oil or avocado oil, so they may not be the healthiest option.
Avocado and coconut oils are both excellent choices for making popcorn as they have a lower saturated fat content and a mild flavor.
How Long Does Popcorn Stay Fresh?
The popcorn will stay fresh for up to one week when stored in an airtight container.
You can also store the popped corn in a Ziploc bag in the freezer for up to 3 months. Before consuming, make sure you warm it up properly.
How to Reheat Popcorn?
Using the microwave is the easiest way to reheat popcorn. Place your popcorn in a microwave-safe bowl and heat it for 30 seconds.
If your popcorn is not yet warm, you can continue heating it for 10 second intervals until it reaches the desired temperature.
Can Toddlers Eat Popcorn?
Popcorn is safe for toddlers to eat, but it’s important to remember that popcorn should always be served in moderation.
Popcorn is a choking hazard, so children under the age of 4 should not eat popcorn unless there is adult supervision present. Also, make sure you remove any unpopped kernels from the popcorn before serving it to your toddler.
Can Dogs Eat Popcorn?
Dogs can eat plain popcorn but there are some strict rules that must be followed. Read the following article Is Popcorn Bad For Dogs to learn about how to feed dogs popcorn correctly.
Can You Eat Popcorn With Braces?
Popcorn can be eaten with braces, but it is important to remove any unpopped kernels before eating.
Unpopped kernels can easily become stuck in the brackets or wires of your braces and cause breakage. It is also advised to avoid hard and sticky snacks when wearing braces.
How To Make Pressure Cooker Popcorn
Easy Pressure Cooker Popcorn
Ingredients
- ½ Cup Corn Kernels
- 2 Tablespoons Canola Oil
- Plus Flavorings such as salt, sugar, butter, or melted chocolate
Instructions
Set your Instant Pot’s Saute function to high and immediately add the oil inside.
If using a pressure king pro, you will need to press the browning button.
Allow the oil to heat up for about 2 minutes, or until your instant pot displays the word “hot”.
Add the popcorn kernels to the Instant Pot.
Stir the popcorn kernels for about 1 minute before placing the glass instant pot lid on the top.
The glass lid is great as it allows you to see the corn popping.
The popcorn kernels will begin to pop after around 2-3 minutes of heating while covered, you will start to hear the popcorn kernels popping. Turn off the saute button once most of the kernels have popped.
Add your fresh popcorn into a large bowl. You can now choose how to flavor your hot popcorn.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 3 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 156Total Fat: 14gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 11mgSodium: 226mgCarbohydrates: 8gFiber: 1gSugar: 4gProtein: 1g
More Instant Pot Dessert Recipes
For more Instant Pot desserts, try the following:
