Learn How to Make Popcorn on the Stove with step-by-step directions to help you go back to basics and make popcorn the way it should be made.

Closeup of a large white serving dish filled with homemade popcorn that is spilling out onto a red and white kitchen towel.

There is nothing better than stove popped popcorn.  It has been a family favorite for as long as I can remember.  I learned how to pop popcorn on the stove at the knee of my father, who learned from his father, and so forth and so on.  Okay, that’s not true, while my dad did teach me, I have no idea where he learned How to Make Popcorn on the Stove.   All I know is that stove popped popcorn is the best.

Popcorn Kernel Guidelines

Closeup on a measuring cup filled with popcorn kernels sitting on a red tablecloth.

How many popcorn kernels to use depends on how big a pan you have and how much popcorn you want to make.  Here are some guidelines:

  • 1/4 cup Popcorn Kernels = approximately 7 cups of popped popcorn
  • 1/3 cup Popcorn Kernels = approximately 10 cups of popped popcorn
  • 1/2 cup Popcorn Kernels = approximately 15 cups of popped popcorn

(For comparison purposes 1 regular-sized bag of Microwave popcorn yields approximately 4.5 cups of popped popcorn.)

How to Make Popcorn on the Stovetop

Collage image showing the steps required to make popcorn on the stove.

Step 1: Pour 2 Tablespoons (or so, depending on how big of a pan you use) of oil in the bottom of a medium/large pan. The oil should generously cover the bottom of the pan. Heat the pan over Medium/High heat.
Step 2: Put 3 test popcorn kernels in the pan and put on the cover on the pan.
Step 3: After you hear the test kernels pop, take off the lid.
Step 4: Add 1/2 cup of popcorn kernels to the pan and put the lid back on.

Closeup on a large pan filled with homemade popcorn made on a stovetop.

Step 5:  Allow the popcorn to pop.  Gently slide the pan around on the burner during the first few minutes of the process to avoid burning the kernels.   This is not so important once the popcorn really starts popping as everything is moving around pretty good when that happens.  Take the pan off the heat when the sound of kernels popping slows down.  The whole popping process should only take 3-4 minutes.

Closeup on a bowl of popcorn with a shaker of Morton Popcorn Salt sprinkling salt on the popcorn.

Step 6: Easy Peasy – that all you need to do to make perfect popcorn. And popcorn cooked this way tastes so much better than popcorn from the microwave. Once you have the popcorn made, salt it liberally.  We use Morton Popcorn Salt, it is super fine and really sticks to the popcorn.  Finally, add melted butter if you’d like. And WE do like! Now you know how to make perfect popcorn.  It is so easy and the finished product is 1000 times better than Microwave Popcorn.  You’ll love it … we promise!

Closeup on a glass serving bowl filled with popcorn made on a stovetop sitting on a red and white table linen.

Other Popcorn Recipes You Will Love

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How to Make Popcorn on the Stove

Yield Approximately 10 cups
Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes

Learn How to Make Popcorn on the Stove with step-by-step directions to help you go back to basics and make popcorn the way it should be made.

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup Popcorn kernels
  • 2-3 tablespoons Oil
  • Morton Popcorn Salt
  • Melted Butter (Optional)

Instructions

  1. Pour approximately 2 tablespoons of oil in the bottom of a medium/large pan. The oil should generously cover the bottom of the pan.
  2. Heat the pan over Medium/High heat.
  3. Put 3 test popcorn kernels in the pan and put on the cover.
  4. After you hear the test kernels pop, take off the lid.
  5. Add popcorn kernels (see notes below) to the pan and put the lid back on.
  6. Allow the popcorn to pop.
  7. Gently slide the pan around on the burner during the first few minutes of the process to avoid burning the kernels.
  8. Take the pan off the heat when the sound of kernels popping slows down. (The whole popping process should only take 3-4 minutes.)

Notes

  • 1/4 cup Popcorn Kernels = approximately 7 cups of popped popcorn
  • 1/3 cup Popcorn Kernels = approximately 10 cups of popped popcorn
  • 1/2 cup Popcorn Kernels = approximately 15 cups of popped popcorn

Did you Make this Recipe? Leave a review below, then snap a picture and tag @twosisterscrafting on Instagram so we can see it!