Written By Sam Henselijn
A guide to Popcorn. Popcorn is an all-time favorite snack for all ages, and for good reason. It’s fun, easy to make, delicious to eat, and can be customized in a million ways. Plus, popcorn may actually be healthy for you. Read more in this guide to popcorn we put together!
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore everything you wish to know about popcorn, including its health benefits, common questions, and a how-to guide on perfecting the art of homemade popcorn 3 ways.
Is popcorn actually healthy?
Whether you’re craving a quick savory snack or need something to munch on while you binge-watch your favorite tv show, popcorn is a classic and convenient snack choice. But is popcorn healthy? Well, for the most part, yes.
A lot of people don’t realize this, but popcorn is actually 100% unprocessed whole grain, which provides fiber. That fiber will keep your digestive tract in check and promote intestinal regularity. Besides, fiber rich foods take more time to digest, so they will keep you satisfied for longer.
Another point in favor of the snack: popcorn is loaded with polyphenols. These are a form of antioxidants that can reduce inflammation in the body. Foods rich in polyphenols may also help prevent cardiovascular disease and block enzymes that cancers need to grow.
Yet one more plus, popcorn contains a lot of iron! In fact, 1 ounce of popcorn contains 0.9 mg of iron, while 1 cup of raw spinach has 0.8 mg. It also contains small amounts of essential vitamins and nutrients such as folate, niacin, riboflavin, thiamin, B vitamins, and magnesium.
Is popcorn keto?
Being on a low-carb, high-fat diet, like the ketogenic diet, means basically giving up sugars, processed carbs, and maintaining a very low carb count.
So where does the ultimate movie snack fit in? Is popcorn allowed on keto? In short, if you keep to air-popped popcorn or popcorn made with a fat source such as coconut oil or butter, then yes, popcorn is keto-friendly!
But here’s the trick: as with most things, portion control is everything. If you want to enjoy your popcorn while on keto, a one-cup serving of it a day is totally fine. For reference, 1 cup of air popped popcorn has about 5 grams of net carbs and only 90 calories per serving – which is good news for those also looking to lose weight on the diet.
Carbs in popcorn
As per USDA, a regular serving of air-popped popcorn is about 3 cups, containing 4 grams of fiber and 18 grams of carbs — or 14 grams of net carbs.
Is popcorn gluten free?
Yes, popcorn is considered a naturally gluten-free snack food! Popcorn can be safely enjoyed by most people, even those with Celiac disease. However, it’s always recommended to check the label for added flavorings, spices, and seasonings that may contain gluten.
How to make air popped popcorn
Air-popped popcorn is the healthiest way to make popcorn, and incredibly easy too. Plus, there’s no mess to clean!
Pour 1/3 cup of kernels into a large microwave-safe bowl and cover the bowl with a plate. Heat for 2-4 minutes, or until the popping slows to more than a second between pops.
Transfer to another bowl and season to taste.
How to pop popcorn on the stovetop
Stovetop popcorn is another great option: easy, quick, and highly customizable!
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup popcorn kernels
- 1-2 tablespoon neutral oil
- Salt, to taste
- Melted butter (Optional)
Pour the oil in the bottom of a medium/large pan. You should be left with a thin layer of oil that covers the bottom of the pan. You may need to add more or less of it depending on the size of your pan.
Heat the pan over medium heat and place 3 kernels inside. Put the lid on and wait for them to pop.
Once the test kernels have popped, add the rest of the popcorn kernels to the pan and put the lid back on.
When the first kernels start popping, shake the pot every 15 seconds or so to allow the unpopped kernels to settle to the bottom. Continue shaking until the popping has mostly stopped. Transfer to a large bowl and sprinkle with salt. Add melted butter if desired.
How to make caramel popcorn
Caramel popcorn is simply irresistible! Making it at home is easier than you think, and tastes even better than store-bought.
Ingredients
- 8 cups popped popcorn
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- 4 tablespoons light corn syrup
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Heat a large pot over medium-low heat. Add the butter and wait for it to melt. Stir in brown sugar, corn syrup, and salt.
Bring to a light boil and let simmer for 2-5 minutes, without stirring, until the caramel has thickened.
Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract and baking soda.
Immediately drizzle caramel over popcorn. Toss with a rubber spatula until the popcorn is evenly coated.
Spread the popcorn on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake in a 250 F preheated oven for 30 minutes, tossing occasionally.
A guide to Popcorn
Remove from oven and allow to cool completely. Once cooled, you may want to break the larger clumps into smaller pieces.
Store in an airtight container.
Looking for something tasty and unique? Look no further than our Cheesy Popcorn Crunch! This unusual, but oh-so-tasty, blend of milk chocolate popcorn, butter toffee cashews, salted cashews, and pretzel cheese gems is sure to be a hit with everyone!
If you love caramel, this Caramel Celebration Mix is the salty-sweet treat you’ll crave. Made with white chocolate caramel corn mixed with salted almonds and some more caramel-chocolate goodness with a hint of sea salt to wrap it all up.
For another iconic flavor combination, make sure to try our Triple P Mix, featuring caramel popcorn, pretzel balls, salted peanuts, and chocolate gems. Here’s a combo that works every time and is outright irresistible!
Sam Henselijn Author’s Biography – Meet L’Orenta Nuts CEO
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