Instant Pot Popcorn

Instant Pot Popcorn- is very easy to make snack at home. Popping kettle corn in the instant pot is so much fun and it gets ready within few minutes.

Learn how to make popcorn in an instant pot with just two ingredients. You can use a variety of seasoning to make these yummier.

Thinking about popcorn especially butter popcorn I recall my courtship days in New Delhi while watching movies. They taste so great while watching our favorite movies.

Movies (be it in theatre or home), cola, & popcorn are just inseparable. It was always enjoyable to pop these beauties on the stovetop and now in an instant pot.

Why you will love this recipe

Homemade popcorn is always fun to make. You can pop them in a microwave or on the stovetop and now in electric pressure cooker “instant pot“.

It is one of the instant pot beginner-friendly recipes to cook. Homemade popcorns

• cheap and budget-friendly.
• healthier as you know the ingredients.
• Easy to make with many flavors
• A great after school snack, mid-day snack or game night snack.
• Vegan & gluten-free snack
• Made with just two ingredients

Store-bought popcorns or pre-made microwavable packets are loaded with more butter then required. Having artificial flavors, salt, and sugar makes them very unhealthy.

Homemade popcorns are best to consume as you know the ingredients and can customize flavors. This instant pot popcorn recipe makes a perfect choice to have fresh, homemade instant popcorn.

Have them plain or add any flavors you want, this basic instant pot popcorn recipe is the same. I am also sharing a list of flavors to go with popcorns.

Ingredients

There are only two ingredients you need, and your preferred seasoning. In general my family enjoy butter popcorn the most.

Popcorn made in the instant pot is easy and without fuss. Just heat the oil add popcorn and set the SAUTE mode do the magic for you.

Please check RECIPE CARD for detailed ingredients list with accurate measurement.

• Kettle corn– these are easily available in the market. Economically this is so cheap compared to market bought packed corn.
• Oil– I have used coconut oil, canola oil, and peanut oil so far due to their high smoke point. Now we use only coconut oil to make them.
• Salt– I used normal cooking salt.
• A MUST– Glass lid is required while popping in the instant pot. Without using it oil can splutter all over the place.

How to make popcorn in instant pot

Learn how to make instant pot popcorn with just two ingredients.

Step-1 SAUTE mode

To make popcorn, first, switch on the instant pot and set SAUTE MODE on. Wait till instant pot show HOT on the display.

Step-2 Add coconut oil

Once you see HOT on the display screen add coconut oil and let it heat for 3 minutes.

Step-3 Add Popcorn Kernels

After 3 minutes add popcorn kernels. Mix with the help of spatula till every kernel is covered in coconut oil. Stir occasionally for 1-2 minutes.

Step-4 Let Them Pop

After 1 minute 30 seconds around, close the pot with the glass lid and allow them to pop.

Step-5 Doneness

Initially, you will notice popping sound frequently and then it shows down. Once you notice the slowing down press CANCEL mode.

Shake– Hold the inner pot using mittens and give a shake. This will allow any uncooked kernel to go down at the bottom and pop up further. Let it sit for another 30 seconds.

Step-6 Remove the glass lid and shake the popcorn well. At this point, you can add your favorite seasoning with little butter. Transfer them to a bowl and enjoy.

Serve this homemade popcorn immediately.

Best oil to choose

So, should you choose Coconut oil when making popcorn in the instant pot? Which is the best oil to use?

Coconut oil is BEST if used while making popcorn in the instant pot for various reasons.

• It is much healthier with good fats.
• Has a high smoke point.
• It also ensures to cook kernels at high heat which is required for them to pop.

It is my first preference after using canola and peanut oil. Other oil may break down at higher temperatures result in burnt popcorn.

If coconut oil is not available then feel free to use olive oil, clarified butter or ghee. I made instant pot ghee at home.

It is always best to add butter and favorite seasoning while serving.

Instant pot popcorn not popping?

Popcorn kernels pop up for one reason. There is trapped moisture inside the skin of the kernel. When kernels are cooked at high temperatures and pressure becomes too much to bear then they pop up.

If popcorn kernels are old and this moisture is dried out, in this case, kernels will not pop out and burn easily at the bottom. Make sure you are buying good kernels and keeping in an airtight container after use.

Popcorn will not pop up if they are stored from a longer time, or very old packages date or stored in open. TRIED & TESTED

Storing Suggestions

Popcorn gets soggy if kept longer at room temperature. You can store them in an airtight container for some time.

I prefer to store them only for two days in a glass jar, beyond that, I noticed a stale smell.

Serving & Seasoning for popcorn

Serve immediately with your favorite seasoning and enjoy.

They are best to enjoy in short trips, as snacks in school, or while watching movies and anytime if you want.

My family enjoys butter popcorn more often and I do make cheese, caramel, and cinnamon sugar flavored popcorns on kid’s demands.

Feel free to use any of your favorite seasoning. I am listing some of them.

• Butter popcorn adds salted butter to hot popcorns. Adjust salt as per taste.
• Caramel popcorn
• Garlic parmesan popcorn
• Barbeque popcorn
• Buffalo popcorn
• Cinnamon sugar adding sugar & cinnamon powder makes sweet & warm popcorn. They taste really amazing with the sweetness of using cinnamon sugar.
• Garlic & herb add any herb like oregano, rosemary along with minced garlic in melted butter. Add this garlic herb butter to hot popcorn.
• Cheese popcorn you can add cheddar & parmesan cheese to popcorns and just microwave for 1 minute.
• Chilli lime flavour Adding cayenne pepper along with lemon juice & lemon zest gives a refreshing zingy taste.

Tips & FAQ’s

• The First & foremost tip is to avoid using butter. Butter gets burnt at the bottom of an instant pot. My preferred oil is now Coconut oil.
• Once you see HOT on the display screen then add coconut oil.
• Let the oil heated for 2 minutes before adding kernels.
• Do not stuff instant pot with popcorn kernels. Ideally, 1/3 quantity is good enough to cover the bottom of 6qt instant pot evenly.
• Close the pot with glass lid. While it helps to maintain the temperature of the inside pot, it also helps to avoid spluttering oil. Be careful.
• Once popping sounds go down, CANCEL the SAUTE mode, and take out the insert pan.
• Transfer to a bowl asap.

You can check some more beginner-friendly Instant Pot Recipes from the blog.

• Instant Pot Beets
• 5-5-5 Instant Pot Hard-boiled eggs
• Instant pot cold start yogurt (homemade yogurt)
• Homemade Instant pot ghee

Few more Instant pot recipes to make

• Palak paneer in the instant pot
• Instant Pot Spanish rice
• Sarson ka saag
• Instant pot urad dal recipe
• easy Tofu curry vegan

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