Lifestyle Desk – Nowadays popcorn has become the favorite snack of everyone from children to adults. Be it while watching a movie or to satisfy light hunger in the evening, popcorn is considered a great option. Usually, people buy ready-made popcorn kernels from the market and make them, but do you know that delicious and healthy popcorn can be prepared at home from fresh corn also? With a little care and proper procedure, you can turn ordinary corn kernels into puffed popcorn.
To make popcorn, it is necessary to have the right amount of moisture in the grains. When the moisture present within the grains heats up, the steam pressure increases and the grains burst and take the form of popcorn. This is the reason why popcorn cannot be made by putting fresh corn kernels directly on the gas. For this, it is necessary to dry them properly first. So let us know how you can make popcorn from fresh corn at home.
How to prepare corn for popcorn?
First of all, select such corn whose grains are fully developed. Remove the peels from the corn and clean it. After this, keep the corn hanging in an airy and dry place for about two to three weeks. During this time the excess moisture of the grains reduces and they become suitable for making popcorn.
When the grains are dry enough, separate them from the corn. The grains can also be stored in an airtight container for a few days. This maintains their quality.
How to make popcorn at home
To make popcorn, take a thick bottomed wok or pan. Add one to two spoons of oil in it and heat it. Now add some dry grains in it and cover the lid and cook on medium flame. Within a few minutes the kernels will start bursting and fresh popcorn will be ready. When the sound of popping subsides, turn off the gas and take out the popcorn in a large vessel. To enhance the taste, you can add light salt, black pepper, chaat masala or other spices of your choice.
Better option than market snacks
Home-made popcorn is considered better than packaged snacks in many ways. These do not contain additional preservatives, artificial flavors and excessive salt or fat. Popcorn made using the right amount of oil is rich in fiber and keeps you feeling full for a long time. Apart from this, it can be a healthy snack option for children also. You can use butter, cheese or spices as per your choice and need.
Keep these things in mind
- Give the corn kernels time to dry completely.
- Grains with too much moisture do not burst properly.
- While making popcorn, do not keep the flame very high.
- Store the grains in an airtight container so that there is no moisture in them.
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