A few days ago we were at the Farmer’s Market and they were selling old-fashioned popcorn. I’m not talking about the kind you pop in a popcorn popper, but the kind you pop right on the ear! Yes, that’s how they used to do it decades ago!!!
How many of you remember the good old days when you had to make popcorn over an open flame? People who go camping out into the wilderness will often make their popcorn like that. However, many of us are now spoiled by tossing a bag of it into the microwave or feeding the kernels through an air popper which is easy too. Ahhhh….modern conveniences!
We thought it would be fun to make this special popcorn with our grandchildren, so we picked up 3 ears while at the Farmer’s Market. I took a photo of the instructions so that we would know how to do it with the kids. See the second photograph in my post.
One of the things I want to caution you about is that this method of popping popcorn is messy! I had a big mess in my microwave to clean-up once we were done. Second, you can add melted butter directly onto the cob and then pop, although I don’t recommend that as it made the mess even worse. I recommend melting your butter after you’re done and pour it over-the-top of the popped corn in a bowl. Just Saying.
Personally I wasn’t thrilled with this old-fashioned method, but it was fun to do with the kids. It really opened all of our eyes on how spoiled we are with modern day conveniences. Thankfully that we can use a microwave, an air popper or buy it already popped and in a bag! One ear netted us 2 medium-sized bowls of popcorn and that doesn’t include the messy ones that I tossed away from the microwave explosion. LOL.
How many of you have ever made your own popcorn this way? Did you do it that way as a children? As an adult? Do you prefer microwave popcorn, air-popped popcorn, or do you only do the store-bought in the bag (ready to eat) popcorn? Any specific flavors or toppings you like?
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This sounds like a wonderful way to make popcorn. I would enjoy the recipe.
This looks like a lot of fun. I didn’t even know this was possible. Thanks for the heads up on how messy it can be. Good to be prepared for that.
I want to do this just as something to do with the girls. We might not eat it but I bet we have fun popping it.
The kids loved it! It did make a popcorn mess in the microwave but they loved standing there watching it pop while still on the cob via the window. It helped to drill into our 3 year old that popcorn actually comes from an ear of corn. He thought that popcorn grows as popcorn…so a great way to teach the little ones too.
I’ve never seen corn popped on the ear like that. I’ll take the stove top method.
Lol, I did this as a kid, but we were more likely to do it on the stovetop, putting the loose popcorn in the kettle with oil and standing there, shaking it like crazy!
I don’t know why anyone makes microwave popcorn, when the stove top method is easy and so much better. This recipe is amazing! YUM!!!