Popcorn makers - can you use your own home grown corn?

[Seahorse]

Apologies in advance if this is an eyerollingly dim question

My children all like popcorn but we only have it as a rare treat, as most of the ready to eat versions are full of salt, sugar or fat (or a combo of the above). I've noticed that popcorn makers seem quite reasonably priced and look like fun to use. Could I use my own home grown corn in them though? (I presume I'd have to dry it first).

Any advice appreciated!

[smallblueplanet]

In fact, it doesn't just come from your normal corn kernels either. Corn used as popping corn comes from a distinct genus - Zea mays subsp mays. Commonly known as Flint corn it is a cultivated strain and is branded under the 'Popcorn' name.

Apparently, it was first discovered by native Indian Americans and has since been bred for this very purpose.

HOW TO GROW POPCORN
GOOD TIMES ARE POPPIN’ IN THE GARDEN

There are few simple pleasures that compare to eating something fresh from the garden. The satisfaction deepens if it’s the result of your own labor. The act of sowing seeds, troweling a garden bed, watering and fertilizing is an annual rite many consider therapeutic and rewarding. If you’re looking for a fun project the whole family can take part in, try planting American’s oldest and most beloved snack food—popcorn!

As spring gets fully underway and hands itch to get back in the dirt, plot out a little space in the garden for your children to work. With school soon coming to an end, now is the perfect time to get your children involved and teach them a little something about science, agriculture and nature while having fun. By starting your plants indoors you’ll be able to watch the kernels sprout and grow. It’s simple and will give your children a project they can sink their teeth into…butter and salt optional!

How To Grow Popcorn:

You’ll need popcorn kernels which can be purchased from most seed catalogs for home gardeners. You might also have luck growing popcorn from your local supermarket, but pick the plain popcorn kernels; microwave popcorn will not work. You’ll also need a plastic bag or glass jar, paper towels, water and soil.

Soak a few paper towels in water and place them in a plastic bag or glass jar. Then place a few kernels in the bag or jar so they sit on top of the paper towels. Place the bag/jar where it can get plenty of sunlight--at least 6 hours a day--and where it can be kept reasonably warm at all times.

The kernels should sprout and grow over the next few weeks. If the towels get too dry, water them again. Once you see the popcorn seeds sprouting, plant them in a pot with soil. Keep the soil moist.

Once all threat of late spring frosts is gone and the soil is thoroughly warmed you can transplant your seedlings to the garden (wait at least 10-14 days after the last spring frost). The popcorn kernels will need roughly 90 days to mature. Since popcorn can cross-pollinate with other varieties of corn (sweet and field) care must be taken to plant them far enough apart, either by physical space or time of plantings. Corn varieties should be planted 250 feet apart or, for those of us with normal size gardens, plant them at least 14 days apart.

Leave popcorn in the garden until the stalks and husks are brown and dry. When you can no longer leave a mark on the kernel with your fingernail, it's time to harvest. Twist and snap each ear from the stalk. Do this before the frost hits. To prepare popcorn for indoor curing, carefully strip away the dried husk from each ear. The kernels will be partially dried or "cured," a necessity for long-term storage.

Besides drying on the stalks, popcorn requires another four to six weeks of thorough drying in a warm, well-ventilated place.

Place the ears in mesh bags or spread them out in an area where they'll have warm air circulating around them. You can also hang mesh bags full of popcorn ears in your garage for about four weeks. After curing, hang the bags of corn in a cool, dry place. The corn can keep for years in the cool, dry, dark conditions.

After a month of curing, the kernels can be taken off the ears and stored in airtight jars. Whether you're removing the kernels before storage or just before popping, there's no real trick to it. Simply grasp the ear firmly in both hands and twist until the kernels drop out.

Finally, Popcorn!

Also here's another link and another.

Popcorn recipes.

[Seahorse]

I bow to your superior Googling Manda!

Sounds a fair bit of faff! Wonder if we have a long enough season for the initial drying on the stalk Always fun to have a go with something new though

[smallblueplanet]

And a chance to use that gen-u-ine injun corn you've probably got stacks of?

Try googling 'growing popcorn'.

[BarleySugar]

It's very cheap to buy a bag of kernels at a health food shop though. I pop it in a large saucepan (with the lid on!), with, I admit a little olive oil to get it going. Still, there's no salt or sugar, and my daughter loves it as a healthy snack.

[Winged one]

I'd second getting a bag of popping corn in the shop (I seem to recall one bag is about the same as a 6 pack of ready popped) and even do it in a large pot with a well fitting lid - my mum used to make up a 4kg margarine tub full for each of us (there were 5 of us in the same school at one stage) going in to school every breakup day (you know - Xmas and summer hols when there was no work, only a party) and everyone loved it. She'd do massive bowls for any party or BBQ and we loved it. Sometimes we'd have a little salt, but butter was never added. To do 4x4kg marg tubs would take about 1/4 of the bag, if even.

[TracyP]

Hi
No need for a popcorn maker. Just add some vegetable oil to a pot, depth less than 1 kernel deep and heat. To test if the oil is hot enough, add one kernel and wait till it pops. Then add a layer of corn, one kernel deep. Pop on a tight fitting lid and wait till the popping starts. Once it has started popping, turn the heat down and give it it shake (holding the lid on) a few times. Once the popping has slowed down, take it off the heat and wait for the popping to stop completely.

It stores well in an airtight container - my kids love it and enjoy it without any salt or butter. My favourite thing is to add melted butter and enjoy with a chilled beer when watching a film.

[Arachne]

I've just got my T&M Sale seeds through, including some "Strawberry popcorn" - this one says you can just put the whole cob in a microwave and zap it til it pops.