The history of popcorn goes back to eight hundred years when people cultivated maize from grass teosinte. Gradually, only selective breeding happened until the popcorn became closer to what we have today. The snack gained immense popularity in the United States, and today, movie theatre popcorn is a traditional favorite in all its buttered glory!
But why does everyone loves movie popcorn so much? As much as you like it, you probably would not be able to guess why theatre popcorn tastes so darn good. Here’s the answer.
Oil is the key. It may come as a surprise for most of you, as you thought the secret ingredient behind movie popcorn tasting so good is adding tons of butter. The reality is that most theatres make their popcorn in coconut oil instead of regular canola oil and add Flavacol while it is popping to imbue the kernels with that salty taste and the signature yellow color.
Let us dive into some more details about your favorite munching snack in movie theatres.
What Is Flavacol?
So, what exactly is this secret ingredient making everyone love popcorn so much that most people finish it even before the movie starts! Basically, flavacol is a superfine salt with an artificial flavor that sticks to the popcorn easily. The artificial flavors are yellow #5 and #6, which give the popcorn its buttery taste and color, that too without being actual butter!
However, flavacol is not usually available at local grocery markets, but one can find it online, and just a single container will last longer than enough.
The Key: Oil
Popcorns of theatres may taste different from each other, but their oil is vital and the same. If your popcorn tastes subtle and clean, they have been popped in canola oil. Whereas coconut oil is another main ingredient of movie popcorn, making them taste entirely different from what you make at home in your microwave. It gives the popcorns a unique taste when combined with the buttery salt: flavacol.
Do Not Forget The Toppings
The kernels used by the movie theatres are pretty much the same as we use at home, but they level up their game by using butter- well, sort of it. As mentioned earlier, theatres do not use real butter but a butter-flavored salt or oil with lower water content so that the popcorn does not turn soggy.
Another reason movie popcorn is way more delicious than regular home ones? Theatres do not mention any nutritional values on the packet, meaning that they use way too much oil and salt than the standard kernel microwavable bags would ever have.
Here is a recipe to make movie-like popcorn at home:
Make Your Own Theatre-Like Popcorn At Home
If you want to have a movie-like popcorn experience at home, you can make your own DIY buttery topping. Clarify a few sticks of butter by melting them in the microwave oven. Skim off the top layer of the foam and save the underneath liquid. Make your popcorns following the usual recipe, and pour the topping over them.
Now that you know why movie theatre popcorn tastes so good and how you can make similar popcorn at home, your movie night just got better! Didn’t it? Enjoy!
