Here’s the Secret to Butter Popcorn Without Making It Soggy

It’s a fact that movie theater popcorn HAS this distinctive flavor. Some of us, normally considered as grown up and responsible adults, even go to the theater without actually seeing a movie, but just to buy the popcorn and come back home!

Usually movie theaters use butter-flavored oil, which has a lower water content than butter so it makes popcorn less soggy—so now you know: water contained in butter is the culprit! But you really don’t need to buy additives to make your own delicious buttery popcorn at home.

Clarified butter (also know as ghee) has the exact same effect. You can find clarified butter in most grocery stores, at least in every asian food market, and also online. One better option if you’re in a hurry, just do it by yourself, it’s easy as pie!

To make clarified butter, melt 2 sticks butter in a pyrex measuring cup in the microwave. Allow to sit for a few minutes; the butter will separate into 3 layers. Skim off the top layer of foam with a tablespoon, then slowly pour the clarified butter into a heatproof container; discard the bottom layer of milk solids. Stir in 3 tablespoons hot clarified butter into 10 cups popcorn; and refrigerate the rest for stir-frying.

Photo source: Flickr/Edward Kimber, cc by nc-nd 2.0