Can the popcorn be reheated? - The Ultimate Guide

Popcorn is one of the best snacks you can have. Whether at home, in the car, at the movies, or even at a party, there’s nothing better than popcorn. They are so crispy, airy and light at the same time.

And not only that, but you can also enjoy a multitude of flavors and styles of popcorn. No matter what your tastes are, there is sure to be a flavor of popcorn you can stick with. Popcorn isn’t always for everyone, but most would agree that it is a fun and delicious treat.

When you make popcorn, it always seems like you end up with an abundance of popcorn. Maybe it’s because your eyes are bigger than your stomach, or maybe you made a big batch to have leftovers. Whatever the case, you need an option for that leftover popcorn.

Can you reheat the popcorn? You can reheat your popcorn in the microwave or in the oven if you want to keep it warm. Or you can even eat them at room temperature if you prefer. 

In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about the proper ways to store and reheat your popcorn. We’ll make sure you have all the tips and tricks to enjoy great-tasting popcorn even when it’s not fresh.

Read on to find out all about how to reheat popcorn and much more.

The Ultimate Guide to Popcorn - Storing and Reheating

It can be said that popcorn is one of the most delicious delicacies. Many of us enjoy them at home on movie nights or when we go to the movies. You can find popcorn served at stadiums and events, and it’s relatively cheap to buy or make your own.

Explanation of the popcorn

If you are not very familiar with popcorn, it is a type of kernel of corn. When the grain is heated, it expands and turns into a fluffy ball of delicious flavor.

In the process of making popcorn, you can expect each kernel to expand between 20 and 50 times its original size.  Is incredible!

There are many varieties of popcorn. You can order them seasoned, with butter, sweet or plain. For example, if you order popcorn at the movies, they often ask you if you want butter. Some may even ask for more butter.

In many movie theaters there are now booths where you can salt, season or butter your own popcorn. This is because there are many varieties and everyone likes popcorn in their own way.

You can also buy special popcorn. There are many companies across the country that make various flavors of popcorn and sell it. They can add just about any flavor you can think of to popcorn, and it’s delicious!

To make popcorn

Popcorn is another versatile function. You can do them in more than one way. First of all, there are popcorn machines that will do most of the work for you. In commercial industries, this is the main way of making popcorn.

Other than that, you can buy grains and make your own popcorn in the oven. There are special pans to do this, or you can use your own pan with a lid. We will talk a little more about this.

There’s also microwave popcorn. This is a little bag that takes 2-3 minutes to pop perfectly in the microwave. 

Popcorn is usually cooked with butter or oil as a base. You need to use one of them with the grains, but it can be a small amount. If you want buttered or salted popcorn, then you can add more to suit your personal tastes.

Popcorn kernels are not expensive at all and the art of making them is quite simple. Anyone can do it. And if you want to enjoy popcorn the easy way, just opt for microwave popcorn or buy some pre-made.

To give you an idea, here is a quick tour of a recipe to make popcorn at home in your kitchen. 

1. You will need oil, grains and salt (optional)
2. Start by coating the bottom of your pot with oil and heating the oil over medium-high heat.
3. You can place 3 beans in the center of the pot and wait for them to pop to indicate that they are ready. Remove them when they have burst.
4. Add about ½ cup of grains, spreading them out in an even layer.
5. Cover the pot with a lid and remove it from the heat. Leave it for about 30 seconds.
6. Return the pot to the heat and the popcorn will begin to pop rapidly.
7. When the popping intensifies, shake the pot from side to side.
8. When the popping begins to subside, remove the pot from the heat.
9. Remove lid and immediately pour popped popcorn into serving bowls.
10. Sprinkle with salt or seasonings to your liking. You can also add melted butter if you prefer.
11. serve and enjoy

As you can see, you can enjoy homemade popcorn in just a few minutes! It’s a pretty straightforward process, and as long as you don’t overcook them, you can’t go wrong. This recipe is simply shared as an example. You may find that other recipes vary and that’s okay.

varieties of popcorn

We have already talked about the versatility of popcorn. If you go to the microwave popcorn aisle, you’ll see salted, lightly salted, buttered, extra-buttered, kettle corn and more. There are so many possible ways to enjoy your popcorn that it’s just unreal.

To give you an idea, here are some ideas of some of the many flavors of popcorn you can find.  Whether you’re looking at the salts, popcorn shops, or somewhere else.

• cheddar
• Bacon
• Sea salt
• Ranch
• Candy
• Chocolat
• Peanut butter
• Spicy Red/Cinnamon
• nacho cheese
• White chocolate
• Cinnamon
• Candy
• Butter
• boil corn
• garlic and herbs

This list barely scratches the surface. You can also find specialty gourmet popcorn and popular seasonal flavors like pickle or pepperoni depending on where you look. The options are pretty limitless.

And you don’t have to go shopping for gourmet popcorn to get a particular flavor. Seasoning salts are available to purchase, so you can buy any flavor of salt you like and then season your popcorn at home. 

Proper Popcorn Storage Procedures

If you ultimately want to enjoy reheated popcorn, you first need to understand the proper way to store it. Even cooked or buttered popcorn is easy to store. You can store them at room temperature for quite some time. You can also store them in the fridge and freezer.

Storage methods can vary greatly depending on the type of popcorn and the ingredients in the popcorn. If you have purchased gourmet popcorn, pay close attention to the instructions attached specifically to that popcorn.

Other than that, these simple instructions we provide for storing your popcorn are mostly universal and can be used for any type of popcorn, unless you’re dealing with popcorn that specifies otherwise.

We are going to cover proper storage methods for room temperature storage, fridge storage, and freezer storage.

Storage of popcorn at room temperature

The key to keeping your popcorn delicious is to keep it from drying out. Follow these instructions for best results. Unfortunately, the fridge can dry out your popcorn, so room temperature is your best bet at first.

1. Place all of the popcorn in an airtight container or resealable storage bag.
2. Try not to leave them in a cool, dark place. It is better on the open countertop and not closed in a cabinet.
3. Close the storage method tightly to prevent them from drying out.
4. Store at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.

Storage of popcorn in the refrigerator

Some will say that the refrigerator is the best place for conservation. But we disagree when it comes to popcorn.

In reality, the fridge is more likely to make your popcorn taste stale and dry.  That is why we do not recommend the refrigerator to store popcorn.

However, some say that the refrigerator really extracts the flavor. There is really nothing right or wrong, so choose what you think is best for you.

1. Place the popcorn in a storage bag or airtight container with a lid.
2. Close it well and place it in the least cold part of your fridge. Make sure not to place it next to a fan. If you can get it closer to the light without the fan, that’s a good option as well.
3. Store in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.

As you can see, storing popcorn in the fridge doesn’t necessarily extend storage time, so it’s simply a matter of personal preference.

Storing popcorn in the freezer

If you think you need a longer option than the 2 weeks you can store at room temperature, the freezer is an ideal option. If you want, you can immediately take your popcorn to the freezer.

The best thing about the freezer is that you won’t have stale popcorn when you take it out. In addition, it takes very little to reheat them.

You don’t need to thaw them, but you may want to reheat them after storing them in the freezer to avoid the freezer chill and bring them back to life.

1. Place the popcorn in a heavy-duty freezer storage bag. You can use a plastic container if you prefer, but make sure your storage method is airtight. We think a freezer storage bag works best for popcorn.
2. Seal the storage method well to prevent air from reaching the popcorn. Proper sealing will prevent the popcorn from going stale.
3. Label and date the container to control the time.
4. Store popcorn in the freezer for up to 3 months.

We will mention that if you make your own popcorn and freeze it, you better not season what you plan to freeze. However, if you’re working with already seasoned popcorn, it doesn’t hurt to go ahead and freeze it.

In fact, you can enjoy your popcorn fresh out of the freezer or you can reheat it. The choice is up to you.

Methods and instructions for reheating popcorn

We’ve already discussed that you don’t need to reheat popcorn to enjoy it a second, third, fifth, or even sixth time. But the good thing is that you CAN reheat them if you prefer them hot.  Reheating them can also add a little extra to your saved popcorn. 

You can easily reheat popcorn in the microwave or oven. Both methods are short and simple. They do not require great effort or much time. This means that you can choose which method you want to use, if you are using a reheat method.

Reheat popcorn in the microwave

The microwave is the fastest and easiest way to reheat popcorn. There is not necessarily one way that is better than another.

Both methods work very well, and again, it simply comes down to personal preference or what’s available to you at the time. 

1. Place the popcorn on a microwave-safe plate.
2. Cover with plastic wrap to retain moisture, or cover with a paper towel.
3. Microwave for 20-30 seconds.
4. Stir and reheat for 15 more seconds if necessary.
5. Serve and enjoy.

This is very easy. It takes even less time than the initial process of making popcorn. Next, let’s talk about using the oven.

Reheat the popcorn in the oven

If you don’t have a microwave available or just prefer to use the oven, this offers another great option.

1. Heat the oven to 300
2. Spread the popcorn in an ovenproof dish. It doesn’t have to be a single layer.
3. Bake the popcorn at this temperature until heated through. It should only take about 5-10 minutes.
4. Take out and serve immediately and enjoy

Related questions

We hope this guide to reheating popcorn has been helpful and informative. We are confident that you are now fully prepared for anything that may occur in the popcorn reheating process, from start to finish.

Take a look at the next section. It includes several common questions and answers that may provide you with additional information.

What is the difference between yellow and white popcorn kernels?

Unless you are a connoisseur of popcorn, you may not notice a difference in taste. Ultimately, the outer shell of the white bean is not as thick as that of the yellow bean.

This means that the white kernel will generally make the popcorn smaller and softer in the end. 

Can I use any oil to make popcorn in the kitchen?

You can use any oil you prefer, but the key to good popcorn is to use an oil that has a high smoke content.

Vegetable oil has always given the best results . However, coconut oil is also another great option.

Is popcorn healthy?

This is a loaded question. The answer can easily vary depending on the type of popcorn you eat. Most popcorn is relatively low in calories, making it a great snack option.

This could vary as you delve into different flavors, salts, or gourmet popcorn options. Just be aware of the additives in your popcorn.