Popcorn Makers
April 10, 2009 by popcornmaker
Filed under Popcorn Makers
Popcorn is a healthy and delicious snack that’ high in fibre and can be sugar and fat free (or low in them) depending on how they’re popped.
The easy way to pop popcorn is with a microwave. However the downsides are that the bags for microwaves are quite expensive and popcorn via a microwave is less healthy.
Which is why, particularly with that “r” word, recession, and more of us making entertainment at home, a popcorn maker can save money, whilst creating more enjoyable and healthier popcorn.
On this site you’ll find a selection of the best popcorn makers.
The complete range of good value popcorn machines from Amazon are available.
And a buying guide for popcorn makers is here as well.
Popcorn - a healthy snack
April 9, 2009 by popcornmaker
Filed under Popcorn Makers
Popcorn is a snack which became popular in the US but has since spread across the world. Although it is mostly associated with going to watch a movie, popcorn is becoming increasingly popular as an everyday snack as people become more health conscious. It is also especially easy to make now that home popcorn makers are available.
What is Popcorn?
As the name suggests, popcorn is made from corn, or maize, which is the same stuff that you eat when you eat corn on the cob or sweetcorn. When these kernels are dried, they can be heated to make them pop and their centres explode outwards, which is what gives popcorn.
How Nutritional is Popcorn?
The corn kernels from which popcorn is made are naturally high in fibre, which is good for helping the digestive system to function. The kernels are also low in fat and contain no sugar, which means that overall they have very little calorie value. There is also no sodium in corn kernels, so you don’t have to worry about popcorn’s salt content. This means that overall popcorn should be considered a relatively healthy snack. The trap which many people fall into is that they then forget all about the things which are added to the popcorn in preparation which can drastically alter this.
If you buy pre-prepared popcorn in a bag from the supermarket then the added butter and salt make it a surprisingly unhealthy snack. In fact unless you opt for the low-fat versions which are available then it is possible that up to 60% of the calories in the bag will come from fat, which is a rather unhealthy percentage.
By far the more healthy way to make your own healthy popcorn is to make it from scratch in your own popcorn maker, and then you can be sure of what is going in it. Although this may be a little fiddly with a pan, a popcorn maker will make your life so much simpler, and these are relatively cheap to buy.
How to Make Healthier Popcorn
If you are considering popcorn as a healthy snack as well as something which tastes great then one of the most important features that you need to look for on any popcorn machine that you are considering purchasing is how the corn is popped.
Some popcorn makers actually use oil to pop the corn, and this can then give you popcorn which is actually not that healthy. In this type of popcorn machine the popcorn is higher in calories, and more importantly, up to 45% of the calories in the popcorn will come from fat. If you instead opt for a hot-air popcorn maker this will use only hot air to pop the corn, and so the snack you get is much lower in calories, and only 5% of them will come from fat - that is much better for your waistline!
If you think that dry popcorn is not for you then there are still some toppings which you can add to make it go down a little easier and won’t add too much fat or sugar. Most popcorn machines have a little tray somewhere which lets you melt butter. Try using a low-fat spread instead, and this will have the same effect as butter in softening the popcorn. You could also try drizzling a very small amount of honey over the popped corn to give a natural alternative to using white sugar or toffee.
Your Popcorn Maker can Roast Coffee!
April 25, 2009 by popcornmaker
Filed under Popcorn Makers
If you don’t have a coffee roasting machine, the next best thing
that you could use is your popcorn maker. While not specifically designed for roasting coffee, it is still possible to use to start roasting coffee beans.
Get the following ready:
- A hot air popcorn machine with a solid base at the bottom of the popping chamber where the hot air enters.
- Do not use a popcorn machine with a mesh base. It could be a fire hazard if used for roasting coffee beans
- A metal collander - to be used for cooling the beans once roasted.
- A mixing spoon (for stirring roasted beans in the colander).
- A ceramic or metal bowl (to collect waste).
- Some green coffee beans.
The Process
1. The roasting process generates a fair bit of smoke so it is advisable to set up the popcorn machine in a ventilated place near a window, or outside.
2. Add the same amount of green coffee beans to the popping chamber as the popcorn maker instruction manual recommends for popcorn. In any case, no more than 2/3 of a cup of coffee beans should be roasted at any one time. More than that amount will result in uneven roasting and could pose a fire hazard.
3. Close the plastic cover of the popcorn maker and place the ceramic or metal bowl under the outlet chute. This will catch the chaff that is blown from the outside of the coffee beans during the roasting process. Turn on your popcorn machine.
4. After around 3 or 4 minutes you will see and smell an amount of fragrant smoke being generated and what is known as the first crack can be heard. After this you will need to monitor the beans a little more closely so that they don’t roast too much.
5. The total time required really depends on how dark you wish your beans to be. For a lighter roast, a minute after the first crack should be enough. For a darker roast, listen for the second crack and turn off your machine soon after. Roasts develop quickly, so watch carefully. It is best to pour the beans out of the popper when they are a bit lighter than you desire, as roasting will continue until the beans have cooled. Time how long your perfect roast takes so you can do it again it easily.
6. Tip the roasted beans into the metal colander and stir with the spoon to cool them.
7. Coffee should be stored out of any direct light in an airtight container. However, with a fresh roast you should wait 12 hours before sealing the container tightly as the beans need to vent off carbon dioxide. Do not store in the fridge or freezer.
8. Freshly roasted beans are wonderful, but the coffee is best around 12 hours after roasting. If you store it as recommended, the coffee will maintain its fresh status for up to a week.
Popcorn Makers - not so recent
March 30, 2009 by popcornmaker
Filed under Popcorn Makers
The Popcorn Maker
A History
You might well believe that the popcorn maker has only been with us during the last century or so. Well, popcorn has been around for around 1700 years. The earliest popcorn maker invention found is from south America and is a shallow ball shaped vessel with a tiny hole and a handle to hold it over a fire. Read more