This winter we discovered something so fantastic! When we went to the flour mill, the tour guide had dried cobs of corn for the boys to put through this hand crank de-kernaling machine (not the official term) and we got to bring the dried popcorn kernals home. He also sent us home with a whole dried cob as well. ‘Put that cob in a paper bag and in the microwave on the ‘popcorn’ setting,’ he told us. Amazing! Normally we are old school stovetop popcorn poppers, because I find that the microwave stuff doesn’t really taste like popcorn at all. It’s more like ‘butter flavored popcorn product’, rather than popped corn.
However, this is different. Not only is it fascinating that you can put a cob of corn in the microwave and end up with a bag of popcorn but the taste was so fresh. The loose kernals we popped on the stove top as we normally do and it was so much fresher tasting than store bought popcorn kernals. Really, it was quite remarkable how much fresher it tasted.
We went down to the Sonoma Garden Park Harvest Market the other week and they had this popcorn for sale (pictured at top) so you can bet that I picked up a handful. It makes for such an easy and healthy snack after school or for movie night, and these pink cobs make it local as well.
I vowed this year that we would plant some of our own. We’re trying Smoke Signals from Seed Savers. Because I stick to lofty nearly unattainable goals, think we can grow 52 ears? One for a bowl of popcorn a week? Hmm, that might be a bit too lofty. However if you are making out your seed buying list, consider adding a packet of popcorn corn!
Just make sure that if you are planting sweet corn that your popping corn in far away from the sweet corn or the days to maturity are at least 14 days apart. OR they might cross pollinate and I don’t think the sweet corn would taste as sweet and popcorn won’t pop as good either.
Great point! Thanks.
I don’t own a microwave and wonder if you prefer your popcorn on the stovetop or in the microwave. Also, what store brand of loose popcorn kernals do you prefer? I like good old Orville on the stovetop with peanut oil.
Oh my goodness, I had no idea that you could put a cob of popping corn in the microwave like that.
I grew about 30 ears of Cherokee Long Ear Popcorn last summer. Love all the colors. I really could have used one of those de-kerneling machines!!
We found out about growing popcorn by the ear in the microwave from the Amish 3 years ago, funny enough. My daughter was in town from Texas & we took a ride out to Amish country and they had a huge amount of small cobs of corn for sale for this purpose.
Pretty neat!
I’m glad to know those cobs of popcorn are really do-able. always wondered about that!
How fun! I just wanted to say thanks for the canning labels. So cute!
What a fun idea and like you said so much more healthy:)
I love popcorn. I always make in on the stovetop. I like the idea of getting it on the cob, how fresh and fun. Right now I buy it from an amish store up in Wisconsin when I visit family. They have one called Tiny Tenders that seems to have less of the hard hulls. might as well set your sights high – 52 ears for 52 weeks of the year. sounds fun! Emily