Easy Instant Pot Popcorn Recipe

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I am so excited to share this Easy Instant Pot Popcorn Recipe with you. It's a total game changer when it comes to homemade popcorn.

My family loves eating popcorn. It's the perfect easy snack for movie night.

And while I typically stick to eating hot popcorn when we're at movie theaters, popcorn is my husbands favorite snack at home too.

Now that we can make perfect popcorn in our Instant Pot, I have a feeling we'll be eating it even more frequently.

Why Instant Pot Popcorn Is Better Than Microwave Popcorn

First off, before I say anything bad about microwave popcorn, I want you to know that microwave popcorn has been a friend to my family for many years. It has carried us through many movie nights, family game nights and random snacking binges.

But…it's not always the healthiest snack. Most microwave popcorns are filled with additives, preservatives, more butter than is necessary, and a whole bunch of artificial flavors and colors to make you think your popcorn is even more buttery than it is.

Also many of the microwaved popcorn brands use GMO corn in their popcorn bags. Oh…and did I mention that microwave popcorn is more expensive. Yep. There's that too.

So…you can save money by making popcorn in your Instant Pot and you'll know exactly what's going into your body since this recipe is made with simple ingredients. And lest you think this popcorn will be boring, there are plenty of delicious ways to season and uplevel this popcorn!

Ingredients for Instant Pot Popcorn

½ Cup Popcorn Kernels (I recommend using non-GMO popcorn kernels)
2 Tablespoons Oil (I used avocado oil in this recipe, but you can use any oil with a high smoke point)

What Oil Should I Use For My Instant Pot Popcorn

Popcorn is a pretty healthy snack as long as you don't drown it in butter. {And if you do drown it in butter, I'm not judging you.}

And while I don't recommend drowning it in butter, you'll need to use some kind of oil to cook your kernels in.

I'm a big fan of olive oil for a lot of things as it has higher levels of good fat then some other oils, but it has a low smoke point.

For this recipe, the best oil is either coconut oil or avocado oil. Both coconut oil and avocado oil have a high smoking point which means your popcorn is less likely to burn. If you're looking for the best coconut oil, go with extra virgin coconut oil…and it's even better if you can find unrefined coconut oil.

While I absolutely love butter for baking, I don't recommend it for cooking popcorn as it also has a low smoking point. You'll end up with burnt kernels thanks to the lower smoke point. If you love butter like I do, you can drizzle melted butter on your popcorn after it has popped.

I don't recommend using any type of vegetable oil as they're not very healthy for you and they have low smoke points.

Kitchen Tools You'll Need

Instant Pot
See Through Instant Pot Lid – If you don't have an Instant Pot Glass Lid, you can use a clear glass lid from another pot as long as it is tempered and covers the top of your Instant Pot.
Large Bowl
Large Spoon

How To Make Popcorn in Your Instant Pot

Scroll down for a printable recipe card.

Set your pot to saute mode and immediately place the oil inside your instant pot.

Allow the oil to heat up for about 2 minutes. If you have an Instant Pot that displays the word HOT when it's ready, this is the perfect time to add your popcorn kernels.

Add popcorn kernels.

Stir your kernels in the oil for about 1 minute before putting the glass lid on the Instant Pot.

After about 2-3 minutes with the lid on, you will start to hear the popcorn kernels popping.

Let it pop for about 5 minutes or until most of the kernels have popped. Carefully remove the hot popcorn from your Instant Pot and place in large bowl.

Season, serve and enjoy!

If you want to be extra fancy and go for that movie popcorn experience, serve your popcorn in these movie theater popcorn containers.

FAQs {Frequently Asked Questions}

Why won't my popcorn pop in Instant Pot?

While making Instant Pot Popcorn is pretty fool-proof, using old popcorn kernels can cause major issues. If you followed the instructions and you're not getting light fluffy popcorn, your popcorn kernels are probably old.

Old kernels that weak hulls that won't expand in the pressure cooker. They also have a lower moisture content which means they're less likely to pop. Make sure you're using fresh popcorn kernels so that your kernels pop up beautifully.

Do I have to cook my Instant Pot Popcorn in oil?

Yes. If you don't use oil, your corn will burn before popping…and that is not a good thing.

If you don't want to use a ton of oil, start with a few teaspoons rather than 2 Tablespoons. Your popcorn won't be as decadent, but you can always drizzle butter on later.

How long do you cook popcorn in an Instant Pot?

Like many recipes, cook time will depend on how you like your popcorn. If you want a super light and fluffy texture, I highly recommend cooking the popcorn kernels for about 90 seconds (from the time they start popping).

If you prefer your popcorn to be crunchier, wait two minutes after the popping has stopped before removing your popcorn from your Instant Pot.

How do you store popcorn cooked in a pressure cooker?

You'll want to store your popcorn in an airtight container.

How long can you store cooked popcorn for?

You can store your Instant Pot Popcorn in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days or you can store it in an airtight container for 1 day at room temperature.

How do your flavor pressure cooker popcorn?

If you're planning on making a sweet and salty popcorn, I recommend adding 2 teaspoons of sugar to your cooking oil before adding the popcorn kernels.

For all other seasonings, including butter, I recommend waiting until your popcorn is cooked.

What are the best ways to season this popcorn?

Popcorn seasoning is a personal preference…and one that we can't all agree on at our house, but there are a variety of amazing options. Some of our favorite seasonings are ranch seasoning, parmesan cheese, butter, and everything bagel seasoning.

We've also drizzled homemade caramel sauce on our popcorn for the most amazing caramel corn. It's messy, but oh-so-worth it.

If you want to take your popcorn to a new level, our whole family loves this Valentines Day Popcorn recipe! If you like sweet and salty, it's to-die-for.

How do I make my popcorn pop evenly?

For evenly popped popcorn, stir every minute or if you have (or want to gain) some upper body strength, grab a heavy duty oven mitt or kitchen towel for each hand and shake your instant pot every minute.

Sometimes unpopped kernels will get trapped on already popped kernels and won't get enough heat to pop. Stirring or shaking will make sure this doesn't occur.

How do you cook a large batch of popcorn in Instant Pot?

If you want to make a huge batch of popcorn in a single batch, you're going to want to use an oven bag. This will prevent your popcorn kernels from flying out of the pressure cooking and burning.

To do this, you'll want to line your Instant Pot with a large oven bag and pour in 1/4 cup of oil and 1 cup of popcorn kernels. Seal up the bag and place it inside your Instant Pot before closing it up. Turn on the pressure cooker and wait for it to pop.

When the kernels stop popping, let them sit for a few minutes before you open up your Instant Pot. The bag will absorb heat from the kernels as they cook, which makes it easier to handle when taking all of them out.

Check Out Our Favorite Easy Instant Pot Recipes!

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