Popcorn perfection: Elevating your movie night snack game

You're in luck if you're planning a movie night at home and can't imagine the experience without crunchy popcorn. You can easily make this delicious snack, with results comparable to what you'd get at the cinema.

Popcorn consists of roasted corn kernels, to which you can add salt and butter. The sweet version of this snack is less common. Although it's mainly associated with the cinema, you can easily make it at home. To prepare popcorn in a pan, you only need corn kernels, oil, and salt. Heat the oil on the pan, add the corn kernels, cover with a lid, and heat on a fairly high setting.

As the kernels heat up, they'll start popping, and the popcorn will be ready quickly. At this point, hold the lid tightly, as the popcorn will fill the space in the pan. Once all the kernels are popped, transfer the popcorn to a bowl and sprinkle with salt. Optionally, you can add a tablespoon of butter. For a sweet version, drizzle the popcorn with homemade caramel. Here's how to make it: place about 100 grams of sugar onto a heated pan. After a few minutes, when the sugar begins to caramelize, reduce the heat and stir vigorously. Add a tablespoon of cream or mascarpone, stir again, and pour over the popcorn.

You can also make popcorn in the microwave. There's no need to buy special microwave popcorn for this. You can use loose corn kernels and purchase microwave-safe zipper bags. These bags are reusable, saving you money and reducing waste. Instead of bags, you can use a baking sleeve. Pour the kernels into the bag or sleeve and seal tightly. Place it in the microwave for a few minutes. Once all the kernels have popped, prepare a bowl for the popcorn.