How to Make Air Fryer Popcorn
Air-popped popcorn is a delicious and healthy snack. And it's super easy to make if you have an air fryer at home! All you need are three simple ingredients and a few minutes of your time to prepare this low-fat treat at home. And once you try the freshly popped popcorn, you'll never want to eat a bag of microwaved stuff again. 
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What Do I Need to Make Air Fryer Popcorn?
Making your own fresh popcorn at home is easier than you think. Instead of grabbing a bag of microwave popcorn the next time you have a craving for your favorite salty snack, grab your air fryer and these three ingredients:
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How Do I Make Air Fryer Popcorn?
There's no need to dirty a pot or pan to pop your popcorn when you have an air fryer in your kitchen. Just grab your oil and popcorn and follow the simple instructions to learn how to make popcorn in the air fryer.
Step One: Prep the Air Fryer
Preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees. While the air fryer is warming up, shape some aluminum foil into a bowl small enough to fit inside the air fryer basket.
Step Two: Add the Popcorn
Coat the popcorn kernels in the oil and pour the two ingredients into the foil. Place the foil in the air fryer basket and cook at 375 degrees for eight minutes. When the cooking time is up, season the popcorn with salt before serving.
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Air Fryer Popcorn Tips and Tricks
Making popcorn in your air fryer is a great way to prepare this easy snack. But it can often take some trial and error. Use these tips and tricks for making a delicious snack at home.
- Toss the popcorn as it cooks. It's easy to burn popcorn when cooking it in the air fryer. A simple way to keep the kernels from burning is to toss the basket every few minutes. Simply remove the basket from the air fryer and lightly shake it to mix the kernels.
- Keep an eye on your air fryer. Since different air fryer models have different cooking patterns, it may take more or less time to cook your popcorn in your machine. The first time you prepare popcorn in your air fryer, check on it as it cooks to keep it from burning.
- Don't overload the basket. Since popcorn kernels grow when they cook, it's easy to overload your basket. And since overfilling your air fryer with popcorn could cause it to burn, it's better to work in smaller batches than attempting to cook too much popcorn at one time.
- Don't cover the entire basket with foil. While it's important to keep the popcorn contained in a bowl of foil, it's not a good idea to cover the whole basket. You'll need to keep the holes in the sides of the basket exposed to allow air to flow properly throughout the fryer.
Air Fryer Popcorn Flavor Ideas
Once you have your air fryer popcorn ready, it's time to have some fun! With the help of these flavor ideas, you can enjoy a new and delicious snack every time you make popcorn.
- Butter. Give your fresh popcorn a buttery flavor by melting two tablespoons of butter in the microwave while the popcorn is popping. Drizzle the melted butter on top of the popcorn and toss to coat all the pieces.
- Seasoning salt. Grab your favorite seasoning blend (BBQ, Ranch, or Cajun) to flavor your popcorn kernels. Start by spritzing the popcorn pieces with nonstick cooking spray, then sprinkle to coat the popcorn in seasoning.
- Kettle corn. Create homemade kettle corn with the help of some sugar. Lightly spray the popcorn with nonstick cooking spray, then sprinkle sugar over the top of the kernels. Toss to coat all the pieces in the sweetener.
- Popcorn salt. Use your favorite popcorn salt flavor to dress up your plain popcorn. Sprinkle the salt over the top of the popcorn and toss to coat all the pieces.
How Do You Store Homemade Popcorn?
Air fryer popcorn tastes best when it's fresh out of the popper. But if you have a few pieces left over, they can be stored at room temperature. To keep the popcorn from getting stale, transfer it to a zip-top storage bag or an airtight container. The popcorn can be enjoyed for up to one week.
Can I Add Seasoning to the Popcorn in the Air Fryer?
If you want to season your popcorn for added flavor, it's best to do it after the popcorn has popped. The seasoning could burn if you add it to the kernels before they're popped.
Can I Make Microwave Popcorn in the Air Fryer?
Since microwave popcorn bags are designed to be cooked in the microwave, it's not recommended that you try to use them in the air fryer. Not only will the popcorn not pop, but it could be a fire hazard.
How to Make Air Fryer Popcorn
Equipment
Ingredients
- ¼ cup popcorn kernels
- 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 375° Fahrenheit.
- Shape some aluminum foil into a bowl small enough to fit inside the air fryer basket.
- Add the popcorn to the foil bowl. Then, drizzle the oil on top of the popcorn kernels and toss them to coat.
- Place the foil in the air fryer basket and cook at 375 degrees for eight minutes.
- When the cooking time is up, season the popcorn with salt before serving.
