Flavacol Popcorn Seasoning Salt
How do movie theaters make their popcorn taste so much better than the popcorn we make at home in the microwave when the kernels themselves are exactly the same? It’s time you learn about Flavacol – the “secret sauce” of the theater business. Flavacol is a butter-flavored seasoning salt made of extra fine salt flakes instead of crystals. Most theaters pop their corn in coconut oil or a coconut and canola blend and then pump on butter-flavored oil, but Flavacol will get you 80% of the way there if you’re looking for theater style popcorn.
Forget the microwave and the air poppers. If you’re going to chow down on popcorn, go all the way and make it the old-fashioned way on the stovetop. I prefer to use corn oil with a little bit of coconut oil added in. It’s worth learning how to make homemade popcorn that rivals the snack bar’s but only costs pennies per serving. I use a cast iron skillet, but any type is suitable as long as you use enough coil to prevent sticking and burning. A little bit of Flavacol goes a long way, so this 35 oz. carton is going to last you a very long time.
While Flavacol seasoning does use artificial flavors, it doesn’t contain a chemical compound called diacetyl that is found in microwave popcorn. I try to avoid diacetyl, as the CDC has linked its production to a respiratory disease called obliterative bronchiolitis in microwave popcorn plant workers. I would rather steer clear of that in the first place, especially when the alternative tastes better.
It’s funny how we associate certain little things with grander experiences – for example, eating popcorn while we watch movies. I recently finished installing a 7.2 surround sound system and 85″ QLED TV on the entertainment side of our newly-remodeled cabin/lake house-themed basement. Needless to say, we watch a lot of movies down there these days and really enjoy our new space. Taking the time to make great tasting popcorn makes it even better.