Popcorn seasoning is any ingredient used to add flavor to

popcorn Popcorn (also called popped corn, popcorns, or pop-corn) is a variety of corn kernel which expands and puffs up when heated. The term also refers to the snack food produced by the expansion. It is one of the oldest snacks, with evidence of p ...

. In the United States, popcorn seasoning is

mass-produced Mass production, also known as mass production, series production, series manufacture, or continuous production, is the production of substantial amounts of standardized products in a constant flow, including and especially on assembly lines. ...

by several companies for commercial and consumer use. Popcorn seasonings may be used to enhance the flavor of popcorn, and some are used to add a buttery flavor to popcorn. Significant amounts are often used to ensure the adequate flavoring of popcorn, due to popcorn's low density. It is also sometimes utilized to add coloring to popcorn. Some popcorn seasoning may contain

monosodium glutamate Monosodium glutamate (MSG), also known as sodium glutamate, is a sodium salt of glutamic acid. MSG is found naturally in some foods including tomatoes and cheese in this glutamic acid form. MSG is used in cooking as a flavor enhancer with a ...

."Popcorn Costs Up; Seasonings Down"
''The Billboard''. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. April 12, 1952. p. 63. Some specialty products exist in unique flavors, such as chocolate and bubble gum. Some popcorn seasoning products may be referred to as popcorn salt. Some

oils An oil is any nonpolar chemical substance that is composed primarily of hydrocarbons and is hydrophobic (does not mix with water) and lipophilic (mixes with other oils). Oils are usually flammable and surface active. Most oils are unsaturat ...

used to cook popcorn contain popcorn seasonings mixed within the oil, and may be referred to as popcorn seasoning oils or liquid popcorn seasoning. Since the 1960s, American movie theaters have commonly used the seasoning Flavacol, made up of salt, butter flavoring, and artificial colors, to enhance their popcorn.

Formulation

Dry popcorn seasoning may be finely granulated to enable even dispersion when placed upon popcorn.''Handbook on Spices and Condiments (Cultivation, Processing and Extraction)'' by H. Panda
/ref> Common homemade popcorn seasoning ingredients include

salt In common usage, salt is a mineral composed primarily of sodium chloride (NaCl). When used in food, especially in granulated form, it is more formally called table salt. In the form of a natural crystalline mineral, salt is also known as r ...

and melted

butter Butter is a dairy product made from the fat and protein components of Churning (butter), churned cream. It is a semi-solid emulsion at room temperature, consisting of approximately 81% butterfat. It is used at room temperature as a spread (food ...

. Popcorn seasoning is sometimes used within machines that are utilized to produce large quantities of popcorn for consumer purchase. In the 1950s in the United States, many commercial oil-based popcorn seasonings were produced with a

coconut oil Coconut oil (or coconut fat) is an edible oil derived from the kernels, meat, and milk of the coconut palm fruit. Coconut oil is a white solid fat below around , and a clear thin liquid oil at higher temperatures. Unrefined varieties have a disti ...

base, and also utilized artificial coloring.

Formulation

See also

References

Further reading