19 Comments

  1. Maik
    April 26, 2013 @ 7:37 am

    Moin, moin!

    I’m german and really enjoy reading the blogs of expats living in germany and experience the country through their eyes. I know that the post is already a year old, but maybe your machine broke and you’re looking for a new one 😉

    You can find popcorn machines also in germany:
    http://www.pearl.de/kw-1-popcorn.shtml

    And they also have a cinema style version:
    http://www.pearl.de/a-NC3237-5401.shtml?query=popcorn

    Keep on blogging!

  2. Making Pancakes From A Bottle - Grounded Traveler
    September 21, 2012 @ 8:02 am

    […] yeah and I like a challenge. I’ve learned to melt butter on a stove for popcorn, so I am totally up for makign pancakes from a […]

  3. Jeremy Branham
    May 3, 2012 @ 8:55 am

    I remember the days of having to cook popcorn without a microwave. You used to have those aluminum foil type packages that you would hold over the stove and cook. Man how times have changed!

    • Andrew
      May 3, 2012 @ 9:34 am

      Wow, see I don’t remember those at all. Maybe on a TV commercial, but never in our kitchen.

  4. Anne
    May 2, 2012 @ 12:41 pm

    I have the same popper and am finding popcorn in every corner of the kitchen too!

    Also good with salt and freshly grated parmesan or other hard cheese

    • Andrew
      May 3, 2012 @ 9:34 am

      Maybe it is a design flaw, though we didn’t seem to have many choices in buying machines. It works fine, just need to figure out the one problem. The cheese idea does sound interesting, will have to try.

  5. Margyle
    May 1, 2012 @ 8:52 pm

    Hahah quaint. I make that kind of popcorn still… although nobody makes it as well as my grandpa, or with as much butter lol

  6. Nicole
    May 1, 2012 @ 5:24 pm

    Mmm popcorn! We also use a popcorn-flinging shield – have you considered using a regular kitchen towel? It’s washable, less waste, etc. and it doesn’t get as hot as the foil 🙂 I also agree with cliff1976 re: melting butter on the stove… if you keep it on really low and stir it constantly it won’t scorch your pan, and it’s much quicker than the water bath.

    • Andrew
      May 3, 2012 @ 9:31 am

      I like the idea of a towel, but how do you attach it to the popcorn maker? I keep the foil between runs so there isnt that much waste. I will keep trying.

      The problem with the pan for melting butter for me wasn’t scorching it was half the mess and half trying to spoon it out. I may try it again and just see.

  7. CN Heidelberg
    May 1, 2012 @ 2:11 pm

    Mmm popcorn. We pop it in oil on the stove, like my mom did growing up. I also just melt the butter straight on the stove.
    Now I’m hungry!

    • Andrew
      May 3, 2012 @ 9:29 am

      I can imagine if you pop it on the stove already, melting butter on the stove is the way to go as well. My mom always had an air popper so I have never seen it popped on a stove and would have no clue how.

  8. cliff1976
    May 1, 2012 @ 1:25 pm

    “Mild gesäuert” is salted butter, as opposed to “Süßrahm.” Some kind soul posted this helpful guide on our blog some months ago:
    http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2e/Milch.svg

    Have you ever tried melting butter in a pan on your stove? Your water bath looks like it’ll work, but is it perhaps more complicated than necessary? Maybe I’m missing something here.

    • CN Heidelberg
      May 1, 2012 @ 2:13 pm

      That dairy chart is awesome!

    • Andrew
      May 3, 2012 @ 9:28 am

      I had seen the “mild gesäuert”, but I had no idea what that meant. I kind of remember buying it at one point and not liking it so well. That is an awesome flowchart.

      We did try melting butter in a pan, but even in our smallest pot it seems a little overkill. I found it more difficult to spoon out of onto the popcorn. The whole pan seems to get covered and then needs to be washed. The water bath just takes some patience and then we can spoon the butter out from the measuring cup easier.

  9. Judy wong
    May 1, 2012 @ 1:19 pm

    We are thrilled to know you can find corn kernels in freiburg! I was worried that I would need to bring a suitcase worth when packing. I’m definitely a salt & butter person and love our movie nights. Can you get American films easily? Is there a decent Netflix type option? All these comforts of home are so important I think.
    Enjoy!

    • Nicole
      May 1, 2012 @ 5:25 pm

      Judy – Netflix is online, so you can access your account anywhere in the world (except maybe China) that you have access to the internet 🙂

      • JudyQ
        May 1, 2012 @ 6:42 pm

        Hi Nicole, I just wasn’t sure if you need to keep an address in the U.S. to use Netflix. I’m sure there are probably ways to get around this!

      • Andrew
        May 3, 2012 @ 9:32 am

        That is good to hear. I have heard there are IP restrictions living here trying to access Netflix.

    • Andrew
      May 3, 2012 @ 9:26 am

      Yup, I have seen them in both Rewe and Edeka, two grocery store chains. I imagine they are other places as well, but definitely available.

      We brought a number of DVDs with us. There is something called LoveFilm that it like Netflix and somehow associated with Amazon. I have not tried it though. Buying movies is not such a problem as the original soundtrack is nearly always there even if the German is written on the package.