Microwave popcorn is a college dorm staple – when your kitchen is limited to a microwave and a mini fridge, what choice do you have? But did you know there's a way to make it that's healthier, tastier and much, much cheaper?
Here's what you need: popcorn kernels and a paper bag. That's it.
Fill the bag with about 1/4 cup of kernels, fold the top of the bag over a couple of times and microwave on high for about 2 minutes.
If you prefer, you can add some oil to the bag beforehand, but your bag (and your microwave) will get pretty greasy, and it's not necessary for the popping process. We prefer to add oil or butter after the popcorn is popped.
This is the fun part. You can stick with the classic butter and salt, or experiment with other toppings. Here are a few suggestions:
- Nigella Lawson's Party Popcorn – One of our favorite ways to eat popcorn, this sweet and spicy recipe combines melted butter with paprika (we use both sweet and smoked), cinnamon, cumin, sugar and salt. We also like to throw in a little chili powder.
- Olive oil, za'atar seasoning and salt – We love this lemony, nutty flavor combination.
- Olive oil, fresh ground pepper and a little grated Parmesan cheese
- Olive oil alone – A great way to really enjoy a flavorful oil.
- Caramel Popcorn – Try Emma's recipe that can be made entirely in the microwave.
- Peanut Butter Popcorn – Faith's recipe for peanut butter caramel could be adapted for the microwave.
If you know someone who is heading off to college, a homemade popcorn kit would be a great gift – a jar of kernels, some paper bags, olive oil, salt, maybe some other spices for topping experiments and nice bowl for snacking.
Related: Good Quote: Thoreau on Popcorn
(Images: Joanna Miller)
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You can also buy microwave air poppers. Long-term, that might be cheaper and more environmentally friendly solution for someone who eats popcorn regularly.
Yes, it's a unitasker, but it's one of the best and most used kitchen gadgets I've ever bought.
Why would it be cheaper than a paper bag?
Is that microwave air popper a simple plastic container, or has it got other parts not seen in the Amazon picture? Maybe just a regular tupperware would work?
I've been doing this since I was a little kid and my mom refused to buy microwave popcorn brands. My parents used to yell at me and say I was wasting popcorn and lunch bags and I was going to burn the house down......years later this is the way my dad makes popcorn nearly every night. You can also use any large microwavable container with a lid, when its finishedpopping, the container doubles a a bowl to serve the corn out of....and a little olive oil pre-pop goes a long way!
Matilda,
Long term, it would be, if you eat a lot of popcorn. A microwave air popper will last darned near forever, while paper bags, while cheap, are single-use only.
Xieta,
I don't have that exact model, but the one I've got has steam vents in the lid. You wouldn't want to use anything that seals tightly, so the lid needs to be both vented and heavy enough not to be knocked off by the popping corn.
We've recently started making curry-cinnamon popcorn with our air popper. Just add a sprinkle of curry powder and cinnamon after topping the hot popcorn with butter. Adding a little brown sugar really makes this a treat.
I've tried this method before and succeeded in burning the popcorn and had that awful smell linger for at least a day. I love popcorn so now just stick to popping mine on the stovetop. It's a bit old fashioned and takes a little longer but does the trick.
No need to even get a special microwave popper.
I use a big glass bowl. About a tablespoon or so of coconut oil, maybe a bit less. About a quarter cup of popcorn, maybe a bit more. Cover with a big plate or a glass pie pan. In the microwave for about five minutes. Little bit of salt. Best microwave popcorn ever.
I just pop my popcorn in a tall pan with a lid. All you do is add oil before hand and shake when you start to hear popping. It is much easier and faster than a microwave, pops more kernels and never burns. Since the cooking process is in oil you don't need to add butter to make the seasoning stick.
Powdered soup base, sugar, cayenne pepper.
keeping an eye on the microwave is crucial! at the dorms I lived in the microwaves were awful and would burn holes through the bottom of the bag if I didn't watch it the entire 3 minutes.
also, for everyday popcorn eaters don't forget about popcorn lung and its dangers if you inhale the popcorn steam.
I wish I knew this when I lived in the dorms!
Witchbaby,
"Popcorn lung" is linked to diacetyl (the artificial butter flavoring added to store-bought microwave popcorn), not to the steam that comes from popping plain old corn. The main risk from diacetyl is to plant workers who are breathing enormous amounts of it. It's probably not good for you to breathe it, but popping an occasional bag of butter flavored microwave popcorn is in a whole different league than working in a popcorn plant.
RoseCampion,
That's an even better solution to the problem!
an old favourite: SNOTCORN. make popcorn. melt a big blob of butter and one of honey in a pot till bubbling and frothy, add a few drops of green food colouring and toss your popcorn. Nice in a glass bowl as the 'snot' clings to the bowl as well as the popcorn. Kids love it. (well mine did - but they is gettin' to old and suffisticated for that kind of shinanogins now)
I know we are talking about microwave popcorn, but I love my stove popper. You spin an arm around in a pot and it rotates the kernels enough to pop them well, and oh, it is so yummy. Just a sprinkle of salt and grated Romano cheese sets off the snack perfectly.
Glad for the college idea - perfect for my nephew who will be graduating high school soon.
I've been using this method for years. I love it! I just wanted to note that if you don't oil your corn before you put it in the bag, one paper bag will last for many, many uses. I keep my paper bag in a handy drawer and reuse it until it becomes dirty or holey.
I've made my popcorn like this for a few years now, and I LOVE the gift idea you mention at the end of this post! Totally cute, and inexpensive!
http://lauraezolnoski.com/cooking