A Smart Trick to Revive Stale Popcorn

Sheela Prakash
Sheela PrakashSenior Contributing Food Editor
Sheela is the Senior Contributing Food Editor at Kitchn and the author of Mediterranean Every Day: Simple, Inspired Recipes for Feel-Good Food. She received her master's degree from the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Italy and is also a Registered Dietitian.
updated May 1, 2019
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It’s hard to beat the taste of freshly popped popcorn. When it’s extra fluffy, crisp, and still warm, polishing off a whole bowl seems like an easy task. Chances are, however, that you may slow down and be left with enough in the bowl for another snack session. The problem is, though, that popcorn can get stale pretty quickly. Rather than tossing it and starting from scratch, there’s actually a quick and easy way to refresh the leftovers and get them tasting like new.

How to Revive Stale Popcorn

The easiest way to refresh leftover popcorn is to toss it in the oven to warm it up and re-crisp it. Simply spread it out in an even layer on a baking sheet and place it in a 250°F oven for about five minutes, until it’s warmed through.

You’ll want to check on the popcorn frequently as it’s in the oven just to ensure it doesn’t begin to burn. Once warmed and crisp again, pour it into a bowl and snack as usual. Bonus points if you finish it with a fresh drizzle of melted butter and a healthy sprinkle of salt.

5 Other Ways to Use Leftover Popcorn