Best Popcorn Secret Ever!
2011
A couple months ago we discovered the best popcorn secret – you can use stove top popcorn kernels in the microwave! It is easy and way cheaper then microwave popcorn and much simpler then stove top popcorn. Win win!
Here is what you need for this fantastic creation;
-Olive Oil
-Popcorn kernels
-Paper bags
Add 1/4 – 1/2 a cup of kernels to the paper bag.
Add .5 – 1 TBSP of olive oil to the bag and give a gentle shake.
Fold down the bag 2 or 3 times and place in microwave for 2 minutes.
Season as desired – I just sprinkled a tiny bit of Parmesan cheese on top this time but the options are truly endless!
And there you have it – in 2.5 minutes and for mere pennies, a bag of popcorn!
{I always transfer over to a bowl as the paper bags get a bit yucky with the oil.}
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I didn’t even know there was such a thing as stove-top kernels! We just use the regular ones in our stove-top popper. Who knew! Maybe only in the States? Now I’ll be keeping my eyes peeled
I believe she does mean regular popcorn kernels, the type that would traditionally be used in a pan on the stove or an air popper. That threw me for a minute too, but it’s just regular popping corn.
Oh my goodness, popcorn is my favorite snack and comfort food and I am such a stickler for doing it on the stove…but making my own in the microwave, I will totally be trying that! Thanks so much for telling us about that!
It works just great without the oil as well.
You actually dont even need the oil, It will pop without it.
We don’t even use oil in ours. Just butter to taste after the fact. Yum.
Lauren, I don’t think there is such a thing as “stovetop” kernels, I’m pretty sure it’s just regular popcorn seeds.
I’ve been doing this for a few weeks now, only omitting the oil all together leaving much less mess!! So quick easy and CHEAP!! O yea healthy whole grain SNACK!
We’ve tried this and it tends to burn while most of the kernels are unpopped. Any suggestions on this?
Hmm – maybe the power setting is too high on your microwave?
I have had none of the problems others have encountered and I have only tried in my own microwave so I am far from experienced… maybe you could try adding less kernels too?
Maybe your popcorn is old, or not a good kind. I had one kind that left me lots of unpopped ones, and another, newer bag with hardly any, though I did them the same way. Try different popcorn.:-)
Good thought! I bet you just solved the entire problem of too many unpopped kernels!!
Maybe try less kernals? I’ve done this too, w/o oil and did not have any burning issues. There were some unpopped kernals but I laid the bag down. Next time I will try having the bag standing up as the bottom of the bag is thicker.
Try using just 2 T. of popcorn. I don’t use oil but you need to keep an eye on it as it rarely takes 2 minutes.
It could be too long on time. I’ve been making popcorn this way for awhile and only cook it for 1 minute 40 seconds. Definitely not longer than 1 min 50 seconds.
I always do this! I learned it on the food network and haven’t bought store packaged popcorn since! love it!
This is so great! Especially since my husband read recently that there are harmful chemicals in the bags used for microwave popcorn. Can’t wait to try this!
Be careful with this! My mother tried this several years ago and the bag caught on fire and ruined her microwave. She was standing beside it, and immediately stopped the microwave, but it was too late!
Also, paper bags use and non-foodsafe glue that could end up in that popcorn that you’re eating!
Awesome! Any ideas on how to make kettle corn popcorn this way?
Sorry, I don’t. I’ll have to check into it though!!
Try Colonel Seasoning’s Kettle Corn powder/shaker type flavoring. Try Walmart Super Center. Don’t know where you live but check all your stores for a variety of flavors.
I can’t wait to try this. Our four boys are serious popcorn consumers! I do wonder about the previous comment about the bags catching fire, and the possibility of chemicals in the brown paper bags. Maybe a store like Whole Foods or Earth Fare sells a chemical free bag?
By the way, I’m excited to find someone with my middle name, Linette, a different spelling than yours. Evidently, as I’ve only known like one other person with Lynette/Linette, we must have a unique name.
Not only is this a great way to make micro popcorn, but it’s the best way to avoid unnecessary health risks as well. Be sure your brown bags are not wax coated inside, btw. Here is my blog entry on risk factors related to store brand micro popcorn.
http://inthemidstofthisseason.blogspot.com/2007/03/micowave-popcorn-not-your-uncle.html
I don’t know if they still carry it, but about 4-5 years ago at a Walmart I purchased a “container” that allowed me to pop kernels with, or without oil/butter. It worked pretty good. I had a heat deflector thing in the bottom, kind of similar to the silver part of the box when you cook a microwave pizza/sandwich. Plus, being plastic, it was easy to clean and wash. I’m sorry, but I cannot remember the name of it, it got packed with a move and I’m not sure where it got placed.
As with either of these methods, you need to do some tweaking to get it right for what you want. If you’re burning it, maybe less power, maybe more oil. Maybe try canola instead of olive (it has a higher burn point). I’d also season mine BEFORE popping. Works tons better. Especially if using herbs or making it spicy. Then a lot of the flavoring is on the “inside”.
Good luck!
I don’t know if they still carry it, but about 4-5 years ago at a Walmart I purchased a “container” that allowed me to pop kernels with, or without oil/butter. It worked pretty good. It had a heat deflector thing in the bottom, kind of similar to the silver part of the box when you cook a microwave pizza/sandwich. Plus, being plastic, it was easy to clean and wash. I’m sorry, but I cannot remember the name of it, it got packed with a move and I’m not sure where it got placed.
As with either of these methods, you need to do some tweaking to get it right for what you want. If you’re burning it, maybe less power, maybe more oil. Maybe try canola instead of olive (it has a higher burn point). I’d also season mine BEFORE popping. Works tons better. Especially if using herbs or making it spicy. Then a lot of the flavoring is on the “inside”.
Good luck!
Wow! I love this idea – will try it out. I like the idea of controlling what goes in my kiddos snacks. Thank you!
For bigger popcorn with fewer unpopped kernels, try soaking the raw popcorn overnight or at least for an hour before popping!
I am a big popcorn eater and I do my on top of the stove but this sound like a far better way to pop popcorn, but I like mine pop in butter. Can you do it with the butter and bag instead of the oil? I will try out the one suggest though.
For Kettle corn, simply add some white sugar, either before or after popping. I’m the only one in my family who liked kettle corn, so I’d just add it to regular microwave popcorn and it worked great (plus you can adjust the sweetness level to whatever you feel like at the moment).
great idea, Ang
Popcorn pops due to the moisture content. The fresher the popcorn, the better.
Fire is a possible hazard, but so is the bag. If it is from recyled paper, recycyled from what……
Don’t recall what the % is, but popcorn must have a certain amount of moisture (water) in it to pop effeciently. There is a range for this %. Try looking it up on the internet.
This sounds so cool, can”t wait to try it.
I love to put ranch powder that you use to make dressing with on top of my popcorn! It’s the best