When I first heard about microwaving popcorn in a brown paper lunch bag I could not imagine that something so simple would 
really work. A blog reader actually shared this suggestion with me, and it took me a while to work up enough courage to try it out. I am so glad I finally did because approximately 3 minutes and 15 seconds later I had fresh, fluffy, whole-grain popcorn that hadn’t been touched by a drop of oil, salt, sugar, or any other additives. And after lightly seasoning it myself with a tad of oil and salt it was delicious! I will never waste my money on those store-bought microwave bags ever again.
The Popcorn Trick
Ingredients
- ¼ cup popcorn kernels, preferably organic
- Brown paper lunch bag
- Optional: Melted butter, oil, and/or salt
Directions
- Pour the kernels into the brown paper bag.
- Tightly fold over the top three or four times. No tape or staples are necessary.
- Put it in the microwave and start it on high for 3 minutes and 30 seconds.
- Listen for the popping to slow down to 3 or 4 seconds apart at which point you will ta
ke it out of the microwave. This usually happens for me around the 3 minute and 15 second mark. - Pour popcorn into a bowl and drizzle with melted butter or spritz with olive oil and then sprinkle with salt. If you don’t use oil or butter the salt won’t stick.
Yield: Approximately 3 – 4 servings
Love this blog by the way! I see some people are concerned with using a paper bag. When I make my own popcorn in the microwave I put the kernels in a microwave safe glass bowl with a microwave safe plate on top. Works great and no bag waste! Just be conservative the first time with the amount of kernels so the bowl doesn’t get too full (and not pop correctly).
Is microwave use safe though?
I think it’s debatable!
I don’t think they are. Got rid of ours 8 years ago when we found out what they do to your food and the health hazards of even just standing near one, especially children.
What’s a good alternative to make fast popcorn for the people who don’t use a microwave… like me? And without buying a fancy gadget!?
Oh and no oil
What’s wrong with unrefined oil?
We make our popcorn on the stove, which is a good alternative to the microwave. Basically, just find a kettle with a lid (it’s better if it’s a deeper pan; I have one similar to this http://www.anolon.com/cs/Satellite/Product+-+Anolon+Advanced+Bronze+Collection+3.5+Quart+Straining+Saucepan+with+Spouts/mProduct/1177513656321/anolon/1165434707711/mProduct/CookwareDetailEcomm.htm, and it’s a perfect size). Put a tiny bit of oil on the bottom of the pan (just enough to cover the bottom), cover the bottom with a single layer of popcorn kernels, and let it go. It helps to shake the kettle a little (think jiffy pop, for those old enough to remember it). But it is delicious and healthy. We usually add a little salt and melted butter. It’s so much better than the horrible microwave popcorn that’s sold in grocery stores.
I just saw your “no oil” comment above. I think you could make this popcorn without oil; it just helps to keep the popcorn from sticking. I use less than a teaspoon.
I pop it on the stove too! Have been popping it lately in coconut oil. So tasty!
I got a used air popper on ebay for $5. You can also find some at thrift stores and craigslist. Now looking to buy the blue corn for making popcorn.
I cannot believe how much room I am gaining in my pantry as I donate my boxed “food substitutes” and toss out items. I am actually keeping small appliances in my pantry! Our microwave popcorn was one of the items that got a pink slip. I am thrilled to make some popcorn for my girls for a snack or movie night. I even made it and put it in my purse for our trip to the local theater over the holidays. My husband didn’t go for it but at least he didn’t get the movie popcorn.
I bring popcorn in my purse too when we go to the movies!
[...] get your partner on board for the Get Real challenge? We say that you should whip up a batch of Lisa’s brown bag popcorn or check out our Pinterest popcorn board and cozy up to watch this film together. Although we [...]
[...] I prefer my popcorn au naturel. My favorite way to do popcorn these days is to borrow a trick from 100 Days of Real Food and pop it in a paper [...]
How does this compare to air-popped? Is it just another way?
It’s just as good!
[...] so this blog has given us lots of great recipes and ideas! One of these ideas is making microwave popcorn in a paper bag! I had no clue that you could do that…but it works [...]
[...] so this blog has given us lots of great recipes and ideas! One of these ideas is making microwave popcorn in a paper bag! I had no clue that you could do that…but it works [...]
Thrilled to know about this!!! I love popcorn but hate the idea of all the horrible chemicals in the microwave bags. Never again – going home and tossing what I have left and putting popcorn and brown paper bags on my grocery list! Thank you!!!
Thanks for the great post. I actually invested in a hot air-popcorn maker, under $30, a couple years ago when we wanted to delete processed out of our diets. I will definitely pass this onto friends who want to get the prepacked popcorn out of their diets, but don’t have an air popper. It sure makes one feel good when they can be in control of knowing exactly what they are eating. Thanks for letting me be a part of your daily journey with life and family.
I just stumbled onto your blog a few days ago and have read just about all of it now! It’s wonderful! Thank you so much for sharing all of this information
Our family doesn’t use a microwave and honestly thought that it was interesting that you and your family do. I say this because the idea is to take processed food out of our diet and microwaves are natorious for adversly altering food…
Here is a link that tells you some of the many health risks of them, many that people are not readily told about (for the same reason we are not told about the harm of processed food… $$$)
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/05/18/microwave-hazards.aspx
http://www.relfe.com/microwave.html
On the first link I would make sure that if you read nothing else than please read the highlighted part about how a microwave puts off 100x more radiation than that of what is FIRMLY linking to causing luekimia… its pretty spooky.
I make popcorn on the stovetop. Put a couple of tbsp of peanut oil in a large pot, pour in kernels when hot, shale te pot over medium-high heat until popping stops.
A Pot over the stove top, some kernels, and some coconut oil are about the healthiest way I make popcorn now. And it tastes WONDERFUL! It takes less than 10 minutes.
I just tried some popcorn made on the stove top in coconut oil and is was delicious!
SO happy you taught me this fabulous, quick, easy, delicious popcorn recipe/trick. Tried it out tonight. Love it! Will never buy store bought again. My microwave has a “popcorn” button on it. I pushed it and it cooked it perfectly. Thank you, Lisa! (oh, and husband love it, too!
)
I use an air popper. Microwaves “kill” our food
I use the microwave and a brown paper bag,no oil.