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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 (like diacetyl - an artificial butter flavoring!). 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 after giving this popcorn recipe a try.
The Popcorn Trick
Ingredients
- ¼ cup popcorn kernels (preferably organic)
- butter (optional)
- salt (optional)
Instructions
- 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 heat for 3 minutes and 30 seconds.
- Listen for the popping to slow down to 3 or 4 seconds apart at which point you will take 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 (or coconut oil) and then sprinkle with salt. If you don’t use oil or butter the salt won’t stick.Other topping ideas: cinnamon, cayenne pepper, freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Heather says
Wow! Wish I'd known about this earlier... my teenage son loves popcorn and I was tired of feeling guilty about buying all the chemical-laden microwave bags. I bought him a red air popper for Valentine's Day but this would have been a great alternative. I think we'll still try it out for fun!
Brieanna says
mmmmmm I just made this and it is SOOOO easy! I am going to make it this way from now on. I mixed a bit of honey with water and poured it over and added some salt then shook it in the bag for a kettle corn flavour. Delish!
Kimberly Schultz says
My popcorn addicted son tried this immediately. Just took 2 minutes in our microwave. He topped it with some butter and salt then decided to add a little olive oil from the sprayer. Success! Thank you
Tanya says
Can't believe I'm just discovering this! Thank you for sharing.
We loved it with some olive oil spray and cinnamon.
Robin says
Well we're die hard air poppers (or stovetop in pan for BIG servings) we add real warmed butter and sea salt (so yummy), but my 14 year old just came home from school saw this and is making it right now. Whoops, 1st try burned, onto another batch. 2nd try is perfect. The first time the bag was upright, 2nd time she laid it on its side. We pretty much only use our microwave to melt butter (for popcorn) these days, this is great! THANKS!
Marie says
Have you tried a little coconut oil on you popcorn? It is so tasty!
Remy01 says
Merci, je me suis permis d'utiliser votre article sur mon blog.
Janet says
I added some maple syrup with the oil and it tasted a little like caramel corn. My kids loved it!!
denise says
I did not think it would work..but IT DID!!! I'm so excited.
b&b breakfast says
Awesome Posting
Kelly says
Great idea on the paper bag for popcorn. I'm also not a big fan of the microwave ovens and try to use them as little as possible. Recently, it's for popcorn and bacon only. I'm enjoying this thread because I had no idea there was a Whirley Pop. I already googled it, only $22, thanks Kristin. I will be getting that or the electric air popper. I like the idea of the Whirley Pop for times when the electricity is out and I can still use my gas oven :-)
JMS says
This is a great way of making popcorn but I do not like the waste of the paper bags. I am surprised Mark Bittman suggests this wasteful method. Check out the Glass Microwave Corn Popper at Solutions or there might be other things out there like this that can be reused!
Anne says
Need to try this soon! Thanks for the tip.
Bluesette says
I love this!!! I tried this at work today and was told by several people that they couldn't believe how good the popcorn smelled. Thank you!
Christine says
We haven't had a microwave for at least 4 years now and don't miss it one bit. We use the stovetop or an "old fashioned" bubble top electric popcorn popper. I do have a convection/toaster oven that I use often and LOVE. Heating up leftovers? I use the "old fashioned" way,a pan on the stove. It usually takes less than 5 minutes.
Also, after buying 2 or 3 oil misters and having them clog/stop working, I find putting oil in a glass jar with a spray nozzle top works just as well. And is MUCH cheaper.
Kristin says
I use a Whirly Pop. It is a pot with a clip on lid that has a hand crank. You add a little oil (I use olive or coconut) and however much popcorn you want and heat it on the stove top on medium. The crank moves the kernels around so they don't stick. My son loves to turn the crank. The lid clips on so it won't come off during cooking. I melt a little organic butter and drizzle and add sea salt flakes. It takes about six minutes, tops. It is the only kind of popcorn I will eat. I use my microwave to store stuff in. It is built in over the stove. I never use it. I boil water in a kettle. Water that is microwaved and used for tea makes the tea taste flat (I think)
Dorothy says
I use a Whirlypop too. Coconut oil and the white popcorn kernels from the Amish that Williams Sonoma sells. Also, if you have a sea salt grinder and set it to the finest grind, I find you don't need to buy special popcorn salt to make it stick. I also love popcorn seasoned with hot curry powder - just a few pinches.
Lea says
I'm with Alyssa on not using your microwave. Most of the health books I read say to not use it; it's just not healthy. We used to do your method in the microwave, but then we got an air popper. We love it. If we're going to eat real food, why not cook it the real way? I got an electric kettle for my tea, and we just got a toaster oven for easy reheating! Don't forget to use organic popcorn.
100 Days of Real Food says
That's wonderful you were able to make the transition from using a microwave, but most people aren't going to stop microwaving popcorn and if they are going to do it I would much rather them use this method than the store-bought bags!
Stephanie says
Thanks for sharing! I love popcorn, but I don't like the microwave-ready packages. This is a great way to make a single serving and control the amount of oil and salt.
Brooke says
I am excited about this, as I haven't been able to quit microwave popcorn, plus this is even convenient to take to work as a snack!
I was wondering if anyone has found anything to be a suitable substitute for the non-reusable paper bag?
100 Days of Real Food says
You can actually reuse the paper bag. It is as good as new after you dump the popcorn out!
Rae says
I've been using this method for a few weeks now and it's great!
I pop my corn with kosher salt and a little oil, but the salt does not stick unless oiled after popping. The only oil mister pumps I've seen were in Pampered Chef catalogs. Think I can get one at Target? Or Bed Bath & Beyond?
MartiC says
I think I got my oil mister at World Market. Mine is a Misto brand and I think they are also available on Amazon.
Stefanie says
I got my Misto olive oil mister pump at Bed Bath & Beyond. I have also seen it at TJ Maxx and Amazon. I love mine and couldn't live without it! (just finished eating my popcorn... spritzed with garlic olive oil then sprinkled with a little kosher salt and fresh ground pepper--- YUMMY!)
100 Days of Real Food says
I got mine through Amazon.
Rae says
Thanks, I'll check those places!
Kat says
If you have one near you, I got mine at Homegoods and it was dirt cheap :)
Jennifer says
I've used this method for a while now. I also found a bowl at superstore that works in a similar fashion. My favorite though, is our old fashioned over the fire popper - I just wish I could find the mesh one we had growing up, our new one is solid and that makes it difficult to look at the bottom and see how many kernels are left.
Lindsay says
This is great! After reading your post (and forwarding it to a friend!) I tried this out over the weekend. My kids loved it! Its fun that they each get to use the paper sack for their own personal bag of popcorn too.
They added raisins and nuts for a car trip trail mix.
Thanks for the tip! :)
Amy says
Love that idea!
Catherine says
I am so excited to pop my corn this way! My sister in law and I spritzed a touch of water on air popped corn then added salt. It was actually pretty good!
Megan D says
I burned two bags today. I have a mini microwave and it is not very powerful. The first bag was in there 3 min and the second only 2 min and they both were horrible burnt.
I added oil to the first one but did not with the second thinking I might have misunderstood the directions.
Kim says
Megan, if your microwave doesn't have a turntable, that could be the problem. if the bag doesn't move around, the waves just keep hitting the same few kernals over and over resulting in burnt popcorn and probably a burnt bag, too.
Tara says
Wondering if you put the salt in the brown back before popping if the steam from the heating popcorn might make it stick without the oil? I will have to give it a try sometime. Am a bit nervous about starting the house on fire! :)
kari says
Ive done this for years!!!
cindy says
My latest popcorn obsession involves olive oil and zatar seasoning. It's a middle eastern spice blend and I looove it.
Richelle Luchkowec says
No one has commented on the cute popcorn holder so I just had to say I LOVE IT! :) We got the same ones from the dollar bins at Target and use them every week for our movie night. I'm all about easy so I love this tip. Thanks!
100 Days of Real Food says
I also found some cute disposable popcorn bags (for parties) from Party City and World Market...so fun! :)
Melissa V says
Have you ever tried Just Tomatoes products?
http://www.justtomatoes.com/jtstore/pc/home.asp
They have a lot of organic products as well as stuff to add to smoothies.
100 Days of Real Food says
I have tried them and unfortunately my girls don't like them! We've tried a couple different kinds too...peas and strawberries I think.
melissa says
Hey Lisa,
I believe I might be the blogger who mentioned this method to you?! After BlogHer, but before the overheated car? :)
My preferred method is stove-top popcorn, but for sheer convenience and no clean-up, the brown bag in the microwave is easy peasy - especially if you have an olive oil mister which is what I use to do a controlled spray over my popped corn. Less fat, less mess!
@Alyssa: Are microwaves inherently bad? Are we getting radiation poisoning from them? Otherwise, why get rid of them? I'm not a fan of cooking most food in the microwave, but I like to use mine for things like reheating in the dish I plan to eat from or defrosting frozen meals that I've saved. Just wondering if you know something I don't!
100 Days of Real Food says
Hey Melissa!! I am with you on the microwave thing...I might take the "ignorance is bliss" card on that one since we don't use our microwave very much as it is and it can be convenient in those time crunches.
Also, I forgot you mentioned the popcorn trick too! I actually got a couple of emails suggesting it late last year too so maybe hearing it repeatedly finally convinced me I wouldn't burn my house down after all! :) So glad I finally tried it!
Alyssa says
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/05/18/microwave-hazards.aspx
Decide for yourself. I don't think using it on occasion is going to hurt, but I think some may rely on it too much.
Karin Greene says
OK, I feel old. We were doing this in Home Ec class in the 70s, when microwaves were still fairly new. We'd make popcorn bags and sell them between classes as a healthy snack. Thanks for the reminder!
Alyssa says
I pop my popcorn on the cooktop in coconut oil (VERY healthy fat) and a little sea salt which is amazing! Sometimes I go all out and add beautiful grass fed real butter to it! Mmmmmm...
Most oils in the marketplace are full of pesticides and are genetically modified. I only use high quality, organic coconut, olive and occasionally grapeseed oils and butter for cooking. My next goal is to render lard and use that for baking. Our bodies need fat and all of these are healthy oils. Check out books by Sally Fallon to learn about the good oils.
Here's a real food challenge: get rid of your microwave! We did that many years ago and haven't looked back. I have a toaster oven and use my cooktop to reheat things.
Rachael Knight says
Totally agree! I was scrolling down the comments to see if anyone even mentioned getting rid of the microwave! We cook ours on the stovetop in a regular pot. We use a little coconut oil & butter. When it's done popping we put sea salt on it. Sometimes, we'll sprinkle a bit of Parmesan cheese on it too.
Jessica says
I posted some links of sites giving the facts about the hazards.
Haley says
I tried this the other day after reading it on another blog and mine didn't turn out! I wonder if I didn't leave it in long enough. Definitely will have to try again!
Cheryl says
I'm excited to try this! I know butter and oil amounts are really to taste, but as a starting point how much did you use? Just dont want to overdo it at first.
100 Days of Real Food says
I have olive oil in a spray bottle (that is made for olive oil...you have to pump it) and I will give it a squirt then sprinkle 1 - 2 shakes of salt. I will mix it with my hands then do the oil/salt 2 or 3 more times and it ends up with a great "lightly salted" flavor!
LauraElle says
What a great idea! I remember my mom would air pop the popcorn and then pour the popcorn into a paper bag before drizzling with butter & salt. Then she'd let us kids shake the bag.
Karis says
I first saw this tip on Alison' blog - http://thishomemadelife.com/popcorn-and-a-movie, and have been making popcorn this way ever since. Love it!
Kristin says
I JUST read this recipe in "Food Matters" yesterday!! Can't wait to try it :) Thanks for sharing and giving the thumbs up!
Terri Nestel says
We have been making popcorn this way for awhile now. It is great!
maria says
I have seen this a few times too, but didn't bother with it (mostly out of fear of filling our house with the burnt popcorn stench that I can't stand!) I decided to try it our yesterday as a way of keeping the kids for pestering me for cossession stand popcorn at my daughtes baseball game. Turned out great! It made me happy to see them with their white fluffy popcorn vs the dayglow yellow stuff in 'butter' soaked bags :)
Leigh says
I found about this last month! I ordered popcorn from my food co-op. It will be here Tuesday. I can't wait. I've put off buying popcorn for the longest time because I thought I needed a special popper and I didn't want another appliance to store. Thanks for sharing your method! It's the one I am going to try first. A lot of the ones I have looked up, have you put the oil in the paperbag. That just seems like a mess to me!