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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
Sherri Ahlers says
I use an air popper with popcorn kernels bought in bulk...
Megan says
Me too. :) works so well and no wasted paper bags. :)
Misty says
I read that you should not microwave brown paper bags. Are you concerned at all about what leeches out onto the popcorn?
Misty says
I just saw similar question. The article I read indicated " the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service
(www.fsis.usda.gov) says never use brown paper bags in the microwave.
Kathy Bernard, technical information specialist for the USDA's Meat and Poultry Hotline, says it's because they "don't know what (the bags) are made of, what can cook out of them and many are made from recycling."
Lori B. says
I knew a guy who used to work at P&G as a scientist. He said that you should never, ever eat anything that was microwaved on a paper plate, paper napkin, bag or paper towel. Highly toxic. Something about the chemicals/glue that hold the paper pulp together. I just use a hot air popper or do it on the stove.
Jen says
I tried this but it did not pop well. I prefer the pan and coconut oil method as it pops all the kernels.
Cassie says
I do this all the time! but like you I was pretty scared at first!
Cynthia says
I just used this recipe last night when my husband asked me to make some. I much prefer this and it has just one thing to clean up.
Amy H says
It's so easy on the stove though :)
Need: Stainless steel pot, metal colander, 2nd small sauce pan, wooden spoon, Popcorn (I like Azure's organic multicolored) coconut oil (enough to cover the bottom of the pan well) Butter & Organic garlic sea salt (ok flavor as you wish lol)
Start butter melting on low-medium (tastes better than when melted in the microwave)
Add coconut oil and a cup of popcorn kernals, set heat to just above medium and stir with wooden spoon until oil is melted
Keep pan moving and cover with colander when the kernals start to pop.
Keep pan moving... remove from heat when popping slows.
Add to a big bowl, Poor on butter & shake, sprinkle on salt. Enjoy!
tricks: store kernels with no moisture, don't allow condensation when popping (that's why I use the colander instead of the pot lid)
Brian says
How do you keep the popcorn from burning? Mine is done at just shy of 2 minutes, but I'm not sure if the power is set too high or if I need to go with a smaller amount.
Amy Taylor (comment moderator) says
Hi Brian. Every microwave is a little different. Yours just might need less time. All of my kernels never pop. There are always some that don't. ~Amy
Pam says
My tip to really increase the "healthy" factor of this snack: after adding the melted butter, skip the salt and sprinkle it with Nutritional Yeast! TONS of B-vitamins and a slightly 'cheesy' taste.
I'm a 56 year old Grams to 7 Grandkids and find it refreshing that a new generation is embarking on the Real Food journey. My husband and I raised 2 kids on Real Food, either we grew it or got it through the Co-Op. Our parents (he came from a family of 8 kids and my parents put 3 kids through Catholic School on just my Dad's income at a factory - I milked our cow before school each morning), plus Helen and Scott Nearing were our inspirations, the GRAS poster lived on our 'fridge. I was making "Greek-style" yogurt to substitute for cream cheese and sour cream before I knew it had a name. We had a hand-crank grinder mounted on the wall for grinding down whole grains into delicious combos for hot cereal in the morning and a host of other things. My kids LOVED freaking out their friends at school with the stuff in their lunch boxes ... miso soup, fried tempeh (they would tell their friends it was moldy soybeans). These same, now married kids, continue the Real Food way of eating and teaching it to the next generation (Seven Grandkids!) Thanks to the Food Network, we have 14 and 7 year old Grandsons, from different families, who desire to be a Chef, mostly because they want people to eat Real Food. All 7 of them know how to cook basic foods, make yogurt and like the taste of strange things like miso, feta, seaweed, tempeh, etc. and have rarely eaten cereal that comes out of a box from the grocery store. For those of you who are thinking that we are a bunch of "hippies" .... I suspect you think we are crazy-liberal, believe in only non-competitive sports and think Socialism is a good thing. You would be completely wrong. Most of us lean toward the Republican side, with a couple of Libertarians thrown in.
Renee says
Pure genius!!!
Britt says
What method do you recommend to keep the popcorn fresh and not chewy if you prepare a day early?
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi Britt. I let it cool completely and store it in an airtight container. :)
Britt says
I guess sometimes the obvious is easy enough!
Thanks!!! :)
Kelly says
Using the glass bowl method did not work for me. My kernels never popped
Kelly says
You can use a glass bowl with a plate on top if you are wary of the paper bag. Make sure the plate is bigger than the bowl opening.
Sara says
Would love to see a response to Laura's question above about the chemicals in paper bags. I just read something similar and now it's got me paranoid to try this popcorn paper bag thing.
Thanks.
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi Sara. If you are concerned about its safety, many readers have used a microwave safe bowl with a secure fitting plate on top for their microwave popping. I can't find anything definitive outside of not using paper bags with ink printed on them. ~Amy
Laura McWright says
I have read that you shouldn't cook in paper bags because no one knows what chemicals are released, especially if they are made from recycled materials. http://www.freep.com/article/20121025/COL37/310250077/Susan-M-Selasky-Don-t-pop-corn-in-a-brown-paper-bag
ET says
Too much time!! 2 minutes max-my house smells like it was on fire!
Rita says
And if by "trick" you mean, set the kitchen on fire, that is what happened at my house at minute 2.
tiffany says
Rita, same thing happened to me also.... maybe I will try the glass bowl with the lid next time so I can keep an eye on it while cooking!
Rita says
Glad I'm not the only one! HA!
Michelle says
We even reuse the bags and the piece of tape.
Tricia says
I've tried this a few times in the past, never seems to work for me! Maybe my microwave is the wrong wattage, or something
Karen says
I use a glass bowl with a microwave safe plate over the top. You aren't even left with the paper bag to throw away. The way my youngest goes through popcorn, I can relax and let him enjoy himself.
Angela Everett says
We make our own popcorn on the stove top for health and economical reasons. You can use coconut oil as a healthy alternative as well, fyi! It's great!
Kylie says
This sounds great! My kids love popcorn!
S Yates says
I have a microwave popcorn popper instead of using paper bags. This is re-usable; my family uses this weekly.
http://tinyurl.com/ld42kfn
Jennifer G. says
It worked! I just made this and I am thrilled! Not only is it healthier it's the fraction of the cost! Thanks!
Denise says
My accupunturist told me that using the microwave changes the structure of food and that it's not healthy for me, although I love the idea of no oil, I cook mine in a pan on the stove and use coconut oil.
Esra says
How do you place the bag in the microwave? On it's side or sitting up?
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi Esra. I've always done it with the bag standing up. ~Amy
Dawn says
We have an ancient air popper for our popcorn, which includes an optional spot to put butter on top, which drips over the popcorn as it flies out the chute and into the bowl. This really cuts down on the amount of butter each piece gets (a teaspoon of butter coats a whole lot of popcorn). It could also be used with another solid fat like chilled coconut oil, I suspect! We love our air popper and would never pop corn any other way, but if you don't have one or don't have the space for yet another kitchen gadget, this brown bag trick looks like the next best thing!
Mellissa says
So i am wondering, i gave up the microwave a while back. i have an air pop popcorn maker but it tends to overheat quickly. do you know of any way i could do this in the oven. or otherwise without oils?
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi Melissa. I make popcorn on the stove top all the time but have never tried doing so without oil and I have never heard of oven popped popcorn. :) Sorry I can't be of more help. ~Amy
Cora says
Lisa, I love your blog! I am just beginning to transition to all natural eating. I have been reading about canola oil and the need to stay away from it. Can you talk about this some, or point me in the right direction? How is canola oil different from vegetable, olive, peanut oil, etc. Is is all the same, all bad, whats the deal?
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi there, Cora. This will help: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2011/05/14/mini-pledge-week-10-no-refined-oils/. :) ~Amy
nattie says
It's funny - I've seen this now twice in one day..I've been doing this since my mom taught me after buying her forts microwave - haha! My kids have only known this...My boyfriend bought me a mack daddy popcorn popper I don't use, because it requires oil and I still have most of my 100 bag pack of recyclable paper bags to boot! :)
mswt says
I've made this twice already and love it! I've tried popping popcorn on the stove and it works well enough. I just don't like my kernels sitting in butter/oil. This version helps me control the amount of butter/oil to use. If it's just me eating, I will use 1/8 cup of kernels because 1/4 cup is a lot for me :)
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi there. Lisa uses 1/4 cup of kernels at a time. You can store popped popcorn in an airtight container. ~Amy
Aimee says
I know you put popcorn in your kids lunches, I'm just curious how much you make at a time and if you have leftovers how do you store it? I would love to make this ahead for my kid's lunches so I'm not popping every other night :-) Thanks!
Emily says
Another seasoning option is to give the popped corn a spritz or two of Bragg's liquid aminos - has a nice salty taste that sticks to the corn. Or my favorite: herbed olive oil + salt + pepper!
Faith says
My mom bought me a Nordicware corn popper for Christmas last year; it's been great! It's BPA/melamine-free and made in the US, so I'm not concerned about putting the bowl in the microwave, and it's reusable so you aren't throwing away a bag every time you make popcorn.
Karen G says
Microwaves are so bad for you! So, we bought a hot air popper. It doesn't use any oils unless I melt some raw butter to drizzle on top. Then I sprinkle some sea salt on that. Yummy!
myra says
we use a pyrex casserole bowl with a lid in the microwave for popcorn. never any trouble. faster than the stove and no waste.
liz says
Air poppers are great, too. I use mine all the time and it always turns out perfect!
Michelle K says
I see there is a lot of discussion about whether or not this recipe is safe. Just make sure you buy your brown paper bag (lunch bags), labeled as being microwave-safe. Bags not meant for use in the microwave can catch on fire.
Alison says
I just tried this and it worked beautifuly I normally buy organic microwave popcorn, but this is just as easy and way less expensive! Thanks :-)
michelle says
I tried the bowl technique & the bowl got so hot it cracked during the process!