Popping popcorn in the microwave is fast, easy and puts on a show like Jiffy Pop! Here's the easiest and most entertaining way to pop your satisfying snack.
I store my knitting needles in a Pringles can. That pretty much sums up my love of the potato chip. I love them with all of my heart.
In fact, I like chips so much that I can no longer have chips in the house. I just can't. I cannot be trusted with a cupboard filled with salty, crispy goodness that fits neatly into a bowl and makes my mouth water just thinking about them. Because if I have chips in the house I eat the chips in the house. All of them.
I just put a reasonable amount into a small bowl, close up the bag and put it away in the cupboard. I do this over and over again until all the chips are gone which usually takes about half an hour.
So I've had to move on to another snack that I can eat while I'm pretending to watch a movie at night. I say pretending because what I'm usually doing is half listening to a movie while I work on my computer or creep people's Facebook pages. When someone makes a movie that's more interesting than some of the weirdos I know on Facebook, then I'll watch it.
Enter popcorn. My new snack of choice!
Which I don't really like.
I mean let's face it. There's no comparison between the crispy goodness of a potato chip and a styrofoamy mouthful of popcorn. Luckily I've found if you put even just a tablespoon of butter on popcorn it improves it immensely. And salt of course. Because salt is the spice of Gods.
I was buying bags of microwave popcorn and using those but I didn't really like the fake butter popcorn. I also bought prepopped bags of popcorn which were O.K., but still not great. Plus the bags of popcorn were expensive.
So on a whim I bought a bottle of Orville Redenbacher's popcorn and brought it home with me. Since we all like to live in a world where we do things the cutest, most Pinterest-worthy way possible I immediately pulled out a pot and some oil and tried to stove top pop my popcorn.
All I ended up with was a pot I had to scrub burnt oil from and 3 popped kernels. So that's how that went. And it went that way several times. There's apparently a bit of a trick to getting popcorn to stovetop pop. I tried all the tricks and I was never satisfied with the popcorn. Plus I had to stand there and shake the pan, which looks great in a Pinterest photo, but in real life I don't want to spend any more time on a crappy snack I'm not even going to enjoy because it isn't potato chips, than I have to.
I didn't have any paper bags in the house so I couldn't pop it in the microwave.
Or could I?
Yes. Yes I could. I have no idea how I came up with this but I might have invented the greatest way to pop popcorn ever. Especially if you have kids.
IT'S LIKE JIFFY POP YOU CAN WATCH!
Once the popcorn is done popping, I add a tablespoon of butter onto the plate on top, which is hot enough to melt the butter, then I just tip the melted butter into the popcorn. Add salt. And enjoy.
When I say "enjoy" I mean eat. Popcorn is eaten. Potato chips? Potato chips are enjoyed.
Have a favourite popcorn topping for me? Lemme know!
Katie
I'm not sure of the exact recipe but we were visiting friends a few weeks ago and he made us Pumpkin Spice popcorn. And he used coconut oil instead of butter, with the usual pumpkin pie spices. SO AMAZING!
Jodi
I can't tell you how excited I am that this actually worked!! I used a silicon steam cover thing-y and a medium Pyrex bowl. I absolutely despise cooking it on the stove and I didnt want yet another gadget. We used a little melted coconut oil instead of butter on the top and sprinkled with salt and curry. Really good stuff; thankful to see this post. You're awesome!
Karen
You've already tried it, lol? I love when that happens. ~ karen!
Pam
That's a pretty neat trick, but I don't own a microwave. I've been using my trusty stovetop whirlypop for years and love it! Bestest flavor combo is butter, salt, cinnamon and sugar. Oh my!!
By the by, you may have intended to say 'invented' not 'invested'. Or maybe not.
Karen
OH! LOL, yes I meant invented. :) I've fixed it, thanks! ~ karen
Edith
Hi Karen,
I used to love regular buttered popcorn..... until I discovered KETTLECORN, freshly made in one of those big black iron kettles at a fleamarket. It's warm and crunchy and the perfect balance of buttery, salty and sweet. Like a holy trinity.
Pam
Kettlecorn is really easy to make! I make it in my whirlypop by adding sugar to the unpopped corn. You use an equal amount of sugar and kernels and can use white or brown sugar. Sprinkle salt on after popping. Yum!
Edith
Hmmm, what is a "whirlypop"?
Pam
It's one of those stove top aluminum pots with a crank. I've had mine for 20+ years and it's still going strong.
Karol
My version of kettlecorn is just sprinkling salt and sugar on the popped corn, then adding M&M's.
Rsoe
Parmesan cheese, with or without dried herbs and pepper; or cinnamon sugar, or sweetened cocoa powder. Kraft Mac & Cheese cheese is now available in a shaker- that would be good too.
Karen
I tried the Kraft powder! I had a box in my cupboard (because I'm Canadian and we all have a box of Kraft Dinner in our cupboards) and sprinkled it on my popcorn thinking it would be fantastic! It wasn't. But I didn't put butter or oil on the popcorn so it had nothing to stick to. I'll try it again. LOVE the idea of cinnamon sugar. ~ karen!
Barbie
I SO agree with you on the potato chip thing vs popcorn....and I do the exact same thing if they are in the house! I was actually thinking to myself...."hmmm, there is a great advantage to living alone....you only buy what "you" want to buy"....so if chips are a problem for you...you don't buy them. Where as I have to buy them for kiddos lunch and for his chip eating but never gaining weight dad!! :(
I do find that if I get some of that cheesy powder for popcorn add a bit of butter it sticks real good! That's the best...if I'm trying to really really watch my calorie intake I spay it with olive oil or butter flavor spray and "then" sprinkle the cheesy topping. Something I used to do long ago when I was a SUPER health food junkie was to add brewers yeast...tasted a lil like cheese and was really healthy. I don't go that far now...lol I just use the crappy for you cheese powder topping like they have at the theater.
Karen
Yeah. I just can't have chips in the house. Once in a while yes. On a regular basis? No. I eat them til they're gone. ~ karen!
Julie
Me too...chip night is once a week...right after Weight Watchers!
Auntiepatch
Coconut oil, salt, corn, and a little sugar in bottom of pot with a lid. Hold & shake pot ABOVE the fire so that it doesn't burn. Dump into a bowl and add butter if you like. I've been making popcorn like this for 55 years. Never fails.
Nancy Blue Moon
Nothing better than butter on popcorn...will try your method tomorrow...just got a new microwave...
TucsonPatty
Oh, my, I loves me popcorn! My Dad was a fanatic and all of his kids kind of are, also.
My absolute favorite seasoning is: garlic powder, onion powder, salt, butter, cayenne pepper, parmesan cheese and then if I have it, sometimes a sprinkle of bac-os. They taste sorta kinda like BBQ potato chips (before the cheese and bacon) which is my favorite chip of choice when I can find it without MSG. Migraine city right there! Thanks for the tutorial! I have a stovetop aluminum pan that has a stirrer inside that twirls around when you crank the handle. Probably this exact one here. http://www.whirleypopshop.com/stovetop-poppers.html
It gets so hot so fast and makes the best popcorn ever!
Karen
I would LOVE one of those but my house does not have a lot of storage so I have to be really careful with my gadget choices. :( ~ karen!
Kim C
Tusconpatty-I second the Whirley Pop! It pops all the kernels, speedy, light and airy.
Karen-We are a family of 4 living in 750 sq ft. with a Whirley Pop popper thrown in for good measure! I am a neat freak and a potato chip freak. You can make it work Just replace your usual chip stashing spot with your shiny new Whirley Pop.
Pam
I'm short on cupboard space, too but find a way to keep my whirlypop on hand. You can store unpopped corn inside it, too. And I've been using the same one for 20+ years!
Becky
I have a whirley pop for home and the cottage. I live without a lot of kitchen utensils/appliances at the cottage but the whirley pop is crucial!
Ccommee
Oh, dear! My dad bought me one of these years ago and I donated it immediately because we have such a tiny house I had NOWHERE to put it. I had no idea it was such a magical pan ... Or I would have kept it!
Amy in StL
I have a decorative old-timey looking metal one that I use over campfires, but it does require shaking. But you can leave it next to the fireplace, at least I do. When you use it over a fire in the fireplace the popcorn gets a nice smokey flavor.
Janet
I would concur with the garlic salt and parmesan. Delish! And thanks for the earlier comment on moisture content, Karen. I wondered why popcorn that was previously fine was no longer popping. Probably forgotten in the cupboard when I found the chips.....
marli
I was scrolling and reading and thinking the whole time: Whirley Pop. So thank you!! I agree, Whirley Pop makes THE BEST popped corn!
As for storage, I use it almost daily (nightly) so I just leave it on my stove top. Like the folks when I was growing up all had tea kettles they just left on the stove top, I have my Whirley Pop. Can't get enough!!
Smiles, marli
gloria
This did not work for me. First I tried 2 mins. Nothing. Another 2. Nothing. Ad infinitum. Until the bowl was so hot it was about a nanosecond away from becoming molten. I got three popped kernels. Yes, used brand new popping corn. What gives? I have always used the shake the pot on the stove top method with glorious results, however, I'm old now and do not need yet another maneuver that results in arm flab flappage. It's not a pretty sight.
Karen
Did you try it just now Gloria? I'd say you either need a newer microwave or your popcorn has dried out. If it isn't in an airtight container or is too old it can lose it's moisture content. And moisture content is king when it comes to popcorn. It needs to be 14% moisture to pop properly. Yeah. I know that off the top of my head. I've been doing popcorn research lately for another post, lol. ~ karen!
TucsonPatty
I use only Orville Redenbacher popcorn (holds nose in the air to look down upon all those other unworthy kernals) but we used to put non-poppy popcorn into the fridge with just a couple of sprinkles of water into the jar of kernals, leave it in the fridge and the moisture comes back into the kernals. Works!
gloria
It was a brand new bag of popcorn. Therefore I can only conclude that my microwave is not powerful enough. Which I should have figured out by the instruction booklet that came with it. The picture on the front of the booklet showed a woman in a dress, heels, and a pearl necklace. And a lace apron that said Cocktail Hour on it in rhinestones.
Cheryl
I don't know what type of bowl you used, but I have read it should be a glass bowl, not anything porous like some ceramic bowls are. Maybe the plate makes a difference too?
Karen
You've read about this Cheryl, lol? Every time I think I invent something I discover that it already was invented! I was SO sure I invented cheeseburgers once. ~ karen!
Cheryl
Sorry Karen! I saw a post about it on OneGoodThingbyJillee.com a few months back. Whoever invented this method (and cheeseburgers!), I thank you!
Karen
Ha! I just looked and she posted about it over a year ago. There's no such thing as a new idea! Btw she makes Marshmallow Popcorn! THAT's something to try! ~ karen!
Berry
Secret trick from making rice krispie treats which use a similar marshmallow mix - add a tablespoon or two of molasses and a teaspoon of vanilla (a T of bourbon is also tasty, fyi)
jainegayer
LOL
Shirley walker
Crushed chips are excellent on popcorn!! lol
Dale
Does your microwave have a setting for popcorn? Doing just 2 min at a time would heat up the popcorn and cool off before it would pop. I set my micro for like 5-6 minutes BUT monitor the timing between the last pops of the popcorn. Once it gets to 3 seconds between the last pops, shut it off and pull the bag/bowl you are using out of the micro with gloves. I'll rob the cheese packet from a box of mac and cheese to sprinkle on the popcorn, while hot most of it sticks to the popcorn.
gloria
Guess I need to pass this along to my kitchen R&D dept. (that would be me, I'm also the M&A dept., as well as the QC) and play around with the type of bowl. I used glass, but it got so hot, I was afraid it was going to explode. And that was at 2 mins. intervals for about a total of 8 mins., w/ kernel poppage of about 3.
Jennie
If you think chips are evil, just remember that corn was the food given to cattle to fatten them up for slaughter for the meat market.
Also, with glass stove tops on electric stoves, shaking a pan back and forth is taboo
Sarah
Can you get Tony Chachere's there? It's the most amazing seasoned salt. I imagine it would go well with buttered popcorn.
nancy
Tony's is awesome but I sneeze like a crazy. I use "Slap Ya Mama", it's as good without the entertaining side effect.
Julianna McDuffie
Karen, I adore Nutritional Yeast (aka "Noosh"*) on popcorn. It's flakes of cheesy heaven, and I'm not even a huge fan of cheese. Takes the place of butter, in my book--just spray the popped corn with a little olive oil so that the Noosh sticks. I still add salt, though... *Some people hate the term "Noosh". Whatever. It's delicious.
Angela
I concur!! Nutritional Yeast aka Noosh is excellent on popcorn!! I toss abit of butter in mine first then Noosh, then salt. Perfect!
Robert
Soy sauce. My popcorn is usually natural or with a light caramel coating, if natural, that is no salt in the kettle, is usually sprayed with soy sauce or salsa Valentina or sprinkled with curry powder, paprika, saffron or maybe cinnamon. But since you really don't like popcorn it really doesn't matter
Karen
You're right. It doesn't, lol. But curry and cinnamon? I could get on that bandwagon. ~ karen!
Robert
Even better, try it on french fries or your sweet potato fries but instead of adding it after they'r fried put them in the starch, toss and then fry
Ken
Hot air poppers, Strawberry or Dakota Black popcorn.
Butter, olive oil, parmesan, cajun spice, or whatever tickles your fancy.
I've given Country Gentleman a couple of shots, but it never seems to do the right thing.
Some of the Peruvian potatoes make death by potato chip seem like an acceptable demise.
Karen
What the huh? I have a ton of Peruvian potatoes that I grew this summer in my cupboard right now. Come to think of it when I make fries out of them or just pan fry them they crisp up way more than the other potatoes. Now I'm gonna have to make potato chips out of them. Thanks for that Ken. Thanks a LOT. ~ karen!
Ken
A bit of sesame oil in the fryer adds something to chips as well.
Just saying.
Oh, and for your popcorn, use your coffee grinder, mortar and pestle, or whatever to powder up some (really, really, crispy, crazy dry, they have to shatter) sun dried tomatoes, and toss the powder on your popcorn with macadamia or truffle oil. Purple or black tomatoes work the best for rich flavour. Easy on the truffle stuff, a few drops in with a neutral oil is fine.
Valerie
How long did you set the microwave set for?
I've tried them all and the best salt is Johnny's Seasoning Salt - in the aisle where OXO and packaged gravies are located.
Luanne
Holy moly! Sure glad i didn't buy that popcorn popper last week!
(P.s. - hi-5 can't-have-chips-in-the-house-sister!
P.p.s. - I usually buy no-butter healthy choice microwave popcorn, and then melt an ungodly amount of butter to go on top.)
Kathleen
We bought the TV-sales plastic bowl you pop in the micro with your popcorn in. That works well.
And was that a "popcorn" pre-set button? My micro doesn't have one!
Dagmar
OMG! I don't understand how or why that just happened but I love it. Is this because both your bowl and the plate were ceramic? That is brilliant. I spotted a nifty little device in the Lee Valley catalogue for making popcorn. It is just a silicone popcorn-type bag. It gets placed into the microwave with kernels and does exactly what you just presented. So perhaps it is just a matter of heat and pressure, with both.
I love to be silly and dip my popcorn into peanut butter and jam, or even melted butter and maple syrup. Odd yes, tasty, for sure.
West Coast Nan
Well, that looks like fun! I totally agree with you, chips rule the snack world but are not the healthy choice.
Pati Gulat
Here's how I do it : pour an UNGODLY amount of butter (aka 1/4 cup... Give or take 2 or 3 extra T.) n your huge saucepan and thrown the cup of corn in with it...turn the burner on med hi and wait til the butter foams up and put the lid on and shake it til it's ALMOST done popping...take off the burner and wait for a few minutes then EAT !!!! OVER THE TOP buttery goodness will drop down your chin... You're welcome !!!
Pati Gulat
DRIP..... DRIP down your chin....no dropping = no wasting... ;)
Cheryl
I usually use the UNGODLY amount of butter to top my popcorn, but your method sounds very interesting. Doesn't the butter start burning before the corn has popped? I'm dying to try this, but don't want to waste my delicious butter.
Jess
We make stovetop popcorn, using a few table spoons of olive oil and 2 kernels to start, heat it up on the burner on medium to high heat, with the lid on. When you hear the kernels pop, add the rest of the popcorn, put the lid back on and then shake shake shake on the burner until it's all popped - add salt and freshly cracked pepper, and you're set. Easy Peasy, although this microwave business seems pretty easy too.
Cheryl
Hi Jess. That's how I usually make my popcorn, but the popping it in butter sounded tasty.