MICROWAVED POPCORN

Submitted by Lorrie Williams

 

Popcorn is yummy and can be nutritious!

Popcorn is loaded with heart-healthy and cancer-fighting polyphenols. In fact, popcorn has 4 times more polyphenols than the average amount found in fruits. Popcorn is high in cartenoids, a type of antioxidant that may positively impact eye health. Popcorn’s fiber makes it a snack that both fills you up and stays with you. 3 cups of air-popped popcorn (no butter or oil) has only 91 calories.

Why make your own microwave popcorn?
It's healthier to make your own. Most of the major microwave popcorn makers have changed their packaging and ingredients to eliminate the popcorn lung risk. However there are other concerns. The microwave popcorn packets often use unhealthy fats and are loaded with way too much sodium. Many still contain additives and mystery ingredients, and nutritionists advise us to avoid those.

Microwaving popcorn in brown paper bags.
This has become a popular way to make your own microwave popcorn. It's easy and convenient. Lots of people have written about their favorite way to make popcorn this way. There can be draw backs to using brown paper bags:

The USDA doesn't recommend cooking in brown paper bags. Here's what they say: “Do not use brown paper bags from grocery or other stores for cooking. They are not sanitary, may cause a fire, and can emit toxic fumes. Intense heat may cause a bag to ignite, causing a fire in the oven. The ink, glue, and recycled materials in paper bags can emit toxic fumes when they are exposed to heat. Instead, use purchased oven cooking bags."

 

A microwave-safe bowl; if you use a glass bowl, make sure it is tempered glass and can handle the high heat. You can use an Anchor 2.5 quart mixing bowl--it comes in a set of 3 bowls with lids that get used frequently for mixing and serving.

Be sure and use a vented cooking lid.  I found mine at Bed Bath and Beyond. It cost $6.99 whereas Amazon had the same name brand for $10.99.  It is essential that the lid has vent holes. As the popcorn kernels heat, the steam generated is extremely hot. If the lid isn't vented, intense heat can build up and cause the bowl to explode.

Popcorn kernels. Make sure you throw the old ones away as the moisture in the kernals makes them pop better.

 Plain Microwave Popcorn (no oil, butter, or salt)

Step 1. Have on hand a  microwave safe bowl, vented lid, and popcorn kernels.

Step 2. Add 1/3 cup popcorn kernels to the bowl, put on the lid, microwave for 3-4 minutes, until 2-4 seconds between pops.  Warning: the bowl will get hot--use hot pads or oven mitt. 

 If you like butter in your popcorn, just ddd 1 tablespoon butter and 1/4 teaspoon salt to bowl. Microwave 20-30 seconds, just until butter melts. The salt dissolves in the butter.

Add 1/3 cup popcorn kernels and stir it so that the kernels get completely covered with the melted butter and salt mixture. Even them out in the bottom of the bowl. This results in every piece of popcorn having the butter/salt flavor on it as it pops. The flavors distribute and stick better than adding them after the popping. They get cooked on so they stay put on each kernel.

Cover the bowl with the vented lid and microwave on high for 3-4 minutes, or until there are 2-3 seconds between pops. The time will vary depending on your microwave and bowl, so you may need some trial-and-error on the first batch or 2 to figure out how long it takes the popcorn to cook. If you pop a second bowl right away, it won't take as long because of the residual heat in the microwave and bowl.

1/3 cup of kernels made 8 cups of popped popcorn. One of the benefits of this method is that you can eat the popcorn right out of the bowl you popped it in.  The butter and salt get cooked into each kernel as it pops.  You can adjust the butter and salt to suit your tastes.

Still low in calories and salt! Even with the butter added, it's such a small amount that a 3-cup serving of this lightly buttered popcorn only has a total of 130 calories. The small amount of added salt makes a big difference in the taste, too, without coming close to the amount of salt in the pre-packaged microwave popcorns.