Secrets of Microwave Popcorn?

[crabapple]

Well, as we all know, unless you have an air popper or some other special machine that pops your corn for you, MICROWAVE POPCORN BAGS are the most convenient way to have freshly popped corn at home. But I swear, I always feel those things never come out as well as they could.

A number of kernels not popping, I can handle. I figure, that's normal. But I usually get A LOT of unpopped kernels, and by the time we get to that point, well, the popcorn in the bag has begun to burn in places, giving me charred corn.

Now I am thinking, this is very consistent with me, these bummer popcorn batches. There must be some tricks people use to optimize the performance of the sacred popcorn bag. There has to be some way of making these stupid things work! I bet some of you here can share your secrets.

So how about it?? We're gonna have a thread on how to make popcorn, 'kay??

[Phalanx]

Forget the micro-crap.
Not really hard to go ahead and make non-microwave popcorn.
You can either add a little olive oil, or a mixture of butter/oil then use a deep pan over moderate heat. Make sure it's one with a lid. "Roll" the pan as you go, making the kernels move in a circular motion to ensure a relatively even heating/no burning. Add any additional butter, salt, or other seasonings at the end, shake, serve. (I personally really like lemon juice, tobasco and pepper, the girl sometimes coats the stuff in nutella)
Alternatively, get a popcorn maker...little plug-in unit. They're fairly cheap to buy, and very quick and easy to use. Either of these take only slightly longer than the microwave stuff, and come out much better.

When you buy microwave popcorn, you're paying for an inferior, overpriced product. The technology isn't yet really perfected, hence the burning, and often disproportionate butter/seasoning covering. EG- For lazy people that settle.
Not sure about those popping pan things you put over the grill...I assume they're a more pre-made version of the pan/pot method anyways.

Either of the aforementioned methods give you a better tasting popcorn, not to mention when you get yourself a big old bag of kernels, it's FAR cheaper.

[The Mothman]

i personally dont think popcorn makes to good of movie food. first of all,i dont think it tastes too great, and second of all, it makes far too much noise!!

[newb]

You can pick up one of these for $200.

http://www.stacksandstacks.com/image/100529_bu.jpg

female not included

[Phalanx]

Personally I think it's a little over-rated too.
I'll NEVER buy it at the cinemas unless it's incorporated into some kind've deal (A local independant cinema has a good deal...for UNDER the price of a ticket at one of the larger cinemas, you get a ticket, a coke, a little popcorn, and a big mars bar)...what the movie places charge for it is damn near criminal considering actual product cost.
I kind've don't mind the one with hardened caramel and chopped nuts in it...whatever that is.
As for the coloured stuff, it tastes damn near poisonous.

Hey...interesting thing I found out though...dried popcorn kernels will actually grow in damp places. I figured this out a few years back when I spilled a bag of kernels, and one bounced into my bathroom.

[crabapple]

Six weeks later you had a little corn forest growing in there.

[Phalanx]

Nope, but I had a seedling about an inch tall in a corner of the shower within about a week...pretty fast it seems

As for uncooked kernels, they're my favourite part of popcorn...as long as they're at least warm, a little salt and butter. Tasty crunchy~!

[Vodstok]

Nope, but I had a seedling about an inch tall in a corner of the shower within about a week...pretty fast it seems

As for uncooked kernels, they're my favourite part of popcorn...as long as they're at least warm, a little salt and butter. Tasty crunchy~!

Uncooked popcorn is basically corn seeds, so i am not at all surprised.

Beans and peas (dried) are pretty good for the same thing. Being dried and then growing is their job in nature.

Speaking of popcorn, and this being a horror forum, this is the creepiest fucking thing i have seen in years. is it popcorn, or black magic? You decide.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVBGUo2qz-o

[Vodstok]

thanks Mr Wizard :p

No problem.

Did you know "Tuna Fish" is actually a fish?

[newb]

I thought "Chicken of the Sea" was chicken.

http://www.killsometime.com/Pictures/images/Jessica-Simpson.jpg

[Roderick Usher]

Love popcorn, especially at the theaters that still use real butter - I know of 3 here in LA that still do it right.

Couldn't help you with the microwave thing - don't own one. But I love my air popper. We do itevery Friday Night with the kids. Butter, salt & sugar, like simple kettle corn. Yummy!

[crabapple]

Speaking of popcorn, and this being a horror forum, this is the creepiest fucking thing i have seen in years. is it popcorn, or black magic? You decide.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVBGUo2qz-o

Hey wow...it's an actor with a digitally-animated Orville Redenbacher head! That's really nice. Another groundbreaking effect from Digital Domain.

[Vodstok]

maybe you'll explain where bean sprouts come from next :D

Beans.

No, really.

[Vodstok]

Hey wow...it's an actor with a digitally-animated Orville Redenbacher head! That's really nice. Another groundbreaking effect from Digital Domain.

It is a composit of digital animation, old orville footage, and a live actor with prosthetics... the net result is just WEIRD.

I guess it does the job though, it certainly sticks with you...

makes me afraid of popcorn though.

[crabapple]

Yes, yes...kettle corn. I don't know who invented that but it's great. There is a street fair held intermittently here, and there's usually a booth with a kettle corn maker, they use giant-size popping kernels. You can smell the stuff all the way down the street...uhhh...I want...

[ShankS]

Get yourself a pack of this...

http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/268/popcorn6wl.jpg

then chuck in one of these...

http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/6139/saucepan2wc.jpg

add a dash of this...

http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/8581/oliveoil1tu.jpg

place over this heat...

http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/7730/gascooker5hf.jpg

and enjoy...

http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/1636/popcornbowl6ml.jpg

[crabapple]

Look, I don't know or care what those little round things are. All I know is, bag. Microwave. Put bag in, close door, press buttons. Put bag in, close door, press buttons. Put bag in, close door, press buttons. All that other stuff just confuses me.

[ShankS]

Look, I don't know or care what those little round things are. All I know is, bag. Microwave. Put bag in, close door, press buttons. Put bag in, close door, press buttons. Put bag in, close door, press buttons. All that other stuff just confuses me.


I added diagrams for simplicity, even a kak handed fool could follow them. :D

[davidd60]

i personally dont think popcorn makes to good of movie food. first of all,i dont think it tastes too great, and second of all, it makes far too much noise!!

i agree for watching a theater movie, but if you're at home its not bad, but i usually just settle for chips instead at the outdoor, cause they're cheaper so i sneak them in along with my own pop and maybe some candy, steven sometimes gets taco bell or donuts you ever try chips during a movie

[Vodstok]

All I know is, bag. Microwave. Put bag in, close door, press buttons. Put bag in, close door, press buttons. Put bag in, close door, press buttons.


That may be part of your problem. if you are skipping the "open door, remove bag" steps, you are going to run out of room, and yes, the old ones are going to burn. Quite a bit, I would think :D

[crabapple]

That may be part of your problem. if you are skipping the "open door, remove bag" steps, you are going to run out of room, and yes, the old ones are going to burn. Quite a bit, I would think :D


a crap! poop-notts !

[davidd60]

alright guys i guess

[Master]

Actually, I hate popcorn. For some odd reason alot of the kernels remain undigested and it just completely bugs me out. I also hate how the pieces stick between your teeth.

[Master]

i like the girl .


That girl looks like a pig to me.

[the_real_linda]

i cant understand why all film food is noisy or smell.....nachos! eugh! stop selling this stuff in cinemas.....i like popcorn tho but get self concious so rarely eat it in the cinema cause of the noise

[Master]

i cant understand why all film food is noisy or smell.....nachos! eugh! stop selling this stuff in cinemas.....i like popcorn tho but get self concious so rarely eat it in the cinema cause of the noise

Listening to people chew is quite possibly my biggest pet peeve! It drives me insane!

[bloodrayne]

You can pick up one of these for $200.

http://www.stacksandstacks.com/image/100529_bu.jpg

You know what?...I've actually considered buying one of those...We go through a LOT of popcorn here every week (kinda because we go through a LOT of horror movies)...Buying non-microwave popcorn is SO very much cheaper than microwave popcorn I honestly think that thing would pay for itself in a short period of time...

As for the air poppers...I have one...We don't like it...It pops just fine, but when you put the butter on, your popcorn gets soggy...Cleaning the air popper is a pain in the ass, because you can't immerse it in water...It just never seems clean enough to me

And whenever we make popcorn in a pan (as Cheeba suggested), it turns out chewy...


So, what we do is...We make the microwave popcorn, using the lowest possible suggested amount of time...That way it doesn't burn, but we DO have quite a few unpopped kernels...On the bright side, there is more salt and butter for the kernels that DID pop...Always be sure to shake your popcorn VIGOROUSLY when it's done...That gets the salt and butter ALL over it

[davidd60]

huh thats great