Popcorn is one of the favorite snacks for many people and it is super easy to make in a microwave.
Generally, it takes 2-3 minutes to prepare popcorn in a microwave without a bag but depending on the wattage of the microwave and the number of popcorn kernels, time can vary a little.
To make popcorn in the microwave without a bag, you will require-
- Large microwave-safe bowl and plate.
- Popcorn kernels
- Butter and salt (optional)
Follow the step by step method to make popcorn in the microwave without a bag-
- Take the microwave-safe bowl and put ¼ cup of popcorn kernels in it.
- Put 1 spoon of butter and ½ spoon of salt in it. You can skip this step as it is optional.
- Put the bowl in the microwave and cover it with a microwave plate. Ensure that this plate fits completely on the bowl.
- Run the microwave on medium for 2-3 minutes.
- When there is 2 seconds pause in between the pop it means popcorns are ready.
- Take the bowl outside and take care as it can be out.
- In case, some kernels are not popped, keep them back into the microwave after transferring the popped popcorns to another bowl.
Is it safe to pop popcorn in a brown paper bag?
It is not safe to pop popcorn in a brown paper bag as this cannot withstand a lot of heat and can catch fire. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection service mentions that one should never use brown paper bags in the microwave.
But it is advertised by many companies to pop popcorn in a paper bag in the microwave as it is easy to do so. Thus, it can be said that experts do not recommend it but websites and magazines advertise a lot about it.
Instead of using a brown paper bag to pop popcorn in a microwave, it is recommended to pop them in a microwave-safe bowl. This alternative method is also quite easy and does not take much time.
Will a paper bag catch fire in the microwave?
Yes, a paper bag will catch on fire in the microwave because it does not have susceptors which are specialized materials to handle the radio waves emitted by the microwave. With the absence of this material, the paper bag is not able to withstand extreme heat and thus, catches fire in the microwave.
Therefore, it is advised to not put a paper bag in the microwave. Along with this, it is recommended to avoid putting the following things in the microwave –
- Aluminum foil
- Plastic and steel travel mugs
- Styrofoam in which takeout is often packaged.
- Eggs
Can you cook microwave popcorn on the stove?
Yes, you can cook microwave popcorn on the stove as there is nothing special in microwave popcorn. It’s just popcorn, oil, and seasonings.
To cook microwave popcorn on the stove, simply empty the contents of the microwave popcorn bag into a pot and cook on the stove.
Below are the steps to follow to cook microwave popcorn on the stove:
- Remove the plastic sleeves of the microwave popcorn and cut it.
- Empty the contents into a pot and cover it with a lid.
- Put this pot with the lid on the stove and keep it on medium-high heat.
- Lift and shake the pot every 10-15 seconds.
- Cook it until most of the kernels have popped and when you notice popping has slowed down, you can switch off the stove.
- Carefully pour the popcorn into a snack bowl.
Does unpopped microwave popcorn expire?
Unpopped microwave popcorn does expire and it has an expiration date of about 8 months. The popcorn can hold moisture for 6-12 months.
You can still eat the microwave popcorn after the expiration date but sometimes it will lose moisture and go dry inside the packet and results in stale or easily burned popcorn.
If the microwave popcorn has expired and you want to use it, microwave it and judge the quality of the prepared popcorn. If it smells bad or tastes awful, throw it out.
How to microwave popcorn with no salt and no butter?
To make healthy popcorn, you can microwave them with no salt or butter. This will make a healthy snack for you with no calories at all.
Method to microwave popcorn with no salt and no butter is mentioned below:
- Take a microwave-safe bowl and put ¼ cup of popcorn kernels in it.
- Cover it with a microwave-safe lid and run the microwave on medium for 2-3 minutes.
- Soon you will hear a popping sound.
- Once the popping slows down and there is a pause of about 2 seconds in between the pops, the popcorns are ready.
- Turn off the microwave and take the bowl out carefully as it can be hot.
- Empty the popcorns into the snack plate
This is an easy method to make healthy microwave popcorn without any butter or salt.
Conclusion
Popcorn is a healthy and nutritious snack that can be made easily at home in the microwave. Although there are a lot of brands of microwave popcorn available in the market that provide a brown bag in which popcorn can be cooked, you can still make it in the microwave without the bag.
It is equally tasty and hassle-free as well. Even the experts recommend avoiding using paper bags to pop popcorn in the microwave.
To make popcorn in the microwave without a bag all you need is a microwave-safe bowl, lid, and popcorn kernels.