Microwave popcorn

[perc-o-prince]

So, I don't remember seeing anything previously about good ones, bad ones, and the like. I know Ron's (Kenmore58) been awaiting thumbs up and down for microwave kettle corn from me.

Back when I lived in Buffalo, I ate so much air-popped that the woman who rented the back half of the house I was in got me a popcorn book for Christmas one year! PB & J popcorn? Simon and Garfunkle (parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme) popcorn? Yum!!

Anyway, we've tried a LOT of different micro-pops. It used to be I could buy a couple of boxes and the 6 packs would last at least a month or so. Now Rich is eating more of it than I am (we go through 3-5 bags a week now) and we've been checking out different kinds, national and store brands.

I liked the Orville cheese variety, but once I looked at the side panel (nutritional, or not so nutritional, information) I vowed never to touch it again!

Rich has been experimenting with putting kernels in a brown paper lunch sack and zapping it, and that works great and tastes great if you don't want anything on it, assuming you don't want to take the time to melt butter and all that.

But for seasoned, don't have to mess with it other than opening the box and putting the bag in the micro, we've found that the Dollar Tree Prime Time Premium Butter Light microwave popcorn is about the freshest tasting, least oily, and just salty enough! And, at a dollar for 4 bags it's virtually a steal! The bags are a little smaller than some of the others, but that's fine. And, the kettle corn variety is just as good- not too sweet and not too salty.

What do you like?

Chuck

 

[circlew]

Hey Chuck,

When I used microwave popcorn, I usually got either Pop Secret or Orville R., mainly in butter flavor. Either one was OK.

Now when I want to make popcorn, I use the Whirly Pop that my neighbors down the street got me for Christmas about 3 years ago. It came with several sleeves of corn with popping oil and seasoning, and it's the best popcorn I've ever tasted. Now I think even the best of the microwave variety tastes like buttered styrofoam chunks.

They have Real Theatre, Less Salt Less Oil and Kettle Corn in the packets. I've tried and liked them all. They also sell bulk corn and other associated items.

To me, it's well worth the slight extra effort it takes to get such a good result.

http://www.popcornpopper.com

 

[peterh770]

I don't like MW popcorn.  I do mine on the stove.  And I go thru a lot of popcorn, having it for dinner 1-2 time a week!

 

[perc-o-prince]

Oh, I agree that there's nothing like home-seasoned air-popped corn, or popcorn done in a pan on the stove (haven't tried a Whirly, but I've seen them around). I believe we have a 1930's electric Whirly-like device in the house here somewhere. Rich?

But, if you're going to have mw pc, you want it to be good! Tom- PrimeTime beats both Pop Secret and Orville's for freshness and taste. No styrofoam here!

I think I know what I'm having tonight!!!!

Chuck

 

[petek]

I buy it so seldom that when I do I just get the the Orville Redenbacker stuff in case I buy another brand and don't like it then it's a waste. Larry absolutely hates popcorn and the smell so I can't make it when he's around and to be frank I don't really care for the smell of it cooking either,, eating it is a different story though. I have a westbend Stir Crazy which I think makes the best popcorn, the air popper stuff is too dry for my liking. Thing is I'll buy a jar or bag of popcorn, maybe make two batches and then it sits for so long I end up tossing it out.

 

[arbilab]

Though most of their house brands are comparable to national, I'd say skip Kroger MW PC. Last time I tried it, was so salty my mouth felt chemically burned. And I'm the guy who used to suck on rock (ice cream) salt.

 

[daveamkrayoguy]

Nowadays, microwaving is THE way to make popcorn...

Can't believe how many bags of which I'd bought have goten old & the butter is seepin' through 'em though; maybe I haven't been making it as much as I used to...

My mom's old WEST BEND "Air Popper" might still be at her house, so perhaps if I can convince my wife that it's a "NEW" popcorn maker (or at least came from a "proper home") I can bring it here & make some pop corn w/ it...

Well, it's been years since I have ever had any 'home made' and this is the closest, short of putting the kernels in a frying pan w/ a bunch of grease & suffering splatters of it setting the stove on fire & getting a bunch o' burned, charred & mostly un-popped corns from it--well, that's what I believe I would experience & have heard a few horror stories, such as those...

However, I recall mom's popper making the popcorn relatively DRY, and you bettre add SALT to it, too; it can be pretty plain tasting, depennding on what brand you use...

Although it's nice that there's a platform on top of the maker for melting butter, though it seldom got hot enough & you don't ever want it to spill in the chamber, either...

But however you make your pop corn & what kind you make (yeh, KETTLE CORN this time o' year tastes SOOOOOOO Mmmmmmm-Mmmmmm GOOOOD!!!!

Enjoy...!

-- Dave

 

[bwoods]

For microwave popcorn try the PopSecret Homestyle. The regular PopeSecret I don't find very good, but the Homestyle, with only a little bit of imagination, tastes like what you would pop on the stove. It's salted and buttered nice and lightly with out that artificial type flavor that regular Pop Secret and most others I have tried have. With have to try that Prime-Time.

For the best popcorn of all I would vote with Petek on the West Bend Stiry Crazy. It's somewhat expensive new, but I see them frequently at thrift stores, usually for just a few bucks. It's fast and the stirrer keeps the kernels from burning. You use just a little oil (I found Sunflower Oil works great) and salt and butter it to taste.

 

[lordkenmore]

I don't do much with microwaved popcorn either. Right now, I don't have a microwave in operation. But past that, I never have found a brand of microwave popcorn that was better than "OK." It's probably more expensive than plain popcorn, too. I finally pulled the plug (back when I still lived someplace with a microwave) when some ingredient in microwave popcorn was suspected of causing some health problem or other.

 

These days, when I make popcorn, it's on the stove.

 

Years back, I did sometimes use a microwave popcorn popper. It was, I think, made by Presto, branded Orville Redenbacher. It worked OK...better than many brands of microwave popcorn, but not as good as stovetop.

 

The West Bend Stir Crazy poppers work well. My only objection to them is that the new ones are--like everything else these days--made in China. They do turn up in thrift shops.

 

Someday I'd like to try a fireplace type popper. I remember seeing one when I was really young, and it seemed like a neat thing. Years have passed, but the opportunity has never come my way. One of these days...

 

[arbilab]

"some ingredient in microwave popcorn was suspected of causing some health problem"
===================================================================

It's not a suspicion, it's a serious industrial hazard. The dust from the "butter flavor" agent (diacetyl) is highly toxic when inhaled.

Supposedly it's being phased out.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diacetyl

 

[lordkenmore]

dust from the "butter flavor" agent

I can't remember the specifics, but butter flavor agent sounds about right.

 

Nice to hear it's being phased out. But one does wonder...what else is in there that's as bad, but isn't being phased out because--so far--it hasn't attracted attention?

 

[arbilab]

There's bisphenol A in the oil-resistant plastic liner. Both that and diacetyl become airborne during microwaving. One 'frequent popper' won several million in a lawsuit when he came down with the specific lung disease diacetyl causes.

I know, crazy lawsuits, the Mcdonalds coffee-in-the-crotch lady, blah blah blah. But unlike hot coffee between one's legs the danger of MW PC could not have been foreseen by a buyer.

 

[northwesty]

Don't know if it is an urban legend or not, but we here have heard that heating up that platic bag etc. in the MW isn't so good for you, toxic etc., so we have gotten a West Bend stir crazy and it works great. Bought a sears air popper but it doesn't work so well. Honestly it is like these old washers -- I just enjoy the process and appreciate it. Hardly ever use the Microwave anymore...

 

[lordkenmore]

Bought a sears air popper but it doesn't work so well.

I don't like air poppers. At least the ones I've had experience with. Nutrition Police love them, however--low fat, low calorie. But, to me, there is no taste. The texture seems too dry. One can add melted butter, which helps both problems, but then the low calorie/low fat aspect is killed off. I know of one case of someone who disliked butter or margarine on popcorn. After getting an air popper, he suddenly became interested in adding melted margarine.

 

 

 

[lordkenmore]

Hardly ever use the Microwave anymore

As I commented above, I don't have a microwave in service. Sometimes it would be convenient, but I find I can survive without. A microwave is probably close to the bottom of my list of kitchen must-haves. About the only thing lower is a bread machine.

 

I guess my attitude is nothing new. I never really did embrace the technology. I've used it. It's been convenient at times. But it's never been a "must have."

 

I even once said "No!" to the suggestion of getting a microwave. Years back, someone told my mother that we should rush out and get a microwave like the rest of America. They were getting cheap. And it was something I could use to heat stuff up easily. It seemed like a pointless idea, and I told my mother that. Even though I wasn't much of a cook then I could handle the complexities of using the stove for such exotic tasks as boiling water.

 

[arbilab]

We had an air popper in an office kitchen. It got a lot of use. Everybody loved it. No, it doesn't taste like "movie" popcorn. But it's a totally guilt-free snack. Doesn't even make your hands greasy.

Not long ago I tried skillet popping with canola oil. Not only was it a colossal mess, but colossally unsatisfying as well.

These days I buy popcorn already made, in sealed bags at the store. It's not "movie" either. But the automated machinery kicks out all but a couple 'old maids' per bag. Catch, it's no longer guilt-free.

 

[circlew]

LordKenmore, I don't currently have a microwave either. Mine blew up over two years ago, and I didn't replace it. Missed it for a few weeks, then got used to not having one. I think I enjoy my food more now.

Air Poppers are good for one thing - when you want popcorn for stringing into a garland, such as for a Christmas tree. Since there's no oil used, it won't get your other decorations greasy.

Using the Whirly Pop with the corn I mentioned earlier, I usually have less than five unpopped kernels left in the pan; sometimes none. I think it rivals or excedes freshly made theatre popcorn.

 

[westie2]

Really dislikie MW popcorn and the smell is horrid.  We aire pop and I spluge every so often with Jiffy Pop that comes in the pan with the expanable foil top.  Use a hot plate on the porch to cook it as we have a smooth top buiotin cooktop.  We also have my grandmothers old popcorn popper witht he handle in the lid to stir the corn as it pops and it make good poped corn if it is freash.

 

 

 

[launderess]

Microwave Popcorn - Not really big around our home, and it often leaves a whiff in the oven for some time afterwards. Also remember reading some where that popping corn in a MW oven is not the best thing for that appliance.

Air Popcorn - Have a vintage NIB Westbend air popcorn maker that one used mainly for home roasting coffee beans. That got old fast so tried popping corn. Whilst most of the stuff did pop as others have stated it was some of the driest and bland tasking popcorn one ever had. So in the end the thing is probably going to Goodwill box and all.

Stove Top - Can give great results especially when one uses a nice heavy old cast iron skillet or similar pot/pan. All that is required is the ability to easily keep the thing moving during the process.

 

[xraytech]

Not really a fan of popcorn, but in the rare instance I do make popcorn it is never microwave popcorn. I use thr Trails End popcorn that the Boy Scouts sell, and it is made in my grams old Regal electric popcorn popper, it makes the best popcorn ever, just add a tablespoon of oil and 1/3 cup of kernels.

 

[philr]

I don't like pop corn but I don't like having any plastic or paper in a microwave.

I know somebody who works for Kruger and and he was informed not to use Sponge Towels in a microwave oven as there's some chemical used in the paper that gets toxic when heated in the microwave.

 

[combo52]

MICROWAVE POPCORN

WARNING It is very hard on the magnetron tube and wave-guide of the MWO. I would not use any MWO that I care about to pop popcorn.

 

Awhile ago I was out on a service call where the customer said that her 6 year old GE over the range microwave had been making some strange sounds and she thought she had also smelled an electrical burning smell. So as I was working on her ISE DW I put a large measuring cup in the MWO with 4 cups of water and let it run for at least 10 minutes at full power. And every thing seems fine, it easily boiled a few containers of water. Then the customer said that the problem had happened when her partner was making popcorn and suggested that she try a bag of MW PC. So we put in the PC and within 60 seconds  there was a tearable arcing sound and visible smoke started coming out of the MWO. It turned out that the magnetron tube was badly burned and we had to replace it.

 

Severable manufactures have advised against ever popping pop corn in thier MWOs including WP for at least the first 10 years that they made MWOs. 

 

[launderess]

Yeabut

Take away making popcorn, reheating/warming of foods and bevvies and you've just elminated nearly 90% of what most consumers use their microwave ovens for. *LOL*

 

[maytagbear]

Laundress, dear!

I guess that I am of the 10% (not for the first time-)

I actually cook in my Radarange. The only vegetable I routinely cook conventionally any more are potatoes, for they do not please me when microwaved.

I also cook fish in my microwave.

I dislike microwave popcorn. No matter who sells it, it's just too greasy for me. That faux butter flavour? Blargh! However, if a host/ess serves it, I will have a tiny handful, out of politeness's sake.

I have a West Bend Stir Crazy popper, a WearEver Popcorn Pumper, and am thinking about asking Santa for a WhirleyPop. I also pop corn very well in my Farberware electric skillet...and my GE Dutch Skillet....around 375F. I like to use corn oil---partly for the high smoke point, and also for the ???? of it all.

Professor Redenbacher really was a genius plant geneticist, but......I like, for lack of a better word, small-crop corn, or "boutique" corn, particularly the small dark reds or the small black corn. I keep mine in a canning jar, and usually in the freezer.

obsessive? meee?

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[rp2813]

John --

What was wrong with the ISE DW?

 

[appnut]

John, you beat me to it.  I heard the same thing a very long time ago the popping corn in a microwagve is extremely hard on it, particularly the magnetron.  I have NEVER put popcorn in any of my microwaves.  And it will not happen either, over my dead body.  I even have some of those Rubbermaid microwave cookware that came out in the early 1980s.  One of them has a microwave popper insert for the 3 qt. casserole.  It's never been used.  If I ever have someone in my life, he will either have his own microwave dedicated soley for popping corn, or will be done on top of the stove conventionally. 

 

I still use mine some to cook.  Thesee days it's mostly for cooking veggies, heating water for hot tea, defrosting meat or pultery, or cooking one of those pre-seasoned chicken breasts.  I'll also use it to "brown" ground meat or sausage that I'm going to be putting in pasta sauice or soup.  Much less hastle than trying to brown it on the stove, although occassionally I will use petek's method and boil the ground beef to cook it and get rid of the fat.  when I had two, I used to use one to slow-cook roasts, have been known to bake a lasagna in it, slow simmer pasta sauce, make corn pudding (I cannot get it to turn it right in the regular oven, but I have a microwave recipe that works great.  Will also use it to make pudding that's thickened with corn starch.  No scorching on top of the stove.  I've also made meatloaf in it several times.  I also have a microwave recipe for sweet & sour pork that's a bit more healthy than the traditional version.  My coworkers will practically throw me down on the ground when they hear I'm bringing that in because they want it and will get it over my dead body.  They think it's the best.  I have a full set library of microwave cookbooks and have used many of them over the years.  I defijnitely don't like to use the stove top to try and heat waterr for brewing tea or making a cup of hot tea, it just takes too long and also puts out too much heat in the summertime.  Also, I use it to thaw out and reheat individual portions I've frozen when I've made casseroles or anything else.  I don't believe in simply trying to cook for one.  I make regular size recipes and put the leftovers in individual servings and freeze.  Before I had a mcrowave and was in college, I tried steaming to deforst and rehat leftovers.  Was horrible compared to once I had a microwave.  Another thing I make is a carrot ring vegetable side dish that "baked" in a small (8') bundt pan.  One of my most requested side dishes as well as a succhini/squash casserole that has eggs in it. 

 

[jerrod6]

I don't know if it is hard on the MW but the oily stained  insides of the microwave popcorn bag make me uneasy.  I just use jiffy pop...the plastic bag with the corn kernels.   I put in in a pop corn popper with a stir handle along with 1 tab spoon of canola or light olive oil  turn the crank and let it pop.

 

Result:  Popcorn that is not coated with anything except oil and any additional salt I add after popping.  Good stuff

 

[arbilab]

"boil the ground beef to cook it"
================================

You're in Texas and talking about BOILING beef? (wink) That's something Massachussetsians do, only because they don't know any better, they boil EVERYthing. It works on lobster but still less than ideal. Fer gawdsake, I don't even boil potatoes unless I'm going to mash them.

MW PC is a marginal load for a MW oven; like they say not to run it empty. Still, my MW is from 1982, I've made MW PC in it and it still works like new. So it can't be THAT harmful.

 

[circlew]

I was making MW popcorn when my 4yr. old GE MW oven blew up. It started arcing and smoke began pouring from it. It was plugged in behind it, so had to shut off the circuit breaker to get it to stop. Made so much smoke I had to wash the kitchen down, and wash my bed linens and clothing hanging in the bedroom. When I examined the MW, I saw a hole had been burned thru the back of it near the bottom.

 

[philr]

I mostly use my microwave to reheat things but I also like to use it to cook vegetables (and potatoes).

As I said in my other post, I don't like popcorn but even if I'd like that, I wouldn't use my microwave oven to cook it.

Even my Frigidaire cookbook says not to use any microwave oven to pop popcorn...