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DIY Microwave Popcorn!
Check out my DIY Microwave Popcorn! You don't even need a popcorn maker for this easy snack!
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DIY Microwave Popcorn
Is Family Movie Night on your list for the weekend? Here’s an easy way to make your own microwave popcorn. It’s easy. It’s inexpensive. And it’s healthier. Why not give it a try?!
There are several reasons this easy DIY can be a lifesaver:
- A can of popping corn goes a surprisingly long way. So just keep a bag or jar of it in the pantry for when you run out of microwaveable popcorn and that craving hits!
- It's much more frugal than buying packets of microwaveable popcorn! Sometimes the kids really go through our popcorn stash, and at $5-6 per family box for the name brands that can add up.
- It's fun! If you have smaller kids, they will love seeing the pre-popped kernels and then also the finished product.
- Seasoning is all up to you! I know for anyone on a low sodium diet, regular microwavable popcorn is not something you're going to be snacking on. However, if you make your own, you can use anything from salt substitutes to just a hint of unsalted butter and some yummy spices. You can also do non-traditional flavors, like these Kernel Season's Brand seasonings.
- Sweet or salty: Enjoy caramel or chocolate popcorn for a sweet alternative to regular popcorn! Yum! You can also find chocolate and caramel drizzles too.
Yield: 2 people
DIY Microwave Popcorn
This easy popcorn recipe will come to the rescue if you are all out of microwaveable popcorn packets! I always keep a bag of popping corn in the pantry for this recipe.
Prep Time
5 minutes
Cook Time
2 minutes
Total Time
7 minutes
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup popping corn, dry
- 1 dash salt , or sea salt, to taste. Optional.
Instructions
- All you need is a paper lunch bag and about ¼ cup of popcorn.
- Place the popcorn in the bag and fold it over about 3 times so it will stay closed. Do not staple it closed!
- Choose Popcorn setting on your microwave, or approximately 1 minute and 30 sec. When there’s more then a few seconds between pops it should be done.
- That’s it! Season it to you liking and enjoy!
Nutrition Information
Yield
2Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 12Total Fat 1gSaturated Fat 0gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 1gCholesterol 0mgSodium 368mgCarbohydrates 1gFiber 0gSugar 1gProtein 0g
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Have you actually tried this? I want to but just haven’t yet. My son really likes popcorn, but I really don’t like carcinogenic bags that you buy at the store. Nor do I like the mess of other popping methods.
Usually when Princess Lacey posts something she has tried it before she writes about it 🙂 plus I have been told by others that they’ve done it (I’m not much of a popcorn person) ~Queen Mum
If you try it Angie let us know what happens 🙂 ~ Queen Mum
we always pop our popcorn like this. 🙂 it’s so much less expensive.
we always pop our popcorn like this. 🙂 it’s so much less expensive.
I have done this and it totally works. The only down side is that it will taste really bland especially if you are used to the microwave bags – even the 94% and 100 packs of butter flavored popcorn have more flavoring than you would realize. Be ready to experiment with adding some spices, salt, etc. of your own to make it more palatable.
I do this all the time. It works great!
I usually add about a teaspoon of olive oil on top of the kernels and give it a good shake before I pop it in the microwave.
Queen Mum is right, I only post stuff that I have personally tried! The picture is what I actually popped in my microwave. And it worked great!-Princess Lacey
From a microwave repair standpoint, this is VERY hard on the unit. Use this method sparingly.
I’m curious…what does it do to a microwave? ~ Queen Mum
I always make my popcorn this way. I add a tiny bit of olive oil into the kernels and stir before I put into paper bag. When done, I add spray Can’t Believe it’s Not Butter which has 0 calories and butter popcorn seasoning which as 3 calories.
A microwave needs the moisture content from foods in order to cook your food. Popcorn has a low moisture content hence the reason for the oil that is found in commercial microwave popcorn, it’s not just for flavor. When there is low/no moisture content in food not all of the micro-waves are absorbed by the food and instead return to the magnetron (heating element), thus shortening the life of the unit.
Thanks Valerie!!
Thanks for the tip Valerie Melton Means! So would adding a little oil to the kernels help?
It certainly would preserve the unit’s function but I’m not sure how the popcorn would turn out! 🙂 It’s always worth a try!
Thanks, I can’t wait to try this out. I bet the kids really can have fun with this idea 🙂
Thanks Laura Bachman
On low moisture foods such as reheated rice, etc. we always put a coffee cup of water in the microwave allowing a moisture rich environment and it doesn’t damage the food.