Kitchen Parade Conversion: Popcorn Test - with photo first, then summary

How to Cook Popcorn in a Microwave In a Paper Bag - Like an Airpop, No Oil!

The quick and simple way to make popcorn in the microwave, using no more than popcorn kernels, a paper sack and NO oil. The family-size batch uses a big paper grocery bag, while a personal 'snack attack' batch uses the small 'brown bag' sacks we use to pack lunches. Weight Watchers? This is how to airpop popcorn right in the microwave — no oil!

“I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take this anymore.” That’s the famous line from the 1975 movie “Network”. No one should. No more. Just think.

Would you pay two to three times the price you needed to? Would you pay $300 for something you might have bought for $200 or even $100? What if a gas station charged $1.21 for a gallon of gas (those were the days, eh?) one week and $2.73 the next, wouldn’t you think, you know, that something was a little fishy?

You’d feel schnookered, right? Rooked? Cheated? Swindled? Deceived? Defrauded? And yes, there are starker, less tasteful ways to say this.

Welcome to the world of popcorn, the lively little kernels ubiquitous at movie theaters and basketball games and for lots of us, especially dieters, a healthy snack.

My favorite grocery allots 8% of its popcorn shelfspace to inexpensive bags of popcorn, 92% of its shelfspace to far more expensive packages of microwave popcorn. (See photo below.) The processed popcorn costs more, a lot more, 150 percent to 200 percent to 300 percent more.

I don't really blame the grocery or even the popcorn sellers. I blame us. We've bought into the notion that "microwave popcorn" takes special popcorn and special packaging and special equipment just because it's there.

So how easy is it to pop popcorn in the microwave?

Here's what you don't need: You don't need a popcorn popper or even an air-pop popper that costs money and space. You don't need packaged popcorn.

Here's all you do need: A popcorn snack attack (that's important). A grocery sack. A few popcorn kernels. Zappo-presto, You've Got Popcorn.

So now when the checker asks, "Paper or plastic?" I answer, "One paper bag, please." Or when I want just a handful or two of popcorn, I use a small paper sack, the kind we use to "brown bag" our lunch sandwiches to work. An entire package of brown bags? It cost $1.

And I make popcorn in the microwave in a paper bag, just kernels and a bag. No chemicals, no preservatives, no salt, no trans fats.

I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take this anymore. Nobody should.

HOW TO COOK POPCORN in the MICROWAVE in a PAPER BAG

Hands-on time: 5 minutes Time to table: 5 minutes

Popcorn
Salt, butter and seasonings, at your pleasure

POPCORN for the FAMILY Put 1/2 cup popcorn kernels into a large paper grocery bag. Fold over tightly once or twice. Cook on high in the microwave until the popping starts to slow down, this is exactly 3 minutes in my microwave. Makes about nine cups popcorn, with virtually no old maids.

POPCORN for ONE Place 1 to 2 tablespoons popcorn kernels into a brown paper lunch bag. Fold over tightly once or twice. Cook on high in the microwave until the popping starts to slow down, in my microwave 2 minutes is too long, 1:50 is perfect. Makes 1-1/2 to 3 cups popcorn, with virtually no old maids.

WEIGHT WATCHERS ONE-POINT POPCORN SERVINGS

1-1/2 cups popcorn = PointsPlus 1 (use 1 tablespoon popcorn)
2-1/4 cups popcorn = Old Points 1 (use 1-1/2 tablespoons popcorn)

NUTRITION ESTIMATE for No-Oil Micowave Popcorn, Per Cup: 30 Calories; 0g Tot Fat; 0g Sat Fat; 0mg Cholesterol; 0mg Sodium; 6g Carb; 1g Fiber; 0g Sugar; 1g Protein; Weight Watchers Old Points .5, PointsPlus 1

ALANNA's TIPS The paper grocery bags can be re-used but I would watch for signs that they are giving out. I’ve made up to four batches of microwave popcorn with a single large grocery bag, just two with a small lunch bag. Microwaves do vary in power so please-please-please, the first time you make popcorn in your own microwave, stay close to monitor the timing. Learn what works in your microwave. My microwave has a revolving plate, this might affect the timing. In addition, I did burn one when the large grocery bag unfurled enough to stop it from turning freely in the microwave. Watch for this! My sister swears by a teaspoon of butter for popcorn. I've been adding that small amount to the big family-size bag of popcorn, it does make a difference. More microwave action! This popcorn works really well if you’re hungry for Microwave Caramel Corn! You can even use the same bag!

The Popcorn Shelves at My Favorite Grocery Store

The popcorn section at my favorite grocery store.

This is the popcorn section at my favorite grocery. Do you see how the least expensive popcorn is hidden and almost invisible on the bottom shelf at the right? All the rest? It's packages of microwave popcorn. What ARE we thinking?

Kitchen Parade is written by second-generation food columnist Alanna Kellogg and features fresh, seasonal dishes for every-day healthful eating and occasional indulgences.

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