Popcorn suggestions?

nancy324

nancy324

Cathlete
First, I had to give up Orville Redenbacher's Smartpop because of the butter flavoring chemical, but then they stopped using it so I went back to eating my favorite snack. But I recently became aware of something much worse. I don't know why I didn't hear about it sooner, but according to some studies, the microwave popcorn bags have a coating containing a chemical called perfluoroctanoic acid (PFOA). Microwaving causes the PFOA to migrate into the popcorn, and it stays in your body for years, accumulating. It causes liver and pancreatic cancer in test animals. I've been eating a bag almost every day for several years now! (Don't even get me started on how useless the FDA is!!)

So, I'm back on the old-fashioned popcorn trail, and I'm not liking it. The popcorn makers I've tried don't distribute the salt evenly, in fact, most of them just have you sprinkling salt on top. Also, they don't make nearly as much popcorn as comes in the bags. I'm continuing to experiment, but so far I haven't come up with anything nearly as satisfying as Smartpop. Any ideas are much appreciated!
 
I take regular Orville Redenbacher popcorn (comes in a jar), put it in a brown paper bag, fold it, tape it, and microwave it. Then, there's the old-fashion way: popcorn, oil, large pot, over the stove, make sure the top's on! When it's done, I put my own salt/butter on it!
 
I love popcorn too and I feel your pain! You could try microwaving it in regular brown paper bags. It's really easy. You just pour in the kernels, spray them with oil and add salt. Then you just fold it over a few times and nuke it. It worked great for me!
 
Hmmmmm - not an answer to your question I'm sure Nancy, but popcorn is usually my "cheat meal" of choice. I air pop it - and that's where the healthy part stops. I melt butter and then add in some slices of Velveeta (yes, a cheese "product" I believe) to make a creamy, buttery, cheesy sauce. Pour it over, mix well, and serve with a nice chilled glass of chardonnay. It is, I'm ashamed to say, usually my dinner on Friday night. That of course means I hop right back on the clean eating bandwagon first thing Saturday, but as a once a week treat, that's my popcorn of choice. Much luck in your quest.
 
pixiesis said:
I love popcorn too and I feel your pain! You could try microwaving it in regular brown paper bags. It's really easy. You just pour in the kernels, spray them with oil and add salt. Then you just fold it over a few times and nuke it. It worked great for me!
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Sounds good, Amy. How much popcorn? What size bag? I guess I can experiment with the amount of spray and salt. I remember the thread where Ame warned not to staple the bag, so I'm glad the folding over thing works for you.
 
nancy324 said:
Sounds good, Amy. How much popcorn? What size bag? I guess I can experiment with the amount of spray and salt. I remember the thread where Ame warned not to staple the bag, so I'm glad the folding over thing works for you.
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I think I used about 1/4 cup or so. And I used a lunch-bag size bag. I saw in some online instructions that you can staple the bag and then fold over, but I didn't want to fool with that. :confused: TeTe also suggested tape, but like I said I just folded over about 3 or 4 times and it was good to go! :cool:
 
I sometimes tape, most of the times I don't because I don't have it right there! Oh, and, since the staples are metal, I would never use them in a microwave!

Great, now I want popcorn!:p
 
pixiesis said:
I think I used about 1/4 cup or so. And I used a lunch-bag size bag. I saw in some online instructions that you can staple the bag and then fold over, but I didn't want to fool with that. :confused: TeTe also suggested tape, but like I said I just folded over about 3 or 4 times and it was good to go! :cool:
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I'm going to the grocery store now to buy this stuff. Maybe I'll try a larger sized bag and more popcorn, and let the experimenting begin.

Lorrie, I hear you with the "cheat" food, but for me, Smartpop was one of the few foods I could depend upon to keep me away from the bad stuff. No butter involved, high in fiber, and with my low blood pressure, the salt was not an issue. I'm horrified to find out how toxic it is! :eek: I should have listened to my mother when she said "everything in moderation". :confused:
 
Okay, folks, my DH is skeptical about my spraying the bag. He says if the paper reaches 451 degrees, the paper bag may catch fire. But the spray is the only way to cause the salt to adhere to the popcorn, right? Amy, do you use a high setting on your microwave?
 
nancy324 said:
Okay, folks, my DH is skeptical about my spraying the bag. He says if the paper reaches 451 degrees, the paper bag may catch fire. But the spray is the only way to cause the salt to adhere to the popcorn, right? Amy, do you use a high setting on your microwave?
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Yep, and I watched it the whole time. But I didn't use much spray. Hmmm, a fire in the microwave wouldn't be good...
 
You can do the popcorn-in-a-bag microwave thing without adding any oil (which would be safer, IMO, both in terms of avoiding fires and healthwise). After the popcorn is done, you could then spray a bit of oil on it and salt it.
 
kathryn said:
You can do the popcorn-in-a-bag microwave thing without adding any oil (which would be safer, IMO, both in terms of avoiding fires and healthwise). After the popcorn is done, you could then spray a bit of oil on it and salt it.
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Thanks, Kathryn. I'm like the mad scientist here trying everything I can think of to get the salt and spray to disperse evenly. I'm determined to get it right, so I'll report back!
 
In our family, people love our pop corn. Everyone is so impressed.

This is how we do it:

We buy jars or bags of only the dry corn. In a large put I put either coconut oil (the best option but the most expensive), sunflower oil or ghee and then the dry corn with salt.

Cover and let them pop and shaking the pot so they don't burn at the bottom. And then put them in a big bowl and enjoy.

I cannot eat pop corn any other way.
 
Popcorn is my *favorite* food!

I love to air pop it, spray it with Pam butter spray (probably chemicals too, but I like that it limits portions) and then sprinkle it with Molly McButter Cheese.

My kids LOVE this too!
 
darine said:
In our family, people love our pop corn. Everyone is so impressed.

This is how we do it:

We buy jars or bags of only the dry corn. In a large put I put either coconut oil (the best option but the most expensive), sunflower oil or ghee and then the dry corn with salt.

Cover and let them pop and shaking the pot so they don't burn at the bottom. And then put them in a big bowl and enjoy.

I cannot eat pop corn any other way.
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Darine, that sounds yummy, but it sounds like the "treat" kind of popcorn you can only have once in a while because of the fat/calorie content. Am I right about that, or do you have a way of controlling the calories?
 
yes. It's high in fat! I have to admit.
Not once a week thing... I don't have any option of low fat... oups!
 
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