Nov 9, 2011

Homemade Kettle Corn -- In the Microwave!

Got a paper lunch bag?
Got some popcorn kernels?
Got some salt, sugar, and a little oil?
You're in business!


Microwave Kettle Corn
Serves 1

Ingredients:
2 Tbsp. popcorn kernels
2 tsp. oil 
1 Tbsp. sugar or sugar substitute (I use 2 packets of Ideal)
Dash salt

Directions:
  • Pour the kernels, oil, sugar and salt in a small bowl.  Mix until all kernels are well coated with sugar, salt, and oil.  
  • Pour the bowl's contents into the paper bag.  Place the bag on a plate and fold the top of the bag over 1" twice.  You can also use a microwave-safe bowl and a vented lid (like a microwave-safe colander or splatter shield),
  • Place in the microwave on popcorn setting or for about 1 minute, 15 seconds. Either way, shut off microwave when popping slows to less than a pop every second to avoid burning.
  • Open slowly and carefully, as steam will be hot.  


Healthy No-Fat Variation:  Omit oil and sugar.  Pour kernels and salt into bag.  Fold down top of bag 1" twice. Place bag in the microwave; no plate is necessary.  Microwave time will be significantly shorter with the absence of oil, so stand by and listen for popping to slow down.


For those with concerns about the microwave: Classic Stovetop Recipe


Tips:
-Store leftovers in a glass canning jar with a lid to keep it fresh.  It can last up to two weeks this way!
-I've read using coconut oil replicates the taste of theater-style popcorn.
-You can omit sugar and just use salt for a regular popcorn treat.  Drizzle with olive oil or butter after popping.


Are you a microwave popcorn eater?  I pretty much can't stand commercial microwave popcorn because of the funny aftertaste and coating that all the additives leave in my mouth.  However, growing up, my dad would make a colossal batch of popcorn on the stove in my mom's pressure cooker and put it in a gigantic Tupperware bowl and lid, and we would munch on it for a couple of days.  Good memories!

27 lovely comments:

katie said... Best Blogger Tips

Great Idea!

Anonymous said... Best Blogger Tips

will try this- awesome!

Anonymous said... Best Blogger Tips

My son loves kettle Corn but it's expensive so I'll be sure to try this recipe! Thank you for sharing :)

Anonymous said... Best Blogger Tips

We just made it and the kids love it!!! Thanks

Dame said... Best Blogger Tips

I was wondering if there is some trick to getting it to pop without the oil in the bag? I have a microwave popper which I use a lot now, but I bought it because I never managed to use the paper bag method and not end up with at least half my kernels being unpopped! It was knifty but I felt like I was wasting a lot of popcorn.. maybe it is just my microwave?

Anonymous said... Best Blogger Tips

I do this by using a glass pyrex bowl in microwave and covering it with a microwaveable plate cover (with small slits in it) or an upside down plastic colander. I have heard the glue that holds paper bag together can cause microwave to catch on fire and/or leak chemicals into your popcorn. Yikes!

My favorite recipe is 1/3cup kernals, 1 tb melted butter or margarine, sprinkled with garlic salt. Mix this up and then put in microwave. Takes 4-5minutes. No need to add butter afterwards. Has great flavor and low in calories/fat. :)

Anonymous said... Best Blogger Tips

Love it! Too bad a grocery size bag won't fit in my microwave. ;o)

Peachtree said... Best Blogger Tips

I don't have a microwave, but I do this with my whirley pop. Check this link for some fantastic recipes;
http://www.popcornpopper.com/recipepage.html
I've made the Cinnamon Crunch, Cookies & Creamy, plus some others, they're all amazingly good and easy to make! I think you could easily do this with your microwaved version, just adjust your amounts.

Jennifer said... Best Blogger Tips

we do make popcorn on the stove with coconut oil and it TOTALLY tastes like movie-theater popcorn...minus a bit of that buttery taste. But seriously? we don't miss the butter! I'm going to try this in the microwave soon!

Anonymous said... Best Blogger Tips

Caution...my neighbor made a similar recipe and had it start on fire in her microwave. Needed to use her fire extinguisher!!

Savvy Couponer said... Best Blogger Tips

I do all this in a pampered chef classic batter bowl with the lid on top to keep the popcorn in! It's so simple and works perfect every time!

Unknown said... Best Blogger Tips

This looks so good! I have done it before, but never with the sugar.
Can't wait to try it for a weekend treat. I bet a little cinnamon would be good, too!

Elise said... Best Blogger Tips

Awesome! I do the paper bag-microwave thing all the time, but never thought of putting oil and salt, let alone sugar in with it. Def. gonna try this!

Anonymous said... Best Blogger Tips

Would this work on the stove too? We love the way pocporn tastes on the stove, but wasn't sure if the sugar would burn.

content2be said... Best Blogger Tips

@Dame
Kernels require moisture to pop. If the kernels are old, the "dud" ratio will be higher. I have seen recommendations to soak kernels in water for a few hours for a greater pop ratio and bigger popcorn. Hope that helps!

JoAnn said... Best Blogger Tips

I just tried it, first with butter flavor Crisco and salt, then just plain popcorn in a bag. They both popped beautifully, but the Crisco left a small mess in the microwave and I had to add butter and salt after by request of the kids. The air popped was perfect ~ light, not greasy and I had to add butter and salt to both bags after they were done cooking . So we don't like the sugar in kettle corn, but it is so much easier than getting a huge skillet out and so much cheaper than commercial microwave popcorn. Thanks for the great idea!

Anonymous said... Best Blogger Tips

I just read this 10 minutes ago and am eating it now, amazing! :)

Candice said... Best Blogger Tips

I just made this and my son and I loved it! Publix happened to have the kernels on BOGO last week so it was the perfect time to try it :D

Katy said... Best Blogger Tips

We JUST tried it, but used a bowl with a cover. It worked perfectly and had a better texture than with our electric popcorn popper. So simple and yummy! Never would have thought to try it in the microwave this way, but we will certainly do it again!!

Anonymous said... Best Blogger Tips

This dates me, but before microwaves and popcorn poppers, my dad used to make popcorn in a heavy aluminum pan, like the pressure cooker pan. He put a little oil in the bottom. He would shake the pan from time to time when it started popping. Yummy!

Anonymous said... Best Blogger Tips

Be careful about using plastic bowls... the sugar/oil mixture gets so hot that is scorches your bowl! Tastes good though!

content2be said... Best Blogger Tips

Boy, I'm not sure why your ratio of popped/unpopped was so out of proportion. If your popcorn wasn't burning, you might consider increasing your microwave time? You might also want to try soaking your kernels in water for a while beforehand; moisture increases your popping success.

content2be said... Best Blogger Tips

Thanks for the link!

Anonymous said... Best Blogger Tips

Putting the bag of popcorn on a dish which always seems to "overheat" when microwaved helps increase the number of popped kernels. I've been tempted to preheat, but never have. Also, your kernels will burn more in an overstuffed bag. So resist the urge to have more to eat in the end.

content2be said... Best Blogger Tips

Awesome tips! Thanks for sharing.

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