How to Make Microwave Popcorn

Microwave popcorn is the perfect snack for movies and TV or large gatherings with friends. Coming in a wide variety of flavors and amounts, you can find microwave popcorn at most grocery stores, and cooking it couldn't be easier.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Microwaving Popcorn

1
Buy bagged, microwavable popcorn. Microwave popcorn comes pre-packaged in bags with seasonings and flavors already added. All you have to do is put the bag in the microwave and hit start. It may be labeled as instant popcorn -- but it all comes packaged. Don't buy a container of loose kernels.
2
Place your bag in the microwave with the ends angled up. One side of the bag usually say "This side up," but if it does not you should place the bag flat on one side with the two paper ends pointing up.

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3
Set the microwave to cook on high for 3 minutes. However, do not leave the microwave alone -- the popcorn may not take this long to cook. After 15-20 seconds, you should hear the kernels start to pop.
4
Stop the microwave when the "pops" are longer than 2 seconds apart. Each microwave is different and has different power settings. When the popping starts to slow down you are at risk of burning the popcorn if you don't stop it in time.^{[1]
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- If you smell smoke, turn off the microwave immediately.
5
Let the popcorn cool for a minute before opening the bag. The bag will be full of steam, so open it carefully after letting it cool down in the microwave.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Seasoning Popcorn

1
Add salt and melted butter for classic movie theater popcorn. You can melt 1–2 tablespoons (14.8–29.6 ml) of butter by placing it in a small dish and microwaving for 20-30 seconds. Mix it into the popcorn in a large bowl and garnish with salt
2
Try out savory popcorn recipes. From hot sauces to ground porcini mushrooms, there are few flavors that don't mesh well with the light taste of popcorn. Some ideas to try include:
- Garlic powder, dried rosemary, and grated Parmesan cheese.
- 4 tablespoons melted butter, 2 tablespoons (29.6 ml) Dijon Mustard, and salt. Mix with a handful of pretzels.
- 1/2 cup Sriracha, juice from 1/2 a lime, salt, whisked together and poured over hot popcorn.
- 1 packet ranch dressing seasoning, ramen seasoning, or taco seasoning.^{[2]
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3
Experiment with sweet popcorn recipes. If you're looking to try out a desert popcorn, sprinkle 2-3 teaspoons of sugar over your popcorn instead of salt, or try out the following combinations:
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips, added while the popcorn is still hot. Stir to coat in chocolate.
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon and nutmeg, and 3 teaspoons brown sugar.
- Melt equal parts honey and peanut butter together on the stove and drizzle over the popcorn.
4
Make a popcorn party mixes. Popcorn goes well with Chex, pretzels, toasted nuts, and cheeses in a party bowl, so try tossing it in the next time you have guests over.
- Good additions for savory popcorn mixes include Chex mix, wasabi peas, dried vegetables, shredded cheese, and crushed bacon.
- Good additions to sweet popcorn mixes include toasted nuts, chocolate, and pretzels.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Making Microwave Popcorn without a Microwave

1
Heat 3 tablespoons of cooking oil in a large sauce pot. You can use vegetable, canola, coconut, or olive oil to cook with. Set your stove-top to medium-high heat
- Coconut oil has a slightly sweet flavor to it, while olive oil is more earthy and savory. Both vegetable and canola oil are mostly tasteless, but cook the popcorn well.
2
Rip open the bag and pour the kernels into the hot oil. Pour in the kernels slowly and be careful of splattering hot oil.
3
Cover the pot, leaving some space for air to escape. In order to cook the popcorn to crispy perfection you need to let steam escape. If using a lid, leave it slightly off of the top, or use aluminum foil to cover the top, poking several holes in the foil with a knife.
4
Shake the pot every 30 seconds. Pick up the pot by the handles and shake it up and down -- this gets the unpopped kernels to the hot oil.
5
Turn off the heat when the "pops" are roughly 2-3 seconds apart. This means your popcorn is about done. Shake it one more time and add any seasonings you desire.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Making the Most of Microwave Popcorn

1
Remove all the popped popcorn before trying to heat uncooked kernels. Microwaves have a hard time heating the small, uncooked kernels when there is popcorn in the way, which causes the popcorn to burn and the kernels to go unpopped. Remove the popcorn, then return the kernels to the microwave for an extra minute.
2
Microwave loose popcorn in a paper bag. You can cook any kernels in the microwave by placing 1/4 cup of plain popcorn kernels in a paper bag. Add some salt and 2 teaspoons of olive oil to taste. Fold the bag over 2-3 times and staple it shut, then cook for 2:30 minutes.
- Make sure you leave room for the popcorn-- it will expand as it cooks.
3
Do not try to cook "unpopped" kernels for too long. Popcorn kernels have a small amount of moisture in them that literally explodes when it gets hot enough, creating popcorn. However, if the popcorn is heated slowly then the moisture simply escapes through the kernel, making it impossible to pop. If you've cooked the kernels for 3-4 minutes and they still don't pop, stop and throw them away.^{[3]
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4
Don't rely on the "Popcorn" setting on your microwave. For the most part, this setting is guessing how to cook the popcorn. You should always listen in to the popcorn as it cooks -- if there are long pauses between "pops" or the smell of smoke, stop the microwave immediately.

Community Q&A

Question

What if the popcorn is prebuttered? Does that change anything?

Community Answer

No, it does not.
Question

Can I make microwave popcorn, leave it in the bag, and serve it an hour later?

Community Answer

Yes, but it is going to be a little hard, a tad stale and not hot.
Question

Can I reheat microwave popcorn in a microwave?

Community Answer

I actually have reheated popcorn in the microwave. If you have butter/margarine on it that moisture will heat up on the popcorn. I have actually got un-popped kernels to reheat and pop, too. But it was not as good as the first time.

Warnings

Try not to burn yourself with hot oil or butter.

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Pick up the popped popcorn bag by the sides which are cooler.

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