Mastering microwave popcorn

So it's no secret that I love popcorn. Just love it. I could live on Popcorn and Dr. Pepper I would. I decided a while ago to stop using microwave popcorn and start using an air popper. Since air popped pop corn is much healthier for me.

I have had bad luck with air poppers, my old one gave up the ghost and burned out. I purchased a new one, which was more 'cute air popper' than a real working air pop corn maker. Getting tired of being without popcorn I decided to experiment with different methods of using the microwave to pop the pop corn.

My first trial was using a small bowl and covering the bowl with a paper towel. I ran the microwave on high for two minutes. About half the bowl popped, but many kernels ended up popping out of the bowl and landing under the rotating glass plate in the microwave.

Next I tried a clear plastic bowl with a cover. I was able to watch the popcorn as it started popping and removed the bowl just before two minutes had passed. About half the popcorn did pop, however, at two minutes the already popped kernels started to burn. The popcorn that did not burn was a bit weak, not as crunchy and almost damp. The moisture from the un-popped pop corn had to be released some how.

So I went back to the first plastic bowl, with two changes, first I sprayed the bowl with a small amount of butter spray. Then instead of using a cover, I placed a paper plate over the bowl. The paper plate acted as a cover to keep the kernels from popping out of the bowl, and it also allowed excess steam to escape. The plate was the key.

I had poured one half cup of popcorn in to the bowl, and ended up with ten cups of popcorn, with less than a tablespoons worth of up-popped kernels left behind.

I just thought I should have taken some before and after pictures of the popcorn, just to show what I did. Except, I already ate most of the popcorn while typing this post.

Maybe next time. Right now, I am going to watch the Red Sox and hope they can keep their lead.