Microwave popcorn is so 80s. And it’s not good for you. At all.
- #1 on Shape’s list of 50 foods that seem good for you, but aren’t
- The coating in the bag contains a number of dangerous chemicals that cause “popcorn lung” or bronchitis obliterans. Yikes! (see AARP, Care2, Discovery Health)
You could pop your popcorn in a brown paper bag in the microwave. Or, you could go old-school and pop it on the stove. It doesn’t take much longer, and you’re more involved in the process and that happiness gets cooked right into your snack. Here’s how we do it:
1. Add some coconut oil (just enough to cover the bottom) to a pot and let it get really hot. Medium heat for about 2 minutes.
2. Add 1/4 cup of popcorn kernels. Cover and let it pop! After a few minutes, you might shake the pot a little to move the kernels around.
3. Let it pop for a few minutes, until the space between the pops gets longer and longer. (Don’t take the lid off!) As you shake it, you can hear how many kernels are left. When you feel like you’re down to the duds, turn off the heat, remove the lid, and snack!
It’s that easy!
It’s healthier than microwave popcorn, and you can choose your flavors, including butter flavor
Now, I’ve been super jealous of the Holidrizzle Chocolate Peppermint Kettle Corn popcorn at all the stores, so I decided to make my own with some leftover peppermint candies. (This one has dairy and palm oil, so it’s off the list.)
1. I made some popcorn according to the above directions. Then, I moved all the popcorn to a bowl and added about 1 TBSP of coconut oil to the pan.
2. I ground the peppermint candies in the food processor until they were very small. (I should have ground a little more, but it’s ok.)
3. I added the candy grounds to the pot and stirred. Then, I added the popcorn and stirred to coat.
It turned out great! The secret is to let the candies get a little melty. Then, they stuck to the popcorn. (Call it a dentist’s nightmare.) It’s not a healthy snack, but it’s not too bad, and I know I can make it myself.
Next time, I might try White Chocolate Peppermint Popcorn by Simply Scratch.
The popcorn sounds delish. I will honor my teeth and skip the peppermint candy. Sure looks good though. I’m giving up microwave popcorn as of right now. Thanks Terra.
It’s pretty good without peppermint candy too!