Make Your Own Microwave Popcorn
Mark it off the list! I finally tried do it yourself microwave popcorn. It was on my list way back when Make It From Scratch first started. Part of the reason it has taken so long is that we had a large stockpile of microwave popcorn. I wanted to use that up before buying more.
Take it off that list, but add it to the "Why did I ever buy this?" list with cornbread, pancakes and sloppy joe. Microwave popcorn is incredibly simple to do yourself, and I think tastes better.
1. Find a small paper bag.
2. Put in 1/3 C popcorn.
3. Fold the bag down a couple time so it will stay shut.
4. Microwave. You'll have experiment to see how long it takes in your microwave. It took a little over two minutes in ours.
5. Dump it in a bowl. Add melted butter and your favorite seasonings.
6. Enjoy!
So it is easy, it tastes good, but the real test; does it save you money?
The microwave popcorn I buy is $1.39 for six bags. Each bag is 3.5 ounces; a total of 21 ounces . Cost per ounce: $0.07.We will not be buying prepackaged microwave popcorn any longer. Why would I? For about half the cost, I can pop popcorn that is just as convenient, and is healthier for my family because I can control the amount of butter and salt that is added. Easy, frugal, healthy and delicious, what more could you ask for?
The regular popcorn is $1.14 for a 32 ounce bag. Cost per ounce: $0.04.
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20 comments:
you can actually staple the bag shut if the staples are over two inches apart, because the staple is smaller than the length of a microwave. They do not give off any sparks or undesirable activity.
Did you figure the price of the bags into your cost analysis? ;)
I was going to ask the same thing as Mary. I can get bags in bulk pretty cheap from a wholesale place nearby, so it may still be a savings.
um, no didn't figure the cost of the bags. Mine was free. Saved from the store.
I guess to be accurate, you would have to add in the cost of butter and salt too. ;)
Hallo,
I wanted to try this, but was hampered by the lack of paper bags in my local grocery. Now, I just use a bowl with a loose lid.
I put about 1/3 cup into a 2 litre microwavable bowl. I put the lid loosely on top, not sealed, it's just there to stop the seeds from flying out. I microwave on high until there's a few seconds without popping noises, in my 800w microwave, that's 1 minute, 40 seconds.
I pour popcorn into another bowl, as the microwave one will be a bit damp.
Oh yeah, I'm going to be trying this!!! You rock, I've missed reading your posts!!!!!
My daughter's fifth grade class did an in-depth cost analysis on microwave popcorn and she reported their findings IN DETAIL to me. I wish I'd had in on paper because it was a crack up to her her spouting off price per ounce and kernels popped.
boy you guys are a weath of info ... thanx :)
GP in Montana
This is very interesting. I hadn't thought of using my own bags before. I know there is a specially made container to use in the microwave. It doesn't cost much, and if it's decently made, it could amoritize quite nicely.
Other savings to consider in making your own popcorn are the health-related ones: there's plenty of nasty chemicals in those commercial bags.
I did this too in one of my Frugal Momma's Test Kitchen recipes.
I actually buy my popcorn in bulk at Sam's Club. 50 pounds for about $11. It was such a good deal.
We used the extra popcorn to make a popcorn table for the kids to play in and put the rest in a Tupperware container to keep it fresh for the next time we eat it.
We also have an air popper and I love to use that. I got mine at a thrift sale.
OH I am going to try it in a bowl. I guess I thought it would get soggy. It is worth try though!
$11 for 50 pounds that is a great deal!
Hmmm, I do not really like the taste of microwave popcorn and I cannot say I ever have bought it for myself, but you know, if I ever do not have a stove, but have a microwave and regular popcorn, I am going to try this!
Another thing is that you know exactly what's in the popcorn you are eating, and that's worth the most. Really, I haven't looked at the ingredients, but I'm pretty sure there's some 'funny' (if perfectly safe) stuff in there, like all pre-packaged foods.
I wonder, if you added some sugar to the bag, if you'd get kettle corn? Maybe not...it probably doesn't cook long enough. Maybe you could use super-fine sugar.
Now I think I need to try this out for myself!
wow, I am definitely trying this one!! I bet it tastes better!!
Wow...Great idea!
I will have to try this one with the kids.
Linda
Brilliant! I can't wait to try it. I love the ideas of this blog. Probably keeps you trying new ways to simplify even more than you would have if it were just a personal commitment. I'll be back!
A super thrifty idea! I must try this. Thanks again for a great tip.
I ship packages with plain popcorn as filler... never thought to microwave it.. great idea!
It is also an eco-friendly resource conservation measure, since you're not wasting (or paying for...) all the packaging. The store bought microwave version is a box with individual bags, each of which is shrink-wrapped. Very wasteful.
Alton Brown says you can also use a staple in the top of your bag. It's not enough metal to damage your microwave.
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