Rob's Rants

OK you say. I don’t feel like cranking my Whirly Pop and making your ultimate popcorn, and I sure as hell won’t buy a big monstrosity of a theater style popcorn popper that you say is hard to clean. All I want is some quick popcorn so I can watch a movie … can’t I just make some in the microwave?

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The answer is YES! And you don’t have to buy that crap with the goopy yellow faux-butter sludge in the bag either. There’s a way to make your own! (Popcorn … not goopy yellow faux-butter sludge.) I’ll credit Alton Brown for developing the basics of this recipe and assuring the world that our microwaves won’t catch on fire. Here’s what you need:

• 1/4 cup popcorn
• 2 -3 Tablespoons oil (canola, peanut, corn, etc.; Alton Brown uses olive oil, but that has a really strong flavor)
• 3/4 teaspoon popcorn salt (I use flava-col)
• Melted butter (optional)
• Brown paper lunch bag
• Stapler

And here’s what you do:

1. Dump popcorn, oil, salt in brown paper bag. Give it a quick shake.
2. Fold over about 1/2 inch of the bag and staple closed with one or two staples (no, they won’t spark in the microwave)
3. Put in the microwave for three to three and a half minutes (or use the built-in popcorn setting like I do)
4. When done, remove, butter (if you wish), and serve

It really doesn’t get easier than that.