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Comment by camhart | Hacker News Reader

Microwave popcorn (in the bag) is garbage. I found I much prefer using a silicone popper [1], and then adding my own butter/salt to it. Tastes just like when I use an air popper. Since that approach doesn't use the popcorn bag, would it then be free from PFAS?

[1] https://www.amazon.com/Proper-Popper-Microwave-Collapsible-D...

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That's quite the URL.

Cooking in silicone is something I would probably also avoid, especially if one can't be certain of its composition: https://www.beuc.eu/sites/default/files/publications/BEUC-X-...

It's an affiliate link. (tag=hyprod-20) You can use https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Z5SPRWM/ instead.

Did OP make an affiliate link just to earn a few bucks from HN'ers?

If so, I suspect there are better uses for their time...

I was curious so I googled the text "hyprod-20"

It let to a forum from 5 years ago with someone accusing someone else of doing the same thing!

In the end, it seems like it's something google appends to their search

Fun little read for you:

https://www.forestriverforums.com/forums/f218/50a-trailer-30...

He could get commission from any sales in the next 30 days

not just this 11$ product

30 days?! That seems shockingly generous for Amazon. What happens when someone has a handful of overlapping affiliate clicks? Do the referrers all split the pool or most-recent wins?

last click wins.

From the other stuff in the url I'm pretty sure OP just copied the link from an ad to Amazon, not created their own affiliate link (which would be crass but par for the course in the techbro hustle we live in I guess)

It's not an affiliate link... I just copied the URL my browser gave me.

Or simply use large saucepan. Pour some oil to cover its base, wait until the oil gets high temperature, pour corn. Then, shake it every now and then. We used to make tons of them when we were kids and even now I make it occasionally, when we do movie nights at home

I've found I burn the popcorn often with this. Maybe just a lack of experience (we always had an air popper growing up). You can also use small amounts of butter (or I guess oil if you wanted) with the silicone popper or air popper. Having enough oil to cover the base seems like a lot more oil? I could be wrong, just guessing.

There's an element of practice too. Ideally, you want a very thin layer of oil to cover the base, or maybe even less. It doesn't need to be a lot. Also an average saucepan would produce quite a lot popcorn

To prevent burning, shaking and occasionally lifting off the hob is required. Also not adding too much corn helps a lot. The maximum a saucepan can take is when the entire base is covered with them.

I've found 50% oil by volume to kernels works great.

Eg 1/3 cup kernels, fill same cup halfway (1/6 cup), add flavacol to the oil in the measuring cup & stir, mix with kernels in a saucepan over heat. Love life

1/6 cup is 320 calories of oil. Definitely not the most calorie-thrifty way to make it.

I use this method as well. To add some specifics, I use a 4 qt saucepan to produce enough for two people. I use enough oil to liberally cover the bottom (glug glug). This is not diet food, excess oil tends to remain in the pot anyway, and I believe most of the heat transfer is oil to corn as opposed to from the pot itself, so you need ample hot oil for a good batch.

To judge when the oil is hot enough for the corn, I add 3 kernels to the initial pot + oil. Once those 3 kernels pop, add enough corn to cover the base of the pan, swirl the hot oil w/ the new kernels, replace cover, but leave slightly ajar to allow steam to escape, and then yeah, a couple more swirls & you should have a perfect batch in about a minute or so.

You may be using too high a heat. I've found the highest setting on my stovetop makes it a pretty high probability some popped kernels will burn (or many if I make a mistake) but a lower setting is sufficient to pop almost every kernel and reduce the risk of burning with techniques people describe in other posts. The air popper I tried tended to leave quite a few unpopped kernels with the same corn kernels I use on the stove top.

Do you cover it to prevent mess?

I know someone who didn't. Let's just say it wasn't pretty in the kitchen afterwards:)

Yep. Got a silicone popper and love it. Much more efficient than stovetop, too.

Decide if you like white or yellow corn, find a good brand, and buy it cheap, in-bulk, for a cheap and nutritious snack. You'll notice significant variation in unpopped kernels between brands.

I spray my kernels lightly with avocado oil and sprinkle popcorn salt(finer than normal to improve adhesion) before popping. I eat at least one large bowl a day now.

Does the silicone leech anything? Seems like a metal popper on the stove would be best.

Microwave doesn't heat up your house as much and is probably faster.

Depends on your priorities. There is some recent evidence that silicone leaches chemicals into food, but if that's not important to you, then sure, microwave it.

Microwave it in a paper bag or a glass bowl if you like.

I also use a silicone microwave popper. Seems cleaner and less wasteful than the paper bag technique.

Yeah, I got a hot pop(exact same thing) and it's been a game changer. Kernels are so cheap.

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