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Comment by pubby | Hacker News Reader

Something I realized recently was that you can just buy popcorn kernels in bulk and pop them in the microwave using a covered bowl. I don't think I'll ever buy instant popcorn baggies again.

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That's how my wife does it: buys a bag of kernels and puts some into a brown paper sack for microwave heating. Alternatively, they still sell those air poppers[0], which tend to produce better results, so you can use one of those.

[0] Like this: https://www.reddit.com/media?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.redd.it%2F2...

Hot plastic and food isn't a good mix. Pushing hot air through a plastic machine sounds like a great way to get chemicals to leach out into your food.

The actual internal food contact surface in those is generally metal.

Using a paper bag is especially fun if you have young kids since a kindergartner can stir the kernels with oil in a bowl, pour them into the bag, add salt, and shake vigorously. I think it was almost as much fun to make as it was to eat.

I just use a pot. I put in a tablespoon or so of coconut oil, melt it over medium heat with a few kernels and when they pop add a bunch more to almost cover the bottom of the pot. Then I put a lid on it, canted so it lets the moisture leave but not the popcorn and remove from heat when the popping slows. Then I add salt and shake and done. It takes just a few minutes.

I do almost the same. But I use olive oil and toss the freshly popped kernels in cayenne pepper and some nutritional yeast. Delicious and fairly healthy snack!

Brown lunch bag + kernels + oil is all you need.

Get a whirley pop, they're fantastic. Pop your popcorn with browned butter

You can also just put them in a brown paper bag to replicate the popcorn bag experience. Just fold and pinch the top, add whatever salt and oil you want. Corn kernels are crazy cheap too, it's probably $0.05 a bag.

Do you add any oil?

I don't but my girlfriend makes it using butter or oil.

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