Popcorn is my favorite evening snack, and I have experimented with several ways of preparing it, including popcorn makers, campfire popcorn pans, and various brands of microwave popcorn.I have even tried cooking it over the stove in a skillet, which my family coined the “Little House on the Prairie method.” Those techniques yielded edible popcorn but still left me in search of the perfect way to prepare my favorite snack.
One evening about ten years ago, my mom announced that she was going to make popcorn. When I asked how she planned to pop it, she told me that she had found a new method online. I was curious but skeptical.
The popcorn my mom made that night turned out to be the best I had ever tasted. I just have to share the recipe with you all.
Healthy "Microwave" Popcorn
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup Popcorn kernels
- 1 Tbsp Coconut oil
- Large glass microwave safe bowl
- Salt and melted butter to taste
Instructions
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Using a spoon, mix the popcorn kernels and coconut oil in a large glass bowl that is micorwave safe until every kernel is coated in oil.
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Put the bowl in the microwave, cover (I use an ordinary microwave cover), and cook for 3-5 minutes (until the kernels pop about two seconds apart). Add melted butter and salt to taste.
Anonymous
This may sound like a simple question, but do you put anything over the glass bowl in the microwave? If not, does it pop all over the microwave or stay in the bowl?
Anonymous
Yes, she does say to cover the bowl.
Aileen
I was going to ask the same thing. What do you cover it with? I've made popcorn on the stove with coconut oil but in the microwave sounds so much simpler.
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Hi Aileen,
I just use a regular plastic microwave cover. 🙂
~Ellie
Anonymous
The instructions say to cover it. Can you use this method with a different kind of oil, say olive oil?
[email protected]
Feel free to use other oils. For olive oil, you would need about 1/2 teaspoon per 1/4 cup of popcorn kernels.
Blessings,
Ellie
Anonymous
Coconut oil is really bad for your health, it contains 87% of satured fats….very bad choice, use sunflower oil istead that has only 16% of satured fats!!!!
Anonymous
Coconut oil is very healthy for you as it has "healthy" saturated fat. Much like an avocado.
Claire
Yeah but it's pretty natural and has a lot of health benefits. If you use it in small quantities it's fine (like this recipe) it's fine it won't have an effect and it's good for skin, hair, nails etc.
Anonymous
Coconut oil actually has many good benefits for your health, so it is actually Better to use it.
Anonymous
Oh coconut oil is AMAZING for your health! One of the few safe oils, actually. I try to oil pull with it every single morning, take regular baths in it, use it as our exclusive diaper cream and of course cook with it. It's also great to take by the teaspoon to cleanse your system. And it's awesome as a natural laxative when you need it. Can you tell I love it?!!
Anonymous
You can do the same thing but in a paper bag with the end rolled up a little bit and the roll part down in the microwave
Anonymous
I do this and I think it's the simpler method! No need for oil, just a paper bag that I fold once and tape shut.
Anonymous
I also pop my popcorn in a lunch paper bag. Roll the end up twice then staple it. The staples do not do anything at all. It is very safe.
For anyone else, please can you tell me if anyone ends up with enough kernals still not popped. I put a 1/4 cup of corn into the bag and no oils. I like it plain. It is upsetting to have still enough kernals left. I have tried to re-pop them and still not many pop. I put on high for 4:00 mins.
Anonymous
Dear Elie,
Yummy!!!! My family does the same thing!!!! Could you update the willis' I would like to know there your dates if you could post those thanks!!!!
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Our other blogs are keeping us busy, so we're taking a break from blogging about the Willis family. We will let you know when/if we start back up.
Thanks for being a loyal reader.
Ellie
Anonymous
Thank you Ellie! I know it is ALOT of work with all the blogs you run. 🙂 praying for many blessings in your marriage!
Anonymous
Tip cook it in butter in a tall pot on the stove!! It gives it the butter flavor and you won't have to use oil but just make sure to cook it low so the butter doesn't burn. It's delicious!!!
Anonymous
Thanks for sharing this!
Anonymous
Hi Ellie,
Sorry this is off topic but are you still blogging about the Willis Family?
Thanks!!!
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Hi there!
Our other blogs are keeping us busy, so we're taking a break from blogging about the Willis family. We will let you know when/if we start back up.
Blessings,
Ellie
Anonymous
OK Thanks 🙂
Anonymous
I LOVE popcorn with coconut oil and Himalayan salt on it. Its so delicious and super healthy. 🙂
Anonymous
Microwaving your food is bad for your health. It zaps nutrition from food, it destroys breast milk and vitamin B-12 in nursing moms, microwaves create carcinogens in food, and can change the makeup of your blood.
Anonymous
No it doesn't. Microwaving its not bad for your health. I don't now were you her that
Anonymous
Yes it is. Cause microwaving is literally radiation of your food. They banded it in Germany because it was dangerous. Food isn't supposed to be cooked from the inside out. Which is what microwaving does. It is supposed to be cooked from the outside in.
Meghan
Microwaves are not banned in Germany. If you do a little more research, you can easily verify this fact. Microwaves retain more of a food's nutrients because of the shorter cooking time and create fewer carcinogens than oven or stovetop cooking because microwaves don't brown food. Browning causes char, the carcinogen in some cooked foods.Check out these articles from Harvard and the New York Times about the safety and benefits of microwaving.
http://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/microwave-cooking-and-nutrition
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/17/health/17real.html?_r=0
Generally, people don't like unsolicited advice, especially when it's false. Ellie is kind and generous enough to share her life with us on this blog, yet in the comments of every post there is unwarranted criticism disguised as "help", always anonymous of course. It's unkind and I, for one, wish it would stop.
Anonymous
Microwaves cook food to fast which drains a lot of nutrients that would be retained if the food was cooked slowly.
Ann
ALDI! Sounds good! That's where I'm working! And I'm from Germany! 🙂
Anonymous
You seem to be interested in being more healthy, I would challenge you to look into how detrimental microwaves are to your health!!!!
Anonymous
I was going to say the same thing! I cringe every time I see the words "healthy" and "microwave" together. Convenience often comes with a heavy price.
Anonymous
That's how we make our popcorn! Except we do it over the stovetop. We get a pan, cover the bottom with kernels, throw in a big spoonful or two of coconut oil, and let it pop. And then salt it when it's done. 🙂
Anonymous
Salt is not good for you at all. It cause high blood pressure.
Anonymous
Hi, Ellie,
If you don't mind my asking, do you wear only skirts and dresses as the Duggars and Bateses do, or do you wear pants as well?
I was just curious! Keep up the good work! 🙂
margierings
Had hubby, Dave, buy coconut oil – at Aldi's – and looking forward to trying this over the weekend. Thanks MK :0)
Anonymous
Hello, Wondering when you will be posting more wedding pics?? Looking forward to it:)
Anonymous
I'd love to see more wedding pictures!!! And I'd also love to hear your love story! 🙂
Anonymous
I second that!!
Shirley
Ive been diabetic almost all of my life . Never used coconut oil but ive heard good things about it . The way I microwave popcorn is different too . I take a brown lunch bag put in a 1/3 cup of popcorn kernals and fold down the bag 2 times 1 inch folds . Secure it with a piece of scotch tape and microwave for a minute. Then I take I cant believe its butter spray and spray my popped pop corn . I add sometimes salt but mostly parma cheese 🙂 so good 🙂 God bless you 🙂
Anonymous
My Denist told me not to eat popcorn its bad for your teeth. They don't even sell popcorn in my stores here anymore.
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Hi there,
Here's what my husband has to say about popcorn:
"Popcorn is definitely a lot better than a lot of other snacks. It's fine for your teeth, unless you have bad gum disease and deep pockets around your gums. Then you have a risk of the shells getting stuck, which can cause infection. But regardless, flossing after eating popcorn is a must."
So if you have a healthy mouth, it's totally fine to eat popcorn, as long as you floss. 🙂
Blessings,
Ellie