I can’t help but feel a little ripped off when you finish a bag of popcorn only to find a bunch of unpopped kernels at the bottom. Am I really paying for defective popcorn? Which is I’m glad reader Wade, a popcorn junkie, conducted a home experiment to see which brand of popcorn pops the most kernels, and which one is the best to buy. They’re not the same. In his test of Newman’s Own, Pop Secret, Jolly Time, Best Choice, Act II, and Orville Redenbacker popcorn, Newmann’s popped the most kernels, but Wade dubbed said Act II the winner. Why? It’s the cheapest, came in 2nd for popped kernel percentage, it comes decently close to providing the claimed amount of servings, and his subjects said it tasted the best. Check out his site for the full results and methodology.
The Popcorn Test [Official Site]
(Photo: H Shap)
More From Consumerist
-
Orville Redenbacher Is The Latest Victim Of The Grocery Shrink Ray
-
Walmart Features Pick A Price, Any Price For Pop Up Bowl Microwave Popcorn
-
King Soopers: Man's "Popcorn Lung" Condition Came From Carpet Cleaning Chemicals, Not Snacking
-
Flavoring Company Agrees To Reduce Use Of Ingredient Blamed For “Popcorn Lung”
-
Scientists Say Ingredient Common In Microwave Popcorn Could Be Linked To Alzheimer's
@jerros
“However anyone who’s ever placed metal in a microwave can tell you it’s probably not a good idea. “
Well, my recipe is from Alton Brown and he addressed the staple issue. Because you’re only using two standard staples and they are an inch or more apart, there is NO interaction. Staple the crud out of it and your results may vary.
And I’ve never had a problem with it in the many, many times I have used this method.
@jdmba: Very easy. Take a heavy bottomed pan (like you would make soup in). Coat the bottom with oil (I use canola). Pour in popcorn in a single layer. Put it on your stove over medium/medium high heat. Cover with the pot lid, and wait. It will start to pop after a few minutes. Shake the pot on the burner every 5 seconds or so to fluff the popped kernels up to the top and make sure it pops evenly. The popping will slow down, when it’s done you’ll know.
I read a while back from Consumer Reports that they recommended the Target brand (Market Pantry?). I’ve tried it. Surprisingly, it is inexpensive and very good for microwave popcorn with more kernels popping than others I’ve tried. In some stores I often find it sold out.
@jdmba: I weep for our future– it is in fact quite possible to make popcorn without a microwave, it’s how our forefathers made it way back when.
It’ been a long time since I’ve done it as a little kid, but IIRC you 1) pour kernels in pot (possibly with a bit of oil in there) and cover, 2) turn on stove, 3) put pot over stove burner while slowly shaking/rotating it so that the kernels don’t scorch. 4) it will pop, keep shaking it so that it doesn’t burn. 5) eat
@DrGirlfriend: Since the Whirley Pop folks decided to ditch stainless steel, I use a Back to Basics stove-top popper (yes, I have popcorn often). 1/2c kernels (Orville or some fancy Amish stuff), 2-3 Tbsp or coconut or peanut oil, 2/3 to 1 tsp salt, and then whatever else I feel like throwing in it. Just as I’m about to take it off the stove, I toss a couple Tbsp or warm butter in. Forget no or low fat…
That enough of them?
@formergr: so you are saying it’s possible to cook food without a microwave????? That’s crazy talk!!!
@RoboSheep: yes, an air popper saves money. And tastes better with real melted butter!
@formergr: I’m kind of hoping it’s all sarcasm, like wondering why no one has come in with, “credit union.”
@cerbie: Getting closer. Thanks!
@cerbie: Shit, didn’t even think of that. Though I feel rather sheepish if it is, for the benefit of society I now hope it was sarcasm too!
@octoSink: I prefer to use a large frying pan myself. The kernels aren’t on top of each other as much, and it’s easier to shake than a soup pot.
@formergr: Use a Mac.*
/*this from an avid Mac user, who is nonetheless aware that Macs aren’t for everyone.
@jerros: The tiny amount of metal in two staples isn’t going to hurt your microwave (there’s far more metal in those Soup At Hand containers that Campbell’s is hawking), and the steam from the popping corn will melt away any tape you use on the bag. Though, you should be careful not to touch the staples when removing the popcorn from the microwave.
I pop my own in a metal mixing bowl on the stove. Popcorn kernels are cheap, and canola oil is too. One thing of kernels and the oil costs like 6 bucks and I get a good solid 15-20 bowls worth. AND you can get the blue corn and red corn and that’s super yummy too
I love Orville Reddenbacher’s. The kernels pop up bigger than any other that I’ve seen. We get them in large jars and cook them in an air popper. I’d venture to say our pop rate is > 99%.
@jaydez: @jaydez: I also recommend a hot air popper… roughly $15-20 at Amazon. Cheaper in the long run if you have popcorn at least once a month.
I will also chime in recommending the air popper.
Dump in 1/4 cup of kernels, plug it in, and wait for the bowl to fill up. Works ever time, no oil, no burned popcorn.
@johnva: true, but the thin pans got hotspots on a gas burner. I would shake the pans vigorously, and still get some charcoal on the bottom. And that nasty shit never washed off. The heavier bottoms heated more evenly, making them easier to control.
Darn it – I forgot to use the … blocks. Sorry
@chicagojohn: Yes, but it’s a unitasker, and those of us who worship at the church of Alton Brown won’t have that.
Besides which, I get much tastier popcorn from my wok. A spoonful of oil, 1/2 cup kernels, a little salt, cover with foil, poke holes, and start working it.
I want my air popper back. I like my corn dry, except for a (little) butter. I could leave the kernels in the popper until they pop. There were very few that wouldn’t pop with my air popper; the one I miss so much.
Fireworks Popcorn from popcornlovers dot com.
I have a heavy duty set of pots and pans from Anolon that I can pop in great. Heat the pan and oil up with a kernel in it on high. When it pops, drop it down to medium, at the kernels and cover.Shake and remove when the kernels die down.
Heavy pot and medium heat help prevent scorching. Learning to discern the types of corn and what you like makes Orville taste more like packing peanuts than corn.
What’s the best way to season a cast iron pot for popping corn?
I’m more interested in what’s going on in the picture. I see wacky girls embroiled in shenanigans!
Its got more to do with the wattage of your microwave than anything. I can usually get a bag to pop all but 9 to 13 kernels. Yeah, thats right: 9 to 13. With lower wattage machines, you’ll get more.
@cyclade: Why microwave popcorn at all when it’s so insanely easy to make your own with bulk-bought (or really cheap bagged) kernels, a decent sized pot, and a few spoons full of oil? Add salt, spices, or even sugar to the oil before you pop the corn and man – what a great and super-cheap snack. (And no doubt way more environmentally friendly wihtout all that excess packaging if that matters to you.)
It’s because packaging is what they’re selling. Generic no-name kernels taste and pop the same as name brands.
Here’s a trick if you’ve never tried it:
1) In the pan with a little butter, heat the kernels on low heat for a minute or two. Use the quick burner for this.
2) Turn up the heat to high and continuously shake. Sliding it in circles is usually very effective and less noisy.
Over the years, I’ve found this a very effective way to cut down on unpopped kernels. Also, storing popcorn in the fridge before using it seems to help it pop as well.
I agree from my own informal results, the Act II is the best value of the bunch.
But that microwave popcorn (well, not the popcorn, but the brick of fat in it) is not good for you – can we say trans-fat? Occasional use maybe ok, but it’s not something you’d want to eat every evening (except maybe the Smart Balance).
It’s much better for your health to make your own on the stove with a decent quality low-choresterol liquid fat.
I used to get Act II (regular) popcorn in 10 pound bags, but haven’t seen it lately.