How to Make Microwave Popcorn Without A Microwave

Popcorn are delicious snack that is loved not just by kids but of all ages. Most of the time, popcorn comes in a bag known as Microwave popcorn. Though with the name microwave popcorn one might actually think that it can only be cooked in the microwave. If you do not have a microwave at home and want to make a popcorn using the microwave popcorn packs, lucky you as there are other ways to cooked microwave popcorn and it will be discussed further as a step-by-step in this article.

Make Microwave Popcorn Without A Microwave

A pack of microwave popcorn typically contains kernels, seasoning and oil. . There are other ways that you can do to cook microwave popcorn: in a stovetop, a toaster oven, in an open fire, or cooking using a grill.

Types of Microwave Popcorn

There are different brand and types of Microwave popcorn available in the market and each contains different amount of its contents: oil and seasonings.

Orville

The Orville brand popcorn is the most popular brand for making popcorn since real butter is used. The popcorns do not contain dyes, GMOs or artificial preservatives. It uses natural ingredients. The microwave popcorn bag of this brand cannot only be used in a microwave, but can also be cooked using the method that will be mentioned below.

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Pop-Secret

Pop Secret is another famous brand selling microwave popcorn in a bag. The popcorn does not contain any preservatives of GMOs/

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ACT II

One of my favorite brand when it comes to microwave popcorns. It contains 0 grams in trans fat.

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Jolly Time

Another crowd’s favorite is from Jolly Time. The popcorn are made using real butter and is considered to be one of the most popular brand that sells popcorn not just in the US but in other countries as well.

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Listed below are the different ways on how to cook microwave popcorn without a microwave.

Make Microwave popcorn on a Stovetop

Since the contents of a pack of Microwave popcorn are kernels, oil and seasoning you can easily and quickly cook popcorn on a stovetop.

Follow the steps below on making microwave popcorn on the stovetop:

1. A pack of microwave popcorn is typically sealed in a plastic, therefore removing the plastic bag is the first step.
2. Get a pot with a 2 quart capacity and a lid. It is recommended to use a lid that will allow the steam to disperse.
3. Cut the pack of microwave popcorn and then remove the contents: kernels, oil and seasoning and place in the pot.
4. Put the pot on the stovetop and turn on to medium to high heat.
5. The cooking process begins. To evenly distribute to the popcorn the heat inside the pot, do not forget to shake the pot at least every 10 to 15 seconds.
6. Continue the cooking process until all the kernels have already popped. Do not worry if there is a interval between pops of popcorn kernels.
7. After all kernels are popped, remove pot from the stovetop.
8. Transfer popcorns in a bowl.
9. Drizzle with the seasoning that comes with packet, then serve.

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Make Microwave popcorn with a Toaster oven

Another way to cook microwave popcorn on the Toaster Oven, though cooking popcorn in a regular oven is not advisable.

To use toaster oven in cooking microwave popcorn, follow the steps below:

1. A pack of microwave popcorn is typically sealed in a plastic, therefore removing the plastic bag is the first step.
2. Preheat Toaster oven to at least 400-450F.
3. Remove all the contents (kernels, oil and seasoning) from the microwave popcorn bag or pack and place in an oven safe bowl.
4. Cover the oven safe bowl with aluminum oil and place inside the toaster oven.
5. Start the cooking process in the toaster oven and wait until popping popcorn kernels is done.
6. Remove bowl from the Toaster oven and remove the aluminum foil.
7. Allow popcorn to cool down for a few seconds.
8. Add in the seasonings that comes with the packing of Microwave popcorn

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Make Microwave popcorn in an Open Fire

An open fire means a campfire, a chimney or a flame broil. In making popcorn the campfire style, an aluminum foil is usually used.

1. A pack of microwave popcorn kernels are typically sealed in a plastic, therefore removing the plastic bag is the first step.
2. Put all the contents of the popcorn bag on the aluminum foil.
3. Pour in oil or extra melted butter
4. Carefully fold aluminum foil into half, then make sure sides are covered too by twisting both sides of the foil.
5. Place a long stick on the foil.
6. Now place the foil over burning coil or wood. Make sure not to place the foil directly over the flame as the kernels will not pop and worst it will get burnt.
7. You will start to hear popcorn kernels starts popping, you will know if the cooking is already done when popping slows down or heard infrequently.
8. Remove the foil from hot embers and allow to cool down for a few minutes
9. Open foil, add seasonings to the popcorn then serve

Since cooking using this process involves an open flame, make sure to take extra caution especially when removing the foil from the hot coil or wood. Do not handle the foil using your hands but rather use a pot holder or a cloth of something.

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Make Microwave popcorn on a Grill

Cooking popcorn on a grill is similar to cooking in an open fire. If you want to cook microwave popcorn on a grill, there are two different methods to do that, either way you will still be getting a delicious and crispy popcorns.

First Method

1. Remove the microwave popcorn bag from its plastic.
2. Open the bag and place contents in an aluminum baking pan.
3. Add oil or butter (whichever is you prefer) to the bottom of the baking pan.
4. You can also add seasonings of choice (e.g. salt)
5. Cover the pan with aluminum foil.
6. Close the lid of the grill and set the heat to medium heat. Cooking process will now begin.
7. When you start to hear popping kernels, gently shake the pan using tongs.
8. Once popping subsides, turn of the heat and allow the popping popcorns to rest.
9. Transfer cooked popcorn in a bowl. Add more seasonings if you like.

Second Method

1. Remove the microwave popcorn bag from its plastic.
2. Open the bag and place unpopped kernels in a deep skillet. Make sure the size of the skillet fits the grill)
3. Add oil such as vegetable oil, cooking oil, coconut oil or olive oil. The oil you add depends on your personal choice.
4. Cover skillet tightly with aluminum foil.
5. Close the lid of the grill and set heat to medium.
6. When you hear kernels starts popping, open the grill and gently shake the pan using tongs.
7. Once popping subsides, turn of the heat and allow the popping popcorns to rest.
8. Transfer cooked popcorn in a bowl. Add more seasonings if you like.

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Make Microwave popcorn using a Popcorn Machine

There are different varieties of popcorn makers or popcorn machines that you can purchase. Using a popcorn machine makes cooking popcorn easy especially if want to make large batches of these snacks.

The popcorn maker generally warms the pot to pop popcorns, of course oil should be added to. The popped popcorn will usually flood the pot of the machine and eventually overflows from its compartment.

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Microwave Popcorns should not be cooked using the following:

A normal Oven

As previously mentioned, a toaster oven is different from a normal oven. Yes you can cook microwave popcorn using a toaster oven but not with a normal oven. Most of the time, when you use the normal oven the popcorn kernels tends to dry out or it could burnt easily and often popcorn kernels are not evenly cooked. A simple explanation is that with a normal oven, the air does not literally transmit the heat as cooking using a stovetop.

An Air popper

An air popper is a machine that uses hot air to heat pop popcorn. And since air popper machines cooks popcorn without oil, air popped popcorn will not be thoroughly cooked when using a microwave popcorn bag. Since microwave bag includes oil, it could damage the air popper machine.

Although a air popper is another way to cook popcorns, but not the ideal way to pop microwave popcorn style.

Frequently Asked Questions

Summary

May it be plain popcorn kernels or with butter, making popcorn is one of the easiest snack that you can prepare. When you do not have a microwave at home, do not worry as there are other ways that you can still enjoy the microwave popcorn using the different methods mentioned in this pot.

The method you wan to use depends on one’s personal choice. For quick and easy popcorn, a microwave is your first choice. If you want a healthier popcorn, you should use an air popper instead since fatty oils are not used.

If you are not in a hurry and planning to make large batches of popcorn, cooking using the stovetop.

Also, when in an outdoor setting you can still enjoy microwave popcorn without a microwave but using hot embers.

Try any of the different ways of making popcorns without a microwave mentioned above and let us know what you think.