With palms so sweaty I could barely grip my mouse, on Friday afternoon I submitted my dietetic internship application with a single click. Which means I should be celebrating, right?
Instead, honestly, I’m freaking out a little bit. I just sent all of my academic and professional accomplishments off to be judged by people with the power to decide my future. And despite the good grades and experiences I’ve tried to accumulate, questions still niggle at me: Did I get everything right? Do I have what they’re looking for?
What if I’m not good enough?
Don’t get me wrong. I’ve wrangled A’s in some seriously challenging science classes. I’ve gotten a decent amount of clinical experience. And I’ve learned a heck of a lot about healthy recipe development right here on Veggie Quest.
But I’m passionate about nutrition. I can’t think of anything I’d rather do than help people heal themselves with food. And yet only 50% of those who apply for a dietetic internship are accepted—and even fewer get into the internships I’m interested in. Since I’d really, really like to be one of those people—well, I guess it makes sense that I’m nervous.
Anyhow, until I hear back about interviews—or not, if they’re just not that into me—I’m going to distract myself by doing what I love best: blogging here at Veggie Quest! Starting with one of the coolest hacks I’ve learned in a long time: how to make popcorn in your microwave, minus the store-bought bags.
The trouble with store-bought microwave popcorn
I confess, until late last year, I was still making microwave popcorn in pre-fab bags. Little did I know that store-bought microwave popcorn spells trouble in two different ways:
1. Costs 6 times as much as homemade
Well, actually more than that. Here’s the breakdown:
- Homemade: 0.$25/serving, Arrowhead Mills brand
- Store-bought: $1.69/serving, Quinn brand
Since I eat a lot of popcorn, I was paying way too much for way too long.
2. May contain perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)
Perfluorooctanoic acid (try saying that three times fast) is found in the lining of some microwave popcorn bags. However, it’s not the number of syllables in perfluorooctanoic acid that troubles me. It’s that in 2006, the EPA’s Science Advisory Board evaluated PFOA and suggested that it is “likely to be carcinogenic to humans.”1
Now, I don’t think there’s any data proving that the amount of PFOA in popcorn bags causes cancer, but why risk it when making your own popcorn is so darned easy?
How to make fat free popcorn in your microwave
Making popcorn in the microwave is so simple that when I came across this hack in a McDougall Diet Facebook group, at first I didn’t believe it. I mean, why would they even sell microwave popcorn in special bags if you can make it yourself for pennies?
Oh, right.
Anyway, now that I know how to make my own light, crispy popcorn in the microwave—without oil, no less—I’m never going back. Here’s how to do it for yourself:
- Grab a large microwave-safe container (not plastic) with a lid (also preferably not plastic—do as I say, not as I do) 😉
- Pour 1/4 cup of popcorn in the bottom. Leave your kernels plenty of room to breathe, or they’ll stick together.
- Cover, venting slightly.
- Microwave on high for 3-5 minutes, or until popping slows to once every 1-2 seconds. (Mine went 4½ minutes; you’ll have to play with your microwave to see how long is best for you.) Note that DIY popcorn takes longer than bagged popcorn to get going (1½ minutes for the first kernel to pop for me). So don’t worry if it takes a little while—it’s working.
- Season and enjoy! I like my popcorn with a spritz of Bragg’s Liquid Aminos or a quick shake of popcorn salt and nutritional yeast.
2024 update: Commenter Sarah below said she tried this in the microwave with a similar-looking glass dish and it shattered. Yikes! To completely avoid this possibility, try making your oil-free popcorn in a paper bag instead.
To reduce the risk of a glass dish shattering: 1) Discard dishes that are scratched or chipped. 2) Do not try to pop every last kernel. Stop the microwave when popping slows to once every 1-2 seconds. 3) Let the dish cool in the microwave for a few minutes before moving it to a cooler surface.
So there you have it—healthy popcorn on the cheap, with no scary chemicals and just 85 calories per serving. If that doesn’t make me feel better while I wait to hear back about internships, nothing will. 🙂
Click here for references- Environmental Protection Agency. http://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2014-04/documents/factsheet_contaminant_pfos_pfoa_march2014.pdf
Shared on Lou Lou Girls Fabulous Party, Tasty Tuesday, Plant-Based Potluck Party, Allergy-Free Wednesdays, Healthy Living Link Party, and Healthy Vegan Fridays.
Your turn:
- Have you ever made DIY microwave popcorn? How did it go?
- How do you unwind when you’re waiting to hear back about a job, internship, or school decision?
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I'm Lee, an RD thriving on a healthy plant based diet.
HI Lee–Sending good thoughts for the internship–they’d be LUCKY to have you!! And if I had a microwave these days, I’d try this in a heartbeat! Looks yummy. I like to draw or quilt by hand when I am waiting on big things I can’t control. xoxo
Aw, thanks for the vote of confidence, Maria! Obviously my results wouldn’t be nearly as good as yours, but maybe I’ll try drawing a bit, too. I haven’t sat down with a sketchbook in ages! Would probably activate some long-lost part of my brain. At the very least, it will be an excellent distraction. 🙂
You are so funny!! Loved this!!
We have an old-fashioned stove-top popper at home, but my sweetheart, who loves popcorn, might enjoy having this healthier option at work when all the other people are making the office smell wonderfully of microwave popcorn. Thank you! I’ll share this on my foodie Facebook page sometime in the next few weeks as a Recipe of the Day.
Hi Kathryn, yes, this would be lovely for the office! What a great idea–I hope your husband enjoys it, and that other readers who see your comment add DIY popcorn to their office rotation, too. And I’m honored to have this featured as a Recipe of the Day on your Facebook page. I just followed you, and will keep an eye out!
Natural popcorn is my go-to snack. I even take my own popcorn to the movies. So healthy and delicious! I am so glad you shared your PFOA-free popcorn recipe with us at the Plant-Based Potluck Party. I’m pinning and sharing!
Thanks Deborah! I just wish I’d learned this little trick sooner. So much cheaper and healthier than the store-bought kind!
This is a great way to make popcorn! It is featured at the Healthy Living Link Party this week. Thanks for sharing it!
Thanks Leigh, I’m honored! I’ll go check it out right now. Hope you have a great week!
Turned out perfectly ! Organic popcorn and butter
You should definitely try it spritzed with Bragg’s Liquid Aminos. It’s as tasty as butter on popcorn, but way better for your bod! Here’s the link: https://amzn.to/2LBnvzx
I just use the brown paper bags from the grocery store. I take off any handles and add 1/4 cup of kernels and then fold over about 3 times and put in microwave on the turntable…very important to have a turntable or the bag itself will begin to smolder. Pop for about 4 or 5 minutes (until no longer frequent pops) and then remove.
I like to use Braggs like in your original post and also will buy a $1 travel spray mister bottle and add water and kosher salt (it dissolves best) and then spray on the popcorn. I will sometimes add smoke flavoring or lime juice to the spray bottle as well.
Thanks for sharing!
Hi Kurt, yes, definitely a turntable in the microwave!! I love the idea of using a mister bottle with water, salt, and a little flavoring. Just make sure the mister bottle is food safe! (An old Bragg’s bottle would probably work great) 🙂
This works perfect! so easy! thanks!
Hi Mary, thanks for the feedback, and enjoy your popcorn! 😀
Where shall buy these popcorn kernels. What is this called? I want to make popcorns in microwave without using oil. Thank you.
This looks so good I’m going to share this with my yr7 class
Thanks a bunch for this idea.
I tried it out today and the popcorns popped well and they were delicious!
Unfortunately my kernels never popped. After 7 minutes I gave up
Color us SHOCKED! We wanted a healthy crunchy snack and tried your idea using 1/8 cup popcorn. Took 7 minutes to pop in out microwave but oh my goodness it was so good. My husband and I were amazed to find we enjoyed popcorn made without oil or salt. Can not thank you enough for this recipe.
I had brown paper lunch bags leftover from when my daughter was in school. She’s now 22! Perfect use for them. Thanks for the recipe!
I tried this and it turned out great. Mine ended the full 5 minutes with almost all kernels popped! Great for a snack on my WW with 0 points on the purple plan.
absolutely delicious
i love popcorn
i love you too
love to all
love you
was great and easy!!!
I would recommend using a different container for making this or be VERY careful about how long you cook it. I used a glass container similar to the one in the picture and one popcorn kernal got too hot and basically exploded my glass container into many pieces!!
Hi Sarah, oh gosh, that’s scary! I’ll update the recipe with a note to use a brown paper bag if you’re not sure about the glass dish or you want to be on the super safe side. (Mine is Pyrex brand and I haven’t had any issues with it, but maybe I’ve just been lucky.)
I’ve been making my own microwave popcorn for years using brown bakery bags but will switch to a glass dish with a lid. I spray a bit of olive oil on the corn kernels and sprinkle cumin powder after popping. I’ve been trying to cut down on salt and don’t miss it one bit in this recipe.