Why it works
- This popcorn is easily customizable, meaning you’re not looking at prepackaged flavors.
Brown paper bags are not necessarily designed to be microwave safe. Watch your popcorn the entire time when microwaving it, and if in doubt, it’s better to err on the side of leaving some kernels open rather than trying to pop every last one.
I have a strange sensitivity to certain sounds—no reason to go into details except to say that I’m usually not inclined to make popcorn at home because I hear the loud noise of the pan shaking. Can’t handle it. Back and forth on the burner, tossing the kernels around so that none burn. I could invest in a popcorn device, like one of those air poppers, but I have too much stuff in my kitchen without adding such a single-use item.
Fortunately, a colleague of mine told me that it’s possible to make popcorn in a brown paper bag in the microwave—not the store-bought microwavable stuff that’s already coated in flavors, but my own popcorn. Custom bag. I wanted to come up with some fun popcorn flavors anyway, so I decided to test the method at the same time.
Turns out it works! Here’s how:
How to Make Brown Bag Microwave Popcorn
Start by tossing 1/2 cup of popcorn kernels with 1/2 teaspoon of oil (I used neutral vegetable oil) and salt. Then, put the popcorn in a brown paper lunch bag and fold the bag upside down.
In my first batch, the popcorn pushed through the bag as I opened it, so I started locking by folding the corners of the bag down and tearing off the little tabs, then folding those tabs. This prevents the bag from opening as the popcorn spreads.
Then I pop it in the microwave and run it for about 2 minutes, although the exact time will depend on your microwave. Most people recommend letting the microwave run until the popping slows down, about 2 to 3 seconds between popping. I tried this and almost set a bag of popcorn on fire.
Making popcorn is fun, but burning down your house is not. Be sure to err a little on the unpopped side of things to avoid scorching and burning the popcorn: When you see the popping going down a bit, it’s time to stop the microwave. You will have some extra unpopped kernels, but they will be at the bottom and easily separated from all the pretty popped ones.
It is also important not to leave the popcorn unattended while cooking. It didn’t take me long to go from popping to smoke, and it’s not a risk of starting a fire by walking away from your microwave while it’s running. You’ll want to keep an eye on this just to be safe.
This is my ideal method. Without further ado, I think I’m going to start making a lot more popcorn at home.
January 2023
Skip the store-bought stuff and make your own gourmet popcorn at home
Cook mode
(keep screen awake)
- 1/2 Cup Popcorn kernels
- 1/2 teaspoon Canola or Vegetable oil
- kosher salt, The taste
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In a small mixing bowl, combine the popcorn kernels, oil and salt. Toss well until the kernels are evenly coated in the oil.
Serious Eights / Daniel Gretzer
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Transfer the popcorn kernels to a clean brown paper lunch bag. Fold the top of the bag evenly about 1.5 inches and then fold each of the top corners of the bag diagonally. Tear a small tab from the center of each diagonal fold, and then fold it over as well. This prevents the bag from opening as the popcorn expands.
Serious Eights / Daniel Gretzer
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Place the brown paper bag full of kernels in the microwave and run on high for about 2 minutes, watching carefully the whole time to make sure the bag doesn’t smoke or worse, catch fire. The exact time will vary by microwave, so be sure to err a little on the unpopped side of things to avoid scorching and burning the popcorn. Serve.
Serious Eights / Daniel Gretzer
Special equipment
Brown paper lunch bag, microwave
Notes
As mentioned at the beginning of this recipe, brown paper bags are not necessarily made to be microwave safe. Watch your popcorn the entire time when microwaving it, and if in doubt, it’s better to err on the side of leaving some kernels open rather than trying to pop every last one.