I love popcorn. LOVE IT! I do hate all the weird chemicals in microwave popcorn so we haven’t used that in years. Check out this post as to why.
But if you don’t have time….here are the Cliff’s Notes from that post……
“Did you know that the microwave popcorn butter smell and taste is completely simulated? It’s a chemical calleddiacetyl, which smells like real butter and can be super dangerous. They put it in – just to fill your house with that fake buttery aroma! Diacetyl can cause a serious lung disease, which used to only effected popcorn factory workers, but now threatens consumers as well. Lots of other things havediacetyl in them (like wine) but it’s only harmful when it’s brought to very high temperatures and then the vapor is inhaled (and thankfully I am not boiling my wine and inhaling it) 🙂 . Yikes!! But, that’s not even all – the paper popcorn bags are lined with bad plastic and even more chemicals – to keep things fresh for long periods of times and keep the oils from seeping out. Then these flourotelemers are released during the high heat and popping process and coat then the popcorn. Flourotelemers are converted by our body into chemicals that are known carcinogens.“
I used to make it in a paper bag. (Click on the link above to learn how.) Which is still awesome!! Seriously, if you don’t have one of these fun Catamount poppers, a paper bag is totally fine. It’s what I used for a long time. But, then last year I got this baby. I love it and it always works perfectly for me.
It’s called a Catamount Popcorn Popper. It’s made by scientists in Vermont out of laboratory glass. OOOOoooo. (In my head I just said laboratory like I’m British.) It comes with a silicone rim and mesh basket that can allow butter to melt directly onto the corn as it pops. Which is nice, but I’ve never used this feature. I just melt butter (or coconut oil) separately and pour it on afterwards.
Lately we have been LOVING coconut oil and sea salt on our popcorn. Lovely. And delicious.
I also almost always use Orville Redenbacher. It’s strange and I can’t explain it, but it really does pop better. He’s onto something, that Orville. Could be something about freshness. I don’t know. We like the white.
It’s a great little popper, just as simple at throwing a bag in the microwave. And it’s made by scientists. 🙂
Hmmm. I know someone who would love getting that for a birthday! We have a popcorn addict at my house.
We use the stove to make our popcorn because of the exact same reasons. Those nasty chemicals! You might want to check out how bad the microwave can be for you too. Kills all the enzymes in your food and the radiation is so bad for little ones. We just learned about it and have gotten rid of our microwave. ♥
amen kElly! I highly recommend doing some research on it…We got rid of ours when I noticed the food I reheated made me feel like I Was going to pass out. Doesn’t take much more time to make the popcorn on your stove top…plus the littles like to watch 🙂
we love homemade ranch butter on ours.. which is garlic onion dill and butter – with lots of sea salt. ‘
Thanks for the microwave info guys. We try not to use it for too much. Only a few times a week. It is so bad for you for sure. How do you heat leftovers up at work? That is my problem. That homemade ranch butter sounds amazing!!