Paper Bag Microwave Popcorn

Making microwave popcorn in a paper lunch bag is a quick and easy way to prepare popcorn for healthy snacking and movie nights. Here’s the simple recipe for paper-bag microwave popcorn.

I used to do this microwave popcorn in a brown paper bag thing all the time about five years ago, and then, for some reason, I just forgot about it. I was checking out the healthier snacks section of the grocery store the other day, and I saw a big bag of organic popcorn kernels, and suddenly I had a little eureka moment of remembrance! The paper bag thing! That used to be so much fun! So I grabbed some plain paper lunch bags and the big bag of popcorn kernels. That was about a week ago, and we’ve been making this popcorn non-stop ever since. Well, at least a few bags a day as a healthy snack. We all think it’s really fun, and the kids seem to like it even more than the regular old microwave popcorn that we usually have.

This is a much healthier option, not just because of the organic popcorn kernels but because we get to stay away from all of the funky chemicals that they often put in those traditional bags of microwave popcorn, and we can use whatever toppings we want and know exactly what’s in them. If you don’t happen to have a hot air popcorn maker, this is a great, kid-friendly solution that allows you to make popcorn in the most straightforward, healthiest way possible.

Another must-try kitchen trick: How to Cut a Watermelon Quickly and Easily

Ingredients Needed for the Paper Bag Popcorn Recipe

So here’s how you make your own microwave popcorn in a brown paper bag.

You’ll need:

• 1 plain brown paper bag
• 1/3 cup popcorn kernels (regular store bought popping corn or fancy gourmet popcorn will both work)
• 1/2 teaspoon of some kind of oil (vegetable or olive oil is what I usually use)
• 1/4-ish teaspoon of salt

Try next: Homemade Microwave Pancake Syrup Recipe

How to Make the Best Popcorn in a Paper Lunch Bag

Open up your paper bag, add in the unpopped kernels, oil, and salt. Shake the bag a little to distribute everything evenly.  The oil will probably soak through the bag in a few places. That’s fine.

Fold the top of the bag over twice. If it starts to come unfolded, that’s OK, the folding just helps keep the popping kernels contained and helps keep the steam locked in the bag a little better, but it doesn’t need to be a tight seal.

Place the bag in the microwave and cook it on high for about 2 minutes, 30 seconds. Actually, I find about 2 minutes, 35 seconds works best in my microwave. If you end up making this as often as we do, you’ll find the perfect amount of time for your particular microwave.

Listen to the sound of the popping kernels, and when the popping slows and there’s about a second between each “pop” it’s time to remove the bag from the microwave if the timer isn’t up. Like with any other microwave popcorn packet, you may find that there’s an unpopped kernel or two, but that’s fine. The bag will be hot so let it cool for a moment before opening it up.

I like this method because it’s a bit safer and more kid-friendly than popping popcorn on the stovetop or a popcorn popper, but there’s still quite a bit of heat retained in the bag immediately after the popping process.

After a few moments, the bag will be cool enough to handle and you’ll be able to pour the popped popcorn out into your favorite big popcorn bowl.

Another easy, family favorite recipe: How to Make Baked Potatoes in the Crock Pot

Easy Popcorn Seasoning Ideas

Once your popcorn is popped, you can enjoy it as is, with a little extra salt, or go all-out with the toppings. We usually just add a little extra sea salt to this, even though we used to be big popcorn butterers. Making popcorn this way just makes it taste so fresh and fluffy that we really don’t need anything extra.

If you’d like to get creative with different flavored popcorn ideas, try melted adding melted butter, nutritional yeast, and smoked paprika for a deliciously cheesy bowl of popcorn.

I like cinnamon and sugar together for a cinnamon-toast-inspired flavor, or you can mix melted butter, sugar, and salt together before drizzling over popcorn for a flavor that tastes just like the kettle corn you get at a country fair.

Seasoning idea for popcorn and other dishes: Homemade Ranch Dressing Mix

Definitely give this method a try for your next movie night or the next time that you want a healthier snack!

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