Is this popcorn good, and is does it really have less calories than other brands?

It's all the same to me.

The one thing I have noticed is that depending on the brand and the freshness of the package you will wind up with more or fewer unpopped kernels.

Well, first of all...I hate, hate, hate microwave popcorn. Most of the fat in it is of a sort that is terrible for you and it contains all kinds of other nasties. Just smell that crap sometime. If it smells good to you, you've never had decent popcorn.

Popcorn is a grain - a natural product - and has the same amount of calories no matter what brand you buy. It's the other stuff they put in there - the amount of fat, flavors, etc. - that adds calories.

Here's what you do: get a 3-qt saucepan, some non-microwave popcorn, some coconut oil and whatever you want to put on the finished product (popcorn salt, nutritional yeast and butter is my favorite). Put about a tablespoon-and-a-half of coconut oil in the pan along with three kernels of popcorn, put the lid on the pan and crank it up to medium-high heat. Let it sit on the burner.

As soon as the three kernels pop, dump in 1/4 to 1/3 cup of popcorn (depending on how hungry you are), put the lid back on, and let the stuff start to pop. Once it does, do not let the pan sit on the burner for more than a couple seconds at a time and keep your hand on the lid handle at all times!! Set the pan down briefly, then shake it. Set it down briefly, then shake it. Set it down briefly, then shake it. You'll hear the corn popping like mad.

Keep going until the popping subsides. Take the pan completely off the heat. Leave the lid on for a couple more seconds (in case there are any stragglers). Open the lid carefully - there will be a lot of steam. Put the popcorn in a bowl and top as you like.

I pop my popcorn on top the stove, my body's starting to reject these artifical flavorings more and more, I like Orville's kernels the best though, they're fluffier and have the best taste.

nutritional yeast? what's that suppose to do? is it bitter?

It is good to me, but in the same way McDonalds is good.

It's sort of a "I know this is terrible, but it's clearly been engineered to appeal to some sort of addiction receptors in my brain, and they are firing at the smell of this right now" kind of good.

morningsong said:

I pop my popcorn on top the stove, my body's starting to reject these artifical flavorings more and more, I like Orville's kernels the best though, they're fluffier and have the best taste.

nutritional yeast? what's that suppose to do? is it bitter?

It's delicious!

It's a good source of B vitamins (or so I've been told), but I just think it's yummy. It's hard to describe the taste - not bitter. Sort of non-descript savory, umami-ish. Keep in mind, this is nutritional yeast - not the kind you use to bake bread. You can usually get it in the bulk section at, say, Whole Foods.

What I like to do is put about a third of the popcorn in the bowl, drizzle it with melted butter, sprinkle it with popcorn salt and yeast, give it a little shake, then repeat a couple more times with the remaining popcorn.

Genesia said:

morningsong said:

I pop my popcorn on top the stove, my body's starting to reject these artifical flavorings more and more, I like Orville's kernels the best though, they're fluffier and have the best taste.

nutritional yeast? what's that suppose to do? is it bitter?

It's delicious!

It's a good source of B vitamins (or so I've been told), but I just think it's yummy. It's hard to describe the taste - not bitter. Sort of non-descript savory, umami-ish. Keep in mind, this is nutritional yeast - not the kind you use to bake bread. You can usually get it in the bulk section at, say, Whole Foods.

What I like to do is put about a third of the popcorn in the bowl, drizzle it with melted butter, sprinkle it with popcorn salt and yeast, give it a little shake, then repeat a couple more times with the remaining popcorn.

I've only had nutritional yeast once, on a salad, but it was really tasty. I was surprised, as I'd never heard of such a thing. But it was not what I expected.

NDRU said:

Genesia said:

It's delicious!

It's a good source of B vitamins (or so I've been told), but I just think it's yummy. It's hard to describe the taste - not bitter. Sort of non-descript savory, umami-ish. Keep in mind, this is nutritional yeast - not the kind you use to bake bread. You can usually get it in the bulk section at, say, Whole Foods.

What I like to do is put about a third of the popcorn in the bowl, drizzle it with melted butter, sprinkle it with popcorn salt and yeast, give it a little shake, then repeat a couple more times with the remaining popcorn.

I've only had nutritional yeast once, on a salad, but it was really tasty. I was surprised, as I'd never heard of such a thing. But it was not what I expected.

I know, right? It's a very hard taste to describe. Not salty, really - though there's a hint of that. The first time I tried it on popcorn (they've always had it at the arthouse movie theaters in town), I thought I'd died and gone to heaven.

I have an air popper. I bought it so I didn't have to deal with the oil. I like it but sometimes that popcorn gets to flying. I put a little real butter and some Tastefully Simple Seasoned Salt on mine.

I used to do the stovetop pop. I ended up burning a really good pan and making my house smell like a bonfire for a few days. Yeah, don't ever leave your popcorn unattended! But if you're not stupid like me, stovetop popcorn is probably the best.

My favorite microwave popcorn is the Jolly Time Healthy Pop Crispy White Naturally Flavored.

Genesia said:

NDRU said:

I've only had nutritional yeast once, on a salad, but it was really tasty. I was surprised, as I'd never heard of such a thing. But it was not what I expected.

I know, right? It's a very hard taste to describe. Not salty, really - though there's a hint of that. The first time I tried it on popcorn (they've always had it at the arthouse movie theaters in town), I thought I'd died and gone to heaven.

hmm, I might try that. Whole Foods only? no Trader Joe's?

morningsong said:

Genesia said:

I know, right? It's a very hard taste to describe. Not salty, really - though there's a hint of that. The first time I tried it on popcorn (they've always had it at the arthouse movie theaters in town), I thought I'd died and gone to heaven.

hmm, I might try that. Whole Foods only? no Trader Joe's?

I've never looked for it there, to be honest. I usually get it at WF or my local co-op. I don't think Trader Joe's (the one by me, anyway) has a bulk foods section. And I've never bought this stuff pre-packaged.

Anyone have one of those hot air popcorn poppers?

Do they still make them?

I have one of these, called a Whirleypop

It works well, the only big difference between it and just using a saucepan is that you turn the handle to stir it instead of having to lift the pan to swirl it around (preventing burning)

NDRU said:

I have one of these, called a Whirleypop

It works well, the only big difference between it and just using a saucepan is that you turn the handle to stir it instead of having to lift the pan to swirl it around (preventing burning)

My dad (a stovetop popper from waaaaayyyyyy back) loves his Stir Crazy...

[img:$uid]http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31EFVFbIpLL._AA300_.jpg[/img:$uid]

I've never gotten a dedicated popcorn popper because I (mostly) believe in Alton Brown's admonition not to have single-purpose gadgets, if you can help it. I just don't have room.

Genesia said:

I've never gotten a dedicated popcorn popper because I (mostly) believe in Alton Brown's admonition not to have single-purpose gadgets, if you can help it. I just don't have room.

Actually, I agree with this philosophy

boobies

We don't use microwave popcorns ( we do not even own a microwave lol ! )

I buy organic popcorn in bulk from the local market and we do ours the old fashion stove top way

TR makes incredible popcorn !!

JuliePurplehead said:

boobies

-n- hot air poppers !

Machaela said:

JuliePurplehead said:

boobies

-n- hot air poppers !

Just testing.

Machaela said:

We don't use microwave popcorns ( we do not even own a microwave lol ! )

I buy organic popcorn in bulk from the local market and we do ours the old fashion stove top way

TR makes incredible popcorn !!

I have one - but only because it's a built-in that came with my condo. The only thing I heat in it is water (and maybe bacon). For some reason, I just don't like the way it makes food taste.

THIS popcorn thread needs a theme:

Hot Butter -- Popcorn

One of the best synth-pop classics ever!

Genesia said:

NDRU said:

I have one of these, called a Whirleypop

It works well, the only big difference between it and just using a saucepan is that you turn the handle to stir it instead of having to lift the pan to swirl it around (preventing burning)

My dad (a stovetop popper from waaaaayyyyyy back) loves his Stir Crazy...

[img:$uid]http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31EFVFbIpLL._AA300_.jpg[/img:$uid]

I've never gotten a dedicated popcorn popper because I (mostly) believe in Alton Brown's admonition not to have single-purpose gadgets, if you can help it. I just don't have room.

I used to have one of these growing up;

It was great.

PurpleJedi said:

Genesia said:

My dad (a stovetop popper from waaaaayyyyyy back) loves his Stir Crazy...

[img:$uid]http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31EFVFbIpLL._AA300_.jpg[/img:$uid]

I've never gotten a dedicated popcorn popper because I (mostly) believe in Alton Brown's admonition not to have single-purpose gadgets, if you can help it. I just don't have room.

I used to have one of these growing up;

It was great.

We had one, too - and tossed it. Nobody in our family wanted to eat packing material - which is about all air-popped popcorn is good for.

NDRU said:

I have one of these, called a Whirleypop

It works well, the only big difference between it and just using a saucepan is that you turn the handle to stir it instead of having to lift the pan to swirl it around (preventing burning)

I have that. A different brand, but it looks the same. Need a new one, mine's getting pretty beat up.

JuliePurplehead said:

Machaela said:

-n- hot air poppers !

Just testing.

I notice ... most everything

Genesia said:

Machaela said:

We don't use microwave popcorns ( we do not even own a microwave lol ! )

I buy organic popcorn in bulk from the local market and we do ours the old fashion stove top way

TR makes incredible popcorn !!

I have one - but only because it's a built-in that came with my condo. The only thing I heat in it is water (and maybe bacon). For some reason, I just don't like the way it makes food taste.

I dont like the changes in texture or taste from one ~ we used to have one yrs ago that I gave away

I'd rather take the time to intentionally cook our foods the ole fashioned way ~ including cast iron pans

Genesia said:

PurpleJedi said:

I used to have one of these growing up;

It was great.

We had one, too - and tossed it. Nobody in our family wanted to eat packing material - which is about all air-popped popcorn is good for.

I call it "light & fluffy". And I stand by that!!!

Machaela said:

Genesia said:

I have one - but only because it's a built-in that came with my condo. The only thing I heat in it is water (and maybe bacon). For some reason, I just don't like the way it makes food taste.

I dont like the changes in texture or taste from one ~ we used to have one yrs ago that I gave away

I'd rather take the time to intentionally cook our foods the ole fashioned way ~ including cast iron pans

I'm with you! I have an old, perfectly seasoned cast iron skillet that I love. That thing has never seen soap - I wash it with hot water and coarse salt, then wipe it out with paper towels.

I also have a Sunbeam cast iron electric frying pan that belonged to my grandmother. That thing is older than I am (non-immersible - which tells you something) - and is still my favorite thing for making grilled cheese, French toast and pancakes.

PurpleJedi said:

Genesia said:

We had one, too - and tossed it. Nobody in our family wanted to eat packing material - which is about all air-popped popcorn is good for.

I call it "light & fluffy". And I stand by that!!!

Overheard at Genesia's childhood home...

Daddy, I don't like this popcorn. The salt won't stick to it!