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Eating microwave popcorn increases the level of PFAS in body (2022)

uclahealth.org

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Re: Eating microwave popcorn increases the level of PFAS in body (2022)

#121
post #4

Something I learned a few weeks ago: Put 1/3 cup kernels in a large brown paper lunch bag and fold the top down several times. Microwave as normal, bag standing up, listening for pops to slow down. Air pops in the bag with no issues. Salt (and ghee) after you dump it in the bowl. I have stopped using my whirlypopper.

You can even staple the bag closed. But now I'm a whirlypop convert. Coconut oil and flavacol popcorn salt. Yum.

> Coconut oil and flavacol popcorn salt

I used to work at a movie theater, this is the way.

Re: Eating microwave popcorn increases the level of PFAS in body (2022)

#122

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Out of interest, why do you prefer a salt grinder? I've never understood why these exist. Pepper grinders, absolutely - the aromatics are released on grinding. By not so with salt. Curious if I'm missing something.

I've asked my mother the exact same question a couple of weeks ago. She said, that as salt is hygroscopic "table salt" comes with anti-cacking agents. Salt which comes as larger crystals doesn't need them.

What's wrong with the anti-caking agents?

Re: Eating microwave popcorn increases the level of PFAS in body (2022)

#123
post #108
post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Especially since someone who eats microwave popcorn EVERY DAY is someone who clearly treats their body like a garbage can

it's cheap, even vegan probably (if not buttered), not full of sugar, etc. what's wrong with it? yes, every day seems suboptimal, but it's not trivial to have a varied balanced healthy diet, and folks need to eat every day (usually at least twice).

The reality of commercial microwave popcorn is the problem, not the "idea" of microwave popcorn, if that makes sense.

What I mean is, if you make homemade microwave popcorn with good oils and a pinch of salt it's presumably fine. But the cheap packets you buy in the store, brand-name or not, are full of crap - rancid, cheap oils, additives and preservatives of all kinds, weird artificial flavors, almost certainly a ridiculous amount of salt and sugar, and now possibly packaging that's of such poor quality it leeches PFAs. It's not the corn that's the problem.

Re: Eating microwave popcorn increases the level of PFAS in body (2022)

#124
post #103

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It’s easy enough in the US to just buy fine grained salt.

A coffee grinder will quickly make a lot of really fine salt. I do that when I need to heat treat 3D printed parts to improve their material strength. You pack the part into fine salt, bake it at the original extrusion temperature, then slowly let it cool down. The plastic liquefies, and the packed salt holds its shape.

That'll probably really fuck up a coffee grinder, so make sure you don't use it for coffee.

Re: Eating microwave popcorn increases the level of PFAS in body (2022)

#125
post #122

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've asked my mother the exact same question a couple of weeks ago. She said, that as salt is hygroscopic "table salt" comes with anti-cacking agents. Salt which comes as larger crystals doesn't need them.

What's wrong with the anti-caking agents?

I wouldn't trust anyone that is against cake

Re: Eating microwave popcorn increases the level of PFAS in body (2022)

#126
post #122

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've asked my mother the exact same question a couple of weeks ago. She said, that as salt is hygroscopic "table salt" comes with anti-cacking agents. Salt which comes as larger crystals doesn't need them.

What's wrong with the anti-caking agents?

Well it's not salt for one.

Re: Eating microwave popcorn increases the level of PFAS in body (2022)

#127

> people who ate microwave popcorn every day over the course of a year had levels of PFAS that were up to 63% higher than average. You're probably fine if you have microwave popcorn once a fortnight, tho as other said you can use a pan or pot just fine.

Eating microwave popcorn every single day seems kind of insane lol

Re: Eating microwave popcorn increases the level of PFAS in body (2022)

#128

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I’ve never found a salt grinder able to sustain the salt corrosion in the long run. Sooner or later, salt is aggregating and turning even the more resistant parts into rust. I was recently planning to get back to a regular pestle/mortar setup after yet another costly failure. Did you manage to find a way to work this around?

> I’ve never found a salt grinder able to sustain the salt corrosion in the long run There are ceramic grinders now. I'd expect those to not rust, but I don't know how long they stay sharp.

You can make ceramics harder than the hardest steel so staying sharp shouldn’t be a problem.

Re: Eating microwave popcorn increases the level of PFAS in body (2022)

#129

Best popcorn you can make is cheap and easy cleanup. Take one large pot (the kind that holds like 10qts). Cover the bottom with kernels. Add a bit of oil, basically just enough to swirl and have everything covered in an oil sheen, not enough to have them submerged. Cover, put on high (I use gas). I like to suspend a paper towel between the lid and the rest of the pot, absorbs excess oil and water. Once popping slows,…

Out of interest, why do you prefer a salt grinder? I've never understood why these exist. Pepper grinders, absolutely - the aromatics are released on grinding. By not so with salt. Curious if I'm missing something.

pre-ground salt often contains sugar (as an ingredient, it's on the package).

Re: Eating microwave popcorn increases the level of PFAS in body (2022)

#130
post #103

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It’s easy enough in the US to just buy fine grained salt.

A coffee grinder will quickly make a lot of really fine salt. I do that when I need to heat treat 3D printed parts to improve their material strength. You pack the part into fine salt, bake it at the original extrusion temperature, then slowly let it cool down. The plastic liquefies, and the packed salt holds its shape.

A good blender works too.
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