Eating microwave popcorn increases the level of PFAS in body (2022) • Hacker News Board

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

#371

Post by sgtnoodle » Fri, Jun 23, 2023, 4:02 PM UTC

Azrael3000 wrote: post #154

sgtnoodle wrote: post #115

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Nice method, what infill do you need for that to work? 100% or is less possible?

You do need 100%, otherwise you'll end up with a void at the top once the plastic melts. You could experiment with intentionally designing in a "sprue" of extra material to melt and control where the void is, but I haven't tried it yet.

I've successfully used this method on a sun gear for a planetary gear box designed for a low speed, high torque application. Due to mechanical constraints, the gear only had about 1.2mm of wall thickness at a 5mm radius, and it was prone to shearing off. Remelting it in salt solved the shearing, without having to redesign anything else.

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

#372

Post by giraffe_lady » Fri, Jun 23, 2023, 4:05 PM UTC

jerf wrote: post #360

coldtea wrote: post #341

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Grinder means finer salt. I've never seen on-the-spot ground salt smaller than the stuff you can buy already grounded. Except if you buy flakes, but then why do so if you want finer salt?

It's just culinary cargo cult. You grind pepper and other such things because the flavor survives well in the peppercorn but degrades relatively rapidly in air, so waiting until the last minute to grind it results in better flavor. Oxidized pepper is easy to notice the difference in flavor profile and much lower complexity. Especially the pepper shakers that have been sitting at the restaurant table probably yea veri…

The reason you'd use a salt grinder is when you specifically want an inconsistent spread of grain sizes in one single application. Like salt flakes on ganache or caramel, or there's a beloved french butter with large crystals mixed into it.

Usually you'd just use two sizes of salt. I don't own a salt grinder, can't remember ever seeing one in a professional kitchen, don't recommend people buy them. But it does produce a particular effect that you could prefer for some applications.

And in fact I suspect popcorn might be one of the places where it would shine. An even background of salt dust with bursts of intense saltiness from larger grains sounds good here. I'm not going to buy a salt grinder to test it but it's not an absurd idea.

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

#373

Post by atentaten » Fri, Jun 23, 2023, 4:10 PM UTC

sideproject wrote: post #186

An oncologist in my family anecdotally told me how her patients are getting younger and younger - speculates (with research) that lots of food chemicals might be contributing. Since the beginning of this year, our family has been much more conscious of the ingredients in the food labels. Lots of additives with many different numbers. We've been trying to get back to more natural things with less numbers. We bought br…

Any brand recommendations on the ice cream maker and breadmaker?

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

#374

Post by sgtnoodle » Fri, Jun 23, 2023, 4:11 PM UTC

epcoa wrote: post #161

redox99 wrote: post #124

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

I would assume they are talking about a blade "coffee" grinder, which is ironically terrible for coffee.

Yeah, a blade coffee grinder. For sure don't run salt through your expensive burr grinder!

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

#375

Post by xkcd-sucks » Fri, Jun 23, 2023, 4:31 PM UTC

hutzlibu wrote: post #162

gruez wrote: post #122

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What's wrong with the anti-caking agents?

They are toxic. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_ferrocyanide The amount is small enough, that it is supposed to do no harm, but I just prefer my salt without cyanide.

With ferrocyanide in particular ([Fe(CN)6]4−), the reason cyanide (CN-) is such bad news is also the reason it's safe complexed to iron: Iron-Cyanide coordination is very strongly favored by thermodynamics and kinetics, so it likes to stick to iron, sticks very quickly, and un-sticks itself very slowly. When cyanide is not already coordinated to iron, it coordinates to the iron in hemoglobin (+ COX enzymes in mitochondria, and other less immediately important enzymes) and makes them not work, basically forever. But when CN- is already stuck coordinated to free iron, it doesn't really fall off enough to stick itself to enzymes in any meaningful amount. It would be more of a problem if CN- accumulated, but it's metabolized and excreted quickly enough to not be a big deal. The LD50 values basically reflect this.

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

#376

Post by toastal » Fri, Jun 23, 2023, 4:34 PM UTC

aksss wrote: post #191

toastal wrote: post #133

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Sprayed with cooking spray, then dusted with flavored gelatin power & quickly popped in the oven, you will get something that resembles those flavored popcorns with a sucker-like candy shell.

What flavors do you prefer (for gelatin powda?)

Whatever your favorite is, but I’d probably reach for cherry.

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

#377

Post by JohnFen » Fri, Jun 23, 2023, 4:53 PM UTC

369548684892826 wrote: post #141

gpvos wrote: post #135

Earlier quoted context omitted.

10 quarts = 11.3 l I had no idea that a quart is about a litre.

The other one that threw me is how am I supposed to measure 1/8th cup of butter?

1/8th of a cup is 2 tablespoons.

But I prefer to measure butter (and most other things -- especially sticky/messy/powdery things) by weight because it's easier. 1 cup of butter weighs about 227 grams, so 1/8 cup is about 27 grams.

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

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Post by stevenwoo » Fri, Jun 23, 2023, 5:00 PM UTC

camhart wrote: post #13

cosmodisk wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Or simply use large saucepan. Pour some oil to cover its base, wait until the oil gets high temperature, pour corn. Then, shake it every now and then. We used to make tons of them when we were kids and even now I make it occasionally, when we do movie nights at home

I've found I burn the popcorn often with this. Maybe just a lack of experience (we always had an air popper growing up). You can also use small amounts of butter (or I guess oil if you wanted) with the silicone popper or air popper. Having enough oil to cover the base seems like a lot more oil? I could be wrong, just guessing.

You may be using too high a heat. I've found the highest setting on my stovetop makes it a pretty high probability some popped kernels will burn (or many if I make a mistake) but a lower setting is sufficient to pop almost every kernel and reduce the risk of burning with techniques people describe in other posts. The air popper I tried tended to leave quite a few unpopped kernels with the same corn kernels I use on the stove top.

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

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Post by greedo » Fri, Jun 23, 2023, 5:25 PM UTC

jrmg wrote: post #353

linsomniac wrote: post #316

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm a "heat kernels to just below popping and then pop" fan, since trying this method a decade ago. The goal is to get all the kernels to pop in a relatively short window, so nothing sits there to burn. Method: - Prepare: Measure out 1/3 cup of popcorn and have a serving bowl ready. - Add high temp oil to the pot. I use 1-2tbs of coconut oil. - Place in stock pot along with 3 kernels over medium high heat. - Cover wi…

With this method, the popping is reasonably quick, and the temperature fairly consistent, so, despite the advice seemingly everywhere in the internet, high temp oil isn’t actually necessary. Be careful and you can use olive oil (though that tastes a bit weird) or even butter.

I use clarified butter since it has a higher melting point, and it even flavors the popcorn.

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

#380

Post by PhilipRoman » Fri, Jun 23, 2023, 5:33 PM UTC

askvictor wrote: post #89

InvaderFizz wrote: post #33

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.

Not an expert on this, but after buying both types of salt from the same manufacturer and comparing them, the pre-ground one has a different texture and is less pleasant to eat; almost like it was mixed with dust.