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

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

#51

Post by MrDunham »

cosmodisk wrote: post #30
camhart wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

There's an element of practice too. Ideally, you want a very thin layer of oil to cover the base, or maybe even less. It doesn't need to be a lot. Also an average saucepan would produce quite a lot popcorn To prevent burning, shaking and occasionally lifting off the hob is required. Also not adding too much corn helps a lot. The maximum a saucepan can take is when the entire base is covered with them.

I've found 50% oil by volume to kernels works great.

Eg 1/3 cup kernels, fill same cup halfway (1/6 cup), add flavacol to the oil in the measuring cup & stir, mix with kernels in a saucepan over heat. Love life

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

#52

Post by 01100011 »

camhart wrote: post #3

Microwave popcorn (in the bag) is garbage. I found I much prefer using a silicone popper [1], and then adding my own butter/salt to it. Tastes just like when I use an air popper. Since that approach doesn't use the popcorn bag, would it then be free from PFAS? [1] https://www.amazon.com/Proper-Popper-Microwave-Collapsible-D...

Yep. Got a silicone popper and love it. Much more efficient than stovetop, too.

Decide if you like white or yellow corn, find a good brand, and buy it cheap, in-bulk, for a cheap and nutritious snack. You'll notice significant variation in unpopped kernels between brands.

I spray my kernels lightly with avocado oil and sprinkle popcorn salt(finer than normal to improve adhesion) before popping. I eat at least one large bowl a day now.

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

#53

Post by soligern »

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,…

That’s way too much work. Buy big bag of organic Amish baby corn. Buy a silicone popcorn maker. Toss a handful of popcorn in with some olive oil. Microwave for 3.5 minutes or until you hear only 2 pops a second. Sprinkle with salt. Done. Also a $20 bag will probably make more than a hundred bowls.

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

#54

Post by 01100011 »

colordrops wrote: post #9
camhart wrote: post #3

Microwave popcorn (in the bag) is garbage. I found I much prefer using a silicone popper [1], and then adding my own butter/salt to it. Tastes just like when I use an air popper. Since that approach doesn't use the popcorn bag, would it then be free from PFAS? [1] https://www.amazon.com/Proper-Popper-Microwave-Collapsible-D...

Does the silicone leech anything? Seems like a metal popper on the stove would be best.

Microwave doesn't heat up your house as much and is probably faster.

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

#56

Post by leetrout »

hackernudes wrote: post #26
leetrout wrote: 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.

Indeed. That is the way.

I measure a heaping tablespoon of solidified ghee and melt it and add 1 tsp flavacol and toss the popped corn with it to get a similar flavor.

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

#57

Post by Fezzik »

maxbond wrote: post #37
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,…

You can get pretty varied with the seasoning too. Parmesan is my favorite, but I like Italian herbs, nutritional yeast, garlic powder. You can throw a bunch of stuff on there together.

Popcorn is a magnificent flavor-vehicle! My personal favorite is to melt salt, ginger, and sugar in butter and toss the popcorn in that tasty mixture. Or just douse the popped-kernels in sriracha.

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

#58

Post by ibiza »

cosmodisk wrote: post #30
camhart wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

There's an element of practice too. Ideally, you want a very thin layer of oil to cover the base, or maybe even less. It doesn't need to be a lot. Also an average saucepan would produce quite a lot popcorn To prevent burning, shaking and occasionally lifting off the hob is required. Also not adding too much corn helps a lot. The maximum a saucepan can take is when the entire base is covered with them.

I use this method as well. To add some specifics, I use a 4 qt saucepan to produce enough for two people. I use enough oil to liberally cover the bottom (glug glug). This is not diet food, excess oil tends to remain in the pot anyway, and I believe most of the heat transfer is oil to corn as opposed to from the pot itself, so you need ample hot oil for a good batch.

To judge when the oil is hot enough for the corn, I add 3 kernels to the initial pot + oil. Once those 3 kernels pop, add enough corn to cover the base of the pan, swirl the hot oil w/ the new kernels, replace cover, but leave slightly ajar to allow steam to escape, and then yeah, a couple more swirls & you should have a perfect batch in about a minute or so.

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

#59

Post by Fezzik »

MrDunham wrote: post #48
throwaway892238 wrote: post #39

Make oil-free microwave popcorn by buying a collapsible silicone bowl, filling it with kernels, and nuking it for 3 minutes. Low calorie snack, no mess, no cleanup. I find salt sticks to it best afterward by sprinkling with a little water.

The low calorie part is questionable. Popcorn has (off I remember right) quite a lot more calories than you'd expect. Source: I started getting fat of popcorn every day and am typically considered skinny/fit. Then I read the label and got sad.

Unadorned popped kernels are relatively low calorie, I think - 3 cups is less than 100 calories. Popcorn is also a decent source of roughage.

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

#60

Post by zonkerdonker »

maxbond wrote: post #37
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,…

You can get pretty varied with the seasoning too. Parmesan is my favorite, but I like Italian herbs, nutritional yeast, garlic powder. You can throw a bunch of stuff on there together.

Tabasco is incredible on popcorn, give it a shot. I like to mix it in with the melted butter before tossing it all
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