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Friday, May 29, 2009

Inexpensive Microwave Popcorn


I am always looking for ways to cut our grocery budget. One of the ways that I like to do this is to try to eliminate some of the snack foods and convenience foods that we buy. I try to make these items myself instead of paying store prices for them.

There are two benefits to doing this. First, it saves us money. Second, I usually make the snacks healthier than the ones I would have bought at the grocery store. Microwave popcorn is one of the snacks that I've been making myself.

I simply put 2 T. of popcorn kernals into a brown lunch sack. I fold the top down just enough for the bag to sit upright in my microwave. I pop it in the microwave for about 1-1/2 minutes. (This burns just as easily as the microwave popcorn that you buy in the store! Not that I learned that by experience or anything.....) Once it's popped, I pour it into a bowl, stir, and lightly spray it with canola oil spray. I then add salt, parmesan cheese, or any other seasoning that sounds good at the time.

Do-it-yourself microwave popcorn can be made for pennies! It tastes great, and it's much healthier.

For more great frugal tips, stop by Frugal Fridy sponsored by Life as Mom.

3 comments:

Aisling said...

I never thought of using paper bags. I have tried it in containers, but you need something with a heavy or secure (but not airtight) lid.

microwaveguru said...

This is extremely dangerous and can easily cause a fire in your microwave oven. Microwave popcorn bags have flame retardants in the paper, your brown paper sack does not, Please don't do this anymore and warn your readers away from it. If you want a cheap way to make popcorn in your microwave oven buy a microwave popcorn popper - they work very well and are safe. I'm a microwve scientist and worked with microwave ovens for nearly 50 ears and own about 50 ovens. I also have a patent on microwave popcorn.

Jennifer said...

Wow! I had no idea! I've never heard of a microwave popcorn popper before. What is it? How does it work? Wouldn't a bowl with a vented lid work too? I certainly don't want anyone's microwave to catch on fire!