Yes, homemade microwave popcorn, and it really works! I was skeptical. I didn’t believe it could be that easy, but IT IS! Lisa, from Snack Snoop, has shared her how-to for Homemade Microwave Popcorn.
It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3:
- Put 1/4 cup popcorn in a brown paper bag. Fold top over a few times and tape it.
- Place in microwave folded side upfor 2 to 3 minutes or until there is 5 seconds between pops.
- Eat plain or add flavors (such as salt, butter, sugar, etc.)

With this system of microwave popping, you can:
- control the amount of salt and butter
- reuse the paper bag again and again
- save money from buying the corn kernels, which yields a lot more popcorn
- pop popcorn fast, without getting out the heavy machinery
I just can’t get enough of this popcorn, we make it all the time! It’s been a great after-school snack. Thanks, Lisa!






















{ 59 comments… read them below or add one }
Wow! Who knew it was so easy?? Thanks for the awesome tip!
This is BRILLIANT! I know it’s 6:58am, but I’m going to try this…now!
I can’t wait to try that. I’ve always wondered if there was a way…
Okay, that is seriously cool. Who would have thought?
I have a recipe for microwave caramel corn…my Mom used to make it for us as kids. Delicious and easy clean up! I’ll have to try making buttered popcorn this way…my kids go through it like crazy!
I love this trick! Plus, seeds are so much cheaper. You don’t even have to tape the bag.
We’ve been doing this for almost a year and like you said, it’s so nice. I send as a last minute snack with my husband to work all the time. Just keep a close eye on it so you don’t burn it. We have done that once or twice.
I don’t comment much, but always read. Thanks for the great blog!
I’ve always added oil to my kernels before popping, but this would save me the calories and make the bag reusable. I am so doing this for my son’s snack today. Thanks!
I’ve been doing this for over a year now and we love it. We don’t use tape though. Just make sure the crease on the folds are really tight and you should be good!
SO COOL! Do you use a grocery size paper bag or a lunch sack paper bag??
This is so cool and I can’t wait to try it!!
That is so cool!! I had no idea, I am going to try that!!!
I was just wondering, seriously the other day if you could do this. You must have read my thoughts…Great post and answer to my questions.
Yeah, i third the motion. You don’t need the tape as long as you fold it good and don’t put too many seeds in it.
That’s fabulous because we don’t own a popcorn maker. I love this!
Wow. Who knew that it was that easy! I will have to try this at home. Unless its full of fattening, buttery goodness, I rarely like the kind from the store.
Wow! What an awesome idea…sometimes I think we let modern conveniences make us forget about doing it the plain ol’ simple ways! I had a roommate once who didn’t even know you could make brownies without a brownie mix. ha ha. Anyhow, this looks fun…my family and I will have to give it a try. YAY!
I use both microwave bags and the old fashion on the stove top method (when I have more time), but this method is pure genius! Thank you for sharing!
Great Site…I’ll be a reg. reader:)
You can also staple the bag with top staples instead of using tape. Yes, I know you are freaking out metal in the microwave, but I have done it many times with no firework shows yet.
Who knew?! I am now a little embarrassed about how much microwave popcorn I have purchased in my lifetime!
This is great. I can’t wait to try this method.
Thank you!
Ashley, with CWDkids
http://www.kidbits.cwdkids.com
I am so going to try this!
My mom found something similar to this at a Farmer’s Market – only it was on the cob still – but same idea, cooking it in a paper bag in the microwave – and it was the best popcorn I’ve eaten! We’ll have to try it this way as well. :)
Love this idea gotta try it
Very cool, but I still prefer popcorn made on the stove!! http://urbanpioneerwoman.blogspot.com/2009/09/money-saving-monday-homemade-popcorn.html
Thank you for this. I love popcorn but hate that stuff that microwave popcorn leaves on the roof of your mouth and tongue, I mean, what is that stuff? So, I normally make it on the stove but if I can save myself a few more calories by not using oil, grrreat!
Just tried this- worked like a charm! Thanks for the idea!
sounds so simple! Brilliant!
Brilliant! I love popcorn!
STAPLES OKAY TOO …. you can also use 2 staples to hold it shut. I saw this idea on GOOD EATS (on food network), and that is what he used. I’ve used it for years with no trouble. Thanks for posting such a great explanation!
Plus, he used a tsp of olive oil & 1/2 tsp of popcorn salt
Well isn’t THAT cool! Talk about a GREAT way to save money. You could add popcorn flavor sprinkles to it too!!!
This method works fine. But I found when the paper bag was reused more than once or twice, it tended to catch fire, so I stuck to one use only. (After melting the inside of the microwave door.)
doesn’t the tape melt?? I will give it a try soon.
Was that a grocery sized bag or brown lunch bag?
Thanks for posting this; apparently I was one of the few people in America who didn’t know you could make popcorn in a brown bag in the microwave without any oil. So much more healthy, and no bulky air popper to store. I’ve made brown bag popcorn almost once a week since I saw this post last month.
I was stumbling and you came up!! Of course I had to give it a thumbs up!!!!
Tiff and Jessica … lunch bag. (similar to size of the store bought microwave popcorn bags)
Okay, now I KNOW I’m old! I remember when Daddy bought our first microwave oven, and that was the ONLY way you could make popcorn in the microwave! Thanks for the reminder!
This is amazing! I am so grateful for this recipe; we have used it a dozen times at least in the last few months. Thank you!
We love popcorn! Can’t wait to try it and so simple! This would be fun for the kids and they can try different toppings- sugar and cinnamon, etc.
Jen
Creative and Curious Kids!
what is the corn thats used? is it dried, or could you use sweetcorn from a tin?? i so want to try this though!!
Not to mention that the stuff in the butter flavoring in microwave popcorn is a known carcinogen. Yet they still put that stuff in there. Stop buying microwave popcorn and feeding it to your kids. It’s chock full o’ poison.
Thanks for this, I’ve been popping it on the stove since I learned what’s in the microwave stuff. I’m gonna try this tonite!
We used to do this all the time when I was a kid when microwave popcorn first came about, don’t know why we stopped. I know microwaves have the instructions to only use “microwave popcorn” only, but probably for the popcorn button, and is a just disclaimer.
I will have to start it again. I don’t like what they put on the microwave popcorn, smells good but way to salty.
Amy – We’ve just used regular popping corn from a store bought bag or jar. I’ve not tried any other corn, but if you do and it works, let me know.
To the people who didn’t know to use a lunch sack or grocery sack–just how big ARE your microwaves? :P Also, I find that the bottom of my bags always get holes from the trapped steam and pressure, so I can’t reuse them. Could just be that the ones I have are super cheap, though.
oh that’s fabulous!
This does work, we did it all the time as kids.
Why a bag? I always use a bowl and cover it up with a plate. Works fine and it’s not that hard to wash…
This is an AMAZING idea, especially considering the growing evidence of how DANGEROUS and CANCER CAUSING store-bought microwave popcorn can be (due to the plastic in the inside lining). Thank you!
I’ve tried it the Food Network way with the oil and salt added to the kernels in the bag and the oil just soaks into the bag leaving no flavor on the popcorn. Pop it dry and add it afterward.
FYI- DON’T use a grocery sized bag. I just tried it and it caught fire in my microwave and melted the roof! Thankfully I was right there and put it out quick!
Going to try it with a bowl next time…
I’m known as a popcorn connoisseur among my circle of friends & family, and the best way to cook popcorn is on the stove. Get a pan, pour some oil in the bottom so the kernels don’t stick, then pop! I’ve had a lot of microwave popcorn, but stove-top popcorn (and not that Jiffy crap either) is by far the best popcorn I’ve ever had!
crunch crunch
this is the best trick for kids! we’ll have a popcorn bar where we add toppings.
This is simply smashing. Can’t wait to have the children make their own bag. We’ll have a topping bar. Any more such snacks?
I’ve always done the same as Evil1 – I use a pyrex dish and then i can see it whilst it’s in the microwave, making it easier to judge when it’s done.
this is cool
{ 9 trackbacks }