Is there a way to fully pop microwave popcorn? Seems like such a waste leaving all those unpopped kernels.
Best to let them go as casualties. The more you try to get them to pop the more you risk scorching the others. It’s just not worth it.
I like eating the leftover kernels after I’ve eaten all the popcorn. It’s sometimes the best part, especially if there are a lot of half popped ones.
The half popped ones and the ones with maybe just a little white sticking through are pretty awesome. Some of those unpopped ones are pretty tough though.
Anyone call the unpopped corns “old maids?” I’ve heard them referred as that, but I don’t really call them such myself.
I’ve not made a controlled study but it seems that the more powerful the microwave the few unpopped kernels. Of course this could just be improving quality of microwave popcorn coinciding with me buying a more powerful device. Probably not worth buying a new microwave but worth adding to the features list on your next one.
And of course, the phenomenon will vary across different brands of popcorn.
I’ve had good success with Orville Redenbacher’s.
Me too. Safeway store brand popcorn never worked for me - either lots of unpopped kernels or scorching - but Orville only has a few unpopped kernels when the microwave is set to exactly the time they recommend. No scorching. I bought a box at Costco, and the stuff I’m popping now is at least a year old, but it still comes out nearly perfect.
I’ve always called 'em “duds”.
I have successfully and deliciously popped unpopped kernels in an open bowl, in the microwave. So now… I’m saving them all up until I get enough, and then I’ll pop them all at once.
Warning labels are just put there by capitalist popcorn-mongers, man…
Oh yes. They have a deeply satisfying density of crunchfulness. I would love to figure out how to maximize the barely-popped kernels. My dental work does not concur, however.
I’ve heard them called that too and also don’t do so myself. I think my grandfather called them that. I still half-consciously associate unpopped kernels with the card game.
Now THAT’S an idea!
What’s the expansion factor on re-popped kernels? Do they tend to completely pop or just partially pop?
I’ve done that.
And of course there will still be some unpopped . . . so you should save them . . . and repeat . . .
Eventually you will have unpopped kernels that will survive a nuclear attack.