# Microwave Popcorn Kernels **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 26, 2009, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microwave-popcorn-kernels/497668 "2009-05-26T13:24:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microwave-popcorn-kernels/497668/1 "2009-05-26T13:24:18Z")
Is there a way to fully pop microwave popcorn? Seems like such a waste leaving all those unpopped kernels. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microwave-popcorn-kernels/497668/2 "2009-05-26T13:32:30Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microwave-popcorn-kernels/497668/3 "2009-05-26T14:15:52Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microwave-popcorn-kernels/497668/4 "2009-05-26T14:54:19Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![tim-n-va](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim-n-va/32/3001_2.png) [@tim-n-va](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim-n-va)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microwave-popcorn-kernels/497668/5 "2009-05-26T17:34:56Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![vertizontal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/ad7895/32.png) [@vertizontal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vertizontal)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microwave-popcorn-kernels/497668/6 "2009-05-26T21:16:08Z")
And of course, the phenomenon will vary across different brands of popcorn. I’ve had good success with [Orville Redenbacher’s](http://www.orville.com/products_butter_all.jsp#products). ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microwave-popcorn-kernels/497668/7 "2009-05-26T23:06:47Z")
> [@vertizontal](#): > > And of course, the phenomenon will vary across different brands of popcorn. > I’ve had good success with [Orville Redenbacher’s](http://www.orville.com/products_butter_all.jsp#products). 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. ---
**Author:** ![Spectralist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Spectralist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectralist)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microwave-popcorn-kernels/497668/8 "2009-05-26T23:27:16Z")
> [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](#): > > 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 always called 'em “duds”. ---
**Author:** ![Dilton\_Doiley\_Philosopher\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f1d935/32.png) [@Dilton\_Doiley\_Philosopher\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dilton_Doiley_Philosopher_King)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2009, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microwave-popcorn-kernels/497668/9 "2009-05-27T00:43:39Z")
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… ---
**Author:** ![emmaliminal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7bcc69/32.png) [@emmaliminal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emmaliminal)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2009, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microwave-popcorn-kernels/497668/10 "2009-05-27T01:02:20Z")
> [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](#): > > The half popped ones and the ones with maybe just a little white sticking through are pretty awesome… 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. > [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](#): > > 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 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](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Maid). ---
**Author:** ![emmaliminal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7bcc69/32.png) [@emmaliminal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emmaliminal)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2009, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microwave-popcorn-kernels/497668/11 "2009-05-27T01:04:16Z")
> [@Dilton\_Doiley\_Philosopher\_King](#): > > 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. … Now THAT’S an idea! What’s the expansion factor on re-popped kernels? Do they tend to completely pop or just partially pop? ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2009, 8:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microwave-popcorn-kernels/497668/12 "2009-05-27T08:31:28Z")
> [@Dilton\_Doiley\_Philosopher\_King](#): > > 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… 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.