# Way to make popcorn with no oil or disposable gadget? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 27, 2012, 9:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/way-to-make-popcorn-with-no-oil-or-disposable-gadget/645263 "2012-12-27T09:10:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2012, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/way-to-make-popcorn-with-no-oil-or-disposable-gadget/645263/21 "2012-12-27T22:05:42Z")
> [@TimeWinder](#): > > That said, these are probably the best option these days: [Microwave Popping Bowl](http://www.amazon.com/Nordic-Ware-60120-Microwaver-Popcorn/dp/B00004W4UP/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1356604418&sr=8-1&keywords=microwave+popping+bowl). No oil, and it’s faster and quieter than an air popper, and doesn’t throw popcorn around the room when it gets bumped. I’m recommending the microwave bowls in general, I don’t know about that specific brand; but I think they’re all basically the same. I second this. Usually I put in a touch of butter but it also works well dry. ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2012, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/way-to-make-popcorn-with-no-oil-or-disposable-gadget/645263/22 "2012-12-28T07:30:24Z")
> [@Seanette](#): > > Would a hot-air popper suit you? Yeah, seriously, these things have been the standard for like a quarter century now! Do they even still make oil-based ones?! ---
**Author:** ![\_Olive](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/_/4af34b/32.png) [@\_Olive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/_Olive)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2012, 8:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/way-to-make-popcorn-with-no-oil-or-disposable-gadget/645263/23 "2012-12-28T08:46:46Z")
I pop corn in the micro in a corning bowl with a plate on top. No oil. No special corn. ---
**Author:** ![Gestalt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/90ced4/32.png) [@Gestalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gestalt)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2012, 10:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/way-to-make-popcorn-with-no-oil-or-disposable-gadget/645263/24 "2012-12-28T10:10:51Z")
How are the popcorn microwave bowls different from a regular bowl with a vented lid? ---
**Author:** ![Pixel\_Dent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bc8723/32.png) [@Pixel\_Dent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pixel_Dent)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2012, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/way-to-make-popcorn-with-no-oil-or-disposable-gadget/645263/25 "2012-12-28T16:17:52Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > We used this [microwave popper](http://www.amazon.com/Nordic-Ware-60120-Microwaver-Popcorn/dp/B00004W4UP/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1356609912&sr=8-1&keywords=microwave+popcorn+popper) at work and it was great. Cheap and functional. We used regular popcorn- no special popcorn or anything. > ETA: what **TimeWinder** said. Yep, that’s the one we use at home. Works great. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2012, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/way-to-make-popcorn-with-no-oil-or-disposable-gadget/645263/26 "2012-12-28T16:20:59Z")
If you want to go retro, you could get an [old-fashioned wire basket popcorn popper](http://compare.ebay.com/like/290729561101?var=lv<yp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes&var=sbar). ---
**Author:** ![randwill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@randwill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/randwill)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2012, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/way-to-make-popcorn-with-no-oil-or-disposable-gadget/645263/27 "2012-12-28T16:28:08Z")
> [@Pixel\_Dent](#): > > Yep, that’s the one we use at home. Works great. Are there any special characteristics that make this ideal for popping pop corn as opposed to using any ol’ microwave-safe bowl? ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2012, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/way-to-make-popcorn-with-no-oil-or-disposable-gadget/645263/28 "2012-12-28T16:47:38Z")
Magnifying glass, sunny day, and a lot of patience 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/way-to-make-popcorn-with-no-oil-or-disposable-gadget/645263.md?page=1)