TIL about the 'missing step' in microwave popcorn instructions

I read online that if you don't let the bag sit for 2 minutes after popping, the steam escapes and you get chewy kernels... has anyone else noticed that difference?

3 comments

3 Comments

rosep874d agoMost Upvoted

Oh come on, that's just marketing nonsense people use to sound smart. I've been microwaving popcorn for YEARS and I never let it sit. I rip that bag open IMMEDIATELY the second the popping slows down and my popcorn turns out PERFECT every single time. The REAL missing step is shaking the bag halfway through the cook cycle so the unpopped kernels fall to the bottom. If your popcorn is chewy it's because you OVERCOOKED it and burnt the outside, not because of some magical steam "resting" period.

ryanj604d ago

Wait, have you ever actually tested this side by side though? I tried the whole "resting" thing once after reading about it online and honestly, it just made my popcorn soggy and weird. But I also have a confession: I'm that weirdo who burns popcorn like half the time because I get distracted by whatever video I'm watching on my phone. So maybe I'm not the best test subject here (don't trust me with kitchen timers). I prefer the stovetop method myself, using a big pot with some oil and those loose kernels in a jar. Way more control, even if it does take an extra few minutes. But yeah, that shaking tip you mentioned is solid, I always forget to do that in the microwave and end up with a handful of rocks at the bottom of the bag.

blake_cooper1d ago

Shaking it halfway is a game changer, nobody talks about that enough.