You know what this blog needs? Is more brown paper bags! I've enjoyed baking fish in a brown paper bag and I'm satisfied that there are no health risks to using them for cooking purposes.
Let me assure you that brown paper lunch bags are not made of recycled paper, the cooking time (2.5 minutes) will do nothing to the paper and the use of one staple is not dangerous, it will not spark in your microwave and no damage will be done to you or your appliance.
I also recently tripped upon Alton Brown's method of "make your own microwave popcorn" and I'm very pleased to say that the method works, kinda. I found his recipe when I was concerned about the recent news of commercial microwave popcorn being not that good for you (albeit still tasty).
I first tried his recipe with fine sea salt and olive oil but sadly it didn't taste that good as the olive oil was too heavy and the sea salt fell to the bottom of the bag (rather than adhere to the kernels).
My second attempt was marginally better with the use of more sea salt and corn oil.
My third, final and most successful attempt was achieved when I finally found popcorn salt at my local bulk food store.
Alton is right (again), this fine popcorn salt adheres better to the popcorn and it tasted as good as any other microwave popcorn that's out there. You may also add a dash of any of the popcorn flavourings that are out there. So long Orville Redenbacher!
Microwave Popcorn at Home
1/4 cup good popping corn
2 tsp. of corn oil
1/2 tsp. of popcorn salt
paper lunch bag
stapler
- In a bowl, toss the popcorn with the oil and salt. Slide the contents into a brown paper lunch bag.
- Fold the top of the bag and staple once.
- Microwave on "High" for 2.2 minutes (no burnt popcorn).
- Carefully take the bag out of the microwave, pour into a bowl and add any other flavouring you desire.
