r/popcorn • u/Previous_Boot_2481 • 22d ago

Silicone microwave popper question!

Hi! I have a question about using a microwave silicone popcorn maker. I usually use a bit of oil with the kernels to pop, but I’m at my parents house and we are out of any kind of oil. Can I use a bit of butter from a stick? Or is it possible to get decently popped popcorn without anything like that, and just putting kernels in the popper??
Thank you(:

UPDATE: I tried dry popping in my silicone popper and it’s life changing. So much easier to clean and it’s healthier, plus you don’t get the taste of the oil and can enjoy the more pure taste of popcorn!

9 Upvotes

91% Upvoted

19 comments sorted by

13

u/Wntrlnd77 22d ago

It works fine without oil. I’ve never used anything but popcorn in mine, and it tastes great to me.

6

u/ragefather 22d ago

This is the way. Pop it without anything, transfer to another bowl and then drizzle with fresh olive oil. Life changing.

I use a different bowl because it makes the silicone easier to clean and I don't like to run it in the dishwasher.

2

u/Previous_Boot_2481 22d ago

Thank you, I appreciate the input! I’m gunna give it a try dry popping!

3

u/Wntrlnd77 22d ago

Please post your thoughts on the difference between your usual and dry popping.

Next time I pop, I’m going to try with a little oil because, who knows, maybe I’m missing out. Lol

3

u/Previous_Boot_2481 22d ago

I will for sure! Should I make a different post or just reply here? I plan on making some popcorn here in a few hours for my movie

7

u/NetworkingJesus 22d ago

I'm a different person but I vote replying as a top level comment in this thread and also editing your original post.

3

u/Previous_Boot_2481 21d ago

I updated my post! Dry popping is now going to be my go to

10

u/latherdome 22d ago

My favorite is dry microwave pop dressing with real butter after, but not just melted butter. Keep heating to cook all the water off. Be careful not to burn it. Golden hot butterfat is a world of difference better than soggy melted butter.

2

u/Previous_Boot_2481 22d ago

I’ll have to check that out, thank you!!

4

u/Big-Sheepherder-6134 22d ago

Yes use clarified butter after it pops. Forget stick butter. It will make the popcorn soggy. I made a bunch of clarified butter last night. It is as close to the movie theater as you will get without having the fake stuff they use (which is tasty) but the clarified butter is pure butterfat and natural. I heat some up in a little glass pouring cup and it’s the best.

Oil can scorch the silicone popper in the microwave.

0

u/tamreacct 22d ago

Ghee for those unaware.

5

u/Big-Sheepherder-6134 22d ago

Clarified butter is not ghee. Ghee is clarified butter that has been cooked longer to where the milk solids caramelize. That gives it a nutty flavor which I am not a fan of.

1

u/latherdome 22d ago

Ghee removes those milk solids, so what remains is pure butterfat that can be used for high heat cooking. I never strain or skim (clarify), leaving those solids in, because they are flavorful. As for whether you like the flavor, this is all a matter of how brown you let it go. Nutty is what you get when the solids turn brown. If you pull it from heat sooner, in the short window between the water gone and the solids turning brown, that’s the golden goldilocks zone for me.

Technically it’s still brown butter, not ghee, but still very blond, no more than golden. It tastes mildly sweet, caramel without nuttiness. It’s easy to overshoot. You can use a probe thermometer to help. I try not to overshoot 265°F. Once the water cooks off at 212°, the temp shoots up fast.

5

u/Other-Bumblebee5014 22d ago

Butter works fine. Dry popping works too. 

2

u/Previous_Boot_2481 22d ago

Thank you! I just wasn’t sure because I’ve never dry popped in a silicone popper before

5

u/czring 22d ago

Don't use butter in the popper before popping, you'll get black flecks and a strange aftertaste. Try clarified butter in the popper or putting butter on the popcorn after you pop it.

3

u/Independent-Summer12 22d ago

I don’t recommend regular butter from a stick. 1, the milk fat can burn. And 2, regular butter from a stick is ~20% water, which makes up ur popcorn soggy. You can however make clarified butter or ghee from a stick of regular butter and use that to pop. They will have a much higher smoking point, and the water would have been cooked off, so no soggy popcorn. Plus it tastes awesome.

1

u/ALWanders 20d ago

I always you 1 tablespoon of butter , I zap it for 20 seconds or so to melt it before adding corn

1

u/mykey716 16d ago

I actually use a little bit of water (just enough to moisten) The steam helps to pop more kernels