How To Make Healthy Popcorn
By relache
Trying for a Healthier Treat
One of my favorite things is going to the movies and eating popcorn. Sadly, movie popcorn is dreadfully unhealthy. Check out the report below that tells how eating a medium bucket of popcorn is like several fast-food burgers with a dozen extra pats of butter added.... eeeeewwww! And then think about those large buckets of popcorn that they give free refills on. It's no wonder Americans are one of the most-overweight cultures on the planet.
Then there's microwave popcorn. I don't know which will give you cancer first: the plastic linings of the bags, or the fake, chemical butter they put on it. Really, as quick and easy as it is, it's unhealthy too.
I'm not ready to give up popcorn entirely, but I am ready to start eating less of it, making it myself and making it more healthy. Here's what I've learned about how to make healthy popcorn. Enjoy!
The Evils of Movie Popcorn
- Popcorn at the movies still an unhealthy treat
A study carried out in 1994 by advocacy group CSPI (Center for Science in the Public Interest) found that popcorn being sold by cinema chains in the US was high in saturated fat and calories, and a new survey has found that not much has changed. - How unhealthy is movie theater popcorn?
A medium bucket o' heart-attack corn with soda is as good for your gut as a trio of Quarter Pounders topped with 12 pats of butter, says a study from the Center for Science in the Public Interest.
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The Lowest-Calorie Popcorn Option
The lowest-calorie option for making popcorn is to use an air popper. It's the only cooking process that doesn't add calories to the popcorn. If you compare oil-popped and air-popped popcorn, you'll definitely notice a big difference in the flavor, but there's also a massive reduction in the calories involved if you skip using any oils.
Melted butter is just another phrase for "flavored oil" and "added calories" so if you feel you can't skip that either, use as little as you can stand. If you'd like to add some flavor to your popcorn but would like something less greasy, here are some suggestions:
- grated Parmesan cheese - use fresh grated, not the scary chemical version that comes in a green can. It has more flavor anyway.
- salt - try some of the natural salts as they will have more flavor to them than regular, commercial table salt.
- garlic powder - sprinkle a little bit and toss well before tasting. if you think you need more, go slowly.
- paprika
- turmeric
- brewer's yeast or nutritional yeast
Don't Touch That Microwave Popcorn!
- The Popcorn Wars
Sadly, microwave popcorn may be exposing you to a whole slew of carcinogens... - Popcorn May Cause Lung Disease
Many people love the buttery smell of microwave popcorn, but the savory aroma has recently been linked to a lethal lung disease in factory workers who make the popular snack. - microwave popcorn - LawyersandSettlements.com
Health experts and labor unions are demanding emergency safety standards to check an outbreak of lung disease among workers in microwave popcorn factories. What has taken them so long?
Stainless Steel Popcorn Poppers
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Stovetop Popping Tips
A lot of people really do love the taste of stove-top-popped popcorn. Here are a few tips to help keep the calories down and the healthiness up:
Canola oil - You're going to get about 120 calories per teaspoon of canola oil added to your popcorn if you use an oil popper, but it's a much better option than using other types of cooking oil (which add even more calories). Look for high-heat, expeller-pressed canola oil for the best kind.
Use a steel popper - You want to avoid aluminum as it comes with its own toxicities. Steel is more durable and is a non-toxic cooking material.
AVOID - The absolute worst oil to use is coconut oil. It's 90% saturated fat. If you want a comparison, lard is only 40% saturated fat and almost nobody cooks with that anymore.
How do you Pop and Flavor your Popcorn?
It's not the microwave popcorn that's bad for you; it's all the additives in those bags you buy. I have a microwave popcorn bowl that I got from a thrift shop years ago; it has a grooved design on the bottom. I just buy a bag of regular popcorn, pop it, and I can add whatever I want. I've seen tons of these on Amazon, probably your local Wal-Mart has them. If you are trying to save money, this is a way cheaper way to go. And I think you can just use a regular paper bag; just don't know how to keep it together.
THANKS 4 THE INFO ,NOW I CAN EAT POPCORN WITHOUT THE GUILT
I learnt some new way to make popcorn today.. thanks :)
This sounds like a good recipe, I will try it.
This Hub really makes me want to invest in an air popper! I occasionally eat popcorn anyway.
Don't use GMO corn or GMO Canola.
I had no idea about the dangers of microwaved popcorn -- thanks for the info!
I've been a "heart-stopper" popcorn lover for years. I remember in college, my sister and I would ask for extra butter slathered in the middle of the popcorn bucket, then more butter still on top. Ah, the days of a high metabolism...
I'll have to look into garlic & onion powders for sure. They give me a ton of flavor in other dishes but I've yet to try them on popcorn. Thanks!
Wow . . . thank you!
I LOVE popcorn so healthy versions are always good.
Thanks for the great hub! I have to go eat now.
I make my own microwave popcorn. I put about 1/3 cup of kernels into a standard brown paper lunch bag. I hold the bag over twice and stick it in the microwave. I don't even add any oil. I only have problems with kernels sticking if I am using a low powered microwave that takes longer.
I won't touch that microwave popcorn!
Wonderful suggestions
I like your huge because i love popcorn
Great Hub, Do you know......i love Popcorn and definitely i will try this..
As stated above, coconut oil is 90% saturated fat. Great for frying, bad for actual ingestion.
I do not know why there is all this hate on coconut oil in popcorn threads, Cocounut oil is a good fat like olive oil and much healthier than vegetable oils, unike olive oil however coconut oil is one of the very few oils that can stand high heat without introducing free radicals that cause every disease ever (toxic). Going natural is always better I go with unrefined coconut oil, the fat is good google it! also I find ghee a better and healthier form of butter.
I was shocked after reading that microwave popcorns can cause because I am fond eating them while watching DVDs. And I even share it with the little ones. Now I have to get rid of those. Thanks you so much for this information. Really informative hub.
For the movies, I always make popcorn in my old fashioned air popper, put a little butter, allow to cool a bit, put into a freezer quart plastic bag (will not use in future to save planet for grandchildren, will use cloth bags as soon as I make 'em)for each person. Then I put them into a large cloth shoulder bag and sneak into the movies. How dare them tell me I have to buy their expensive unhealthy stuff! Meemaw
Kaeruzawa 4 months ago
Try this: I soak some garlic in olive oil, and then lightly drizzle on the air popped corn. Not only does it taste great by itself, keeping the benefits of the olive oil without over heating it, but any additional seasonings, from salt and spice to parmesian adhear much better.