Question:
There is microwave popcorn with all its chemical flavorings etc.
There are air poppers which use no chemicals, salts, oils etc.
WHY does my manual say not to pop popcorn in the microwave unless in a special microwave popcorn accessory (some are bags) or unless you use popcorn labeled for use in microwave ovens?
I've put dry popcorn in a brown sandwich bag and put it in the microwave and it pops nicely, without oils or chemicals. How could this possibly damage a microwave unit? THANKS for your knowledgeable reply. M.LaClair
Popcorn is a food that has a very low moisture content, and microwave ovens rely on moisture content (water molecules) in order to cook.
If there is not enough moisture to absorb the microwave energy, much of the the energy is reflected back to the magnetron and damage it.
This is also what damages a microwave when it is run empty.
A simple solution is to add about 1/2 to 1 cup of water in a microwave-safe container in the back corner of the oven and cook your popcorn a little longer.
You'll have to experiment a few times to get the combination right for your particular model.
But allow our microwave about 15 minutes or so for the magnetron to cool down between popcorn cooking sessions.
Also, I would suggest putting a paper plate upside-down on the turntable tray, then putting the popcorn container on top of that.
This does two things: It keeps the extremely hot popcorn off the tray, reducing the chances it will crack, plus it raises the popcorn up so it will heat more efficiently.
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