My family loves eating popcorn! It’s a wonderful addition to our family movie nights on Friday nights. It has become a tradition, and the boys ask for it when we get ready to watch a movie together.
I grew up on microwave bags of popcorn – they are so easy to make. However, they have always grossed me out. And I can never time it just right, so they burn in the microwave and smell horrible.
And cost-wise…you definitely pay more for the convenience of microwave popcorn.
Dangers of Microwave Popcorn
But to me what’s worse than paying more is the chemicals you are ingesting (both inhaling and eating). According to the Environmental Protection Agency, there are nearly 4 dozen chemicals in the steam of that piping hot popcorn. Sources for these chemicals include the buttery flavoring, the ink and the glue on the microwave bags, and the lining of the bags.
Diacetyl is the chemical in the buttery flavoring, and it’s the most concerning. Due to public oncern over the safety of this chemical, many major microwave popcorn companies have discontinued using it. However, there are many other unnecessary chemicals still in there.
Another issue for me, as we are making changes in our diet to be healthier, is the lack of organic options. I am selective of what I buy organic (to watch the budget), but I try to buy corn and wheat products organic to limit our pesticide exposure.
Several years ago I tried popping my own popcorn on the stove in oil. I wanted to get us away from the microwave bags, It wasn’t hard to pop it that way; however, it was usually a messy undertaking. But even then I significantly preferred that over using the microwave bags.
As time went on and life got busy, I tried buying the lightly salted popcorn at Costco. I definitely like that option better than microwaving popcorn or popping your own in oil on the stove. However, the downsides are that it’s not organic, and it’s a huge bag which takes up way too much kitchen space.
Air Popped Popcorn – the difference and benefits:
I kept thinking that there had to be a better way! On its own, popcorn is a great healthy snack, as it’s full of fiber and low in calories. So when prepared the right way, it’s an amazing (and delicious) food!
Then, about a year ago, a friend of mine introduced me to air poppers. I had heard of them before but never tried them and was skeptical of them. While I was at her house one day, she made some for me. It popped quickly, was super easy to make, easy to clean up, and tasted amazing when drizzled with a bit of avocado oil and salt!
I was in love! Finally…a way to make a healthy snack for my family in a super easy (and fast) way! Pair this amazing machine with your favorite reusable popcorn bags (I like these wider ones because I think they are easier with kids) for a classic family tradition. 🙂
Here’s what I love about air popping my own popcorn:
- reduces the number of chemicals you and your family consume
- ability to choose either standard or organic popcorn
- versatile – you can flavor it any way that you prefer, and it will still be more healthy than microwave popcorn (even if you drench it in melted butter)
- fast – it takes less than 5 minutes
- healthy
We have been experimenting with air-popped popcorn for a while and have begun playing around with adding flavors. Here are a couple of our favorites:
Cheesy Popcorn:
Air Pop 1/2 cup popcorn kernels. Add 1-2 Tbsp cheese powder (available from Amazon or a local spice shop). Shake to mix.
Ranch Popcorn:
Air pop 1/2 cup popcorn kernels. Add 1- 1 1/2 Tbsp Homemade Ranch Dressing Mix. Shake to mix.
Simply Salted:
Air pop 1/2 cup popcorn kernels. Drizzle with approximately 1-2 tsp of your favorite Olive Oil or Avocado Oil. Sprinkle 1/2-1 tsp sea salt over popcorn. Shake to mix.
Try making your own popcorn today and take advantage of the health benefits of ditching processed and chemical-filled microwave bags! To help you out, check out our Popcorn Package giveaway below.
Tell us in the comments: what is your favorite flavor of popcorn?
Check out these other healthy eating posts:
Weeknight dinner: Greek gyros with homemade Tzatziki sauce
Baked Oatmeal – hearty, delicious, and gluten-free
Weeknight dinner: Healthy Vietnamese-inspired noodle bowl
Dyann says
Not a good idea, popcorn popped up into the element, got stuck & set fire alarm off!
Heather says
Hi Dyann! I’m sorry to hear that happened to you! I’m not sure what you mean…the element of what? With the air popper, the element is in the bottom and the popcorn is constantly blowing around and up into the top of the popper which directs the popcorn out of the popper (I put a bowl there to catch it). It does get hot very quickly and can burn a piece of popcorn if it somehow ends up floating in a “tornado” rather than coming up and out. That’s happened to me occasionally, but not even close to the point of setting off a fire alarm. I have popped MANY, MANY, MANY batches of popcorn with an air popper and have had ZERO issues with it doing that!
Stephanie Grant says
I love extra movie butter popcorn
R Montgomery says
I like cinnamon candied popcorn
Latasha Perry says
I Love Hot Buttered Popcorn!!
sherry fowler says
Ranch!
Buddy Garrett says
Buttered is my favorite flavor.
buttmuffin says
i love the sweet/salty kettle corn!
Margaret S Porter says
Love Caramel corn!
Anita Mitchell says
Cheddar cheese is my favorite.
Anita says
I love caramel popcorn
Michelle Ward says
My favorite popcorn flavor is white cheddar cheese popcorn.
Leah Shumack says
White Cheddar is my go to flavor!
Nicole Lancaster says
My favorite popcorn flavor is Nacho Cheese.
Dana Rodriguez says
I love cheddar and caramel!
Lauren says
I like cheese popcorn.
Dolores Miranda says
Definitely White Cheddar!
Mary Gardner says
My favorite popcorn flavor is either butter or white cheddar.
Cynthia Schmied says
My favorite popcorn flavor is extra butter with a pinch of cayenne.
LINDA H. says
Kettle corn is my fav!!!
Opal Baker says
Ceddar Cheese….
Rose Santuci-Sofranko says
I like White Cheddar the best. Yum! Thanks and God Bless!
Marci says
I like cheddar cheese popcorn
John H. says
I like white cheddar.
Audrey Stewart says
I love white cheddar!
Julie says
I like white chedddar popcorn!
Marissa M says
White Cheddar!
Susan Byrne says
My favorite is caramel popcorn.
Pam Flynn says
I love Homestyle salt & butter! Sooo good!
MaryAnn Casey says
It depends on my mood at the time but nothing beats good ol’; butter
Sarah L says
I like plain buttered popcorn with popcorn salt. I might try it with the garlic olive oil I have.
Thanks for the contest.
Missy says
I love white cheddar flavored popcorn.
Herlina Kwee says
Wait, what is the air popper? A machine? I am not seeing a picture of it. Oh well…
We made huge batches of spicy salted caramel and bacon popcorn at work on the stove top and then oven (Long name, but this in one flavor). It’s yummy!!
Heather says
Yes, an air popper is a popcorn popping machine! But you bring up a good point that I don’t have a picture of it in the post – I have corrected that and added a picture. 🙂
Erika C. says
Our family LOVES cheddar! Great giveaway! Thanks so much for the chance!
latanya says
I like white cheddar
Lois says
You got me sold. I choose the healthy route.
Lamees says
I bought microwave pop corn once and from the moment I saw the amount of butter in the bag. I said I will never buy it again. But I am doing it old school
Heather says
Yes, I completely agree – the microwave stuff is disgusting on so many levels! I did it old school for a while, but now I LOVE air popping it. I love that you don’t need oil to pop it with the air popper, and it’s SO much easier and faster cleanup!
Heather Bridson says
I love butter on my popcorn.
Jeanne Coulombe says
My favorite popcorn is extra butter
Chrissy C says
My favorite flavor… Butter Butter and more BUTTER (with a tad bit of pink salt!) My good friend also had me try eating bite size Snickers and then popcorn… Oh My! She did not in any way help my waistline ;o)
Heather says
Hahaha, Chrissy! I’ve never tried that, however, I do LOVE popcorn in my trail mix!! The sweet and salty combo is amazing!
HAZELL PEREZ says
My favorite flavor is White Cheddar. Thanks for the yummy chance 🙂
Heather says
You’re welcome, Hazell! I love white cheddar too! Thanks for entering and good luck!
Mya Murphy says
Extra butter
Meme says
The only flavors i have tried is carmel and butter and i like the both but would like to try other flavors
Sam says
My favorite popcorn flavors are caramel or kettle corn
Steven Epstein says
Sweet and Spicy Wasabi Popcorn
sheila ressel says
My favorite is white cheddar popcorn.
Johnnie McKenzie says
Buttered popcorn
Carl says
butter
kelly tupick says
I like the traditional butter flavored popcorn the best.
Chelsea m says
Cheddar, cinnamon sugar and lime.
Shandi Messmer says
My favorite is kettle corn
Lori W. says
We love the white cheddar and butter flavors.
David Heath says
I like buttered
Jennifer Hedden says
I just tried a jalapeno ranch flavored popcorn and it is now my favorite. It is so good and spicy. Thank you for an awesome giveaway!
Phil Truman says
Mmmm, popcorn!
Darlene Carbajal says
I love cheese popcorn!
Debbie Welchert says
My favorite popcorn flavor other than butter, is cheese flavor.
Kathy Gleich says
I love real butter buttered popcorn, and with airpot I can be sure I get the real thing. It would be fun to try some of these flavors, too
Julie Bickham says
I love kettle popcorn!
Pat says
Butter flavor is my favorite.
Catherine Lewis says
Regular butter and salt.
Jack Riddle says
I don’t have a favorite!
Mary Songer says
I’m pretty simple in my popcorn taste. I like butter flavor. Extra butter!!!
Donna Cammisa says
basic popcorn with LOTS of butter
Sarah Banks says
Cheddar Cheese
Brian Banks says
Cheddar
Pauline Linares says
Favorite flavor is cheese popcorn.
RICHARD SKUSE says
cheese
Tracie Cooper says
I love cheese flavored popcorn.
Kim Davis says
Kettle Corn is my favorite,
Julie Sullivan says
I love caramel and extra butter
Darcy L Koch says
My favorite is salt with lots of butter.
Darcy says
Ranch is my go-to favorite popcorn flavor.
Michelle Walsh says
Just regular popcorn with lots of butter!
Russell Moore says
kettle corn, as a treat.
Dana says
I like kettle corn.
Maureen Stein says
Cheese popcorn is my favorite.
Maureen Stein says
Cheese popcorn
Gricelda Castro says
Extra Butter
Lisa Ogle says
Do I have to pick a favorite? I just love popcorn! Cheese popcorn or extra butter.
Beatrice Pierre says
Butter and salt
Tracy Shafer says
butter and caramel, and lots of it!!
Joanne Q says
My favorite all time flavor is butter. Everything is better with butter. Thanks for this.
Christina Sparks says
I enjoy white cheddar popcorn.
Darrylin Hibler says
Caramel popcorn is my favorite
Jeffery Clark says
My favorite is cheese popcorn, my whole family loves it! 🙂
Debbi Wellenstein says
I like all kinds of popcorn, but my absolute favorite is caramel corn.
ELIZABETH C. says
I have always loved cheddar flavored popcorn. Yum!
Anne H says
Salted caramel would have to be my favorite, and kettle corn a close second!
heather miller says
I love plain popcorn with extra butter
carol clark says
i love chedder cheese popcorn or butter popcorn
Margaret King says
Just butter and salt for me.
barbg says
I love good hot buttery popcorn the best but it would be great to have all of these seasonings to try.
pamela hunt says
caramel give me lotsa caramel dont care if my teeth fall out!
Anita Kennett says
Love Caramel best?
Lori Walker says
My favorite flavor is truffle.
Joseph Fleming says
Air popped popcorn is a good idea. It fits in perfectly with organic popcorn. I like different flavors but the standard salted is my favorite.
Linda Bradshaw says
My favorite topping would be the cheddar cheese.
Mario says
My favorite flavor is caramel.
cindy schierl says
we love caramel corn
Sara B. says
I’m a sucker for their garlic parmesean.
Saundra Bowers says
My favorite is kettle corn!
Sheila B says
Buttered and salt and vinegar.
Natalie says
I love cheddar cheese popcorn!
Brandy Schwartz says
I love caramel corn; but butter is my second favorite.
Marty C says
Butter and salt, lots of both!
Tim says
I like caramel corn, but that is too hard to make at home. It usually comes out rock hard or very chewy. There must be a secret to it.
Abigail Gibson says
My favorite way to eat popcorn is lightly salted and air popped.
Jana S says
Just butter and salt for this girl!!!! No frills.
Rachel Hodge says
Movie theater butter popcorn is the best!
Fredrick Pauly says
Love popcorn
Jill H. says
I like buttered or kettlecorn. I quit using a microwave years ago, when I found out how unhealthy and unsafe.
Sandy Klocinski says
I hate to sound boring, but I really love just plain old butter and salt. That’s my go-to topping.
Heather says
It’s a classic for a reason, Sandy!
Christina marie Sledge says
I love popcorn
Miranda Sherman says
Guess who’s going to go make a batch of popcorn right now!! Wow, thanks for the great recipes to change things up!
Heather says
You’re welcome, Miranda! I hope you love it!
melanie huttner says
I love caramel!
Kayla Klontz says
Ranch is my favorite popcorn flavor!
Jeanae Gamble says
Cheese
Michele Cupp says
I like kettle corn, no cheddar cheese, OK well both equally well.
Heather says
Haha! I totally understand, Michele! I love them both too!
Jennylyn Gross says
butter flavor
Nancy Loring says
I love lots of butter and garlic on my popcorn. Of course I like garlic on most things.
Kelly Hanley says
Kettle for sure
shannon fowler says
I really love kettle corn. The sweet and salty combo is amazing.
pu ye says
My favorite flavor is cheddar cheese.
KARLEY MOORE says
I love White Cheddar popcorn. Thanks for this awesome giveaway!
Bianca Munoz says
Butter popcorn with Valentina is my fave!
Edye says
I like kettle corn!
Kimberly G says
My favorite flavor is cheddar cheese.
Diana Penn says
salt and vinegar
Heather says
I’ve never tried salt and vinegar popcorn, but salt and vinegar chips are my favorite! I’ll have to play around with that and try it – thank for the idea, Diana!
Yvette says
we recently purchased an air popper. My husband is so happy too! He was the designated popcorn maker using a pot and the stove top. The air popper is sooo nice!
Heather says
Yes, as the designated popcorn maker in our home, the air popper is so easy and great!!
Jennifer H. says
I like cheddar cheese.
Lynn says
I love Kettle Popcorn too! Thanks for the info!
Ellie Wright says
I love kettle corn.
Heather says
me too!
Karen says
I like just plain popcorn with butter on it.
Debbie P says
My favorite flavor of popcorn is simply salted.
Lamees says
I didnt like the taste of the microwave pop corn. I still do it the classic way in a pot on the stove
Jennifer @ Because Food Is Love says
I don’t own an air popper but I’ve heard good things about them. I don’t buy microwave popcorn though. Homemade popcorn is the way to go. I pop it on the stove in a 5 qt pot with a clear lid. I add about 1 tbsp of either coconut oil or avocado oil, and just move it a little while it’s popping. My kids love popcorn and they really enjoy watching it pop. Great topping suggestions, Kerrygold butter is delicious too.
DIY Craftz says
cant wait to try that air popped popcorn.
i think im going to love this as im a popcorn lover during movie time
frank says
Great informations, i think i will stop microwave bags of popcorn. Thats awesome you can change flavors, i will try one these flavors soon :))!!