Why is my microwave popcorn burned and undercooked at the same time?
I recently bought a new microwave, and started to experience a very bizarre phenomenon when trying to cook microwave popcorn.
For clarification, the Popcorn I am using is pre-packaged and in a paper bag, designed to be put into the microwave at ~800W for ~4 minutes. If it matters, it's called "Kelly Microwave Golden Pop", but I don't want to sound like I'm advertising for them.
With my old microwave, I would just wait until the popping would die down and I would have around 10 seconds between each pop. This would make my popcorn barely not burned, and would not leave too many unpopped kernels.
However, with my new microwave, it doesn't work at all. When going full power, I end up with extremely burned popcorn and half the package unpopped. I tried other power settings, specifically 80%, 50% and 30% power (my microwave only deals in percents, not Watt sadly), but the end result is always the same: Some of the popcorn is already burned, while a lot of it is still unpopped.
I have read that, when food is burning in the microwave, putting it off-center works well, but due to the size of the bag and the microwave, this is not an option for me.
What can I do to save my movie night and get unburned popcorn without throwing half the bag in the bin?
Best Answer
Well if it is burning some of the popcorn I'd say that means it is going for too long or you are setting power too strong, otherwise it wouldn't burn.
If there's still unpopped corn at the end, then it could mean three things I can think of, right now.
- Uneven microwave distribution in the chamber, which is a very common issue for which rotating platters have been created.
- Poor quality corn maybe mixed varieties which don't pop so easily.
- Insufficient humidity. Microwaves heat water well, but not other substances, if there is not enough humidity in the form of water/grease content in the package, or it is unevenly distributed, there may be kernels that never get proper temperature.
Try interrupting the microwave mid cycle and shaking the paper bag around a bit about half way through, instead of doing it all in one go. Make sure the platter is rotating.
Some unpopped kernel is expected regardless.
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Quick Answer about "Why is my microwave popcorn burned and undercooked at the same time?"
Some microwaves are simply too hot to make popcorn at a responsible, measured pace. If the microwave is too hot, it all pops too fast to keep track of. If the microwave in the office or other shared space is known to burn popcorn, it may be best to find another microwave somewhere in the building.Why is my popcorn burning before popping?
Cheap pots don't distribute heat evenly, and you can end up with hot spots that burn the popcorn. Don't crank the heat up too high. It's too easy to burn oil at temperature higher than medium heat, and if you catch even a whiff of smoke coming from the pot, your popcorn is going to taste burnt.How do you make microwave popcorn without burning it?
Microwave a cup of water for at least one minute to create a humid environment in your microwave, then quickly put in the bag of popcorn. Let the microwave work its magic, but make sure to stand by so you can listen for the sound of when the pops slow down.Can burning popcorn break microwave?
Burning food in a microwave typically does not damage the small appliance. However, it can leave the burnt food stuck inside the microwave -- and an unpleasant odor throughout your home.Can popcorn be overcooked?
Proper heat and shakin' That will mean your kernel will pop too early - or not pop at all. (Boo!) But if you heat the kernel too slowly, the moisture can leak out of the kernels and the popcorn starch will overcook and taste a little rubbery.Breaking All the Rules of Microwave Popcorn
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