Curious to see how instant popcorn packaging will change. Back to the rattle aluminum foil containers?
“Companies told the FDA that it could take up to 18 months to completely exhaust the market supply of these products following their final date of sale.”
With no other context, I'd read that as more "the voluntary phase-out period is over, because now we've entered the mandatory phase-out period" (not that the voluntary period has already 100% worked)
The voluntary phase is more of an impending notice that you, as a food manufacturer, better figure something out now before everyone buys up the existing supply capacity of non-PFAS packaging during the mandatory phase.
Something I realized recently was that you can just buy popcorn kernels in bulk and pop them in the microwave using a covered bowl. I don't think I'll ever buy instant popcorn baggies again.
That's how my wife does it: buys a bag of kernels and puts some into a brown paper sack for microwave heating. Alternatively, they still sell those air poppers[0], which tend to produce better results, so you can use one of those.
Using a paper bag is especially fun if you have young kids since a kindergartner can stir the kernels with oil in a bowl, pour them into the bag, add salt, and shake vigorously. I think it was almost as much fun to make as it was to eat.
I just use a pot. I put in a tablespoon or so of coconut oil, melt it over medium heat with a few kernels and when they pop add a bunch more to almost cover the bottom of the pot. Then I put a lid on it, canted so it lets the moisture leave but not the popcorn and remove from heat when the popping slows. Then I add salt and shake and done. It takes just a few minutes.
I do almost the same. But I use olive oil and toss the freshly popped kernels in cayenne pepper and some nutritional yeast. Delicious and fairly healthy snack!
You can also just put them in a brown paper bag to replicate the popcorn bag experience. Just fold and pinch the top, add whatever salt and oil you want. Corn kernels are crazy cheap too, it's probably $0.05 a bag.
I have an air popper, and it works amazingly well. I have had the same one for over a decade too. No oil is required, which is nice, since my preference for butter is hardcoded in my Southern DNA.
Teflon should have never, ever ever have been released for use in pans. The documentation on it is 100% correct, it is completely inert, completely safe, completely OK... as long as it doesn't exceed a specific temperature.
Once that temperature is breached, the coating changes chemically. It off-gasses (and, for example, killing any canary near the kitchen). The teflon coating is no longer safe, that same chemical change has modified its chemical structure. And at that point, cooking on it means your food is now laden with those chemicals, and any flake of teflon you ingest is dangerous as well.
This is why using teflon in pans is just insane. The approval process presumed that no one would let a pan get too hot. What?! As if no one might get distracted by an emergency with a child, a phone ringing, someone coming to the door, and BAM!, the pan > 500F for a minute, and becomes death.
But conversely, things such as bread makers, and popcorn makers are sensible uses for teflon! They have internal thermostats, and often cannot easily even get to 500F. They won't cause this chemical change, and so are good and safe for this purpose.
Of course, I don't blame you for disliking teflon. I think it was absurd that it was approved for use in normal frying pans.
So, I lied. I actually have two models. One model I can do that in, but the other model has a mesh bottom over the heating element in which a fan blows the hot air. Thus, the mesh bottom one would be a bad, bad time if I put anything in it lol.
It’s funny, I get buying things that save a bunch of time (bread for example) - but it literally takes about the same amount of time to make popcorn on the stove as it does to microwave it, and the quality is much better (well really just using real butter makes it so much better), that I’m perplexed as to why anyone would bother with the microwave stuff
That's right folks, come on down, get some for yourselves! No one can beat that secret recipe flavor we've been cooking for over 9 yards and 18 minutes. Been a family secret for over 10 and a half generations folks! We promise you, no one can beat that original flavor folks!
what is hard about adding some salt and then shaking it? I've never had a problem with salt and butter distribution. Maybe you should look up some youtube videos on the best pans and techniques for making stovetop popcorn.
Man, tough crowd here with strong opinions on homemade popcorn. Alls fair in the arena of opinion but I’m tellin’ y’all, a bag of Redenbacher is easy, reliable, and absolutely delicious.
“Companies told the FDA that it could take up to 18 months to completely exhaust the market supply of these products following their final date of sale.”