Olive Oil Microwave Popcorn ($0.05 per serving)

$0.05 per serving     55% savings     save $10.72 yearly

I have a confession to make: pre-bagged microwave popcorn and I used to be like THIS (imagine me crossing my middle and pointer fingers together.) I ate the Orville Reddenbacher 94% fat free Kettle Korn nearly every night as my "healthy snack." I tried to ignore the odd coating of film in my mouth when I was done. It seemed a small price to pay for my go-to treat.

WELL. Things change, (thankfully) and I no longer need to worry about stuff like this in the pre-packaged microwave popcorn bags. I can do without all of the weird chemically mumbo-jumbo, thank you very much.

This homemade olive oil popcorn? SUPER healthy! The difference in price doesn't even begin to do justice to the true value of this perfect snack.

It's a snap to make, and has a lightly-salted taste I love! (Read: no foreign-tasting film coating your mouth.) To sweeten the deal, making it at home costs a fraction of the price, and you can make as much or as little as you want at a time. Don't want to use olive oil? No problem. Use a different oil, or butter, and the results will be delicious and even less expensive. 

 




Olive Oil Microwave Popcorn
Printable Version
 *equivalent to 1 regular-sized package - serves 4

(Note: Fresh kernels will pop better than kernels that have been sitting in your cupboard for years.)

INGREDIENTS
6  tablespoons popcorn kernels
1  tablespoon olive oil
1/4 -1/2  tsp salt 

DIRECTIONS
In a large microwave-safe glass bowl (a 2.5 quart mixing bowl or larger ) add olive oil and salt. Microwave for 20 seconds to help the salt dissolve. 

Remove from the microwave, stir oil and salt, then add the popcorn kernels. Stir the kernels until they are all coated with the olive oil. Press the kernels into a single layer on the bottom and sides of the bowl as best you can. (You end up with less un-popped kernels when they are in a single layer.)

Cover the bowl of kernels with a lid that allows for venting. I used a plastic pyrex lid set askew so that the top of the bowl wasn't totally covered, but the opening wasn't large enough to let any popcorn fly out. You could also cover the bowl in parchment paper, and tuck the ends underneath the bottom of the bowl, then poke holes in the paper on top.

Place the covered vented bowl back in the microwave and heat for about 3-4 minutes on high or until there is 2 seconds between pops. It may take less or more time depending on your microwave. Bowl will be hot. Toss the popcorn to evenly coat with the oil/salt.

Do a happy dance, pat yourself on the back, and enjoy your uber-healthy and super tasty popcorn!

*Un-popped kernels may be returned to the microwave for another go if you put the popped popcorn into a separate bowl. You can repeat (if needed) till all the kernels are popped.

~  Savings  ~

Cost Breakdown:
2 lb bag popcorn - $1.48 = 75 T = 0.020/T = $0.120
101 oz. Extra Virgin Olive Oil - $18.98 = 200 T = $0.095/T = $0.095
26 oz. salt - $0.42 = 122.75 tsp = $0.003/tsp = $0.0015
Total Recipe Cost: $0.22
Per serving (4 servings): $0.05
The Contender:
Pop-Secret Light Butter 10 pk: $4.88
Savings: 55% 

"Over a Year" scenario:
Make Olive Oil Microwave Popcorn 40 times = $8.80
Buy 4 boxes Pop Secret Light Butter 10-pk = $19.52
*Money Saved: $10.72