Monday, September 10, 2007

You Can't Always Get What You Pop

Is it just me, or has the time required to pop a bag of microwave popcorn been steadily decreasing? When I was a kid, I remember putting the bag in the microwave for five minutes; now, if you leave the bag in the microwave for three minutes you're like to burn down an entire city block.

Also, I may be dating myself here, (well, I'm definitely dating myself, but that's another issue) but I remember when popcorn was made on the stove. Does anyone recall when microwave popcorn became widely available? According to Wikipedia, General Mills patented an early microwave popping technology in 1981, but I don't remember it until much later. Just so you know, if you want to keep enjoying microwave popcorn, I'd skip the Wikipedia article. And why did it take so damn long to make "snack size" bags of popcorn? If I pop the whole bag, I'm just going to eat the whole thing or throw it away. I love that they have single serving sizes now, even though they are hard to find at my local supermarket. Ah, Met Foods on Vanderbilt, my feelings towards you are ever bittersweet.

Oh yeah, remember Jiffy Pop? I bet you don't remember Woofy Pop- microwave popcorn for dogs. Now in Bacon and Beef flavor. I know a few dudes who would be totally into that. Note to self: stocking stuffers?

3 comments:

eternalsunshine said...

Did you read the NYTimes article a few days ago about the the guy who has eaten microwaveable popcorn 2/day for 10 years and subsequently got a lung ailment? And all the popcorn factory workers come down with serious lung problems...crazy stuff.

I really love stovetop popcorn, and it really doesn't take all that much longer. Just some shaking involved.

Cupcake said...

I did not read that story but in "researching" this blog post (2 minute Google Search) I learned about the link between microwave Popcorn and lung ailments. WTF??

When I lived in Park Slope we had no microwave and exclusively made stovetop popcorn. I wasn't very good at it, but my crazy roommate was. I have an air popper now and I mostly use that, but just recently I went back to Microwave. Big mistake I guess.

Dawn Z(ed) said...

Stovetop popcorn is the way to go. I love it so much. If my roommate didn't have such nice pots I'd be making some right now, but I don't want to screw up the popcorn and ruin his lovely pots.

I like to take Jiffypop on camping trips. It's always a great thing to bring out when nobody is expecting it. Even if the popcorn gets burnt, it's just fun for the nostalgic value.