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I like popcorn. Who doesn’t? But I’m not a huge fan of plain popcorn. I have a very nice microwave popcorn popper that yields about eight cups of popcorn. This is excellent for my mother (who likes plain popcorn) or if I want to make something like caramel corn. But if I just want to snack on something tasty and (relatively) healthy, then I want some flavor. Sure, I can sprinkle some salt over my plain corn, but almost none of it sticks, resulting in popcorn that is still plain and the bottom of the bowl covered in salt.
However, there is another way. A company called Opopop has invented a way to pop corn in the microwave and add flavor during the cooking. They do this a couple different ways. If you use their bagged popcorn (which I have not tried), each unpopped kernel is coated with the flavor, which then distributes nicely as the corn pops. According to the reviews I read on Amazon, this yields mixed results. Some are thrilled with the flavor, while others complain about the popcorn being tasteless and half the kernels not popping. My mother sent some of this to my oldest nephew as a college care package, and he stated that it was the best microwave popcorn he’d ever had.
But the other way Opopop delivers flavored popcorn is with a silicon popper and little individual pods of popcorn. I recently purchased their variety pack plus the popper as a starting point. Let me show you.
First, the popper comes flat and can be stored this way. When you are ready to use it, take off the lid and push down on the bottom. Apparently, a number of people have pushed out the silicon inside out and then complained to the company that the popper doesn’t work properly. I surmise this from the fact that there are multiple references in the directions about how to tell if the popper is right side out. The directions say that the logo needs to be on the outside. While this is true, the flat little stand for the bowl also needs to be on the outside, which I think is an easier way to tell.
Next, grab one of the little pods of popcorn and flavoring. My favorite is Super Butter, although I’m rather partial to Lightly Salted and Salty Caramel as well. When you peel off the cover, you will see a solid ball of flavoring in the middle, surrounded by a moat full of popcorn kernels.
Pour the popcorn kernels into the popper. Then turn the pod over, and use your thumbs to push in the center of the pod to pop out the little flavor bundle.
Put the lid on, and stick it in the microwave on full power. It will likely take somewhere between 1.5 to 2.5 minutes. I just set my microwave for three minutes and then stand by vigilantly. Do not depend on a set time. Listen for the popcorn to stop popping. Once there is about two seconds between pops, it’s done. Take it out of the microwave and, holding on firmly to the handles and the lid, shake the popper to distribute the flavor. Then take off the lid promptly to let out the steam. You will notice that the popper isn’t full. This is not an error. The pods each contain a “single serving” of popcorn, about four cups.
The oil that contains the flavor will have evenly coated every kernel of popcorn, yielding you perfectly delicious corn. The Super Butter flavor to me tastes like the very best movie popcorn, fresh from the popper, only without that “the popper is only cleaned infrequently” aftertaste. It’s not greasy, just perfectly salted and buttery. Absolutely delish.
The Lightly Salted flavor is similar, only without the butter flavor. But there’s enough oil in there to make the salt stick to the popcorn, without feeling or tasting greasy. Again, it’s perfection.
As far as the Salted Caramel…I think I expected a flavor truly like caramel corn. But this is really kettle corn. So it’s salty and lightly sweetened, but not at all heavy and not so sugary that you yearn for insulin by the time you’re halfway through eating. It’s completely yummy.
Opopop does have three other flavors which did not appeal to me and which therefore I have not tried. The other three flavors are Birthday Cake, Maui Heat, and Pickle Monster. I’m sure they would appeal to some, just not to me.
Give Opopop a try…you won’t be sorry.
