Vegan microwave popcorn?

spinachdiva
spinachdiva Posts: 45
edited November 9 in Food and Nutrition
Hi all,

So that light/low-fat microwave popcorn is one of my absolute STAPLES...it's such a good snack and is filling, so I eat it while studying. I'm trying to transition into a mostly vegan diet and I'm trying to find a (cheap) microwave popcorn that doesn't have butter on it.

Any ideas? Has anyone just tried making popcorn in a pan themselves? Is it easy/healthy/cheaper?

Thanks in advance!

<3 spinachdiva
«1

Replies

  • TriciaAllen7251
    TriciaAllen7251 Posts: 283 Member
    Popcorn without Butter????? Yuck, might as well eat some cardboard. It has about the same taste as popcorn w/o butter of some sort.
  • tiptoeketo
    tiptoeketo Posts: 271 Member
    I've heard of people making their own microwave packs with oil and seeds. You'll need to use a brown paper bag and a staple.... something to look into!
  • spinachdiva
    spinachdiva Posts: 45
    ...okay, comments about how gross my food choices are tend to not be so helpful :) so no more of those, please.

    hey! i'm all about DIY-ing it...i'll look into that, thanks!
  • MissVCI
    MissVCI Posts: 277 Member
    I can't help you with a microwave popcorn without butter ( most have some kind of butter flavoring even if there is no butter on them)

    But if you make fresh pop corn, you should sprinkle nutritional yeast on it, so delicious!! ( it gives it a cheesy flavor)
  • hooligansmom
    hooligansmom Posts: 122 Member
    Orville Redenbacher makes a line of microwave popcorn called Orville Redenbacher Natural. Some of the varieties contain just popcorn, oil, and salt. There is one that is a reduced fat version that only has 120 calories per serving. As long as the oils used are vegetable oils, this popcorn should be contain no animal products.
  • spinachdiva
    spinachdiva Posts: 45
    these suggestions are fab. thanks all!
  • MoogieOh
    MoogieOh Posts: 141
    Buy a popcorn machine.. You can get them cheap for lke $20.. buy a bag of kernels.. and pop them. No butter. No salt. 100% air popped goodness
  • lor007
    lor007 Posts: 884 Member
    http://www.squawkfox.com/2010/07/27/popcorn-recipe-gourmet-popcorn/

    Olive oil is tasty on popcorn. No need for the butter. :smile:
  • cloud2011
    cloud2011 Posts: 898 Member
    I bought an air popper and eat air popped corn with different toppings. You can flavor it with a lot of non-butter spices, condiments, etc.

    Use your imagination.
  • Ryhenblue
    Ryhenblue Posts: 390 Member
    I know Albertsons store brand Kettle Corn microwave popcorn is vegan. Might want to look at your store's brand if Albertsons isn't around you.
  • jadedone
    jadedone Posts: 2,446 Member
    Over the weekend, I had some popcorn that had olive oil, liquid aminos and nutritional yeast. Nutritional yeasts tasts kinda cheesy, so it is definitely a good addition. You could also add spices: paprika etc. Also pop it in coconut oil. It tastes so buttery.

    There was an episode of Good Eats where Alton Brown made popcorn with a paper bag and kernels. I tried it and it worked OK. I didn't get the heat perfect, but I had a crappy microwave. :)

    But popcorn is cheap, you can experiment till you find a combo you like.
  • jkdarby
    jkdarby Posts: 53 Member
    I like Smart Pop from Orville.....Does butter "flavor" still count as vegan? I'm not sure since I am not vegan myself, but it's a great low-calorie popcorn. Here are the ingredients:


    Orville Redenbacher's, Microwave Organic Smart Pop Butter
    Popcorn



    INGREDIENTS: Orville Redenbacher's Gourmet Organic Popping Corn, Organic Palm Oil (Adds a Trivial Amount of Fat), Salt, Less Than 2% of Natural Flavor, Color Added, Freshness Preserved with Tocopherols.
  • blytheandbonnie
    blytheandbonnie Posts: 3,275 Member
    I just found out 2 days ago you can make it with kernels with out oil or bags! Put 1/4 cup popcorn kernels (I used the generic/store brand) in a pyrex bowl, put a plate on top and microwave about 2.5 to 5 minutes. (Microwaves vary blah, blah,blah) Presto! Fat free popcorn. It's like magic.
  • jadedone
    jadedone Posts: 2,446 Member
    Orville Redenbacher makes a line of microwave popcorn called Orville Redenbacher Natural. Some of the varieties contain just popcorn, oil, and salt. There is one that is a reduced fat version that only has 120 calories per serving. As long as the oils used are vegetable oils, this popcorn should be contain no animal products.

    I like these. Especially the salt and pepper one. :)
  • PodWif
    PodWif Posts: 16
    We just learned how to do this and you will likely not ever go back to store bought microwave when you see how easy and cheap it is.

    Place 1/4 cup of popcorn kernals in a brown paper bag and fold the top closed a couple of times (you can staple or tape, but you don't need to, also you can add some olive oil 1 tsp but you really don't even need to do that) once you don't hear it popping after 4 seconds pull it out. You can even reuse the brown paper bag if you want to make big patches. This way you can always eat it plain or season however you want.

    If you want to make your popcorn kettle korn then after it's popped add 3 to 4 tablespoons of sugar. Re-fold bag and shake vigorously. If not sweet enough add a bit more sugar and nuke for 30 seconds longer and shake again. Enjoy.
  • skippyninja
    skippyninja Posts: 18
    Vegan popcorn?

    I mean come on... really? not going at all too far?

    I can understand people don't like to eat something that bleeds or cutting down on crap for a diet but kinda boarder line going too far lol....

    life is still here to be enjoyed people... don't lose focus on that
  • Beckym1205
    Beckym1205 Posts: 217 Member
    I saw this bowl thing when I was at target today and it was for microwaving popcorn. You might look into that and you can make your own microwave popcorn.
  • lor007
    lor007 Posts: 884 Member
    Vegan popcorn?

    I mean come on... really? not going at all too far?

    I can understand people don't like to eat something that bleeds or cutting down on crap for a diet but kinda boarder line going too far lol....

    life is still here to be enjoyed people... don't lose focus on that


    It isn't your place to judge the diets of other people. Butter doesn't have to be smeared on everything for it to be enjoyable.
  • Beckym1205
    Beckym1205 Posts: 217 Member
    Vegan popcorn?

    I mean come on... really? not going at all too far?

    I can understand people don't like to eat something that bleeds or cutting down on crap for a diet but kinda boarder line going too far lol....

    life is still here to be enjoyed people... don't lose focus on that

    A vegan diet is a personal choice, and no, its not going too far.
  • JadeRabbit08
    JadeRabbit08 Posts: 551 Member
    Buy a popcorn machine.. You can get them cheap for lke $20.. buy a bag of kernels.. and pop them. No butter. No salt. 100% air popped goodness

    Thats what I've got and you get great popcorn, (Spongbob popcorn machine I think it was $19)
  • chelseaalicia
    chelseaalicia Posts: 164 Member
    If you use an air popper or make it plain on the stovetop (oil+kernels in a pot) you can flavor it however you like... some friends of mine got me on to plain popcorn tossed with a bit of olive oil, red chili flakes and lemon juice- so tasty! :)
  • unsuspectingfish
    unsuspectingfish Posts: 1,176 Member
    I bought some at Safeway (known as Carrs in other parts of the country) that was just popcorn kernels with nothing added. I can't remember the brand. It may have actually been the Safeway brand. You can also make your own by just putting kernels in a brown paper bag. Or, you could buy an air popper, which does the same thing. Butter/oil is not necessary for making popcorn. It's basically just flavoring. I like my popcorn as plain as possible, though, so I was really excited when I found the plain stuff.

    You can also buy bags of pre-popped popcorn that are just popcorn with salt. I've gotten them at Safeway and Trader Joe's. That's usually what I buy.

    Also, to some of us, plain popcorn is not gross. I find extra greasy popcorn exceptionally unappealing, but I appreciate the fact that some people like it that way.
  • vegansara
    vegansara Posts: 192 Member
    I'm vegan and popcorn is one of my staples! I got an air popper for like 20 bucks. Popping corn is so cheap, and I usually add a tablespoon of earth balance buttery spread and salt. Sometimes (like tonight!) I add nutritional yeast too.
  • ShrinkinMel
    ShrinkinMel Posts: 982 Member
    I read on 100 days of real food you can pop kernels in a paper bag with No oil or buttter. You can then put vegan "butter" onit
  • unsuspectingfish
    unsuspectingfish Posts: 1,176 Member
    Vegan popcorn?

    I mean come on... really? not going at all too far?

    I can understand people don't like to eat something that bleeds or cutting down on crap for a diet but kinda boarder line going too far lol....

    life is still here to be enjoyed people... don't lose focus on that

    Um, popcorn is naturally vegan. It's when you add a bunch of butter that it becomes something else. In fact, chance are that the popcorn that you buy at the theater and the majority of microwave popcorn brands out there are vegan, because they tend to use plant-based oils, NOT butter. So, it's possible to choose a vegan diet AND enjoy life. Some of the best baked goods I've ever made have been vegan ones. My omnivorous coworkers can attest to this.
  • pauljsolie
    pauljsolie Posts: 1,024 Member
    I can eat air popped popcorn ONLY if I dip it in ketchup. I know it sounds wierd but it kind of tastes like a shrimp cocktail, which I don't eat cuz I don't like the fishy taste. I also only use organic ketchup, trying to steer clear of HFCS.
  • unsuspectingfish
    unsuspectingfish Posts: 1,176 Member
    I'm vegan and popcorn is one of my staples! I got an air popper for like 20 bucks. Popping corn is so cheap, and I usually add a tablespoon of earth balance buttery spread and salt. Sometimes (like tonight!) I add nutritional yeast too.

    Oh, man, one of the theaters around here used to have nutritional yeast in a shaker for their popcorn and it was the BEST. I was so disappointed when they stopped providing it.
  • pauljsolie
    pauljsolie Posts: 1,024 Member
    I'm vegan and popcorn is one of my staples! I got an air popper for like 20 bucks. Popping corn is so cheap, and I usually add a tablespoon of earth balance buttery spread and salt. Sometimes (like tonight!) I add nutritional yeast too.

    Oh, man, one of the theaters around here used to have nutritional yeast in a shaker for their popcorn and it was the BEST. I was so disappointed when they stopped providing it.

    OK, I've got the nutritional yeast (aka Brewer's yeast) but no popcorn. Making a run to the store NOW!!! Thanks for the tip!!!
  • taso42
    taso42 Posts: 8,980 Member
    I've heard of people making their own microwave packs with oil and seeds. You'll need to use a brown paper bag and a staple.... something to look into!

    yep, i've heard of something along these lines. you can also add nutritional yeast which adds a buttery sort of flavor

    edit: ok, 2 or 3 people beat me to it already. i should probably read the whole thread before responding. :blushing:
  • AngelsDream4Peace
    AngelsDream4Peace Posts: 116 Member
    We just learned how to do this and you will likely not ever go back to store bought microwave when you see how easy and cheap it is.

    Place 1/4 cup of popcorn kernals in a brown paper bag and fold the top closed a couple of times (you can staple or tape, but you don't need to, also you can add some olive oil 1 tsp but you really don't even need to do that) once you don't hear it popping after 4 seconds pull it out. You can even reuse the brown paper bag if you want to make big patches. This way you can always eat it plain or season however you want.

    If you want to make your popcorn kettle korn then after it's popped add 3 to 4 tablespoons of sugar. Re-fold bag and shake vigorously. If not sweet enough add a bit more sugar and nuke for 30 seconds longer and shake again. Enjoy.

    I am not vegan and at this point have no intentions of becoming one. This however, has to be one of the most amazing and cool ideas I have seen in a long time!

    Others posted too, but I was on this one when I decided I had to speak up. Thanks to this site I have been doing some awesome meal planning.
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