Butterkist microwave popcorn - is it always such a waste of money?

[Blu]

I have never used microwave popcorn before - i make my own in a pan. But I have tried Butterkist for the first time as I had DS's friends round for a Ben 10 film morning. It was a total disappointment and a complete waste of money!

I would say that less than half the corn in each bag popped, so we got a measly amount. It compares v badly to ready made popcorn in a bag, never mind the negligible cost of ordinary corn kernels popped in a pan!

I followed the instructions exactly, and it was in for 4 mins on 750w in a microwave that is not old, and works well.

I am tempted to send the 3rd pack fom the box back with the kernels that didn't pop.

i put them back in for a few minutes after giving them a shake and they usually pop.

after eating the 'popped' ones out of it first

Agree - not good value but the 'no mess' factor is great for older kids and needs no input from you

Microwave popcorn is rubbish!

It is so much better to put a small amount in a pan with some butter. It only takes a few minutes to have proper popcorn.

Works fine here - the microwave's a 950 one though.

I prefer popcorn from a popcorn maker over microwave or pan-made popcorn. Kids are always fascinated to see it in action too.

if you want cinema sweet popcorn, make a batch of popcorn (in a pan or hot air popper) put on a baking tray, dot with butter and sift on icing sugar, then stick in the oven 'til the butter and sugar have melted, you'll need to give it a bit of a shake half way through.

The instructions tell you not to out unpopped corn back in, AND it says unsuitable for more than 850w microwaves - so I turned the power down from our top power to 850w.
Seems I would have done better to have ignored their instructions!

SO expensive for a tichy amount - actually about 2/3 is unpopped. GRRRRRRRRRR.

pops perfectly in my crappy little microwave, never more than a few unpopped unkernels, so maybe you've just had bad luck

It takes a while to get the knack of microwave popcorn. I usually shake the bag halfway through and just keep zapping it until the popping slows down. I put unpopped kernels back in as well. I haven't properly read the instructions tbh

you do realise that ordinary popcorn can pop in the microwave, dont you?

just put a handful of popping corn (the same you would put in a pan) in a paper bag (i use those brown paper ones you would put veggies in at grocers) with a tiny bit of butter (i also put salt) just scrunch and twist top of bag so it stays shut, then microwave till popping sound slows down/stops.