You’re all set for movie night, and all that’s left to do for the perfect, relaxed evening is to pop the popcorn in the microwave. The trouble is, when you do, the darn popcorn doesn’t pop. Night ruined!
Okay, that might be a bit dramatic, but if you want to eat popcorn and the kernels you have won’t pop in the microwave, it can be quite annoying—especially if this has happened on multiple occasions with different brands of popcorn.
To help ensure you never go without popcorn when you crave it, this article will explain why your popcorn isn’t popping in the microwave and what you can do about it.
Why microwave popcorn won’t pop (causes and solutions)
There are various potential reasons why your popcorn is not popping in the microwave, with the most likely ones being:
- Microwave power settings
- The container or bag used
- The moisture content of the popcorn
- The brand or quality of popcorn
Let’s go through each of these one by one so you can get to the bottom of why your popcorn isn’t popping.
Microwave power settings or output
If the power settings or output are too low on your microwave, your popcorn won’t pop due to insufficient or uneven heating. Popcorn requires at least 500 watts to pop properly, and most domestic microwaves have a wattage between 600 and 1200 watts, so your microwave is likely powerful enough.
That means you’ll want to check that your microwave’s power settings are not set on low or defrost. Try running your microwave on full power for a few minutes to see if the popcorn pops.
Failing that, you can run a test to see if your microwave is generating sufficient power by following these steps:
- Fill a microwave-safe container with 1 cup (8 oz) of water.
- Heat the water on full power for 60 seconds in the microwave.
- If the water is boiling or very hot, power issues are unlikely to be the cause of your popcorn not popping. You can use a thermometer to measure the temperature if necessary.
- If the water has not heated much, there is likely an issue with your microwave causing it not to generate enough power.
If you conclude that your microwave is not generating enough power to pop popcorn, you’ll either need to hire a professional to fix it, attempt to fix it yourself, or purchase a new microwave. Potential causes of a microwave not heating include:
- Faulty magnetron
- Burned-out diode
- Defective high-voltage capacitor
- Failed high-voltage transformer
The container or bag used
Issues with the bag or container holding the popcorn kernels can also cause the popcorn not to pop.
For instance, if you’re using microwave popcorn bags, holes or tears in the bag can cause heat and moisture to escape, preventing proper popping. Likewise, if you’re using a bag that is too small, or are placing the bag upside down, it can cause issues.
On the other hand, if you are using a microwave-safe container to pop your popcorn, it’s important that it has a vented lid to allow some steam to escape and relieve pressure while also retaining enough heat. Alternatively, you can use a plate to loosely cover it. In either case, the container needs to be big enough to allow room for the popcorn to expand as it pops.
The moisture content of the popcorn
Popcorn kernels contain a small amount of moisture inside them that turns to steam when heated. As the kernels are heated, this steam creates pressure and the starch within begins to expand. When the pressure becomes too great, the kernel’s outer shell ruptures, causing the popcorn to “pop.” The starch rapidly expands and cools, resulting in the familiar fluffy texture of popcorn.
However, if the popcorn kernels have been sitting in the cupboard for a long time or have been exposed to sunlight, they can dry out, losing the moisture that is critical for them to pop. You might be able to remedy this by placing the kernels in an airtight container with a teaspoon of water for a couple of days, allowing them to absorb the moisture. If that doesn’t work, you’re better off buying fresh kernels with a higher moisture content.
Popcorn kernels can also have too much moisture, especially when stored in a humid environment. Typically, if the kernels have a moisture content above 15%, it will result in slower popping, poor texture, or failure to pop at all. A quick and easy test you can do to check if your kernels are too moist is to press your fingernail into a kernel. If it leaves a dent, the kernels are too moist.
The brand or quality of popcorn
Unfortunately, some cheaper or unreputable brands use lower-quality kernels to save costs, with the result being that they don’t pop well. This might be due to issues with the kernels’ size, age, moisture content, or internal structure.
If you’ve been using the same brand and consistently experiencing issues, it’s worth trying out a new brand to see if you get better results. You can also check the expiration date on the packaging of the popcorn you have.
Solving the Popcorn Puzzle
As long as you go through and check all the potential causes and solutions listed above one by one, you should be able to get to the bottom of why your popcorn isn’t popping in the microwave fairly quickly. It’s most likely an issue with the microwave, the kernels themselves, or the container used—there isn’t much else that can go wrong!