Popcorn not popping

[thecatsandi]

I tried popping popcorn in my Sharp Carousel Convection Microwave.
I used the popcorn setting and a standard size bag. Only a third of the kernels popped. Bummer
Any suggestions?

[tinman7]

Old popcorn!

[markdoane]

What brand?

[thecatsandi]

Orville Redenbachers Movie theatre butter.
I have not have a problem with this brand in my home based microwave. It is 1100 watts.

[markdoane]

You are right that the wattage may be a problem. Less than 700 watts won't work very well. Also be aware that microwave ovens lose power as they age. A six year old oven may lose as much as 40% power.

Is it possible that the bag had a hole in it? That can prevent inflation and reduce popping drastically. If they bag did not inflate it's probably a broken bag.

And old popcorn may also be a problem, although microwave popcorn doesn't dry out as fast as non-microwave corn.

An interesting fact about microwave popcorn (and other microwave products) is that the consumer usually blames himself first, then his microwave, and lastly the product. Sometimes the product is just junk.

[Ultradog]

I believe it has something to do with the radar waves bouncing off of the aluminum panels that causes the microwave to function at a lower wattage level. Redenbachers makes a special blend of popcorn using coconut oil and bauxite that seems to work well in most campers. It is available from Thor Industries and Inland RV. The wrapper has foil and not paper.
It's pricey but just one of those things you silently put up with if you own an AS.

[CanoeStream]

Originally Posted by markdoane

Also be aware that microwave ovens lose power as they age.

... and Michelle's microwave is new enough you could almost call her Classic a 2007!

Originally Posted by Ultradog

Redenbachers makes a special blend of popcorn using coconut oil and bauxite ...

Bauxite = what Airstreamers eat instead of maize! Although the remainder of your post proves why I usually don't wear my Aluminum Foil Deflector Beanie inside my Safari.

[CONSUMR]

We had the same problem. Don't remove the metal rack from the microwave.

[DEO]

Originally Posted by thecatsandi

I tried popping popcorn in my Sharp Carousel Convection Microwave.
I used the popcorn setting and a standard size bag. Only a third of the kernels popped. Bummer
Any suggestions?

We use the Sharp Microwave all the time.. We don't use the popcorn setting (the instructions on the popcorn bag we got said not to) Just set for 4 minutes and when you hear the poping slow down to about 1 pop per second it is ready... be careful it comes out hot!

[Pick]

Geez, and I thought I had problems.

[overlander63]

Michelle, is this the microwave that came with your new coach?
If so, does it heat everything else satisfactorilly?

[markdoane]

In some Sharp convection/microwave ovens, the carousel is metal.

The susceptor (that's the metallic heating patch) in a bag of popcorn absorbs microwave energy to heat the popcorn. In order for the susceptor to work properly, it must be at least 1/2 wavelength from any other metal surface.

In my Sharp Carousel with the metal carousel, I always put the popcorn bag on a microwave safe plastic plate, turned upside down, to elevate the bag above the metal.

[thecatsandi]

Sounds like I made a wavy error. I thought about the using the grate but that puts the bag pretty high when it would be full. I will try it again witht he grate or a plate, or something to get it up off the floor of the carosel.
It is the orginal micro with the coach and only about a month old.

[SilverRanger]

My AS has the same Sharp microwave/convection oven setup. Shortly after we got it home from a camping trip and plugged in to a 20 amp outlet, just to keep the batteries charged and operate the reefer, my wife fired up the microwave to warm something and noticed that it was taking longer than it should. I then realized the problem could have been that my extension cord was 14 ga. @ 100 ft. I have since made up a much shorter 10 ga. extension cord and it now seems to work fine.

[tin sista]

Our 96 has a convection/microwave, first run through with the popcorn was a bummer. Then I flipped a corelle plate upside down over the metal grate and put the popcorn bag on top--that time the popcorn button worked fine. It was a large bag with more butter than I should consume !

[Frank S]

Hi Michelle--Orville Redenbachers popcorn is the only one we use in our microwaveless A/S. We place a big pot on the stove burner, lightly cover the inside bottom 1/2 olive, and 1/2 safflower oil (all olive oil will vaporize before corn is popped--but olive oil is the flavor). Drop in 3 kernels, cover and turn up burner about half way. When kernels start to pop cover bottom of pot with corn. Put on lid again. When popping starts, shake pot a little. when popping slows to an almost stop, remove popcorn into a big bowl. If you want to pop more, re oil, and cover bottom with corn, and continue with instructions above. It is also a lot less expensive than microwave popcorn. Sounds so good I think I'll pop some now.--Frank S

[azflycaster]

You might want to look atthis article which suggests that popcorn is not the only thing you get when you microwave a bag of it.
http://pubs.acs.org/subscribe/journa...r_popcorn.html

[thecatsandi]

I tried the popcorn again. Same make and model. This time with the grate. It worked bueatifully. Did not think that would be much of a problem. Guess I was wrong.

[Anon]

Originally Posted by azflycaster

You might want to look atthis article which suggests that popcorn is not the only thing you get when you microwave a bag of it.
http://pubs.acs.org/subscribe/journa...r_popcorn.html

I knew it! That is why I still pop my popcorn in a 1950's Aladdin "No-Shake" popcorn popper that I got from my mom and dad.
I think microwave popcorn tastes funny.

[azflycaster]

Does everyone remember this pre microwave gem...