The Eco-Friendly Microwave Popcorn-Making Method That Lets You Ditch Single-Serve Bags For Good

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In modern kitchens, plastic is ubiquitous. We use it to wrap up leftovers, mix in it, stash snacks in it, and throw it out — lots and lots of it, with the average American disposing of around 300 pounds of plastic every single year. The problem is a daunting one, and while you may not be able to curb your use of plastic altogether, there are simple eco-friendly swaps you can take. Like, giving your popcorn making game a reusable upgrade, and saying goodbye to single use popcorn bags. 

Though store-bought microwavable bags of popcorn are paper on the outside, most are lined with an inner layer of plastics like silicone or polyethylene.  Ditch the use of these altogether — a win for the environment and your wallet — by using a reusable Stasher bag, which can be washed and used over and over for all sorts of kitchen tasks. Simply add plain popcorn kernels — you can buy in bulk at many health food stores, or in the popcorn section at mainstream grocery stores — a bit of your choice of oil, and pop open the bag just a bit to let steam escape. Then, let the microwave do the work and open the bag in two to three minutes to perfectly popped popcorn, ready for your fave toppings (we like this pantry staple for dairy-free cheese flavor). Cleaning is as simple as sticking the empty bag in the dishwasher to ready it for the next movie night.

Not only is this method of popcorn making a zero waste one — since you can reuse the Stasher bag over and over (the brand's website notes you can expect to get years of use from each bag), it's a way to avoid the forever chemicals that are unfortunately hiding out all over our kitchens – including in the flame retardant lining of grocery store popcorn bags. This blend of plastics and chemicals keeps bags from catching fire (though if microwaved too long, they can still be a fire hazard! ), but also release potentially harmful chemicals. So if you'd rather not be taking in PFAS with each handful of buttery popcorn, the food-grade silicone of a Stasher bag is a much safer vessel. Stasher makes all its bags from this high grade silicone material which is free of the worst offenders — like BPS, BPA, and phthalates. 

And if cared for properly, these reusable bags should last for years. If you're worried about microwaving the rubbery-feeling plastic of a reusable bag — double check you're using a brand approved to be heated up. The Stasher brand bags safely withstand up to 425 degrees Fahrenheit in the oven or microwave, so no stress there. Little sustainable swaps — they really do add up. This one just so happens to offer benefits for the planet, your health, and wallet, while keeping everyone's favorite movie night tradition as quick and delicious as ever.