Add popcorn kernels to the bowl. Spray or drizzle with oil. Sprinkle with salt, and stir to evenly coat the kernels with the salt and oil. Cover the bowl with a heat-safe plate or the lid provided with the microwave popcorn bowl.
Place the bowl into the microwave and set the cooking time for 6 minutes. Once the popcorn begins to pop, listen closely and stop the cooking time when 2 to 3 seconds go by without hearing kernels popping. You will likely not need more than 4 minutes of cooking time.
Use pot holders to carefully remove the bowl from the microwave and then use caution to remove the lid or plate from the bowl.
Season with additional seasonings and/or melted butter if desired and enjoy immediately.
Using a Brown Bag
Place ⅓ cup of popcorn kernels into the brown paper bag. Spray with cooking spray or drizzle the kernels with oil and add in the salt.
Fold the top of the bag over twice to "seal" and shake to coat the kernels evenly in the salt and oil.
Place the bag on its side and microwave for 2-5 minutes. I suggest setting the cooking time to 6 minutes. Once the popcorn begins to pop, listen closely and stop the cooking time when 2 to 3 seconds go by without hearing kernels popping.
Remove the popcorn bag carefully from the microwave and carefully open it, keeping in mind that steam will escape the bag when opened.
Season with additional seasonings and/or melted butter if desired and enjoy immediately.
Notes
Amount or Kernels: Don't try popping more than ⅓ cup of kernels at a time, as this can result in an excess of unpopped kernels.Listen carefully when popping. Once the popcorn kernels begin to pop, keep a close eye (or ear) on the microwave. Stop the cooking time when 2 to 3 seconds go by without hearing kernels popping.Timing is based on the wattage of your microwave. The time it takes your popcorn to pop will be dependent on how powerful your microwave is. I find most microwaves need between 2-4 minutes to pop ⅓ cup of popcorn kernels in the microwave.Not all kernels will pop. That's okay. Simply discard those kernels. Don't try to continue cooking to get them to pop, as that will cause the popcorn to burn.Storage: Let leftover popcorn cool to room temperature and then store it in an airtight container for up to 24 hours at room temperature. While safe to enjoy well past 24 hours, I find that the popcorn will begin to taste stale and past that point. It is honestly best enjoyed immediately after preparation. DO NOT USE PYREX BOWLS! They can not stand the heat!