Paragon Bulk Bag Yellow PopCorn (12.5-Pounds), Brown, (1022)

I've popped three batches of this corn since I received it and so far it has been fantastic. From zero to two kernels remain unpopped. The popped corn is light and crunchy, but in my opinion, has a little more body than theatre corn. Theatre corn always seems like it might float away in a light breeze. These popped kernels have a little more mass to them. It's been a long time since I popped corn as a kid, but my old faulty memory says this is either the best or amongst the best popcorn I've had.I'm using a West Bend Stir Crazy popper. I add two tablespoons of Snappy popcorn colored coconut oil and about half a teaspoon (may increase this as I experiment) Gold Medal Flavacol. I let the oil heat for about a minute and then pour in a half cup of corn kernels and quickly put the lid in place.The first batch did have some chewy kernels, but on the second and third batches, I did not stop the popper after the kernels finished popping. I let the popper run for another 2 - 3 minutes after popping finished. This allowed much of the accumulated moisture from the popping process to be driven off and resulted in uniformly crunchy, not chewy, corn. The stirring action of the Stir Crazy helps (I believe) prevent the corn from burning when leaving it in the heated popper after popping is complete. One can observe substantial amounts of steam escaping from the vents in the top of the popper for the first minute or two after popping is complete.The corn, coconut oil and flavacol are all available here on Amazon. The Stir Crazy seems to be mainly a Target-sold product, but there's a similar Hamilton Beach popper (rectangular instead of round) available here on Amazon.

I had been buying another brand of popcorn on Amazon for years. It was fine, price was right but suddenly the price shot up. This Paragon popcorn was available at at really good price . For some reason I was hesitant to give it a try. That was 2 years ago now and now it is the only popcorn I will ever buy! First for the kernels themselves - this popcorn pops up big and fluffy and is very flavorful, never stale. When I use my air popper all but about 2 or 3 individual kernels pop. Even when near the bottom of the bag all the kernels pop big. This is honestly very tasty popcorn. Other brands I purchased often came with a tear in the bag and loose kernels in the shipping box. Not with the Paragon. They seal the 12.5 pounds bag of popcorn in its own box tightly sealed and it even has an expiration date on the box as well. And the expiration date is always over a year from my purchase date. It's always a pleasure knowing when my shipment arrives that when I open the shipping box the popcorn will be carefully sealed within another box inside. With Paragon I get exactly what I want - big fluffy tasteful kernels. Highly recommend this brand and I will never use another.

This is the best popcorn I have ever bought, outdoes Orville Redenbacker's popcorn in size and taste. It is also the cheapest at approx. $1.20/lb. It pops up really well in the microwave (avoid all plastic microwave containers). I use a 3 qt glass bowl with a glass plate on top as a lid. It fits loosely enough so that when I overfill it with popcorn, the popcorn can lift up the lid easily and let excess gas escape. Most popcorn is pressure-sensitive so that if there is too much popcorn in a bowl to pop, some kernels will not pop. Almost every kernel pops when I microwave on high in a 1500 watt microwave oven for about 5 1/2 min (about 1 1/2 TBLSP popcorn) and no added oil. In fact when I popped about 8 bowls of the popcorn (had to cool off bowl each time to avoid overheating the microwave and burning popped pieces), I found about 5 unpopped kernels in the bottom of the large paper bag.This popcorn outdoes all of the microwavable popcorn brands that you will see in the grocery stores since you are not popping them in teflon/PfoA lined paper bags which will leach out dangerous chemicals (PfoA) into your popcorn with the heat necessary to pop the corn. If you try to use a lower heat on your microwave you will get progressively more unpopped kernels. Microwave is better than the hot air corn-poppers since it doesn't cool down kernels in between the pulses of hot air that corn poppers do. I watch the timer as it counts down and start to note when I hear a pop as the popping slows down. When I do not hear a pop for 12 sec, it is time to pull the bowl out of the hot microwave. Thus the time to pop a bowl of popcorn will vary from 5.3-5.7 min when starting with a cold bowl and lid.

THE BAG HAD HOLES WHEN IT ARRIVED. THATS THE ONLY CON ABOUT THIS PURCHASELook no further for popcorn you just cant get enough of!!! My mom used to pop the corn for us on the stove, and when i got older i tried myself. Sometimes ok, sometimes soggy, so i would often go to the movies for the flavor i desired. Didnt even see the movie, just bought a 8$ bag to go. Turns out the amount i would end up with, equals to 3/4 cup of unpopped corn.Present day...I eat so much popcorn its best i keep it on hand. Even though i worked at the movies in my teens, i couldnt figure out the proper ratio for the same flavor @ home. Finally perfected the receipe.-A Whirlypop popcorn Popper or something similar-1/2 cup yellow corn kernels-3 tablespoons of butter flavored coconut oil3/4 teaspoons of flavorcolAdd add oil turn on heat (no higher than medium)Add saltAdd popcornLock on lid and stir ( dont stop until finished)Remove from heat when popping slows and POUR INTO A BOWL IMMEDIATELY!!!!!POPCORN MUST BREATHE AFTER COOKING FOR MAXIMUM ENJOYMENT!!!Season taste with any flavored popcorn seasoning if so desired ( garlic parmesan is DEFINITELY A FAN FAVE!)

So many choices out there......so I bought this one, simply because its made in IOWA!! hahaha....I know, silly, BUT Iowa is known for its excellent popcorn. And it was a great choice!! This popcorn tastes great, & just about every kernel pops!! I will definitely buy this again!!