DIY Reusable Microwave Popcorn Bag (VIDEO)
Popcorn is one of the best snacks you could make as far as I’m concerned. Tasty, fun, and apparently, great for dieting since Madonna said she lost quite a bit of weight eating nothing but popcorn!
Everyone has their special way of preparing this snack but the most effective way of making popcorn is with a reusable microwave popcorn bag. Don’t know what that is?
It’s a neat little thing that keeps your popcorn preparing and cleaning up process becomes much easier. Just fill the bag with popcorn and prepare them in the microwave as you would the instant ones. This method is much healthier though because there are no chemicals included and you don’t need to use any oil.
You can sew a reusable microwave popcorn bag in about twenty minutes, with no hassle. Just follow the steps in this tutorial and you’ll be finished before you know it!
Below you will find my step by step written tutorial with VIDEO instructions for all the visual learners.
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How to Make a Microwave Popcorn Bag
Reusable Popcorn Bag Supplies and tools
- fabric – 2 pieces of 100% tightly woven cotton (one main, one lining)
- matching cotton thread
- scissors (or rotary cutter and a cutting mat)
- ruler or measuring tape
- iron and ironing board
- sewing clips or pins
- sewing machine
Notes: All materials that go into the microwave should be 100% cotton – that means FABRICS and THREAD. If there are ANY synthetic parts the bag can catch fire in the microwave.
*** YOU DON’T NEED BATTING. APOLOGIES FOR THE CONFUSION! The supply list was updated.
Thank you, everyone for chiming in and spotting the error****
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How to Sew a Reusable popcorn bag
Watch the diy popcorn bag video first and then follow the written step by step instructions below.
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Microwavable popcorn bag VIDEO TUTORIAL
DIY Microwave popcorn bag INSTRUCTIONS:
STEP 1: Cut the fabric
Remember to use 100% cotton or quilting cotton, as we don’t want the bag to catch fire or melt in the microwave. Wash the fabric thoroughly before you cut it to prevent it from shrinking or deforming later on.
You will need to cut out two identical rectangles from the fabric. Their dimensions should be 12 x 22 inches.
STEP 2: Sew the fabric pieces together
Place the two fabric pieces on top of each other. Make sure to keep their wrong sides facing out. Align the edges and pin the two layers together.
Sew all around the fabric, but keep a small gap of about two inches unstitched for turning on one of the long edges. Don’t forget to use cotton thread!
STEP 3: Turn around
Clip the corners a bit to allow them to lay flat. Turn the fabric inside out and push out the edges.
Fold the raw edges of the opening in a bit and use your iron to press the whole fabric piece flat, including the folded edges on the opening. Pin the fold if necessary.
STEP 4: Topstitch
Topstitch around the entire piece, making sure to run the stitch over the folded opening. You can also just topstitch the opening instead of the whole popping bag, but topstitching all around will add extra durability to the bag.
STEP 4: Fold
Fold one of the short edges down for about two inches. Make sure all edges are aligned and pin them together.
Fold the opposite short edge, the other short edge, all the way to the top fold. Align the edges again and pin them.
STEP 5: Sew
Stitch along each long edge, to sew the sides of the reusable microwave bag shut.
STEP 6: Box the corners
With the wrong side still facing out, push the bag so that the bottom corner forms a triangle and the side seam is in the center. Measure out about an inch or two from the triangle corner towards the top of the bag.
Stitch across the mark to form a seam perpendicular to the side seam. Do so for both bottom corners.
This is how the boxed corners look
STEP 7: Finish the reusable microwave popcorn bag
Turn the whole bag inside out and push out the edges and the corners. Since you boxed the corners in the previous step, now you’ll have neat, shaped corners instead of pointy, bulky ones. This will help the bag to stay upright on it’s own.
Flip the two-inch fold on the top of the bag to the other side. Push out the edges of the fold nicely. Now your bag will have a flap over its opening that will keep the popcorn inside as long as needed.
Your bag is ready to pop some corn kernels!
Bonus: Tips for preparing popcorn in the microwave
- Flip the top of the reusable popcorn bag to the back and pour 1/2 cup of corn.
- Flip it back and place the microwave popcorn bag in the microwave either standing or lay it with the flap up
- Set the timer as usual but make sure you won’t leave them unattended at any time.
- Enjoy!
TIPS:
When preparing your favorite movie snack, setting the microwave timer to two and a half minutes should be ideal.
If you don’t mind standing next to the microwave until the popcorn is ready, here’s a little trick I learned some time ago. With it, you’ll get perfect popcorn every time, they’ll be ready fast and no un-popped kernels will remain in the bag.
Crank up the heat level to the one before the maximum. Set the timer to five minutes. You won’t let them cook that long though. Listen to the popping closely. As soon as the popping stops, stop the microwave and take out the bag. Perfect popcorn every time!
Transfer the popcorn to a bowl and add seasoning (butter, salt, or whatever else you’d like them with)
You can also add some seasoning to the kernels before putting them in the microwave. If you do this though, you’ll probably have to wash the bag more often.
I also recommend you keep an eye on the bag during its first time in the microwave just in case it starts smoking or lights up.
What did you think about this tutorial? I hope you had fun making yourself a reusable microwave popcorn bag. Be sure to make a few of them for your popcorn-loving friends as a gift! Enjoy popping that corn fast, easy and tidy from here on out!
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