How to Add Butter to Microwave Popcorn

Have you ever wondered if you can add butter to microwave popcorn to make it even better? Shooting for that buttery, rich, movie-theater-style popcorn is not only possible, but it’s actually pretty simple.

There are a few different methods you can use, depending on your preference, but they’ll all provide the rich, mouth-watering kernels that’ll remind you of the movies (but better!)

3 Easy Steps for Adding Butter to Microwave Popcorn

The easiest method to step your microwave popcorn up a level in terms of butteriness is to simply add melted butter once the popcorn finishes popping.

Here’s how to elevate your popcorn to elite butter status.

Step 1: Pop It

This may seem obvious, but the first step in this method is to pop the popcorn. Be sure not to use the popcorn butter here because what you’re looking for is fluffy, whole kernels that will hold the extra butter you’re about to drench them with.

You don’t need to do anything special or different than normal, though. Simply pop the bag of popcorn according to the instructions.

Step 2: Melt It

How to butter microwave popcorn? Adding butter to already popped popcorn works best if the butter is melted. Adding it when it’s still solid will leave you with uneven coverage: some kernels will be soggy with butter and others will remain naked.

Step 3: Mix It

This is the most important step and the place where things can go really well or very wrong. What you don’t want to do is simply dump the butter over the top of your popcorn.

Try this instead…

Pour a light drizzle over the top layer of popcorn, then shake it up to displace the kernels and get some un-buttered ones towards the top. Now, drizzle more, then shake again. Continue this until the butter is gone.

This should give you pretty even coverage and a luscious, melt-in-your-mouth butter flavor without any soggy kernels.

Try an Alternative Method

adding melted butter to microwave popcorn - how to butter popcorn without making it soggy — How to put butter on microwave popcorn

For some tips on the best microwave popcorn check our article.

Want to try something different? Drizzling butter over your popped bag of microwave popcorn isn’t the only way to add more butter.

Here are a couple of unique ways to achieve this.

Alternative Method #1: Add Butter to the Bag

This method involves adding solid butter directly onto the unpopped kernels before the popcorn is even popped. This allows the butter to melt into each kernel as it’s popping.

If your mouth is watering just thinking about it, check out how to do it below.

Bust into the Bag – The first thing you’ll need to do is open the bag so you can add that extra butter. You can use anything sharp, such as a knife (even a butter knife should work just fine) or a pair of scissors. Cut a small hole where the kernels are located inside the bag.

Add the Butter – Now comes the butter. Cut your butter into small squares, then add those pieces on the top and sides of the kernels in the bag. Be sure not to put it all in one place; you want to spread it around so you get even coverage as it cooks.

Close Up – Lastly, you’ll need to re-seal the bag so it can pop properly in the microwave. Any kind of tape should work perfectly fine here. Masking tape would probably work best, although scotch or even duct tape would work great as well. No matter what type you choose, just make sure to get a good seal.

Alternative Method #2: Use the Stovetop Method

The stovetop method is said to be the pinnacle of perfect popcorn.

You can easily do this with a bag of microwave popcorn or plain kernels. Either way, you can easily add as much extra butter as your heart (and taste buds) desires.

Get Rid of the Bag – For the stovetop method, you don’t need the microwave bag anymore. So, you first step is to remove the plastic wrapping, then cut the bag open and pour the kernels into a pot. Be sure to choose a large pot that will hold the popped popcorn (a bag-sized amount) when it’s finished.

Add the Butter (or Oil) – This is when you get to add all the extra butter you can get away with. If you want a richer flavor but don’t necessarily want to overdo it with butter, you could add extra oil instead. If you go with butter, be sure to cut it into small cubes and place them all around and on top of the kernels to ensure even coverage as they pop. Place a tight-fitting lid on top of the pot.

Cook the Popcorn – Now is the fun part: making the popcorn. Turn the burner on medium-high heat (don’t use high heat or you’ll end up with burnt kernels). Shake the pot consistently while the popcorn pops, and continue until the pops are about 3-5 seconds apart. At this point, you simply need to remove the lid, allow the popcorn to cool a little bit, then transfer it to the bowl you’ll be eating from (and add anything else you prefer)

Tips & Tricks When Adding Butter (Without Extra Sogginess)

Want to up your popcorn game even more? How to make microwave popcorn more buttery? When you’re adding extra butter, here are a few things you can add to your repertoire without much effort.

Can you add butter to popcorn without making it soggy? Yes! And the result?

Heavily buttered, evenly coated popcorn kernels without any extra sogginess.

Tip 1: Be Gentle

When you add extra butter (or any extra toppings), there is naturally more mixing involved. This provides added opportunities for broken popcorn kernels, which isn’t what you want. A whole kernel has more capability to hold little pools of butter in its nooks and crannies.

To achieve this is simple…

Be gentle. When mixing the popcorn, use a much bigger bowl than you think you need. Instead of using a utensil to do the mixing, simply toss the popcorn around the bowl for a much gentler approach.

Tip 2: Spray vs Drizzle

If you really want to go all-out and ensure optimal butter coverage, grab a spray bottle.

You can melt and add the butter the same way as the drizzle method, but instead of drizzling, you can add the butter to the spray bottle and spray it on. The smaller droplets will provide even more thorough coverage than thin drizzles.

Tip 3: Put Those Extra Grocery Bags to Use

To get the butter into every crevice of your popcorn kernels, you need to give it a good shake (without being too aggressive). A great way to achieve this is to use a paper grocery bag.

Simply toss the popped popcorn into the paper bag, then drizzle the butter over the top. Close the bag and give it a thorough shaking. Be gentle so you don’t break the kernels. With the greater surface area provided by the sides of the bag, you’ll get a nice, even coating of butter.

Buttery Indulgent Microwave Popcorn

How to add more butter to microwave popcorn? So, next time you’re thinking of popping a bag of microwave popcorn and you want a more indulgent experience, consider adding some extra butter. You’ll get that savory, fatty flavor with just a couple of extra steps.

It’ll be even better than the stale stuff you get at the movie theater and much less expensive to boot.

Check our guide on making popcorn with butter instead of oil.