Words from North America
The Hyperfixed podcast released an episode investigating why microwave popcorn packages in North America carry the warning “do not use the popcorn button.” The episode seeks answers to two questions: what does the button actually do, and why do manufacturers not want it to be used?
The answer varies from oven to oven: in some models the button is merely a simple timer, while in others it monitors the popping sounds or the steam released by the popping — in other words, the moisture level.
The picture on the ground
This technology has been around for decades, but it is not present in every microwave. A button that consists of nothing more than a timer leads to the corn being undercooked or overcooked; overcooked corn gets scorched and can even catch fire.
Popcorn explanations
It is noted that manufacturers cannot know the user’s oven, that those who press the “Popcorn” button leave the process unattended, and that when a problem arises they blame the corn producer. That is why manufacturers recommend the one method that works in every oven: watch the process and stop it once the popping slows to one every two seconds. The podcast covers the subject in depth.