and dry, they won't pop.
having a little moisture helps the popcorn kernels come out fluffy rather than tough. microwave a cup of water for at least one minute to create a humid environment in your microwave, then quickly put in the bag of popcorn.
let the microwave work its magic, but make sure to stand by so you can listen for the sound of when the pops slow down. once there are about two seconds in-between pops, remove the bag, no matter what amount of time the directions give you.
use a microwave-safe glass bowl and empty the kernels into it. cover the bowl with a microwave-safe cover or dish (preferably ceramic, 