The science behind never burning popcorn again
Every microwave is different. The "popcorn button" uses a fixed time that rarely matches your specific microwave's power or your popcorn brand. The result? Either burnt, bitter popcorn or too many unpopped kernels at the bottom of the bag.
The only reliable way to know when popcorn is done is to listen to the popping sounds. When the pops slow down to about 2-3 seconds between pops, it's time to stop. But standing by the microwave counting seconds isn't practical.
That's where Popcorn Detector comes in.
Place your phone 30-50 cm from the microwave door. The microphone should be able to clearly hear the popping sounds through the door.
Open Popcorn Detector and tap "Start Listening". Allow microphone access when your browser asks for permission.
Put your popcorn bag in the microwave and start it on high. The app will automatically begin detecting pops as they happen.
The app shows a real-time pop counter and energy meter. You'll see each pop detected and the current popping intensity.
When popping slows down significantly, the app alerts you with sound and vibration. Stop the microwave immediately — your popcorn is perfect!
Popcorn Detector uses your browser's Web Audio API to capture audio from your microphone in real-time. This allows the app to analyze sound without sending any data to external servers — everything happens locally on your device.
The app uses spectral flux analysis to detect sudden changes in audio energy — the signature of a popcorn pop. This algorithm measures the difference between consecutive audio frames to identify sharp transients that indicate a kernel has popped.
Different microwaves produce different background noise levels. Popcorn Detector automatically calibrates to your environment and adjusts its detection threshold to accurately identify pops while filtering out false positives from microwave hum or other kitchen sounds.
The app tracks the rate of pops over time using a sliding window algorithm. When the pop rate drops below a certain threshold for several seconds, it triggers the "stop" alert. This mimics the expert advice of stopping when there are 2-3 seconds between pops.
All audio processing happens locally on your device. No audio is recorded, stored, or sent to any server. The app only analyzes sound in real-time and immediately discards it.
It's completely safe to use near a microwave. Modern microwaves are fully shielded — no radiation escapes through the door. Your phone won't be affected in any way when placed next to a closed, functioning microwave.