The present invention relates to a method of popping kernels, comprising moving kernels within a heating chamber with airflow, and subjecting the kernels to focused microwave energy sufficient to cause the kernels to pop, resulting in popped flakes, wherein the method produces popped flakes with an average popping yield greater than 94%. The present invention also relates to a method for popping kernels, comprising generating in a single-mode resonant microwave applicator a standing microwave energy field comprising an array of one or more anti-node high intensity microwave regions, subjecting kernels to the microwave energy in the one or more high intensity microwave regions, sufficient for the kernels to achieve a uniform distribution of microwave energy heat to cause the kernels to pop, wherein the method produces popped flakes with an average popping yield greater than 94%.
