Every so often, around 3:30 in the afternoon, I get a craving for something both sweet and salty. If can't shake it off, I resort to one of those little bags of microwave kettle corn.

I've convinced myself that popcorn is a healthier alternative to a handful of chocolate-covered pretzels. (Okay, I realize that kettle corn isn't all that healthy either, but we all have our weaknesses.)

As anyone who's ever popped popcorn in a microwave knows, the trick is to get the timing right. The directions printed on the bag instruct the snacker to stand in front of the microwave and listen to it pop. When you can count three seconds between pops, then your bag is done.

Pull it out too early, and you'll get stuck with a lot of unpopped kernels. Wait a couple seconds too long, and chances are you'll burn it beyond all hope. Then there's nothing else to do but toss it out and wait for the stink to go away.

The other day, as I was hovering in front of my microwave -- all set to count the seconds between pops -- the word "radiation" flashed through my head. Just how safe is it to stand in front of a microwave? Is the door really capable of preventing microwave radiation from seeping out? Am I unwittingly absorbing dangerous particles as my food cooks?

Of course, as I worried about this stuff, I forgot to count the pops, and ruined another bag of popcorn. But I'd lost my appetite by then anyway.

A little Internet research didn't ease my concerns as much as it probably should have. Treehugger addressed the question a while back, and the upshot is that apparently the risks are very low.

It seems that we are indeed exposed to radiation, but in minimal doses. To put things in perspective, we're apparently exposed to larger amounts of radiation from TVs, cellphones, and other electronics.

And, should a craving for kettle corn strike again, I can hedge my bets by standing way off in a corner as it cooks. Then again, maybe I'll just eat an apple.