“Once you pop, the fun don’t stop” may be the retired slogan of a beloved saddle-shaped potato chip, but it’s the permanent one for America’s favorite light, airy, no-frills snack: microwavable popcorn.
Of course, no packaged variety will compare to the freshly-popped movie theater variety doused in "butter-flavored topping," but there are plenty of mainstream brands that like to think they’re pretty darn close in achieving that craveable salty, oily bite.
I pitted six microwavable popcorns against each other in the ultimate taste test battle, taking characteristics like crunch, ease of cooking and flavor into consideration when ranking our favorites.
Here are my final results, ranked from worst to best.
This ranking was a shocker for me because I really love the brand’s line of pre-popped options. They come in a handful of fun flavors like Rosé and Salted Maple and are always health-conscious with the use of ingredients like avocado oil and sea salt. The microwavable bag wasn’t terrible by any means, but it had quite the off-putting sour smell as it was popping in the microwave. It was, however, one of the lightest and fluffiest of the bunch, which made the bag easy to consume in larger quantities. Unfortunately, the flavor was lackluster and almost non-existent, so it didn’t feel special. And if I'm sitting down for a Netflix binge and opting for a snack to munch on for literal hours, I want that eating experience to feel nothing less than special.
5. Act II Butter Lovers Microwave Popcorn
I can understand the mainstream appeal of this popcorn with its greasy, salty decadence, but I also found the texture to be a tad hard to swallow. It was the most cardboard-esque of the bunch and the flavor was borderline artificial. That said, each bite certainly felt like an indulgence. It was heavy, butter-laden and rich, though I think these qualities could have been amped up even more, especially if you’re going to boldly include a term like "Butter Lovers" in your name. I needed it to feel like I was practically rubbing a stick of butter on every crevice of each popped kernel — and that was definitely not the case.
4. Pop Secret Homestyle Butter Premium Popcorn
Out of all options on this list, Pop Secret’s tasted the most like legitimate butter. Did it rival what you’d taste in a movie theater? Of course not. But was it creamy with a hint of sweetness? Absolutely, which made it rank higher than its other yellow-coated counterpart, Act II. This did feel like it would upset my stomach after a few handfuls, so be sure to exercise some restraint before nose-diving into a bag. I'd also recommend adding a seasoning or herb like garlic powder or even rosemary to offset its one-notedness.
Orville had the only bag with flavors that presented as afternotes and not as an immediate assault to the taste buds. Instead of being hit by salt or butter from the start, it sort of kissed the palate on the way down. Many consumers may dismiss this as "bland," but I interpreted it more as "snackable." In fact, it was the bag I finished quickest because it was so easy to toss back fistfuls without even realizing it. Unique and special? Not particularly. Addictive? Absolutely. This is a great option to serve at parties because it won’t distract from other foods, but will have your guests coming back for more.
My No. 2 choice is going to be controversial because there was virtually zero trace of butter but a whole lotta salt — and the salt is quite excessive. But, frankly, what’s the point of partaking in a popcorn bingefest if the snack doesn’t have you reaching for a glass of water every five minutes? Have a full pitcher on standby to enjoy this bag that can practically call itself a bag of pretzels. But if you have high blood pressure or you’re trying to cut back on sodium intake, avoid it like a bad fashion choice you made in the '90s.
1. 365 Organic Buttery Flavor Microwave Popcorn
This may have been the most oily of the bunch, but it was offset by a wonderful earthy flavor that blew its competition out of the microwave. There was a complexity to each and every bite, which I hadn’t really experienced before (because popcorn isn’t the most exciting food in the world, unless doused in caramel or cheese). But good on you, Whole Foods, for honoring the kernel and not the additives. The grocery store’s commitment to celebrating the simple, high-quality flavors its organic products really showed and this has now become a permanent staple in my pantry.
Joey Skladany
Joeyis a writer/editor, TV/radio personality, lifestyle expert, former entertainment publicist and author of "Basic Bitchen."
The wattage of the microwave oven may be too low. Usually, at least 500 watts is required to generate enough heat to pop popcorn. The popcorn is stale or of poor quality. Use fresh, good quality popping corn with a high moisture content specifically designed for microwaves.
Put the olive oil and a little salt in a microwave safe bowl. Add the popcorn kernels and stir so that the kernels get completely covered with the oil and salt mixture. Cover the bowl with the vented lid and microwave on 'High' for 3-4 min, or until popping slows to 1-2 seconds between pops.
Popcorn kernels will not pop if they contain too little or too much water moisture inside the kernel. The popcorn kernels which do pop have 14-15% moisture in the hull and anything less or more will cause the popcorn kernel to not explode.
There isn't enough moisture in unpopped kernels to create the pressure, so they fail to burst and open. To make your popcorn pop better, try soaking the kernels in a bowl of water for 10 minutes and then draining them.
Nutritional yeast, MSG, miso, Parmesan cheese, dulse granules, mushroom powder, fish sauce, and shrimp paste are all savory powerhouses that will make any bowl of microwave popcorn sing.
The heat forms steam inside the kernel, the pressure builds and the kernel "pops". The kernel contains a tiny amount of water, which undergoes a physical change from the heat (liquid to gas) as does the starch granules change into gelatinized globules (physical change). The microwave popcorn bags vary in construction.
Cook in the microwave at full power for 2 1/2 to 3 minutes, or until you hear pauses of about 2 seconds between pops. Carefully open the bag to avoid steam, and pour into a serving bowl.
Try microwaving a glass of water first to help create a humid environment for your kernels. This will help the kernels remain tender, rather than tough.
You should stop the cooking time in the microwave when you hear 2 to 3 seconds of pause between pops at the end. Some kernels may not pop. That's OK. Don't keep adding time because that can cause some of the popcorn to burn and that doesn't taste good at all.
Trans Fats: Partially hydrogenated soybean oil is a usual suspect in the ingredient list of microwave popcorn. It's a broken, pro-inflammatory fat that will cause inflammation, clog your arteries and give your liver quite a run for its money.
So I pulled out a tupperware bowl, a bag of microwave popcorn, and a stick of butter. I quickly tore open the bag of popcorn and dumped it into the bowl along with a lump of the butter. I snapped on the lid, leaving a small portion unsnapped so that steam could escape, and punched in 4 minutes on the timer.
Two popular choices are canola and vegetable oil (both with a smoke point of 400 degrees Fahrenheit), thanks to their generally neutral flavor. Refined peanut oil (with a smoke point of 450 degrees Fahrenheit) is also recommended, especially if you like to infuse your popcorn with some of its nuttiness.
“Popcorn burns so easily, but you can avoid it by standing and watching the pot,” says Beth Nydick, a clean cooking guru and founder of Blue Barn Kitchen. “Try a glass cover so you can actually watch it. Start at high heat, and when the kernels get going, turn it down to medium.
If you can dent the kernel with your nail it's still way too wet to pop. If the kernel is very hard and can't be dented but doesn't pop, it probably needs moisture added into it.
Add the popcorn kernels to a medium to large glass bowl (make sure it's tempered glass) and place a ceramic dinner plate on top of the bowl to act as a lid. Microwave for 3 to 5 minutes, then stop when you hear a few seconds between pops.
How to Re-Pop Popcorn Kernels. If you still have unpopped kernels, simply add an additional splash of oil to the pot and cover it. Return the heat to medium-high, and proceed as you would for new kernels. When the popping slows, remove from heat.
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Introduction: My name is Virgilio Hermann JD, I am a fine, gifted, beautiful, encouraging, kind, talented, zealous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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