best microwave popcorn brands 2021

The Best (And Healthiest) Microwave Popcorn Brands (2021)

Popcorns can be a healthy snack choice and if you are looking forward to buying a tasty, healthy, and affordable popcorn while you watch your favorite movie at home, you can buy microwave popcorn, you can easily have that movie popcorn you like so much without going to the movie theatre although it all depends on the method of preparation that you employ and the type of microwave popcorn you buy.

Going to the movies is more than just about seeing the movies, one of the exciting parts is the popcorn, which is not just a healthy snack but can be quite delicious and it is one of the least fattening foods you can find.

As a whole grain, popcorn is high in fiber which is good for your digestive system, it is also relatively low in calories than many popular snack foods and all you need is a guide to getting the best microwave popcorn.

When it comes to making popcorns, you ant the tastiest and the crunchiest, and unlike store-bought popcorns, you can have it made at home without using unhealthy ingredients and while there are many options to recognize when buying your popcorns, microwave popcorn contains minimal ingredients and there is nothing as relaxing as having the right popcorn to accompany your movie night.

How do you find the best microwave popcorn option? Popcorn is the best snack option and this is why you must pick the best when choosing from the microwave popcorn hence the next time you need to snack on something, here is a guide on the best microwave popcorn in 2021.

How To Choose A Healthy Microwave Popcorn

When looking for microwave popcorn to buy, you need to ensure you are choosing one that is low in fat and simple as popcorns can be.

You will be amazed to discover that some brands often load their products with artificial ingredients, processed oils, tons of salt and many more however there is some healthy microwave popcorns brand and you just need to pay attention to the factors listed below before making a choice.

  1. Serving size and calories: The first thing you should look out for when buying a microwave popcorn is the serving size, ensure you read the nutrition facts label and see how many servings are in one bag, this will help you avoid any excess calories as it is easy to consume a large amount of popcorn while watching a movie which is why it’s important to choose a healthy popcorn.
  2. Saturated fat: Checking out the saturated fat quantity before buying your microwave popcorn is essential, it is likely low in calories but high in saturated fat hence you should watch out for this as some microwave popcorn brand contains over 35% of your daily value of saturated fat in one serving.
  3. Artificial Ingredients: Check the ingredient list to ensure it is free of any artificial ingredients, many microwave popcorns contain artificial ingredients or flavorings hence you should inspect the popcorn’s sodium content, the lower the better.

The Best And Healthiest Microwave Popcorn Options in 2021

Popcorn is a whole grain and incorporating this into your snack rotation can be a nutritious addition.

There are many different kinds of machines you can purchase for making popcorn, however, this can be tedious and not give you the taste you crave hence you can get a pack of microwave popcorn that will be ready in minutes and there are so many varieties to choose from so if you want the full movie experience at home, here are the best microwave popcorn to try.

  • Orville’s Redenbacher’s Movie Theater Butter Microwave Popcorn- Best Overall
  • Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn- Best Fluffy Popcorn
  • Kirkland Signature Microwave Popcorn-  Best  Crunchy  Popcorn
  • Angie’s Boomchikapop Gluten-Free Sea Salt Popcorn- Most Affordable Microwave Popcorn
  • Skinnygirl Butter And Sea Salt Microwave Popcorn- Best Gluten-free  Microwave Popcorn
  • ACT II Butter Microwave Popcorn- Best Light Microwave Popcorn
  • Jolly Time Blast O Butter- Best Buttery Microwave Popcorn

1. Orville’s Redenbacher’s Movie Theater Butter Microwave Popcorn- Best Overall

Orville Redenbacher's Movie Theater Butter Microwave Popcorn, (3 Count per bag of 3.29 Ounce each), 9.87 Ounce, Pack of 12

Orville microwave popcorn brings the theatre right home for you, this popcorn uses real butter which gives you a light and fluffy taste, this is the right ultra-buttery brand to get for your microwave popcorn, it gives you all the right kind of butter flavor you want in a popcorn.

Orville Redenbacher’s microwave popcorn is a gluten-free snack to be enjoyed by kids while they study and everyone is sure to love the warm buttery taste.

This microwave popcorn is full of rich buttery flavor which makes it the first choice of popcorn if you want the movie theatre full experience at home, it contains no artificial preservatives or flavors and it is made with whole grain and contains 0 grams of trans fat per serving.

2. Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn- Best Fluffy Popcorn

Pop Secret Homestyle Premium Microwave Popcorn 30 Pack Value Box

Pop-Secret microwave popcorn is another highly reviewed popcorn you do not want to miss having to complete your movie night, this is considered to be the best-tasting popcorn in the market this 2021, and it has such a nice amount of butter and salt, and you can’t help but indulge in every time you need a healthy snack.

This brand of microwave popcorn contains 30 calories per cup along with 2 grams total fat and 1 gram of saturated fat, it makes a suitable snack to have at hand for all kinds of relaxing occasions.

3. Kirkland Signature Microwave Popcorn-  Best Crunchy Popcorn

Kirkland Signature Microwave Popcorn, 3.3 oz, 44 Count

Kirkland signature microwave popcorn is a very healthy snack, the flavor is comparable to either microwave popcorn brand but the value is amazing, and it has palm oil listed as its ingredients which are low in fat, and it contains just the right amount of butter and salt combo to give you a uniquely delicious taste.

This microwave popcorn tastes just like movie popcorn and really affordable compare to other popcorn brands.

Forget going to the movie theatre for a tasty bowl of popcorn, this microwave popcorn is tasty and delicious, it provides you with a wholesome snack that is packed with flavor and contains no artificial ingredient or flavor. You can have this microwave popcorn at any time of the day however it contains 35 calories per bag hence you should consume moderately.

4. Angie’s Boomchikapop Gluten-Free Sea Salt Popcorn- Most Affordable Microwave Popcorn

Angie's BOOMCHICKAPOP Gluten-Free Sea Salt Popcorn, 0.6 Ounce Vegan Snack Pack Bags (Pack of 24)

If you love movie popcorn with simple ingredients that give you just the right amount of sweetness, we recommend going for this microwave popcorn, it is certified gluten-free hence if you do have gluten intolerance or need a vegan snack food then this is the right choice. This bagged popcorn has a sea salt taste you are sure to enjoy and comes in a convenient bag, it contains 35 calories per cup 0 grams trans fat per serving.

Angie’s Boomchikapop gluten-free sea salt popcorn is made with real simple ingredients for you to enjoy if you like your movie popcorn plain, it is the right choice if you are vegan and there are different varieties of this microwave popcorn for you and they are vegan.

5. Skinnygirl Butter And Sea Salt Microwave Popcorn- Best Gluten-free  Microwave Popcorn

Orville Redenbacher’s Skinnygirl Butter & Sea Salt Microwave Popcorn, 1.5 oz Mini Bag, 10Count, Pack of 6

Skinnygirl microwave popcorn is gluten-free and it’s light and fluffy, it is made with simple ingredients but with an amazing flavor. This popcorn is made with 100% whole grain popcorn kernels which means fewer calories and better flavor that you can enjoy on a night out or while you Netflix and chill.

It is one of the healthiest microwave popcorn brands out there in 2021 and should be highly considered.

This is another interesting microwave popcorn to go for, it is light, fluffy, and tasty, it is a gluten-free popcorn you can enjoy at any time of the day.

This popcorn has about 20% calories less than other microwave popcorn brands which makes it a great choice if you are looking for a healthy low-calorie snack to munch on.

6. ACT II Butter Microwave Popcorn- Best Light Microwave Popcorn

 

ACT II Butter Microwave Popcorn, 3-Count 2.75-oz. Bags (Pack of 12)

This popcorn is a light microwave popcorn that contains the perfect balance of buttery and salty taste that you can’t help but like, you can have this amazing popcorn for parties, office gatherings, and many more simple and classy occasions.

Act II microwave popcorn contains fewer calories and fat as it is really light on the butter which makes it healthier to consume. Each cup of this microwave popcorn has 22 calories, 0.5-gram total fat, and a smidge of saturated fat and sodium.

7. Jolly Time Blast O Butter- Best Buttery Microwave Popcorn

Jolly Time Blast O Butter Ultimate Movie Theatre Microwave Popcorn - 3-Count Boxes (Pack of 12)

If you are looking for a microwave popcorn that gives you an intense savory buttery taste then you should go for Jolly time, it is the perfect popcorn for serving at movie theatres, baseball parks, school, office break rooms, corporate events, and nursing homes and it comes in a convenient bag that can be carried anywhere.

Jolly time blast o butter microwave popcorn is gluten-free and it comes with the right amount of salt, oil, and corn to give you a unique taste. There are so many reviews stating how great the flavor and quality are and it is recommended as the microwave popcorn to go for if you like your popcorn with a buttery flavor.

The best microwave popcorn brands 2021 FAQ

Is there a difference between microwave popcorn and regular popcorn?

What is a movie night without popcorn? The best popcorn for movie night has always been the microwave popcorn which is loved for its buttery flavor which sets it apart from the regular popcorn and one of the main differences is the type and amount of oil used in making microwave popcorn and they also use a lot more salt than regular microwave popcorn.

Why is movie theatre popcorn so good?

Movie theatre popcorns are made with some form of buttery topping and not with real butter and the secret ingredient that makes this really tasty is the use of a super-fine salt that sticks easily to popcorn and basically artificial flavoring. There is a good amount of salt and oil in microwave popcorn and the lower water content in the oil makes for less soggy popcorn and gives you a buttery color and flavor.

Can I eat popcorn every day?

No, you should keep it in moderation as too much of everything really isn’t good for anyone although popcorn is high in several important nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, and polyphenol antioxidants and it is also delicious however eating this every day isn’t a balanced diet and it can also be high in salt or sodium which can cause high blood pressure and other health complications.

Popcorn is a healthy snack that can be consumed regularly as part of a diet to lose weight however some brands include lots of sugar, butter, and salt which can make it an unhealthful snack.

What can I add to my popcorn to make it taste better?

Most popcorn comes with description on how to cook them and ingredients to add however if you simple want your popcorn to taste better. A couple of adjustments such as adding nuts and candies gives more unique taste. You can also create fun flavours by adding your favourite herbs.

How long does microwave popcorn last?

Microwave popcorn packages that contain kernels don’t stay as long as those with plain kernels. Microwave popcorns should be used within the expiration date but some can go three months past the expiration date.

Can I pop regular popcorn in the microwave?

Yes! You can have the plain popcorn popped in the microwave. To ensure all the kernel pops, cool on high for 2 to 3 minutes.

Is air popped popcorn better than microwave?

Air popped popcorn is considered healthier to any microwave popcorn. A full cup of air popped popcorn contains 31 calories and roughly 1 mg of sodium hence it’s efficiently healthier than microwave popcorn.

Will a 700 watt microwave pop popcorn?

700 watt microwave might be slower and the wattage may be too low but you can have it pop your popcorn for 2 minutes and 15 seconds to ensure no kernel is left un-popped.

Does all microwave popcorn have diacetyl?

Major popcorn manufacturers have diacetyl removed from their products. Diacetyl is a chemical used in giving popcorn it’s buttery flavor and aroma and it’s linked to severe lung damages when inhaled in large quantity. Hence studies show it has been removed and some brands have it substituted.

Final Thoughts

Most people Equate going to the movies to eating lots of popcorn and not eating popcorn while you enjoy a movie at home can take the fun out of it however this is possible with the invention of microwave popcorn.

Popcorn is a healthier snack option if you are trying to lose weight, it is also gluten-free and above are the healthiest microwave popcorn to try.

Microwave popcorn makes cooking and serving of popcorn almost effortless and above are things you should look out for before choosing a microwave popcorn to ensure you are choosing the healthier option.

Read next: The 7 Healthiest Vegan-Friendly Cereals to Buy Now