Which Brand of Bagged Popcorn Tastes Best?
Get ready to get snacking
As snacks go, popcorn is pretty healthful. Three cups of plain, air-popped corn contain about 100 calories—along with a good dose of fiber and one-third of the whole grains most adults need daily. Even buttered popcorn can be a healthy snack: Our evaluation of six popular bagged brands shows that most have just 120 to 160 calories in about 3 cups and contain 2 to 4 grams of fiber. To find the best buttered bag of corn, we asked 29 CR staffers to do a blind taste test of each brand and share their winners and losers.
Editor’s Pick
Angie's Boomchickapop Real Butter
$3.49 for 4.4 oz.
$3.49 for 4.4 oz.
Real butter is right—this was the only popcorn that wasn't enhanced with a flavor additive of some kind, and no one complained of an artificial taste. Most tasters said the flavors were balanced, and some noted that the actual taste of the grain stood out. Angie's also offered a combo of crunchy and tender kernels.
Nutrition
- Calories: 160
- Sat. Fat. (g) 4
- Fiber (g): 2
- Sodium (mg): 190
Tasty & Vegan
Lesser Evil Himalayan
Gold Organic
$7.59 for 4.6 oz.
Gold Organic
$7.59 for 4.6 oz.
Made with coconut oil and what Lesser Evil calls "butter-type flavors," this popcorn tied with Angie's for the top spot. Some said it had a movie theater popcorn taste, though others felt the "butter" was too sweet. It's higher in saturated fat than others we tried, so try to stick with a 3-cup serving.
Nutrition
- Calories: 120
- Sat. Fat. (g) 5
- Fiber (g): 4
- Sodium (mg): 170
Lowest Price
Wise Butter Popcorn
$4.59 for 6 oz.
$4.59 for 6 oz.
At 77 cents per ounce, this popcorn cost the least and was praised for its nice crunch and buttery flavor. However, it doesn't actually contain butter, using vegetable oil instead. (It says it's "artificially flavored" in small type on the package.) Some tasters called the butter flavor "fake."
Nutrition
- Calories: 150
- Sat. Fat. (g) 2
- Fiber (g): 3
- Sodium (mg): 220
Healthiest
Skinny Pop Butter
$3.79 for 4.4 oz.
$3.79 for 4.4 oz.
Skinny Pop edges out the competition when it comes to nutrition because of its lower saturated fat content. The texture is airy and crunchy, and many tasters thought the balance of butter and salt flavoring was just right.
Nutrition
- Calories: 140
- Sat. Fat. (g) 1
- Fiber (g): 3
- Sodium (mg): 190
Tender Kernels
Smartfood Movie Theater Butter
$5.19 for 6.25 oz.
$5.19 for 6.25 oz.
Some people want their popcorn to deliver crunch, but others prefer a tender kernel, and that's what you get here. The popcorn was described as "soft," "melts in your mouth," and "no hard edges." The flavors of butter and salt were "subtle" for many tasters, but a few thought the butter tasted artificial.
Nutrition
- Calories: 150
- Sat. Fat. (g) 1.5
- Fiber (g): 3
- Sodium (mg): 240
Don’t Bother
Popcorn Indiana Movie Theater Butter
$3.89 for 4.75 oz.
$3.89 for 4.75 oz.
Our tasters noted a strong odor and a chemical flavor and aftertaste in this popcorn. Plus, the sodium is on the high side.
Nutrition
- Calories: 140
- Sat. Fat. (g) 2.5
- Fiber (g): 3
- Sodium (mg): 220
Editor’s Note: This article also appeared in the September 2023 issue of Consumer Reports magazine.
