Best Reviewed
Microwave Popcorn
- No compromise butter-flavor popcorn Pop Secret Movie Theater Butter *Est. $3
- Best compromise Smart Balance Light Butter *Est. $3
- Top-rated 94% fat-free microwave popcorn Orville Redenbacher Smart Pop 94% Fat Free Butter *Est. $3
- Organic microwave popcorn Newmans Own Organics Pops Corn Light Butter *Est. $3
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No compromise butter-flavor popcorn
- "Movie theater" taste
- Nice texture
- High in calories, fat and sodium compared to others
- Some think it's greasy
We found the best review of microwave popcorn at Real Simple magazine's website, although we'd like to see to more details about testing methods and a list of the also-rans. The magazine says it tested "nearly 75 bags" of microwave popcorn to arrive at four winners. We also appreciated the ratings of microwave popcorn at Cook's Illustrated, where six varieties are critically taste tested -- this is the one source that really didn't like Pop Secret Movie Theater Butter.
Pop Secret's "butter" flavors, especially Pop Secret Movie Theater Butter, usually do well in taste tests, and the consensus of reviewers is that this variety comes closest to "movie theater" popcorn. However, it's worth noting that this isn't for dieters. The Movie Theater Butter comes three servings per bag; each serving containing 180 calories, 13 grams of total fat (2.5 grams of saturated fat) and 300 mg of sodium. Some reviews praise the taste and texture, but others call it greasy. If you want something less fatty, other ConsumerSearch.com Fast Answers include Smart Balance Light Butter (*est. $3.50 for three 3.5-ounce bags), Orville Redenbacher Smart Pop 94% Fat Free (*est. $3.50 for three 3.5-ounce bags) and Newman's Own Organics Pop's Corn Light Butter (*est. $3 for three 3-ounce bags).
Our Sources
1. Real Simple
Real Simple magazine says it microwaved "nearly 75 bags" but lists just four winners and doesn't say which products failed to make that cut or how many contended in each category. Pop Secret Extra Butter wins the "Extra Butter" class, with the review praising not only the taste but the texture.
Review: The Best Microwave Popcorn, Staff of Real Simple, June 2006
Consumer Reports rates eleven microwave popcorns, including two varieties of Pop Secret (although not Theater Butter), but a subscription is required to see the complete rankings.
Review: Popcorn/Which Kernels Are King?, Editors of Consumer Reports, Sept. 2007
3. Cook's Illustrated Magazine
Cook's Illustrated used staffers for this taste test of nine microwave popcorns plus a ringer -- regular popcorn microwaved in a bag with real butter added.
Review: Tasting Microwave Popcorms, Editors of Cook's Illustrated, July 2003
This review says it tried "virtually every brand and type" of microwave popcorn, but we'd like to see a specific number as well as more than a top four and bottom four. Pop Secret takes the top two places – Homestyle and Movie Theater Butter, respectively, the latter despite an "aftertaste."
Review: Microwave Popcorn Shootout 2000, Bryan Dailey, July 2000
