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Learn & WatchSubmitOur content is meticulously curated through independent research, testing, reviews, and AI-driven recommendations, all designed to present you with the finest product choices. When you make a purchase through our links, it could result in us earning a commission.Have a Cinemalike Experience at Home With the Best Popcorn Kernels
Last updated: 1 Mar 2024Our Top Picks
- Best Overall: Connect Snacks Non-GMO Large Shop Now ➔
- Runner-Up: Orville Redenbacher's Gourmet Popcorn Kernels Shop Now ➔
- Best Recipe: Amish Country Popcorn Shop Now ➔
- Honorable Mention: Snappy White Popcorn 4 Pounds Shop Now ➔
- Also Consider: Dutchman's White Popcorn Kernels Shop Now ➔
View all ContentsReviewing the Top Popcorn Kernels of 2024 in Detail
Best Overall
Connect Snacks’ non-GMO large popcorn kernels do not feature synthetic materials, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), or chemicals. These crops aren’t sprayed with synthetic nitrogen fertilizer, which is to blame for about 5% of the country’s total greenhouse gas emissions each year. These whole-grain, low-carb yellow popping kernels result from the sustainable farming approach, making them healthy. You can cook them in minutes and give your family the classic taste of movie theater popcorn.
Our earth’s natural health and the well-being of small family farms benefit from your favorite snack. All of your movie evenings will be catered to with this popcorn bag’s generous servings. Try adding butter, cheese, or even sea salt if you’d want to enhance the flavor.
Pros
- Delicious
- Sustainably grown
- Family farmed and healthy
Cons
- May find some un-popped kernels
Runner-Up
Orville Redenbacher’s Gourmet Popcorn Kernels container contains 30 ounces of popcorn kernels. They are the pinnacle of premium popping, delivering excellent popcorn with a crispy surface and a tender within. You would love to eat these. Making popcorn on the stovetop, in an air popper, or an electric popper is an easy and healthful snack idea that anybody can do at home. These popcorn kernels are natural, making them a healthy snack option.
Prepare a popcorn treat with high-quality grains from selected family farms. Orville Redenbacher’s is the top brand of popcorn because its products contain no artificial preservatives, flavors, or colors. They appear in an instant and are incredibly light and fluffy. These raw kernels are ideal for adding a splash of color to typical situations, such as after-school mealtime.
Pros
- Affordable
- Natural
- Crispy outside and tender inside
Cons
- Hard to chew
Best Recipe
Amish Country Popcorn is a ten-pack set that includes purple, caramel, extra-large, mushroom, and baby white, popping corn. There are a total of fifteen fantastic popcorn recipes. You’ll get a free cooking instruction guide with every purchase. The company has already done the job for you, so you wouldn’t even have to look for recipes. You may enjoy this snack without concern because these popcorn kernels are non-GMO and gluten-free.
Besides being minimal in calories, these are also delicious and good for your health. Nut allergies aren’t a problem while using Amish Country Popcorn items. Grab a bag and pop it open; you’re ready to savor the wonderful aroma.
Pros
- Non-allergic
- Low calories
- Variety of recipes
Cons
- It does not cook well in a silicone popper
Honorable Mention
Snappy White Popcorn 4 Pounds is actually the love of a traditional popcorn lover. When popped, the little gourmet kernel produces a soft puff with fewer hulls, making it easier and more delightful to chew. Snappy popcorn kernels are a popular choice for air popper popcorn because they deliver gourmet quality and remarkable taste in a quick and easy manner. For added convenience, this bag of popcorn kernels provides consistent quality. This product is minimal in calories and fat, allowing you to enjoy delicious yet nutritious snacks.
Pros
- Premium corn
- Reusable jar
- High fiber and great taste
Cons
- You may find some hulls
Also Consider
For those who like a slightly larger kernel, this four-pound bag of superior unpopped kernels is the best option on the market. Easily pop and offer for family film or game evenings, at-home dating, and as a light and healthy snack for youngsters.
Even though popcorn can never be completely free of hulls, this particular batch comes quite close. Shells break off or fully shatter after the kernels explode, making them impossible to find. For those who have retainers, dentures, or braces and don’t like the idea of hulls getting lodged in their mouths, Dutchman’s practically hull-less popcorn is the answer. You can’t go wrong with a bowl of newly popped popcorn that promises a pleasant crunch with each bite, and that’s what you will get if you pop these quality medium white kernels – soft fluffy flakes with a savory aroma and sweet, wonderful taste.
Pros
- Affordable
- Tender
- Natural and healthy
Cons
- Expensive
Finding the Perfect Popcorn Kernels: A Buyer's Guide
Any entertainment, whether in a movie theatre or on your favorite couch, can be made less enjoyable if your prepared container of popcorn is either partially popped or, worse, a charred mess. Moreover, as a courtesy to you and your popcorn-loving pals, it is customary to always seek out the ideal popcorn kernels on the market. And if you’re looking for the poppiest and sweetest packet of kernels, consider this post your short guide. It will assist you in choosing the best popcorn kernels for your enjoyment.
How To Pick the Best Popcorn Kernels
Let’s go over the essential elements to consider when selecting the freshest and the tastiest popcorn kernels.
Freshness
So, how can you tell if a bag of popcorn kernels is still fresh? The fresher the kernels have been, the more savory your popcorn will be. The general principle would be that your popcorn should remain fresh as long as you purchase or order in low quantities. Buying in bulk or huge quantities can have some drawbacks since stale kernels can end up costing you more money in the long term.
In other words, plan out just how much popcorn you can eat. Airtight containers guarantee that your popcorn has a delicate taste and is fresh when it comes to fresh produce.
Storing and packaging
When deciding on the sort of packaging for your popcorn kernels, you must first determine the quantity of the batch. Therefore, if your pack is a little smaller than planned but has a voracious appetite, you may want to avoid a re-sealable container.
Re-sealable packaging is a good alternative if you like bulk purchases, but the batch is renowned for not being finished all at once. When you’re looking for an option, go with a mason jar. In order to keep your kernels nice and dry till the time comes, you should use this type of jar. Bring your box if you are looking to purchase these kernels at a local store, as well.
Hull-less
Retainers with popcorn kernels may have hulls lying inside of them. And if you’re wearing dentures, this might be a real pain.
It’s the same for those who suffer from gastrointestinal disorders, including Crohn’s and IBS. Fortunately for these customers, nearly all top brands now sell hull-less popcorn kernels. Also, if you really want your popcorn to have a sweet coating, use hull-less popcorn.
Naturalness
Natural and whole food options are currently more popular than ever before. Most people no longer believe that sprinkling some dubious cheese dust on their popcorn is the best option. Your health could be at risk if you choose the unhealthy one.
Popcorn kernels low in calories, organically farmed, or non-GMO are the ones you should go for. In addition to its environmental benefits, naturally produced corn is also famous in the country where farmers live and work near cornfields. So if you’re looking to lose weight while also making the world a better place to live in, try the most organic popcorn kernels.
Flavoring
Some tastes are included, some are already flavored, and others give you complete freedom to create your flavors. Additional flavors can adhere to the popcorn’s outer shell if it is oiled. However, if you’re using air poppers, things will be slightly different. If you want a uniform distribution, you’ll need to pour over the cooked popcorn and then thoroughly mix it.
Be careful, though. Air-popped popcorn can go from a healthy to an unhealthy snack quickly with the addition of too many toppings. According to nutritionist and creator of the Candida Diet, Lisa Richards, “Loading butter on popcorn adds a ton of extra calories and fat which significantly lowers the food’s benefits. Adding sodium-rich flavorings can make popcorn unhealthy as well.” If you want your air-popped popcorn to still have a delicious taste, Richards recommends flavoring it with a healthy oil.
What Are the Health Advantages of Popcorn Kernels?
Many people in the United States associate popcorn with the movie-going experience, but it’s also a popular snack worldwide. Popcorn is often associated with salt and butter, but its minerals and low caloric content make it a surprising health food. Popcorn has several health rewards. Popcorn includes phenolic acids, an antioxidant. They are also high fiber content. It’s also a whole grain, which may avoid potential heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure.
Diabetes risk reduction
Humans benefit from eating whole grains. Eating whole grains lowers the chance of developing type 2 diabetes, particularly in middle-aged women and men. The low glycemic index (GI) of popcorn may also help you regulate the blood sugars more smoothly and avoid the fluctuations related to high GI items. Insulin and lipid levels can improve in patients with diabetes by eating a lot of low-GI meals.
Reduced chance of heart attacks
Popcorns are a great choice to help you achieve your daily fiber needs. Popcorn has high fiber content and preventing heart disease and coronary artery disease has been related to popcorn’s high fiber content. Consuming popcorn without a lot of salt or butter may also help lower your blood pressure or minimize your risk of developing blood pressure problems.
Weight control
It might be difficult for many people to lose weight and keep it off. Popcorn is a low-calorie snack that can assist you in maintaining a healthy weight. This essential health advantage is made possible by this food’s low caloric and high fiber content. Healthy snacks like this tend to make individuals feel fuller longer than unhealthy snacks.
Anti-aging
Consumption of popcorn also has anti-aging properties. Age-related signs such as wrinkles, age spots, retinal deterioration and blindness, muscle spasms, cognitive impairment, osteoporosis, and hair loss have all been connected to free radicals. Popcorn’s potent antioxidants can have an adverse effect on free radicals.
Which Popcorn Kernels Are Best for Cooking on the Stove?
Popcorn kernels that can resist high heat are the first thing to consider when making stovetop popcorn. Before the kernel is opened, it should be fried. Popcorn made with uncooked kernels is probably small and oily, which is a bad combination to have in the first place.
If your popcorn is too oily, you won’t use many sweet flavors. Chocolate and sugar coatings won’t stick to oil at all. This is why picking the right kind of popcorn is so essential. Furthermore, seek a kernel of popcorn with a more rounded form than one that is elongated. As a result, it should cook adequately and not absorb much oil over its outer layer. It is impossible to overheat or fry a kernel that’s cooked uniformly.
People Also Asked
What is the best way to make crunchy popcorn?
The moisture trapped in kernels is freed when you heat them. They may become wet due to condensation. Popcorn will be crunchy if you use a lid with some ventilation to let moisture escape.
How should one store popcorn kernels?
At a low humidity level, popcorn kernels remain fresh. Higher than fourteen percent relative humidity can cause the kernels to absorb additional moisture from the air and eventually decay. It's best to keep them in a sealed jar.
Article Contributors
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