I Tried 6 Microwave Popcorns and This Is My New Movie-Night Favorite

Popcorn is an important staple in my house. It’s one of the few snacks that everyone likes, which is why I always have some stocked in my kitchen. The only trouble is that there are so many types and brands of popcorn that we often get into (good-natured) arguments about which is the best. To settle the matter, we invited 20 extended family members to taste test six varieties of microwave popcorn and determine the winner.

How I Chose the Popcorn Contenders

I bought six brands of microwave popcorn from a local grocery store. I was tempted by the kettle corn and cheese-flavored varieties, but to keep things consistent, I only chose butter-flavored popcorn.

How We Tested the Popcorn

I enlisted 20 family members, varying in age from 4 to 75 years old. I microwaved each bag of popcorn according to package directions and transferred the contents into separate bowls. I had each tester rate the popcorn on flavor, as well as texture and any other noticeable characteristics. We sampled six varieties of microwave butter-flavored popcorn, and here are the results.

The Best Microwave Popcorn, Ranked

6th Place: Jolly Time Blast O’ Butter

Let’s just say we didn’t have a jolly time with this one. Instead, testers commented that the chewy kernels left a greasy film in their mouth. According to one tester, the flavor tasted “off,” neither of butter nor anything resembling butter. The salt level was adequate, but the oily texture made this the least palatable popcorn in our lineup.

5th Place: Cousin Willie’s Buttery Explosion

I wasn’t familiar with this brand, so we were eager to try something new. While Willie’s popcorn was less greasy than Jolly Time and had a decent amount of salt, tasters noted that the butter flavor tasted distinctly artificial, similar to that of a tub of margarine. While it wasn’t in last place on our list, it certainly wasn’t a favorite.

4th Place: Act II Butter Lovers

Tasters found this popcorn to be neither remarkable nor particularly offensive. It had a balanced level of salt, was not overly greasy, and had a subtle buttery flavor. However, some testers felt the popcorn left a filmy feeling after eating it and didn’t feel compelled to come back for more. 

3rd Place: Pop Secret

This was the popcorn of my childhood, so my expectations were high. Testers mostly liked it, but not enough to secure a spot higher than third place. It was buttery and had a light and crunchy texture, but might be salty for some tastes.

2nd Place: SkinnyPop

This was a last-minute add mostly because, with a name like SkinnyPop, we weren’t expecting big flavor. However, we were pleasantly surprised that this popcorn checked all of the flavor and texture boxes we were seeking in a microwave popcorn. The popped kernels were fluffy with a light crunch that seemed perfectly salted. Unlike others on the list, it didn’t leave a coating or strange aftertaste. The only thing that kept this popcorn from coming in first place was that the flavor, while delicious, was not buttery enough.

1st Place: Orville Redenbacher

This was the crowd favorite in the taste test contest. It popped well and the kernels were full, light, and crunchy. Tasters noticed it was a little greasy, but not in an off-putting way and felt like it was a more indulgent version of SkinnyPop. The flavor was buttery, but not overpowering. Bottom line: This is the popcorn we’ll choose for our next movie night.