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Good Housekeeping’s Nutrition Lab named six microwave popcorn products as its top picks after testing three bags of each and collecting staff and consumer taste feedback. Smash Kitchen led the tasting, while the list also includes options from 365 by Whole Foods Market, Orville Redenbacher’s, Newman’s Own, Black Jewell and Skinnygirl.
Good Housekeeping has named six microwave popcorn picks after its Nutrition Lab tested popular brands for flavor, texture, popping consistency, ingredients and nutrition. Smash Kitchen ranked as the lead choice in the report, alongside products from 365 by Whole Foods Market, Orville Redenbacher’s, Newman’s Own, Black Jewell and Skinnygirl.
The lab said it popped three bags of each brand, counted unpopped and burnt kernels, and asked staffers and consumer taste testers to assess flavor, aroma, crunch, texture and mouthfeel. Registered dietitians also reviewed ingredient lists and nutrition facts. The report says its testing prioritized short ingredient lists, fewer than 50 milligrams of sodium and less than 2 grams of fat per one-cup popped serving.
Smash Kitchen stood out for crisp, substantial kernels and a buttery-like taste from popcorn, palm oil and sea salt, without added natural or artificial flavors. The report gives its sodium content as 35 milligrams per popped cup. The plain 365 by Whole Foods Market option contains only popcorn kernels and was praised for fluffy, crisp results and a generous yield. Its flavored varieties were also tested; the report says the Buttery option has 30 more calories, 3.5 grams more fat and 2.5 grams more saturated fat than the Light Buttery option.
The other selections offer different styles. Orville Redenbacher’s was noted for a mild, lasting flavor and a bag that did not leave grease on the outside. Newman’s Own received positive marks for light seasoning, crunch and an easy-to-open, sturdy bag; the report says all of the company’s profits go to charity. Black Jewell uses heritage black corn, whose popped kernels may look dark, and was praised for crunch and buttery flavor. Skinnygirl comes in smaller bags with a lime flavor testers liked, though the report says it contains more sodium per serving than the other picks.
How the Six Picks Differ
The list gives shoppers six distinct choices rather than a single flavor profile: a lightly seasoned option, plain kernels for home seasoning, a movie-theater-style taste, heritage black corn and a smaller lime-flavored bag. That can help readers match a product to portion size and taste preference instead of relying on packaging claims alone.
The report also puts nutrition details alongside sensory feedback. Its stated preference for under 50 milligrams of sodium and under 2 grams of fat per popped cup offers one screening benchmark, but shoppers should compare the label on the specific product they buy. Serving size matters: sodium and fat can add up if someone eats multiple cups, and the article notes that the Buttery 365 version has more calories and fat than its Light Buttery counterpart.
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Inside the Popcorn Taste Test
The report describes a test run by the Good Housekeeping Institute Nutrition Lab, where registered dietitians assess food and snack products throughout the year. For this review, the team considered both product composition and performance after microwaving, rather than selecting products solely from nutrition labels or brand descriptions.
Each tested product was prepared in three bags to check consistency. The testers recorded burnt and unpopped kernels before sampling and rating the popcorn. The provided source material does not identify every product variant or list full nutrition figures for all six picks, so the report’s descriptions should not be treated as a complete side-by-side nutrition table.
““It’s got the perfect amount of flavor, and I just love how it’s crispy but also really melts in your mouth.””
— Good Housekeeping taste tester, quoted in the report
Limits of the Published Findings
The source material does not provide a full ranked scorecard, exact scores for each product or complete nutrition data for all six selections. It also does not specify the test date, the number of individual taste testers, or the microwave settings used for every bag. The findings therefore reflect Good Housekeeping’s described testing and participants’ preferences, not a guarantee that every shopper will prefer the same products.
Some product details are presented comparatively without full baselines in the supplied material. For example, Skinnygirl is described as having more sodium per serving than the other picks, but the complete values and serving sizes are not provided here. Prices, availability and any changes to product formulas are also not established by the source excerpt.
What Shoppers Should Check
The report does not announce a follow-up test or a next publication date. Shoppers can use its findings as a starting point, then check the current package label for serving size, sodium, total and saturated fat, ingredients and bag yield, since recipes and package details can change.
Microwave cooking time varies by product and appliance. The source says most microwave popcorn takes about two to four minutes, but its provided text ends before completing the cooking guidance. Follow the instructions on the bag and stop the microwave when popping slows to avoid scorching; do not assume one time setting applies to every brand or microwave.
Key Questions
Which microwave popcorn did Good Housekeeping feature as its lead pick?
Smash Kitchen was the report’s lead selection. Testers praised its crisp kernels and balanced, buttery-like flavor, while dietitians noted its short ingredient list.
How did Good Housekeeping test the popcorn?
The Nutrition Lab popped three bags of each brand, counted burnt and unpopped kernels, and gathered ratings from staffers and consumer taste testers on flavor, aroma, crunch, texture and mouthfeel. Dietitians also reviewed ingredients and nutrition information.
Which pick is made with only popcorn kernels?
The plain 365 by Whole Foods Market option contains popcorn kernels and no other ingredients, according to the report. That lets shoppers season it themselves.
What should shoppers compare on microwave popcorn labels?
Compare ingredients, sodium, total and saturated fat, serving size and bag yield. The report says its testing favored products with fewer than 50 milligrams of sodium and less than 2 grams of fat per one-cup popped serving, but those are the report’s screening criteria, not a universal nutrition rule.
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