Microwave Popcorn Taste Test
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I won’t eat things that have much (if any) Trans fat in them. Ponzi found three types of microwave popcorn that have no Trans fat, and no Hydrogenated oil. I agreed to taste each of them, and give her my final opinion.
The first contender is the Buttery, Salt and Cracked Peppercorn from Orville Redenbacher. This has 730mg of sodim per serving, and 180 calories. It is honestly very tasty. Ponzi feels it’s too much of a pepper taste, but not me. This is great! Who would have thought pepper on popcorn would please my palette?
Second up we have Newman’s Own Butter Boom popcorn. This one has 130 calories per serving, with 290 mg of sodium. Holy cow this is buttery and good! Very flavorful, and of course being from Newman’s Own, it’s healthy. There’s no cholesterol or sugars in this, even!
Ok fine. I’ll try #3. This one is the one we normally eat. It’s Smart Balance Light Butter. There are 120 calories in this, and 290 mg of sodium again. This may “win” for calories… but for me, it doesn’t win the taste test. It’s very good, don’t get me wrong. But in comparison with the other two, it’s quite bland.
Edited to add follow-up quote
Hey Chris,
This is Sangueffusor. I work at a grocery store, and popcorn is one of the sections that I stock. I thought you might want to know about some more popcorn varieties that fit your criteria.
ALL of the Orville Redenbacher varieties I checked had no hydrogenated oil – they’re only made with palm oil – and have no trans fats. There are a number of flavors in this brand. However, Wikipedia says that palm oil is one of the most unhealthy types of oil, because it is very high in saturated fat. So what you trade here for no trans fat is more saturated fat – not a very good compromise.
Smart Balance makes another flavor of popcorn – movie-style butter. You might find it more to your buttery satisfaction than the light butter flavor you tried already.
Jolly Time also has a “Better Butter” flavor that has no hydrogenated oils or trans fats. Interestingly, their “Healthy Pop” variety DOES have hydrogenated oil in the ingredients, and has 0g of trans fat “per serving”. This is the “hiding” thing you were talking about in the video- if a food has less than 0.5g of trans fat per serving, the label can get away with saying it has zero, providing it states “0g trans fat per serving”. There is a note in the ingredients list that states the hydrogenated oil adds an “insignificant amount” of trans fat, but if you were to eat the whole bag, for instance, it would be more than insignificant.
I have yet to examine Act II or Pop Secret. I’ll probably get back to you on those.
So to sum it up, if I want something with zing or a bit different, I’m going with the Redenbacher’s. If I want butter… Butter Boom from Newman’s it is!
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51 Comments
Windows Vista Torrent
November 14th, 2007
at 8:06am
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Michael
November 13th, 2007
at 4:35pm
I have had the Buttery, Salt and Cracked Peppercorn from Orville Redenbacher and is by far my favorite. Doesn’t taste like it came from a microwave at all.
frunk
November 13th, 2007
at 5:02pm
I dunno man, how about a good old air popper. No trans anything! Then, get a spray bottle of that no “nothing” butter spray. For a treat, sprinkle a little parmesan cheese on it. OH YEA!
gyles
November 14th, 2007
at 2:08am
lol nice taste test
Lori Gerage
November 14th, 2007
at 6:03am
Hi Chris and Chris’s wife.
Have you ever tried all natural popcorn directly from the farm still on the cob? You can purchase this at many farmers markets or your local farm. All you do is stick the entire cob whole in the microwave for 3 minutes. It is very cool the entore cob pops and you do not have any skins. It is the best tasting popcorn I have ever tried. You can add your own salt or non fat butter but it does not need a thing it is great as is. I hope you get a chance to try this? If you haven’t already?
Best regards,
Lori Gerage
Shannon
November 14th, 2007
at 8:37am
I gotta agree with Frunk. Hot air poppers work well (also can function as a makeshift home coffee roaster).
If convenience is an issue, and the use of radiation a must, then try just adding popcorn to a paper bag and microwaving until popped. I’ve heard this works, but never tried it.
Also – there are microwave poppers that appear to be plastic-resin bowls with slotted lids. My folks had one in the early 90s and swore by it. Again, no idea how they work.
When I want popcorn, I add a tablespoon of butter/margarine/ smart balance/ whatever to a pressure cooker, pour in the popcorn and salt, and shake it on the stove for about five minutes.
Bowler4Ever
November 14th, 2007
at 5:19pm
Saltier…Butterier…I put my own pepper in it!
Al
November 19th, 2007
at 1:48am
Too much salt is bad for you. Just because God made salt does not mean we can not abuse our intake. As with anything in nature, even the good foods can be taken irresponsibly. There are plenty of studies out there that says salt/sodium adds water weight, increases blood pressure and really messes with your circulation overall which can not be a good thing. Salt also i believe acts like a preservative to the body so i think that may cause problems with out healing/repair factors as well.
lunavixen015
December 9th, 2007
at 5:38pm
you should have used still water not sparkling, it contains bi carb soda and quinine
skaterasshole1234567
December 14th, 2007
at 5:20am
Don’t talk with food in your mouth!
SpecterBlack
December 15th, 2007
at 4:18pm
I like to mix Parmesan Cheese in mine…yum…
kpslover
December 17th, 2007
at 5:37am
True, just a bottle of spring water would do just fine. Plus its cheaper.
kpslover
December 17th, 2007
at 5:39am
Now I too have started to avoid foods with trans fats in them. We’ll see how that goes. Its amazing that even though in NYC, my area, they have banned trans fats in all restaurants. But McDonald’s still doesn’t comply. Will they get to pay a hefty fine?
reatard132
December 19th, 2007
at 2:23pm
Hummm i will like to try that
reatard132
December 19th, 2007
at 2:24pm
Dood chris get out and live a litel@
7dr7dan7
December 24th, 2007
at 11:33am
haha, your the healthiest geek I’ve ever seen =D.
I’d be eating the fattest popcorn and washing it down with sugar soda.
mike lapmardo
December 31st, 2007
at 11:00am
tried the act 2 butter lovers–it was excellent–and it contains palm oil
it was better than any other microwave popcorn i’ve ever had
mega711
January 1st, 2008
at 9:44pm
I must try this salt to God theory you have here xD
FeelOfFriction
January 5th, 2008
at 7:24pm
i just threw up
yomamobabo
January 13th, 2008
at 7:17am
dude.
you seriously need a girlfriend.
Demoras
January 14th, 2008
at 5:26am
Aren’t thou aware of the fact that he already has one?
Kevinnunez
January 29th, 2008
at 11:03am
He doesn’t. He has a wife
marvtheripper
February 5th, 2008
at 6:28am
dude
Hes already married
learn a little more before you make stupid comments.
paintball164
February 6th, 2008
at 2:47pm
chris already has a wife
meatloaf666999
February 6th, 2008
at 3:45pm
butter mac
bigdave0304
February 6th, 2008
at 5:50pm
lol ur a dumb nub hes married
ballaboe
February 8th, 2008
at 9:01am
omg she sounds ……..soooooooooooooooooo hot
leodime
February 13th, 2008
at 11:52am
I felt odd sitting there watching a grown man eat popcorn while his wife sounded like she was doing a science project but that is the Chris experience anyways.
wuuzzee71
February 29th, 2008
at 8:55am
I think he believes in Saltology. ;)
emufan23
March 11th, 2008
at 6:06am
I really like cheese popcorn. They have stopped selling them though…
MoK86
March 16th, 2008
at 7:21pm
yummmy
ayrevortex
March 31st, 2008
at 10:17pm
:). Cheese is awesome!
aisx
April 28th, 2008
at 6:00pm
I feel very at home watching your videos.
AmazeNYou
April 30th, 2008
at 1:13pm
“pogo” had the best comment in the chat… “When it looks white on the box, you KNOW it has no flavor…” haha
Strassenjunge2
May 18th, 2008
at 3:22am
LOL STOP IT AT 1:32 LOL LMAO
Strassenjunge2
May 18th, 2008
at 3:22am
LOL STOP IT AT 1:32 LOL LMAO
guest2424
May 25th, 2008
at 2:14am
the FDA allows people to make their serving small enough that there is 0.50 grams of partially-hydrogenated oil than they are allowed to spam “0 GRAMS OF TRANS FAT *per serving” which means if you eat 1 serving of that, and 1 serving of a similar product, than you just are enough partially-hydrogenated oil to equal 1 gram. The whole “per serving, no trans fat” is a scam, stop saying “per serving” you scammers! stop poisoning us by purposefully trying to deceive us!
guest2424
May 25th, 2008
at 2:14am
the FDA allows people to make their serving small enough that there is 0.50 grams of partially-hydrogenated oil than they are allowed to spam “0 GRAMS OF TRANS FAT *per serving” which means if you eat 1 serving of that, and 1 serving of a similar product, than you just are enough partially-hydrogenated oil to equal 1 gram. The whole “per serving, no trans fat” is a scam, stop saying “per serving” you scammers! stop poisoning us by purposefully trying to deceive us!
guest2424
May 25th, 2008
at 2:19am
I made popcorn once just by putting a pot on the stove with a lid and dumped a bag of popcorn in there, it worked and tasted different and didn’t burn. Try it, its easy, just takes more time, but it’s a unique taste.
guest2424
May 25th, 2008
at 2:19am
I made popcorn once just by putting a pot on the stove with a lid and dumped a bag of popcorn in there, it worked and tasted different and didn’t burn. Try it, its easy, just takes more time, but it’s a unique taste.
guest2424
May 25th, 2008
at 2:19am
I made popcorn once just by putting a pot on the stove with a lid and dumped a bag of popcorn in there, it worked and tasted different and didn’t burn. Try it, its easy, just takes more time, but it’s a unique taste.
kevaughanshiu
May 25th, 2008
at 3:54am
newman… LOOKED LIEK GEOrGE BUSH for like a millisecon.. phew :3
scared me
monobrow303
May 25th, 2008
at 8:11pm
Why do you care about sodium?
If you have lots of sodium you just Pee it out… You need a FUDGE load of salt for it to be bad for you at ALL!
monobrow303
May 25th, 2008
at 8:11pm
Why do you care about sodium?
If you have lots of sodium you just Pee it out… You need a FUDGE load of salt for it to be bad for you at ALL!
monobrow303
May 25th, 2008
at 8:11pm
Why do you care about sodium?
If you have lots of sodium you just Pee it out… You need a FUDGE load of salt for it to be bad for you at ALL!
FULLBLOODEDIRISH
May 26th, 2008
at 7:38pm
Me too. They have stopped selling them in most places in Ireland too :(
FULLBLOODEDIRISH
May 26th, 2008
at 7:38pm
Me too. They have stopped selling them in most places in Ireland too :(
emufan23
May 27th, 2008
at 2:16am
Yeah, my mother did that when i was a kid. It was great!
emufan23
May 27th, 2008
at 2:16am
Yeah, my mother did that when i was a kid. It was great!
emufan23
May 27th, 2008
at 2:16am
Yeah, my mother did that when i was a kid. It was great!
emufan23
May 27th, 2008
at 2:16am
Yeah, my mother did that when i was a kid. It was great!