Even if you’re not a big fan, we’re sure you can’t resist a few handfuls of popcorn on a chilly movie night. People are now popping freshly organic popcorn seeds right at home, topped with that delightful real butter. However, a few mainstream popcorn manufacturers claim to have created popcorn that perfectly replicates that salty, oily flavor we’ve come to love.
Because browsing for the best microwave buttered popcorn can be confusing, with all of the different brands staring back at you, we’ve conducted the ultimate test to determine the best microwave buttered popcorn for your enjoyment. So buckle up as we break down our top picks of the best microwave buttered popcorn ranked!
Best Microwave Buttered Popcorn – Our 6 Top Picks
We took several factors into account when selecting our top picks for the best microwave buttered popcorn. To begin with, popcorn fans love fluff and crunchy bites, as well as the flavor we’ve come to love from a genuine butter-flavored topping.
Great popcorn should also be simple to make; otherwise, it will take up valuable time when entertaining a large group on a movie night. Most importantly, we considered the quality of the ingredients and the fact that at least 90% of the kernels pop!
Ready to get started? Let’s dive right in!
At a Glance
Last update on 2024-04-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
1. Orville Redenbacher’s Skinnygirl Butter & Sea Salt Microwave Popcorn
You’ve probably seen a lot of Orville Redenbacher’s popcorn online and are now perplexed about how to tell them apart. Not to worry, though, as Orville Redenbacher’s Skinnygirl Butter & Sea Salt Microwave Popcorn sure is a great place to start. This option is ideal for those who want a buttery flavor without having their popcorn become too greasy. In fact, the butter is almost non-existent, with the sea salt being quite excessive.
Our advice? Choose this option only if you prefer more salt and less butter in your popcorn. This means that if you have high blood pressure, you don’t want to increase your sodium intake. Having a glass of water nearby may also be useful.
That said, Orville Redenbacher’s Skinnygirl Butter & Sea Salt Microwave Popcorn is gluten-free. With this option, you may find switching things up every now and then might just be a good idea. The portions are nicely packed in mini popcorn bags that you can take on a trip in addition you can keep an eye on your calorie intake with its 160-calorie cap per serving. Overall, not everyone may always choose this option, but every now and then, a high sea salt, the low-butter option, may be exactly what you crave!
Pros:
- Gluten-free
- Nice portion size
- Not greasy
Cons:
- Salty
Check out the best way to add butter to microwave popcorn.
2. Angie’s Boomchickapop Butter Microwave Popcorn
Angie’s Boomchickapop Popcorn may seem like an odd name but boy, do they make up for it in taste! Well, based on our research, it does provide some excellent qualities to consider, such as its use of non-GMO, air-popped, gluten-free, and natural ingredients, including real butter. It also provides reasonably sized bags, depending on how much popcorn you need, which are available in 4.4-ounce bags that measure 22 x 15 x 11 inches.
We like this option because the popcorn is pre-popped, saving you time in the kitchen. It’s also known for its fluffy and light popcorn, so you might find yourself easily downing several bags while watching a few movies. However, Angie’s Boomchickapop popcorn flavor pales in comparison to homemade popcorn or with these other best microwave-buttered popcorn choices to consider.
Pros:
- Non-GMO
- Gluten-free
- Made with sea salt
Cons:
- Sometimes tricky to get
3. Act II Popcorn, Movie Theater Butter
For popcorn butter lovers, Act II probably has a fine line between the various buttered popcorn types out there. However, we’re settling the debate with Act II Popcorn, Movie Theater Butter as the best microwave-buttered popcorn to consider, and here’s why.
Firstly, if you’re all about quantity, this option is the right one for you. The description will say “six boxes of six 2.75 ounce bags, each.” Yes, that’s right. You get 6 bags in each box, making it a total of 36 bags, all at a great price!
However, Act II Popcorn’s flavor is just a tad too light on the butter and a bit chewy. You do get a nice, buttery flavor, though, without it being overly greasy. But if you want more butter flavor, keep reading because we have another option for you!
Pros:
- Quality popcorn
- Great price
- Value
Cons:
- Can be a bit chewy
4. Kirkland Signature Microwave Popcorn
Kirkland Signature Microwave Popcorn distinguishes itself from the competition with its whopping 44 3.3-ounce bags of movie theater butter. So, if you ever run out of popcorn when you have guests over, you might want to try Kirkland’s signature popcorn.
Also, if you’ve tried microwaving buttered popcorn before, you’ll know the troubles that come with it, from churned kernels to powdery butter that screams out “artificial”. However, Kirkland’s flavors blend quite well, from just the right amount of savory taste to a lightly oiled and overall well-balanced flavor. It also pops up to a 90% full bag of popped kernels with minimal to no burning!
For Kirkland to near perfectly mimic homemade popcorn in two and a half minutes of microwave time is no small feat. What’s more? The popcorn comes out in soft and tender pieces that are just too impossible to resist.
Pros:
- Large portions
- Great butter flavor
- All kernels popped
Cons:
- Check the dates when you receive your shipment
5. Pop Secret Popcorn, Movie Theater Butter
Pop Secret Popcorn, Movie Theater Butter may just have the key to perfectly mimicking movie theater popcorn; the taste comes pretty close. They sure do have the secret so many others don’t seem to know!
Pop Secret is known for having butter that tastes like real butter, not the powdery stuff you may have had before. You also get a nice, crispy result that is impossible to resist grabbing handfuls of.
Most importantly, the flavors of the popcorn are well-balanced and properly seasoned. There isn’t too much of one flavor unsettling the other. And because of the affordable price, it’s one of the best microwave-buttered popcorn worth trying!
Pros:
- Tastes like movie theater popcorn
- Butter tastes like butter
- Affordable
Cons:
- Occasional shipping issues
6. Orville Redenbacher’s Butter Popcorn
We’re wrapping up with Orville Redenbacher’s Butter Popcorn, the all-around, well-balanced popcorn for all the butter lovers out there. Orville Redenbacher’s Butter Popcorn has just the right amount of butter to form little drips without being too greasy. Texture-wise you’ll get more than crispy, light, and fluffy, as well as very little to no unpopped kernels.
Orville Redenbacher’s has mastered the art of popcorn, where you don’t want to instantly taste all the flavors at the tip of your tongue. Instead, they build up and trickle down slowly, making it that much more addictive and definitely worth every penny!
For butter lovers looking to reduce their calorie intake, Orville Redenbacher’s Light Butter Popcorn has 50% less fat and 5% fewer calories than regular butter-flavored popcorn. In any case, Orville Redenbacher is the way to go when you want that packed butter flavor infused into crispy popcorn for movie nights, game nights, school snacks, or any other occasion!
Pros:
- Well-balanced
- Addictive
- Light options
Cons:
- Some reports of ‘dud’ bags
Let’s Get Poppin’
It’s no small feat trying to find the best microwave buttered popcorn. Either the kernels churn, or they don’t pop, or the flavor isn’t quite right.
But with these six of the best microwave buttered If you’re into popcorn, you’ll have yourself a blast sifting through every bite! If you don’t, please let us know, and we’ll do our best to help because one way or another, there are plenty of brands out there to meet your every need!
