Reid Yoder
Pictured are six unique ways to make and consume popcorn. Tune in to learn which way won!
Perhaps the most iconic movie snack is popcorn. It’s small and easy to eat, and even though its kernel shells are tricky to get out of your teeth, it’s perfect to munch on while enjoying a feature film. Its history dates back to 3,600 BCE, but it’s still consumed today and has taken on many different forms. These are the top six best ways to prepare and consume popcorn in 2025, several thousand years later.
Bagged Popcorn
Bagged popcorn gets a bad rap that it unfortunately deserves. There’s something about making bagged popcorn that manufacturers can’t seem to wrap their heads around. I’ve found that every time I open a bag of brands like “Skinny Pop” or “Boom Chicka Pop,” I’m presented with a half-full bag of stale, unsalted popcorn. No one wants to munch on that for a two-hour movie.
Movie Popcorn
Movie popcorn is an excellent snack for when you’re in a physical theater. It’s freshly made and buttered, meaning it’s hot for a decent time. Coupled with a nice drink and some Milkduds, you’re in for quite the exceptional cinema experience.
However, when taken out of a theater to be compared with the later rankings on this list, movie popcorn falls short.
Stovetop Oiled Popcorn
Making stovetop-oiled popcorn is a process involving the heating of oil in a pan and allowing the kernels to pop inside. While this option is very customizable and caters to the consumer’s needs, it’s also a significant time commitment compared to the other options on this list and is simply too long for popcorn preparation.
Microwavable Popcorn
Let’s be honest, microwavable popcorn probably doesn’t deserve to be this high on the list. Its flavor is unique, yes, but it’s a pain to get the individual kernels out and I’ve made up bags that have popped less than half the number of kernels. It can also be difficult to open the bag, having steam burn your skin as soon as you open the bag.
So why is microwavable popcorn so high on this list? Nostalgia. Most have a memory, fond or not, of making microwavable popcorn at home and watching the bag inflate in the microwave. While microwavable popcorn itself might not be the best, the memories it reminds us of place it at a high spot on this listicle.
“Smartfood White Cheddar” Popcorn
Bagged popcorn was already ranked, but there is one exception and that’s Smartfood’s white cheddar (and white cheddar only) bagged popcorn. This popcorn is low-calorie, requires no preparation, and is perfectly seasoned with cheese and salt. Every time I open a bag of this popcorn, I can count on cheesy fingers and a satisfied stomach.
Air-Popped Popcorn
At the top of this tier list is air-popped popcorn for its simplicity and opportunity for astounding taste with little effort. Whenever I make popcorn, air-popped is always my go-to. It may take a couple of minutes to fully pop and prepare, but you’re free to choose how buttered and how salted you want it to be.
Air-popped popcorn is the most cost-effective, only requiring an air popper and cheap kernels. To top it all off, air-popped popcorn is the tastiest of the types of popcorn, ranking high in each of the criteria.