When choosing popcorn for an evening cheering on the Dutch team, first consider how much you want to eat and work out the energy for that portion. A small portion doesn’t automatically make a product low in calories. Popping it yourself gives you control over what you add, while microwave and ready-to-eat popcorn are convenient options. Always compare the label, the basis used for the nutritional information, and the sugar, salt and saturated fat content.
You want to decide in advance how much popcorn suits your snacking occasion. Compare the energy in the amount you actually eat, rather than relying on the product name or the serving size on the pack. Albert Heijn lists nutritional values per 100 g and per serving for specific popcorn varieties.
You want to decide how much maize, oil and flavouring to use, and are happy to do a little preparation before the match. Remember to include any additions in your calculations: the instructions for preparing AH Biologisch Popcorn mais include vegetable oil.
You want warm microwave popcorn or a bag you can serve straight away, but still want to be able to measure out a portion. Follow the instructions on the pack when preparing microwave popcorn.
Consider how much you eat and what the nutritional information is based on: dried maize, the product as sold and prepared popcorn are not directly comparable. The values below for specific AH and Jumbo products come from their product labels.
| What to consider | What to check | Who should consider this? |
|---|---|---|
| Energy in your portion | Check the kcal per 100 g and whether the value applies to dried or prepared popcorn. Calculate it using: label value × grams ÷ 100. | If I want to fit my snack into my calorie plan, I also count the oil and flavourings. Around 36% of consumers prioritise the total energy in a snack. |
| Portion size | Check the net weight, stated serving size and number of servings. Weigh out your portion before settling down to watch. | If I don’t want to keep eating from a large bag without noticing, I set aside a portion first. Portion control is the main priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Ease of preparation | Check whether the popcorn needs to be popped, is made in the microwave or is ready to serve. Follow the instructions on your pack when preparing microwave popcorn. | If I want to keep preparation to a minimum or am looking for warm popcorn, I check the product type and how it is prepared. Around 21% of consumers prioritise ease of preparation or serving. |
| Sugar, salt and fat | Compare the individual values for sugars, salt and saturated fat per 100 g, and convert them to your portion if needed. If you have a relevant allergy, check the ingredients and warnings too. | If I want to keep an eye on sugar, salt or saturated fat as well as calories, I check those values separately. Around 14% of consumers prioritise nutritional composition. |
A portion may contain a relatively small amount of energy even if the value per 100 g is higher. According to the European Commission, a claim meaning ‘low energy’ can only be used for solid foods containing no more than 40 kcal (170 kJ) per 100 g.
Note the weight of your portion and calculate its energy using the value per 100 g. Don’t use the ‘low energy’ claim as a substitute for doing the calculation.
The energy in dried maize doesn’t include the oil and other ingredients you add during preparation.
Add up the energy in all the ingredients you use, then divide the total recipe energy between the portions you actually make.
A pack may contain several stated servings. For example, AH lists 25 g servings for specific sweet and salted popcorn varieties.
Decide in advance how much you want to eat and put that amount in a separate bowl.
Sugar, salt, fat and saturated fat are separate nutritional values. A preference for a sweet or salty flavour doesn’t, on its own, tell you how much energy a portion contains.
Check the nutritional information for the values that matter to you, and compare products on the same basis, such as per 100 g.
The range reviewed includes dried organic popping maize, salted microwave popcorn, and ready-to-eat sweet and salted popcorn.
The microwave variety reviewed is salted popcorn in a pack of 3 × 90 g.
Sun Snacks Zoute popcorn is a ready-to-eat popcorn variety in a 100 g pack.
Snack Day Popcorn zeezout is a ready-to-eat savoury popcorn variety in a 200 g pack.
These Joybuy products suit different popcorn preferences for a football night, from microwave and ready-to-eat popcorn to maize you can pop yourself. Check the nutritional information and what it is based on for each product before choosing a portion.
Image unavailable
The product title describes popcorn with cinema butter flavour. Check the nutritional information and serving size if you want to calculate the energy in your snack.
Image unavailable
This microwave variety is a good choice if you’re after warm popcorn. Remember to base your energy calculation on the amount you eat.
The product description on Joybuy lists 510 kcal and 3 g of salt per 100 g. Follow the preparation instructions on the pack.
Image unavailable
This ready-to-eat caramel popcorn is a good choice if you’re after a sweet flavour. Compare the nutritional values with those for your chosen portion.
The product description on Joybuy lists 502 kcal and 35 g of sugars per 100 g.
Image unavailable
A ready-to-eat salted popcorn option if you’d rather not pop your own. Decide in advance how much you want to eat.
The product description on Joybuy lists 543 kcal and 1.525 g of salt per 100 g.
Image unavailable
This maize is a good choice if you want to pop your own popcorn and control the additions. Remember to include all the ingredients used in the preparation.
The product description on Joybuy lists 350 kcal per 100 g of dried maize. The pan method described adds 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil; the value for the maize doesn’t include this oil.
According to the European Commission, a claim meaning ‘low energy’ can only be used for solid foods containing no more than 40 kcal (170 kJ) per 100 g. So, when choosing popcorn, use the value on the label and calculate the energy in your portion. Several of the varieties reviewed have a stated energy value above this limit.
Add together the energy in the maize and all the ingredients you use, then divide the total between the portions you actually make. For AH Biologisch Popcorn mais, 25 g of dried maize works out at 93.5 kcal before additions; the pan method also includes oil.
Weigh out the amount you want to eat in advance and serve it separately. The serving size shown on the pack is a label value and doesn’t have to match the amount you choose to eat.
Stay by the microwave while the popcorn is popping and follow the instructions on your pack. Albert Heijn advises stopping its salted variety when there are 1–2 seconds between pops, and warns that the bag and steam may be hot.
No. You can’t tell from the main ingredient alone. AH Biologisch Popcorn mais states that it may contain cereals containing gluten, soya and wheat. If you have a relevant allergy or intolerance, check the ingredients and warnings on the pack of the variety you buy.
