Families looking to manage portions
Want to divide popcorn between several family members? Compare the energy per 100 g and per weighed portion. A small portion doesn’t make the product itself low in calories.
Who is this buying guide for?
Families who want to pop their own
Popping maize yourself lets you control how much oil and seasoning you add. When comparing products, take preparation time into account, as well as the difference between dried maize and prepared popcorn.
Families who want to serve popcorn quickly
If you want to keep preparation to a minimum, compare ready-to-eat popcorn with individual microwave bags. Divide the contents into portions that suit your snack time.
What should you look for when buying?
Pop your own with popping maize
A good choice if: you want to buy maize for several occasions and decide for yourself what to add.
Bear in mind: Albert Heijn lists 374 kcal per 100 g for dried maize; this is not the nutritional value of a prepared portion. You’ll need oil and a pan with a lid to prepare it.
Microwave popcorn
A good choice if: you want to prepare popcorn at home without measuring out the maize and other ingredients yourself.
Bear in mind: Jumbo lists 391 kcal, 5.1 g saturated fat and 1.5 g salt per 100 g for its salted variety. One microwave bag isn’t automatically one portion. Follow the pack instructions and supervise children who are helping.
Ready-to-eat sweet popcorn
A good choice if: you want to serve sweet popcorn without having to pop it yourself.
Bear in mind: Albert Heijn lists 419 kcal and 45 g sugar per 100 g for AH Popcorn zoet. Weigh your portion and check the sugar content alongside the energy.
Ready-to-eat salted popcorn
A good choice if: you want to share a savoury snack without preparing it first.
Bear in mind: AH Zoute popcorn lists 543 kcal and 1.53 g salt per 100 g. Lidl Snack Day zeezout and ALDI Sun Snacks zout are other varieties. Always compare the information on the pack of the product you choose.
| What to consider | What to look for | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Energy per portion | Compare kcal per 100 g within the same product form and calculate using the actual weighed amount. | When I’m serving several family members, I want to know how much energy is in the portions I hand out; around 33% of consumers prioritise energy per portion. |
| Stocking up and sharing | Check the pack size and whether the contents are divided into individual bags or portions. | When I’m buying popcorn for different family occasions, I look for an amount that’s practical to divide up; around 25% of consumers prioritise stocking up for the family. |
| Ease of preparation | Choose between popping it yourself, microwave preparation and serving it straight away. Follow the pack instructions for microwave popcorn. | When I want to keep preparation to a minimum for a family snack time, the preparation method is key; around 25% of consumers prioritise serving popcorn quickly. |
| Ingredients and nutritional values | Check sugar, salt and saturated fat alongside the energy content. If you have an allergy, check the information on the exact pack. | When I want to assess ingredients or nutritional values as well as calories, I need the details for the specific variety; around 17% of consumers prioritise ingredients and nutritional values. |
Common buying mistakes
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Confusing a small portion with a low-calorie product
A smaller portion contains less product, but it doesn’t change the energy per 100 g. For solid foods, the European Commission sets the limit for the ‘low calorie’ claim at a maximum of 40 kcal (170 kJ) per 100 g.
Check both the energy per 100 g and the portion weight. Only use a nutrition claim if the relevant requirements are met.
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Assuming salted popcorn always contains less energy than sweet popcorn
For the specific AH varieties, Albert Heijn lists 419 kcal per 100 g for AH Popcorn zoet and 543 kcal per 100 g for AH Zoute popcorn. The sweet variety also lists 45 g sugar per 100 g.
Compare the labels on the exact varieties and assess energy and sugar separately.
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Treating dried maize as the same as a prepared portion
The 374 kcal per 100 g listed by Albert Heijn for AH Biologisch Popcorn mais applies to dried maize. Oil is added during preparation, so you’ll need to include the ingredients you use when calculating the energy per portion.
Calculate the energy using everything used in preparation and the amount you actually serve.
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Counting a microwave bag as one portion
Jumbo sells its salted variety in three 90 g bags and lists nutritional values per 100 g and per 30 g. So the pack size and the portion shown on the label aren’t the same.
Decide how much you want to serve and divide the prepared contents accordingly. Follow the preparation instructions. Jumbo advises that children should only prepare this popcorn under adult supervision.
Brands to compare at product level
Albert Heijn
The product information mentioned covers dried maize, ready-to-eat sweet popcorn and ready-to-eat salted popcorn.
- Albert Heijn lists 374 kcal per 100 g for AH Biologisch Popcorn mais, 419 kcal per 100 g for AH Popcorn zoet and 543 kcal per 100 g for AH Zoute popcorn.
- The value for dried maize isn’t directly comparable with that of prepared popcorn. The sweet and salted varieties also have different nutritional values.
Jumbo
Jumbo Magnetron Popcorn Zout 3 x 90 g is a microwave variety supplied in individual bags for preparation.
- Jumbo lists 391 kcal, 5.1 g saturated fat and 1.5 g salt per 100 g for this microwave variety.
- Follow the preparation instructions on the pack. Jumbo warns that children should not prepare the popcorn without adult supervision.
Lidl
The Dutch product information lists Snack Day popcorn in salted and sweet varieties. The sea salt variety is listed in a 200 g pack.
- Lidl Netherlands’ product page describes the pack and product variety.
- For a comparison, check the nutritional information on the pack of the exact variety.
ALDI
The Dutch product information lists Sun Snacks Zoute popcorn in a 100 g pack.
- This is a ready-to-eat salted variety to compare with other product forms.
- Use the nutritional information on the exact pack when comparing energy or ingredients and nutritional values.
Popcorn at Joybuy
Joybuy popcorn picks for portioning, preparing at home and sharing straight away.
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Pop Corn, 3 x 100 g
The three individual bags are handy for preparing popcorn on different snack occasions.
Pack size: 3 x 100 g.
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SNACK MAZE Cinema Butter Popcorn, 240 g
This pack is designed for sharing. Check the nutritional information for this specific variety.
Pack size: 240 g. Flavour as stated in the product name: Cinema Butter.
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Valle Del Sole Popcorn Maize (Butterfly), 900 g
The larger pack is handy for several occasions when you want to pop your own popcorn.
Pack size: 900 g popcorn maize. Take the preparation method and any ingredients you add into account when calculating the energy per portion.
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Yousmai Pengranxindong Popcorn Caramel, 120 g
This ready-to-eat caramel variety is convenient for serving straight away. Weigh out the portion you want.
Pack size: 120 g. Check the nutritional information and ingredients on the exact pack.
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g'woon Salted Popcorn, 100 g
Divide this salted variety into portions and compare the nutritional information on the exact pack.
Pack size: 100 g.
Frequently asked questions
Can popcorn be called ‘low calorie’?
Only if the product meets the relevant requirements for the claim. For solid foods, the limit is a maximum of 40 kcal (170 kJ) per 100 g. The European Commission explains this requirement under Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006. A smaller portion doesn’t change the limit per 100 g.
How do I calculate the energy in my portion of popcorn?
Multiply the kcal per 100 g by the weight of your portion in grams, then divide by 100. For popcorn you prepare yourself, use the information for the ingredients and include anything you add, such as oil.
How do I prepare microwave popcorn when children are helping?
Follow the instructions on the pack for the exact variety. Jumbo warns that children should not prepare microwave popcorn without adult supervision and advises against restarting the microwave if preparation has been interrupted.
Is popcorn made with only maize automatically suitable for someone with an allergy?
No. Check the information on the exact pack. For AH Biologisch Popcorn mais, Albert Heijn states that it may contain cereals containing gluten, soya and wheat. So, maize being the main ingredient doesn’t prove that the product is free from other allergens.
Can I compare dried maize directly with ready-to-eat popcorn?
Not by comparing the nutritional values per 100 g without taking the product form into account. The value for dried maize applies before preparation. If you pop it yourself, include the oil and any other ingredients you use, then compare portions prepared in the same way.