Which option is right for you?

Ready to go, no prep needed

You’re looking for a sealed bag of ready-to-eat popcorn to pack with your lunch, with no weighing or preparation needed.

Mindful portion pickers

You want to know how much popcorn, sugar, salt and energy your snack portion contains, rather than looking only at the figures per 100 g.

Stock-up planners

You often take a snack with you and want to choose between a box of individual bags and portions you make yourself from a larger pack.

What should you look for when buying?

First check whether the popcorn is already popped and individually wrapped. Then look at the portion size, flavour and storage information.

What to consider What should you check? Who is this important for?
Ready to take with you Check whether the popcorn is ready to eat, how many individual bags are in the pack and how many grams each bag weighs. If you want to take one sealed snack with you without any preparation, convenience matters most. Around 36% of consumers prioritise being able to take it with them straight away.
Nutritional information per portion Check the figures per 100 g and calculate what they mean for the weight of the bag you’ll eat. If you want to know what your actual portion contains, both the label and the weight of the bag matter. Around 29% of consumers focus mainly on portion control.
Flavour and ingredients Read the ingredients list and check the allergen information for the exact flavour you’ve chosen. If you’re choosing between savoury and sweet-and-salty, you’ll also want to know which ingredients are in that variety. Around 21% of consumers make flavour their top priority.
Stock and portions Compare the number of individual bags with the number of portions you can make yourself from a larger bag. Also check how to store it once opened. If you’re planning several snack breaks, you’ll want to know how many portions a pack contains and how much preparation portioning it yourself involves. Around 14% of consumers prioritise planning their supplies.

For example, AH Zoute popcorn comes in a 100 g pack, with four 25 g portions listed on the label; these aren’t four individually sealed bags. Albert Heijn lists Jimmy’s zout as 21 bags of 17 g and sweet salt as 21 bags of 22 g. Use the label on the exact pack you have to calculate your own portion.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming a whole bag is one snack portion

    A pack can contain several portions according to the label without those portions being individually wrapped.

    Check the net weight and portion size on the label. If you’re portioning it yourself, weigh out the amount you want to take with you in advance.

  • Looking only at the front of the pack

    A flavour name or small pack doesn’t tell you how much sugar, salt or energy is in the portion you’ll eat.

    Read the nutritional information and ingredients list for the variety you’ve chosen. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises considering a snack as part of your overall diet.

  • Confusing ‘mini popcorn’ with a dry snack

    A product with popcorn in its name may actually be a different kind of product. AH Choco mini popcorn is ice cream with popcorn pieces and needs to be stored in the freezer.

    Check the product description and storage instructions, not just the product name or picture.

Brands to compare

Jimmy’s

The product information distinguishes between small, ready-to-eat bags, larger packs and microwave popcorn.

  • Albert Heijn lists boxes of 21 bags of 17 g for the salted variety and 21 bags of 22 g for sweet salt.
  • The product information says that the varieties checked aren’t suitable for children under 3. Check the current packaging and storage instructions too.

Albert Heijn

The own-brand range includes salted popcorn in a larger pack and popcorn that needs to be prepared in the microwave.

  • AH Zoute popcorn comes in a 100 g pack. The product information lists four 25 g portions and provides nutritional and storage information.
  • The 25 g portions aren’t in individual bags. Microwave popcorn needs to be prepared first.

Jumbo

Jumbo lists salted popcorn in a 100 g pack and sweet popcorn in a 175 g pack.

  • The product information gives you two pack sizes and flavours to consider if you’re portioning it yourself.
  • These pack sizes don’t mean that there are individual mini bags inside. The salted product page says that the product may contain milk.

ALDI / Sun Snacks

ALDI Netherlands lists Sun Snacks Zoute popcorn in a 100 g pack.

  • The pack weight gives you a useful starting point if you want to portion it yourself.
  • A 100 g pack doesn’t mean that the contents are made up of individually sealed snack bags.

Lidl / Snack Day

Lidl lists Snack Day Popcorn zoet in its range in the Netherlands.

  • The product listing confirms that a sweet popcorn variety is available.
  • Check the weight and whether the contents are individually wrapped before choosing it as a snack to take with you.

Croky

The Croky brand description covers a range of crisps.

  • A mixed party box containing popcorn doesn’t in itself confirm that it’s an individually wrapped Croky popcorn product. Check the product description and packaging.

Smiths

The Smiths products mentioned by Jumbo in its range information are crisps.

  • Check the product category and packaging if you’re looking for ready-to-eat popcorn bags.

Popcorn at Joybuy

Ready-to-eat popcorn to take with you, with no preparation needed.

MUSHAN BASE popcorn, sweet and salty flavour, 120g

MUSHAN BASE Popcorn Sweet Salty Flavor 120g

The product information describes this ready-to-eat popcorn as a snack you can take with you without any preparation.

Sweet-and-salty flavour; 120 g. Contains soya and may contain gluten.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

How can I tell whether a multipack really contains individual bags?

Check both the number of bags and the weight of each one. For the Jimmy’s boxes checked, Albert Heijn lists 21 × 17 g and 21 × 22 g. A large bag containing several portions according to the label isn’t a multipack of individual bags.

How do I calculate the nutritional information per 100 g for my bag?

Multiply the figure per 100 g by the weight of your bag, then divide the result by 100. Use the weight and nutritional information for the exact variety you’re eating.

Is a larger bag handy for lunch on the go?

It can be, if you have time at home to portion the popcorn yourself and pack it securely. AH Zoute popcorn comes in a 100 g pack and lists four 25 g portions, but they aren’t individually sealed.

Can I take microwave popcorn with me and eat it on the go?

Not without preparing it first. For AH Magnetron Popcorn Zout, stay by the microwave while it pops. The bag gets hot and contains steam, so open it carefully.

What should I look out for if a child under 3 is eating too?

The product information for the Jimmy’s varieties checked says they aren’t suitable for children under 3. The sweet salt variety also warns that some maize kernels may not pop. These warnings apply to those specific products.