If you want a snack with no preparation, choose popcorn that’s clearly labelled as ready to eat. A microwave multipack is only suitable if you prepare it at home and portion it yourself afterwards. Check whether you’re buying individual snack bags: a cooking bag isn’t a snack bag.
You want to take popcorn with you straight away, without having to pop it first. So check the difference between ready-to-eat popcorn and a product you still need to prepare. For example, Jumbo lists ready-to-eat popcorn and microwave popcorn separately.
You’re looking for portions for several lunchboxes or people, and may want to share out different flavours. Don’t just look at the total weight: check how many bags there are and how much popcorn each contains. AH’s former sharing product combined different flavours and portion sizes, but it isn’t listed as a current purchase option.
You don’t mind preparing the popcorn first and portioning it to take with you. Check the preparation instructions and remember you’ll need your own packaging for the portions. Jumbo sells microwave varieties in packs of 3 × 90 g.
When choosing popcorn for sports bags, sharing or lunchboxes, shoppers have different priorities:
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Ready to eat or needs preparing | Check whether the popcorn is ready to eat or needs to go in the microwave first. Jumbo’s 3 × 90 g pack is a cooking multipack. | If I want to put something straight into my sports bag, I look for popcorn that’s ready to eat. Around 36% of consumers prioritise the convenience of a ready-to-eat snack above all else. |
| Portion size and nutrition information | Compare the net weight with the serving size on the label and check the ingredients for the specific variety. Jumbo also lists nutrition information per 30 g for its 100 g ready-to-eat bag. | If I want to know how much popcorn I’m actually taking with me and what it contains, I compare the pack size with the information on the packaging. Around 29% of consumers prioritise portion size and labelling. |
| Sharing and flavour choices | Count the number of bags for each flavour and check how much each bag contains. If you have a food allergy, check the packaging information for the variety you’ve chosen. | If I’m filling several lunchboxes or sharing popcorn, I want to know whether there are enough bags and suitable flavours. Around 21% of consumers prioritise sharing and flavour choice above all else. |
| Preparing and portioning it yourself | Follow the instructions for the exact microwave variety and count the portions you make yourself, not just the cooking bags. Remember that you’ll also need your own packaging to take them with you. | If I want to pop the corn at home and decide on the portions myself, I factor in the extra preparation. Around 14% of consumers prioritise preparing and portioning it themselves. |
A microwave popcorn multipack contains bags that still need to be cooked; they aren’t portions you can put straight into your sports bag.
First check that the product is ready to eat, then count only the packs that suit the way you plan to use it.
The ready-to-eat Jumbo Popcorn Salt pack contains 100 g and also lists nutrition information per 30 g. So that serving isn’t the same as the whole bag.
For your own calculations, use the amount you actually eat and check the nutrition information for the exact variety.
The Croky party box described by Kruidvat contains crisps, snack bowls and glasses as well as popcorn. So it isn’t just a popcorn multipack.
Check what’s included and decide whether it suits what you need for your sports bag or lunchbox.
Useful for comparing microwave popcorn that you prepare yourself with popcorn that’s ready to eat.
The product information distinguishes between microwave multipacks and ready-to-eat popcorn.
The Dutch product information lists Snack Day Sea Salt Popcorn in a 200 g pack.
SUN SNACKS Salted Popcorn is listed in a 100 g pack.
These products suit two ways of taking popcorn with you in your sports bag: choose a ready-to-eat option, or prepare it at home and portion it yourself afterwards.
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This ready-to-eat popcorn is made for taking with you; the pack contains one 120 g bag.
The product information lists soya and warns that the product may contain gluten. If you have an allergy, check the information on the packaging.
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This microwave multipack is a good choice if you want to prepare popcorn at home and portion it yourself for taking with you.
The pack contains three 100 g bags. They’re cooking bags, not three ready-to-eat snack bags.
No, not if the bags still need to go in the microwave. Jumbo’s 3 × 90 g pack is a microwave product; check whether you’re buying cooking bags or ready-to-eat portions.
Follow the instructions on the packaging for the exact variety. For its microwave popcorn, Albert Heijn recommends, among other things, staying by the microwave while the corn pops and opening the bag carefully because of the hot steam.
Compare the net weight with the serving size shown on the packaging and use the weight you actually eat. The ready-to-eat Jumbo Popcorn Salt bag contains 100 g and also lists nutrition information per 30 g.
Check the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging for the exact flavour. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that pre-packed products should show allergen information on the label.
Dutch government information lists ingredients, allergens, net quantity, nutrition information and use-by or best-before information, among other details. According to Business.gov.nl, the information must be in Dutch and available online too; EU information says allergens must be emphasised in the ingredients list.
