For a warm evening snack
Want to make hot popcorn at home and spread the pack across several occasions? Check how many cooking bags it contains and follow the instructions for your chosen variety. Jumbo lists its microwave popcorn as 3 x 90 g.
Which size is right for you?
Portions to take with you
If you’re looking for individual, ready-to-eat bags to take with you or share, check the number of bags and the weight of each one. Take extra care when packing popcorn in a young child’s lunchbox: the Voedingscentrum warns that it can be a choking hazard and advises staying nearby while the child eats.
For stocking up
If you want to stock up, check whether a bundle contains separate retail products and how much you’re actually buying. Albert Heijn describes its AH Microwave Popcorn Salt 2-pack as separate products, so the number two doesn’t mean two ready-to-eat snack portions.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether you want popcorn to cook, ready-to-eat popcorn to take with you, or simply more stock in the cupboard. Then compare the pack sizes and information about each variety.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Hot popcorn on several occasions | The number of cooking bags, the weight of each bag and the microwave instructions. | If I want to make popcorn at home on several evenings, I check how many individual bags I’ll get. Around 36% of consumers prioritise the number of times they can make hot popcorn. |
| Individual portions to take with you | Whether the popcorn is ready to eat, plus the number of filled bags and the weight of each one. | For taking with me or sharing, I want sealed portions that don’t need to be cooked first. For around 29% of consumers, the need for individual portions is the main priority. |
| Flavour and ingredients | The ingredients and allergen information for the exact variety; also look out for any warnings about possible traces. | If the recipe or my personal ingredient or allergen requirements determine my choice, I read the label for the specific variety. Around 21% of consumers prioritise this check. |
| How much you’re stocking up on | Whether the bundle contains separate retail products or snack bags, and how much you can store. | When I want to stock up, I want to know how many packs I’ll actually get and whether I can store them. For around 14% of consumers, finding the right amount to stock up on is the top priority. |
Common mistakes
-
Adding together cooking bags, retail products and portions
These figures describe different things. Jumbo lists 3 x 90 g, while Albert Heijn gives nine 30 g portions for its individual salted microwave popcorn product. The AH 2-pack is supplied as separate products.
Before comparing, make a note of the number of retail products, cooking bags or snack bags, and the weight of each pack separately.
-
Assuming a small bag is automatically suitable for a young child
A small pack doesn’t remove the choking risk associated with popcorn. The Voedingscentrum lists popcorn as a food that children can choke on.
When packing a lunchbox for a young child, think about when they’ll eat it and stay nearby while they do.
-
Mistaking a party box for a popcorn multipack
The Croky party box described by Kruidvat contains various items, including sweet popcorn, snack bowls and glasses. That doesn’t make it a pack containing several individual bags of popcorn.
Check the full contents list and see how much of the pack is actually popcorn.
-
Going by the flavour name alone
A flavour name doesn’t tell you everything about the ingredients or allergens. Albert Heijn describes its sweet microwave variety as popcorn with sweeteners; Jumbo warns that its 100 g salted popcorn may contain milk.
Read the ingredients and allergen information for the exact variety, even if you’ve bought popcorn from the same brand before.
Brands to consider
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn lists sweet and salted microwave popcorn, as well as a 2-pack of the salted variety.
- The product information for the salted variety gives a weight of 270 g, a serving size of 30 g and nine servings.
- The 2-pack is supplied as separate products. The sweet microwave variety is described as popcorn with sweeteners.
Jumbo
Jumbo lists both microwave popcorn in 3 x 90 g packs and an individual 100 g bag of ready-to-eat salted popcorn.
- The microwave pack is clearly specified as three 90 g bags.
- The 100 g bag is a single portion pack, not a multipack; the product information warns that it may contain milk.
Lidl
Lidl lists sweet and salted popcorn under its Snack Day own brand, including microwave varieties.
- Lidl’s Dutch product listings include both sweet and salted microwave popcorn.
- For your chosen variety, check the number of bags, the pack contents and the cooking instructions before comparing it with a multipack.
Popcorn picks at Joybuy
These Joybuy picks include microwave popcorn in a multipack for several cooking occasions, as well as ready-to-eat popcorn for an instant snack.
No image available
Pop Corn 3 x 100 g
Ideal if you want to make popcorn at home on several occasions.
Microwave popcorn; the product description lists three 100 g cooking bags. Follow the instructions on the pack.
No image available
MUSHAN BASE Popcorn Sweet Salty Flavor 120 g
Ideal if you’re looking for a ready-to-eat popcorn snack that you can enjoy straight from the pack.
The product information lists sugar, maltose and salt. It also says the product contains soya and may contain gluten; check the pack for the latest ingredients and allergen information.
Frequently asked questions
Is a 90 g cooking bag the same as one portion?
No. A cooking bag and a nutritional portion are different measures. Jumbo sells its microwave variety as 3 x 90 g and gives nutritional values per 30 g. Use the number of bags to plan how many times you can make popcorn, and the serving size to assess the amount.
What should I bear in mind when making microwave popcorn?
Follow the instructions on the pack for your chosen variety. Albert Heijn advises staying by the microwave while the popcorn cooks and warns that the bag and steam can be hot. Jumbo advises against restarting the cooking process if it has been interrupted, and says children should only make popcorn under adult supervision.
Is a small bag of popcorn suitable for every child’s lunchbox?
No. The size alone doesn’t tell you whether popcorn is suitable for a child. The Voedingscentrum warns that popcorn can be a choking hazard and advises staying nearby while the child eats. So consider the child and when they’ll be eating, not just how convenient the bag size is.
How do I check allergens in popcorn?
Read the ingredients and allergen information on the pack for the exact variety. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that the rules require information about fourteen allergens; also distinguish between an ingredient and a warning about possible traces.
How do I compare a multipack with a bundle of separate retail products?
First check exactly what you’re getting: cooking bags, filled snack bags or complete retail products. According to Albert Heijn, the AH 2-pack consists of separate products, while Jumbo lists its microwave popcorn as 3 x 90 g. Then compare the contents and number of individual packs on the same basis.