Snackers keeping an eye on portion size
You compare the kcal per 100 g and then consider how much popcorn you actually want to eat as a late-night snack. The portion size shown on the pack may not match the amount you’ll have.
Which questions matter to you?
Sweet popcorn fans keeping an eye on sugar
You fancy sweet popcorn, but also check the ‘of which sugars’ figure and the ingredients list. The information from REWE, Chio and EDEKA for their sweet microwave options shows why it’s worth comparing specific products.
Savoury snackers keeping an eye on salt
You prefer salty popcorn and check the salt and fat content as well as sugar. According to Chio and EDEKA, their salty microwave options considered here contain 1.2 g and 2.5 g of salt per 100 g respectively.
What should you look for when buying?
First decide whether you want a ready-seasoned option or popcorn kernels to prepare yourself. For packaged popcorn, compare the figures per 100 g and consider how much you plan to snack on; if you’re making it yourself, remember to include any ingredients you add afterwards.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Energy and portion size | Compare kcal per 100 g and check the pack weight and the portion you plan to eat. | If I want a late-night snack, I need to be able to estimate the energy in the amount I’ll actually eat. This is the main concern for around 50% of consumers. |
| Sweetness and sugar | Check the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g and the ingredients list, particularly when comparing options with different levels of sweetness. | I want sweet popcorn that suits my taste without overlooking sugar or sweeteners. Around 30% of consumers care most about this. |
| Savoury flavour and salt | For salty products, compare salt, fat and kcal per 100 g. | For a savoury snack, I’d rather have salty popcorn, but I don’t want to guess the salt content from the taste alone. This is the top priority for around 20% of consumers. |
Common selection mistakes
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Assuming fewer kcal than another popcorn means it’s ‘low-calorie’
A lower figure compared with other products doesn’t tell you how much energy is in the amount you’ll actually snack on. The figures given by REWE, EDEKA and Chio for the microwave products considered here range from 387 to 450 kcal per 100 g.
Use the per-100-g figure to compare products, then consider how much you plan to eat from the pack.
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Looking only at kcal in sweet popcorn
For the sweet XOX microwave popcorn considered here, REWE lists 2.7 g of sugar per 100 g and includes sucralose in the ingredients. Chio and EDEKA each list 16 g of sugar per 100 g for their sweet microwave options considered here. So the sugar figure alone doesn’t tell you everything about the recipe.
Check the ‘of which sugars’ figure and the ingredients list on the specific pack if sweeteners or particular ingredients matter to you too.
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Assuming salty means lower in energy
According to Chio and EDEKA, the salty microwave options considered here contain 430 and 450 kcal per 100 g respectively. Their salt levels are 1.2 g and 2.5 g per 100 g respectively.
Compare salt, fat and energy together. If you’d like to control the seasoning yourself, popcorn kernels you can prepare at home are another option.
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Assuming online information applies to every pack
EDEKA notes that its products may not be available in every store and that the information online may differ from what’s on the pack. The packaging of the product you actually buy is particularly important for ingredients and nutritional values.
Check the ingredients, allergen information and nutritional values again when you buy, even if you already know the product.
Brands to consider
Chio
Chio offers sweet and salty microwave popcorn. When choosing a late-night snack, the information for each specific option matters more than the brand name.
- For the sweet product considered here, Chio lists 442 kcal and 16 g of sugar per 100 g; for the salty option, Chio lists 450 kcal and 1.2 g of salt per 100 g.
- Portion size matters too: Chio lists 133 kcal for a 30 g portion of its sweet product. You’ll need to decide whether that matches the amount you eat.
XOX
The XOX products considered here include sweet microwave popcorn and ready-to-eat caramelised popcorn. Compare the preparation method and recipe separately.
- For the listed sweet XOX microwave popcorn, REWE gives 387 kcal and 2.7 g of sugar per 100 g.
- According to REWE, this microwave product contains palm oil and sucralose. For its sweet ready-to-eat popcorn, XOX itself lists 432 kcal and 57 g of sugar per 100 g; the term ‘air-popped’ doesn’t replace checking the nutritional values.
GUT&GÜNSTIG (EDEKA)
EDEKA describes sweet and salted GUT&GÜNSTIG microwave popcorn in a 3 × 100 g pack.
- For the sweet option, EDEKA lists 395 kcal and 16 g of sugar per 100 g; for the salted option, it lists 430 kcal and 2.5 g of salt per 100 g.
- EDEKA notes that online information may differ from what’s on the pack and that availability varies between stores. So be sure to check the specific pack.
Popcorn and popcorn kernels at Joybuy
These products offer two ways to enjoy a late-night snack: sweet microwave popcorn with a set recipe, or popcorn kernels that you can season yourself. Don’t compare their energy content without considering how they’re prepared: adding ingredients to the kernels changes the finished snack.
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Seeberger Sweet Microwave Popcorn, 90 g
An option if you’d like to make sweet popcorn in the microwave.
The pack contains 90 g. As the sweet recipe is already set, check the ingredients and nutritional values per 100 g before buying, and follow the pack instructions when preparing it.
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Alnatura Organic Popcorn Kernels, 500 g
An option if you’d like to make popcorn at home and choose the seasoning yourself.
The pack contains 500 g. If you’re preparing the kernels in a pan, remember to factor in the oil you use: the nutritional values for the uncooked kernels don’t describe the finished snack with oil or other additions.
Frequently asked questions
Is popcorn automatically low in calories?
No, you can’t tell how much energy popcorn contains from the name alone. REWE, EDEKA and Chio list 387 to 450 kcal per 100 g for the microwave options considered here. Compare the figure on the specific pack and think about how much you plan to eat.
Should I compare kcal per portion or per 100 g?
First compare products by their kcal per 100 g, then work out the figure for the amount you plan to eat. The German Food Federation explains that portion information is voluntary, so the manufacturer’s suggested portion may not match the amount you’ll snack on.
Is salty popcorn a better choice than sweet popcorn for a late-night snack?
That depends on whether sugar, salt or the energy in your snack matters most to you. For their salty microwave options considered here, Chio and EDEKA list 1.2 g and 2.5 g of salt per 100 g respectively; for their sweet options, they each list 16 g of sugar per 100 g. Also compare the fat and kcal in the product you’re planning to buy.
What should I watch out for when making microwave popcorn?
Follow the instructions on the specific bag and open it carefully once it’s ready. REWE warns that hot steam may escape from the prepared pack of its microwave popcorn; don’t assume that the cooking time for one product is right for another.
How can I check sugar and ingredients before buying?
Check the ‘of which sugars’ line in the nutritional information and read the ingredients list on the specific pack too. As the German Food Federation explains, ingredients are listed in descending order by weight. If you need to avoid particular ingredients or allergens, it’s also important to check the relevant information on that pack.