If you want to control how much fat goes into your movie-night popcorn, making it yourself from popcorn kernels is the obvious choice. However, the nutritional values for dry kernels don’t automatically apply to the finished popcorn: oil and other ingredients add to them. Microwave popcorn takes less preparation; for these varieties, compare fat, sugar and salt per 100 g, as well as the preparation instructions.
You want to choose the oil and seasoning yourself, and are happy to prepare popcorn from kernels. When looking at the nutritional values for dry kernels, remember to factor in any ingredients you add later.
You want to prepare a pre-portioned microwave bag. In return, you accept a set recipe and follow the power and timing instructions for the variety you’ve bought.
You choose according to taste, while also wanting to take sugar, salt and fat into account. The nutritional values EDEKA gives for its sweet and savoury GUT&GÜNSTIG varieties show why a single figure isn’t enough to make this decision.
First decide whether you want to choose the oil and seasoning yourself or prepare a microwave bag without measuring anything out. Then compare the nutritional information on the same basis – and, for loose kernels, also consider how you’ll prepare them.
| What matters to you | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Control the amount of fat | For popcorn kernels, factor in the amount of oil you plan to use; don’t compare the fat content of dry kernels with that of the finished snack as if they were the same. | If you make your own popcorn, you can decide how much oil goes into the pan. This is a priority for around 45% of consumers. |
| Quick preparation | For microwave popcorn, check the power and timing instructions on the inner bag against your own microwave. | If the film is about to start, not having to measure anything matters more than being able to choose the recipe. Around 33% of consumers prioritise this. |
| Choose sweet or savoury | Compare sugar, salt and fat per 100 g, as well as the ingredients list for each variety. | Some people mainly want to choose between sweet and savoury flavours without overlooking the other nutritional values. This is the top priority for around 22% of consumers. |
For its GUT&GÜNSTIG microwave popcorn, EDEKA lists 12 g of fat and 16 g of sugar per 100 g for the sweet variety, and 21 g of fat and 2.5 g of salt per 100 g for the savoury variety. These figures apply to those two products, not to sweet and savoury popcorn in general. For Seeberger popcorn kernels, REWE lists 3.8 g of fat per 100 g of dry kernels; this does not include any oil you add.
The nutritional values on a pack of popcorn kernels don’t include any oil, seasoning or topping added later. The method REWE describes for cooking Seeberger popcorn kernels in a pan uses oil.
Decide which ingredients you’ll add before you start cooking. To compare finished snacks, look at the whole prepared portion, not just the dry kernels.
A claim that a product contains less fat describes a comparison. On its own, it doesn’t tell you how much fat the product actually contains.
Check what the claim is being compared with, and look at the fat content per 100 g.
Of EDEKA’s two GUT&GÜNSTIG varieties, the sweet one has a lower fat content, but also contains 16 g of sugar per 100 g. The savoury variety contains 2.5 g of salt per 100 g.
Check fat, sugar and salt in the nutritional information using the same basis before deciding based on flavour and what matters most to you.
The power and cooking time depend on the specific bag, so instructions for another product may not be suitable.
Follow the instructions on the inner bag of the variety you’ve bought, and open it carefully to avoid hot steam.
The products mentioned represent different choices: loose popcorn kernels, microwave popcorn and snacks that aren’t popcorn products.
Popcorn kernels for anyone who wants to choose how to prepare and season them.
Sweet and savoury microwave popcorn with a set recipe.
Naturals Lightly Salted are crisps, making them a different snack category from popcorn.
Protein Chips Barbecue Style are lentil and corn crisps, not popcorn.
These products cover two movie-night choices: popcorn kernels to prepare yourself and sweet microwave popcorn. When comparing them, check the pack information and consider whether you want to control the ingredients yourself.
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For making popcorn yourself when you want to choose the oil and seasoning.
The pack-size information is inconsistent: before buying, check whether the offer is for a single 500 g pack or a multipack. If you have an allergy, also check the labelling on the specific pack.
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Sweet microwave popcorn for a movie night when preparing it in the bag matters more to you than controlling the ingredients yourself.
Compare fat and sugar per 100 g on the pack. Follow the microwave power and timing instructions shown there; hot steam may escape when you open the bag.
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Another sweet microwave option if you want popcorn without cooking it in a pan.
Fat and sugar per 100 g are useful when comparing it with other varieties. Follow the power and timing instructions on the pack, and open the bag carefully.
As well as the nutritional values for dry popcorn kernels, take into account the oil and other ingredients you add during preparation. The 3.8 g of fat per 100 g that REWE lists for Seeberger popcorn kernels applies to the dry product, not your finished portion.
No. A fat-reduction claim refers to a comparison and doesn’t, on its own, describe the absolute fat content. Check what the comparison is based on, and also look at the fat content per 100 g.
You can’t tell just from the flavour. Of the two GUT&GÜNSTIG products described by EDEKA, the sweet variety contains 12 g of fat per 100 g and the savoury one 21 g. The sweet variety also contains 16 g of sugar, while the savoury one contains 2.5 g of salt per 100 g. So compare the specific packs.
Always follow the instructions on the inner bag of the variety you’ve bought. Check the stated power and timing against your microwave, and open the bag carefully, as hot steam may escape.
Check the allergen and may-contain information on the specific pack. For the Seeberger popcorn kernels described, REWE mentions possible traces of tree nuts and peanuts; this doesn’t tell you anything about other popcorn products.