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Who doesn't like popcorn? For movie time, for making popcorn balls, on the stove, in an air popper - it's a tasty snack that you can enjoy in different textures and flavors depending on the type of kernels and seasonings you choose. It's also easy to prepare and makes a great snack for the whole family (or just you - no judgment).
Buying popcorn kernels in bulk can help you save money, especially when it's a staple snack in your household. However, buying in large quantities is risky, because you might end up getting a poor quality of kernels for the whole batch! To avoid this, check our buying guide for some tips to consider before buying bulk popcorn kernels.
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Check our buying guide out to know the differences between types and shapes of popcorn kernels as well as things to consider to get quality popcorn kernels that suit your method of preparation.
There are two different shapes of popped kernels: mushroom and butterfly. Mushroom has a round shape and rough surface, while butterfly has an unpredictable shape with wings.
Mushroom-shaped popcorn has a dense and chewy texture and can absorb and hold more flavorings like caramel, cheese, or chocolate.
On the other hand, butterfly is crispy and fluffy. Butterfly-shaped popcorn is popular in a lot of movie theaters. It's great for mixing with salt and butter.
There are many types of popcorn kernels, but the most popular ones can be separated into three types: white, yellow, and hulless.
In general, white kernels are small and have an oval shape like a grain of rice. When popped, they have a light and tender texture with a mild taste. White kernels taste good with salt and butter.
On the other hand, yellow kernels have more of that traditional corn taste, and they pop up bigger than white kernels. Yellow kernels tend to have sweet and nutty flavors, so they go well with thick coatings like caramel and candy.
All popcorn kernels have hulls, but the size depends on the size of the popcorn kernels. Hulless popcorn is made from small popcorn kernels, so they have less hull than the big ones.
When popped, the hulls break into small pieces and are less noticeable when chewing. Most people like it because it doesn’t get stuck in their teeth.
90% of corn grown in the U.S. is made with GMOs. Although there is no confirmation that GMOs are bad for your health, a lot of people try to avoid them.
If GMOs are your main concern, we suggest you look for a “Non-GMO” or "USDA Organic" label on the packaging because it can guarantee that the kernels are free from GMOs.
We recommend you always check expiration dates before buying, otherwise you may end up getting an old product! The shelf life for popcorn kernels is approximately one to two years and their best taste is between six to 12 months.
There are many types of packaging, like paper bags, plastic bags, cartons, bottles, and plastic containers. But no matter what packaging it is, it should be sealed completely. Improperly sealed packaging can cause the product to go bad before the expiration date.
Most bulk popcorn kernels don't come with flavors, which allows you to customize flavors by yourself. However, some popcorn kernels come with oil and seasonings, which is convenient for someone who doesn't want to buy separate seasonings, coatings, or syrups.
If you want movie theater-style popcorn, for example, there are kits available that include kernels, butter flavor, and oil.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Price | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Orville Redenbacher's Original Gourmet Poppin' Corn | $11.49 Low Mid | A Great Combination of Crispy and Tender That's Perfect for Any Topping! | ||
2 | Amish Country Popcorn Baby White | $14.99 Low Mid | Tasty and Tender Popcorn That's Definitely Worth a Try | ||
3 | Snappy White Popcorn Kernels | $10.97 Low Mid | Natural White Kernels Good With All Seasonings | ||
4 | Amish Country Popcorn Rainbow Kernels|24-pack | $14.99 Low Mid | Unique Blend of Kernels With Free Recipes | ||
5 | Great Northern Popcorn Company All-N-One Premium Tri-Pak|12-pack | $23.99 Mid | A Tasty Snack in Convenient Pre-Portioned Packages | ||
6 | Wabash Valley Farms Farm Fresh Popcorn Extra Large Mushroom | $21.25 Mid | Extra Large Mushroom Kernels Perfect for Coated Popcorn | ||
7 | Black Jewell Crimson Jewell Popcorn|6-pack | $37.79 High Mid | Little Hulless Kernels With a Nutty Taste | ||
8 | Fireworks Popcorn Variety Pack|10-pack | $47.98 High Mid | Try an Assortment of Heirloom Popcorn Types | ||
9 | Franklin's Gourmet Popcorn Gourmet Popcorn|24-pack | $39.99 High Mid | Enjoy Theater-Style Buttered Popcorn at Home! | ||
10 | Paragon Country Harvest Popcorn | $58.58 High Mid | Extra-Large Bag of Yellow Kernels for Events and Parties |
These premium grade yellow popcorn kernels have a perfect combination of textures. The outside is crispy while the inside is tender. It goes well with any kind of topping, but we suggest you try classic butter!
This is easy to prepare and you can use any method including stovetop, air popper, electric popper, or even a microwave. Some reviewers claim that it has a chewy and soft texture when popped, which is not what they expected. In addition, it's not always delivered fresh and has a short expiration date!
However, most people are happy with the quality because it popped great and crispy as claimed. It's tastier and pops with more volume than other brands, leaving only a few unpopped kernels. It also comes with packaging that is properly sealed, which can preserve the freshness.
You'll like these kernels if you like a tender and soft texture. They're called "baby white" because they're made from small white kernels that are also hulless. They have a smooth taste and go well with any seasoning. Trust us; you can't stop eating this popcorn once you start!
One concern is the packaging, which buyers say isn't strong enough to hold up to the 6-pound weight. But most claim that these kernels are tiny and make a perfect popcorn that is light and has no hulls. It's very soft, fresh, and delicious. Some people say once they try this popcorn, they don't want to go back to traditional popcorn.
This is an old-fashioned white popcorn that comes in small-sized kernels. When popped, they have a light and fluffy texture with less hull.
They already taste good as is, but adding seasonings is also a good idea to try a variety of flavors. You may want to try adding maple syrup, brown sugar, butter, or cinnamon, as recommended by the brand.
However, some reviewers are disappointed because it has many hulls, unlike advertised. But other reviewers supported the claim that these are high-quality kernels and they're easy to prepare. They also make perfect kettle corn! Some say to strictly follow the instructions to get perfect popcorn.
This blend comes with different textures, colors, and slightly different sizes, so you'll enjoy crispy and tender popcorn at the same time. Moreover, you'll also get 15 popcorn recipes for free, too!
Some reviewers claim that it doesn't pop well and even when it popped, it popped very small! It has poor packaging that doesn't seal properly, which causes a stale product that goes bad before the expiration date. Try keeping it in a separate container instead.
On the other hand, most people say they like this combination of different kernels that taste better than pure white kernels. They like the fact that it's free from GMOs, chemicals, and low in sodium. Overall, it's worth buying and it's a perfect family popcorn!
No more measuring the number of kernels or buying separate seasonings because this is an all-in-one pack! It comes with pre-measured amounts of yellow kernels, coconut oil, sunflower oil, and butter-flavored salt.
All you need to do is just add everything to your pot or electric popper, or use another preparation method. But we recommend you carefully read the instructions because each method may be slightly different.
Some reviewers claim that they got a bad batch and it arrived expired. Instead of being crispy, it's chewy and too salty! However, other reviewers say it's simple, tasty, and easy to prepare. It comes with the right amount of seasoning, is very buttery and tastes like movie theater popcorn.
If you like coated popcorn, we suggest you choose a mushroom shape because it can absorb more flavor due to a bigger surface area than butterfly. These yellow kernels give a thick and extra large-size mushroom shape, which suits a coating like caramel, chocolate, or cheese.
Some reviewers claim that it arrived with improperly sealed packaging. It also has a hard and chewy texture. These are also small kernels and don't pop as big as advertised.
On the other hand, others say it's crisp, tender, and has a nutty flavor. It also has very few hulls, so it's a great choice for someone who gets bothered by hulls stuck in their teeth.
Red kernels are hulless and high in antioxidants. Once popped, they have a fluffy texture and the color is white. They go well with seasonings like salt and butter. If you like hulless popcorn, we suggest you also try black kernels, too!
Some reviewers claim that they're tasteless and fewer than half popped. On the other hand, others say they popped smaller than other kernels, but they have a sweet and nutty taste with very few hulls. They also come in good packaging that can be easily stored. Most people say it's worth a try and they will repurchase this product.
No idea what type of kernel to choose? No worry! This is a set of nine different types of kernels that includes white, blue, pink, red, gold, and hulless. Each type has a different texture and flavor and goes well with different seasonings.
For example, Savanna Gold is chewy, sweet, and goes well with butter, while High Mountain Midnight has a strong and rich flavor, creamy texture, and pops up big. These kernels come in 15-ounce plastic bottles, which makes it a perfect popcorn gift set, too!
Some people say these kernels are very tiny, and they don't recommend them. Some also don't pop well! On the other hand, many people love that they get to try many types of kernels. They are very fresh and pop in different sizes.
Looking for a movie theater-style popcorn? This is it! These are organic, non-GMO kernels that come in a pre-measured pack. It has a great combination of crunchy, buttery, and salty tastes.
As for methods of preparation, you can use a stovetop or kettle popper. One pack can make one large bowl of popcorn big enough for two to three people (or just one if you really love popcorn).
Some reviewers claim that it has an old taste and the texture isn't crunchy as advertised. Although it's a little too salty, it has the right amount of oils that can prevent these kernels from burning. It is easy to make and also similar to movie theater popcorn: buttery, big, fluffy, and crunchy.
This is a large amount of popcorn kernels that suits all events and parties. These are non-GMO yellow kernels that are grown in Iowa. Once popped, they'll turn to a butterfly shape that is bigger, fluffier, and has more moisture than normal popcorn. Thus, you can enjoy it more than smaller ones.
Some people say it has many hulls. On the other hand, most people say it's a great value for the price and has excellent quality. It pops big and almost all the kernels pop. It's also light, crispy, and tastes great with anything.
Plain popcorn is tasty and healthy, but adding seasoning is a fun idea for variety. Check out our seasoning suggestions to make the best homemade popcorn!
No. 1: Orville Redenbacher's|Original Gourmet Poppin' Corn
No. 2: Amish Country Popcorn|Baby White
No. 3: Snappy|White Popcorn Kernels
No. 4: Amish Country Popcorn|Rainbow Kernels|24-pack
No. 5: Great Northern Popcorn Company|All-N-One Premium Tri-Pak|12-pack
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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