Select the best popcorn oil for better taste and health benefits. Popcorn is innocent, the real guilty is the wrong oils we use. Especially the chemical-filled oil in microwave popcorn bags is the worst version. Popcorn is high in fiber and has no harmful side effects if consumed solely. In fact, it would contribute to your overall health if you include it in your diet regularly. It is sugar-free, gluten-free and you can make it all nourishing as any vegetable if you use the right oil.
Also check out our guide to the best oil for pancakes, where we compare the different kinds of cooking oils.
In the next section, let’s explore the best popcorn oil that you can use when making your own homemade popcorn.
Best Popcorn Oil
Here are some great popcorn oil selections for you:
Snappy Popcorn 1 Gallon Pure Peanut Oil – No Color Added
Snappy peanut oil will enhance your popcorn with a natural nutty flavor. If you like peanut then you will love Snappy popcorn. It is also great for frying because of its high heat stability characteristic. No trans-fat; a healthy oil for your popcorn. Peanut oil is low in saturated fat, which lowers bad cholesterol.
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Snappy Popcorn Peanut Oil |
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Advantages |
Disadvantages |
| Nutty flavor |
High amounts of omega-6 fatty acid |
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No trans-fat |
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Made special for popcorn |
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Monounsaturated fat |
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Vitamin E rich |
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Wabash Valley Farms Popping Oil- Real Theater
If you want your popcorn to taste exactly like the ones in movie theaters then this is your oil. Add 1 -2 teaspoons to one cup of kernels and you are in the theater without leaving your living room.
Coconut oil is the main ingredient in this popping oil. It has zero trans fats. This will work best with popcorn machines. It is pretty tasty as long as you add the right amounts.
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Wabash Valley Farms Popping Oil |
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| Advantages |
Disadvantages |
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Tastes like movie theater popcorn |
High in saturated fats |
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No trans-fat |
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Boosts your metabolism |
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Makes popcorn crispier |
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Orville Redenbacher’s Popping & Topping Buttery Flavor Popcorn Oil
Made out of soybean oil; this one also has zero trans fats, which makes it another healthy oil. It has a rich buttery taste.
A great option to use on air-popped corn. Remember to use separate portions for popping and then for topping. This is true with all popcorn oils. Some people don’t know how to top and then complaint that their homemade popcorn does not taste like the ones in movie theaters. Once you pop your kernels, add some more oil to give the buttery flavor.
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Orville Redenbacher’s Popping & Topping Oil |
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| Advantages |
Disadvantages |
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Rich buttery taste |
High in omega-6 fatty acids |
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No trans-fat |
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Monounsaturated fat |
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Great for air-popped corn |
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Original Indian Ghee with Moringa by Golden Monkey, Non-GMO, Lactose Free
How about some ghee for your popcorn that is made from grass-fed organic butter? This is like a gift from heaven. I will let you in on a secret; if you use this along with Flavacol, then you will get the tastiest and the healthiest popcorn ever! 100% of all profits from Golden Monkey products benefit charitable causes. Therefore, the company can produce marvelous products.
This oil is hand crafted in small batches, and sourced from 100% family-owned farms. It is also great for sautéing, baking, grilling, and frying besides making popcorn. Super delicious and nutritious cooking oil that you should always have in your kitchen.
If you like healthy food that is made the honest way then look no more.
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Original Indian Ghee with Moringa |
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Advantages |
Disadvantages |
| Rich in vitamins A and E |
Consuming too much would increase body weight |
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Improves the eyesight |
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Less fat than butter |
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Great buttery taste |
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Coconut Popcorn Popping Oil – by At-The-Movies-Popcorn
Coconut oil is the ultimate movie theater popcorn oil. It is delicious and boosts energy. It has zero trans fats, and makes your popcorn crispy.
Coconut oil went through a lot of trouble in the last 20-30 years and was falsely accused. Just because it is a saturated fat, some people categorized it as a trans-fat. However, it is a precious oil with many health benefits. All you need is a good popcorn popper, some kernels and this coconut oil to enjoy a great movie night at home.
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Coconut Popcorn Popping Oil |
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Advantages |
Disadvantages |
| Tastes like movie theater popcorn |
High in saturated fats |
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No trans-fat |
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Boosts your metabolism |
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Makes popcorn crispier |
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Amish Country Popcorn – Butter Flavored Canola Oil – 16 oz
This one comes with a recipe guide for making amazing and unique popcorn at home. It is gluten-free and Non-GMO. Light, buttery canola oil for great popcorn nights. Amish products usually have the purest ingredients.
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Amish Country Popcorn Oil |
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| Advantages |
Disadvantages |
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Great butter taste |
Expensive |
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No trans-fat |
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Makes popcorn fluffier |
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Includes recipe book |
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NUTIVA Organic, Cold-Pressed, Unrefined, Virgin Coconut Oil from Fresh
Coconut oil is the best for popcorn but this one is also the healthiest coconut oil ever. It is organic, cold pressed, and unrefined. Cold-pressing means that the fruit is only pressed once with cold water to release oil. This is as good as eating coconut from the tree.
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Coconut Popcorn Popping Oil |
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Advantages |
Disadvantages |
| Tastes like movie theater popcorn |
High in saturated fats |
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No trans-fat |
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Boosts your metabolism |
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| Makes popcorn crispier |
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Unrefined |
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Organic |
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Cold-pressed |
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Nostalgia KPP824 Premium All in One Pack: oil, seasoning, salt, and kernels
There are 24 packets per case. Each one is individually portioned packs of oil, popcorn, and seasoning salt. The oil type is soybean. It is made for convenience; you don’t have to measure anything at all. You get the best quality kernels, oil and the seasoning to make movie theater popcorn at home.
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Nostalgia KPP824 – All in one pack |
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Advantages |
Disadvantages |
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Rich buttery taste |
High in omega-6 fatty acids |
| No trans-fat |
Expensive |
| Monounsaturated fat |
Leaky packaging – not very durable |
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Comes in pre-measured packages |
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Chosen Foods 100% Pure Avocado Oil 1 L (2 Pack)
Avocado oil is the best for all type of cooking and popcorn is no exception. It is very delicious and contains heart-healthy fats. This one is naturally refined and 100% pure. No chemicals are used when extracting the oil. Avocado oil is extremely healthy and rich in vitamins. Your popcorn will be delicious and you can also use this oil for all types of cooking.
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Chosen Foods – Pure Avocado Oil |
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Advantages |
Disadvantages |
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Natural – 100% Pure |
No buttery taste |
| No trans-fat |
Not good for cooking at low heat |
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High smoke point |
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Gluten-free |
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Unrefined – NON-GMO |
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Rich in Vitamin E |
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Snappy Popcorn Butter Burst Oil – 1 Gallon
Snappy popcorn is made from soybean oil. It has a strong butter flavor. You can either pop your kernels with this one or use it as topping afterwards to get that buttery taste. It comes in big size so you can save money.
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Snappy Popcorn Butter Burst Oil |
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Advantages |
Disadvantages |
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Rich buttery taste |
High in omega-6 fatty acids |
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No trans-fat |
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Monounsaturated fat |
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| Great for air-popped corn |
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Fats in Popcorn Oil
Fat is a scary word for so many people. It is synonymous with heart disease and obesity. However, your body needs good fat and it should not be avoided completely. Particularly, the Omegae-3 fats promote the strength of brain and nervous system significantly. They protect our eyes against dry eye disease and soften our skin. Low saturated fats prevent heart disease and lower your cholesterol. Plus, they supply the essential fuel to energize our bodily functions. The bottom line is we need certain fatty acids to lead a proper diet.
Trans fats are the bad ones; they clog our arteries. It is interesting that these fats provide no health benefits to humans. They can be of plant or animal origin and must be avoided as much as possible. Cookies, pies, fried food, frozen pizza, and coffee creamers are just a few of many industrial foods sold at the store and restaurants that have trans fatty acids. Milk, cheese, and meat contain small amount of natural trans fats which are not considered harmful. Trans fats are not healthy, but companies insist on using them since they are cheap and last long.
Saturated vs Unsaturated Fats in Popcorn Oil
Monounsaturated fats are found mostly in nuts oils, avocado and olive oil. These are healthy fats that reduce the risks of heart disease, decrease inflammation and help those who want to lose weight. You should use these oils when making popcorn. In addition to the health benefits, they also taste better than cloggy fats. The only reason you like the saturated fats is because the manufacturers add artificial flavors to microwave and movie theater popcorn.
You can use organic butter on popcorn, but the only problem is that the butter makes popcorn a bit softer since it contains water inside. You can get away by drizzling the butter slowly or get one of those fancy popcorn machines, and let it take care of the buttering. Never use margarine though; it will make the popcorn soggy. Plus, margarine is really unhealthy for you.
What Kind of Oil Do They Use In Movie Theater Popcorn?
Partially hydrogenated soybean oil is mostly used in movie theaters. When you hear the words ¨partially hydrogenated fat¨ start running the other way. It is the best recipe for a heart attack. They do a great job at clogging your arteries. Since the word started to spread around, the movie theaters started to shift to canola oil which is basically rapeseed oil.
In addition to the oil, movie theaters use Flavacol as seasoning. It is a combination of salt, yellow food coloring and artificial flavor. That’s actually how they make the popcorn taste like butter. Flavacol does not contain diacetyl, so it is better than the other artificial flavors.
In the past, coconut oil was used in movie theater popcorn up until the 90’s. However, coconut oil is a saturated fat and there was a very strong campaign against it. There is still a lot of debate going on about this matter. Research in recent years revealed that coconut oil is actually one of those healthy fats. It is very useful against cancer, thyroid problems, and weight loss. Cancer rates are lower in countries where coconut oil is heavily used. Plus, it also helps against Alzheimer’s Disease and aids liver health.
In Conclusion
Popcorn is a universal snack. You can have great tasting, healthy popcorn if you know which oil to use. It is too bad that people blame popcorn for being a high calorie food item. If you pour hydrogenated fat over broccoli, then that would be unhealthy and have high calories too. It is really important to select the right oil to receive the necessary health benefits from the food we consume. Get yourself a good popcorn machine and pop with healthy oil to enjoy this nutritious snack. There is nothing wrong with popcorn!
