It can be a healthy snack choice or a delicious buttery treat at the movies – popcorn is a classic snack for any occasion. If you’re making popcorn at home, the best method is air-popped popcorn. This is far better than microwave or stovetop popcorn for a few reasons.
First, it can be a lot healthier, especially if you eat it without any dressings. Although, if you want to dress it up, you can decide exactly how you like your popcorn—there are lots of different recipe ideas so you can get creative with your movie snack! In addition, air-popped popcorn is typically cheaper in the long run, which is always a bonus. Most air-popped popcorn requires only a little oil to add a delicious flavor.
There are many variants of popcorn oils on the market. They range in quality for health, flavor, or efficiency. This article will cover the top five best oils for popcorn. An overview of the oil, including what features distinguish them, plus a list of the pros and cons for each oil will be covered.
Finally, the article will guide you in choosing the best oil for you. Also, there are a few frequently asked questions about this topic you might ask. Let’s get poppin’!
1. Best Overall – Orville Redenbacher’s Popping & Topping Buttery Flavored Oil, Keto Friendly, 16 Fluid Ounce, Pack of 6
The best overall popcorn on the market is Orville Redenbacher’s Popping & Topping Buttery Flavoured Oil. Orville is a trusted brand when it comes to popcorn – all of its popcorn products are a tested favorite among popcorn lovers. Their oil is no exception! You can use the oil to pop the kernels, and you can even drizzle more on top for extra buttery flavor.
The oil is designed to help the kernels pop evenly so that they come out light and fluffy. It is much easier than melting butter to pour onto the popcorn since it can be added straight into the popping process.
On top of being delicious and efficient for popping popcorn, it also fits in a Keto diet! This oil has 0 grams of carbs and 0 grams of added sugar. So, as far as buttery delicious popcorn goes – this one is pretty healthy! Plus, there are zero artificial preservatives, flavors, or dyes added to this oil. It not only fits into a good diet, but it also cuts out the unhealthy additives that are harmful regardless of one’s diet.
The only drawback is that the buttery flavor may not be strong enough for some snack lovers. In that case, the oil still functions as a perfectly good oil to help the popping process and some extra flavor can be added on if your taste buds are craving some super buttery popcorn. However, most tend to find the oil’s flavor suits their needs and is the perfect addition to a movie night in!
Though this product is currently out of stock on Amazon, you can find it on other stores. You can use Amazon to see its average price, though.
| Pros | Cons |
| Keto Friendly No artificial preservatives, flavors, or dyes | Buttery flavor may not be strong enough for all tastes |
2. Best Healthy Oil – Paragon – Manufactured Fun Coconut Popcorn Popping Oil (Gallon)
Are you looking for a healthy and delicious snack? Popcorn, especially undressed, is well known as a low-calorie and high fiber treat. Better still, you can dress it up a bit without compromising the health benefits! Paragon’s clean cooking coconut oil is a great choice to add a little something extra to popcorn without having to throw health out the window.
Coconut oil is known to provide healthy fatty acids that you need in a well-rounded diet. Paragon has formulated this secret ingredient into the perfect oil for popcorn. The kernels will pop evenly and become incredibly light and fluffy.
You’ll be receiving healthy fats as well as medium-chain triglycerides consisting mostly of short-chain fatty acids. These are important parts of a well-rounded diet. On top of these health benefits, the popcorn will turn out like movie theatre style while in the comfort of your own home!
The only drawback is that some consumers reported needing to use more oil than the directions suggest. However, this product is sold in such a large quantity for a low price, the extra servings are well worth it.
| Pros | Cons |
| Healthy fats and medium-chain triglycerides consisting mostly of short-chain fatty acids Theatre-style popcorn | May need to use more oil than directed |
3. Best for Occasional Popcorn Aficionados —Kernel Season’s Movie Theatre Popcorn Oil, Butter, 13.75 Ounce (Pack of 6)
If popcorn isn’t on the menu every week, but you still enjoy a buttery treat every once in a while, then Kernel Season’s Movie Theatre Popcorn Oil is your best choice. The oil is preserved via a spray bottle, so it’s able to last for a lot longer than other oils that are kept in a jar.
You’ll also get an even and consistent portion each time you spray the bottle. In total, this popcorn oil offers 28 servings per jar, at one tablespoon a serving. Each serving is only 120 calories, so it’s still within a reasonable calorie count as far as tasty snacks go!
In addition to longer shelf life, Kernel Season’s popcorn oil isn’t as heavy as other oils. The spraying mechanism delivers a light coating of oil over the popcorn, and the oil itself is lighter compared to alternative brands. This makes it a great choice to add a bit of flavor and texture without getting too greasy.
The main downside to this popcorn oil is that it’s sold in relatively small quantities. So, if you are a frequent popcorn eater, this might not be enough to satisfy all of your cravings. Nevertheless, the long shelf life and the smaller bottle are perfectly suited for the occasional popcorn aficionado.
This product is also currently unavailable on Amazon. But don’t worry, we still have other products worthy of examination.
| Pros | Cons |
| A longer shelf life because it is in a spray can be compared to other oils that are sold in jars Not a heavy or oily popcorn dressing | Not a good choice if you eat popcorn on a regular basis since the quantity sold is much smaller than other brands |
4. Best Oil for Dietary Restrictions — Great Northern Popcorn Premium Yellow Coconut Popcorn Popping Oil, Gallon
One reason popcorn is such a popular choice is that it satisfies virtually all dietary types. If you’re on any type of restricted diet, Great Northern Popcorn Company makes a popcorn oil that will still fit your needs. Their Premium Yellow Coconut Oil is as close to real butter as you can get – it even looks like butter! Since it’s coconut oil, it shared all of the health benefits mentioned above (healthy fatty acids, for example).
Other than coconut oil, this jar contains beta carotene to create a buttery effect. Minimal ingredients are always a bonus when it comes to eating a pure diet.
On top of it all, this oil has zero gluten, peanut, dairy, egg, tree nuts, or MSG. In other words, it is gluten-free, vegan, safe for peanut and tree nut allergies, and has no MSG. This makes it a safe purchase for essentially any dietary type. In addition, you can choose either the standard white (typical for coconut oil) or yellow format (which is more of a buttery style).
The main downside to this coconut oil is that the consistency can vary. Some find it’s too much of a liquid state and needs to be kept in the fridge, which uses valuable storage space. Others are surprised that it is more of a solid form, which makes it a bit more of a challenge to use in a popcorn machine. Either way, if you don’t mind the texture before using it to cook popcorn, then this oil will work well for you. In any event, it’ll give you the buttery flavor and texture you know from the theatre to your home.
This product recently went out of stock on Amazon. There’s a high demand for high-quality cooking oil, apparently.
| Pros | Cons |
| No gluten, peanut, dairy, egg, tree nuts, or MSG Offered in white (standard coconut oil) and yellow (buttery style) format | Consistency varies, some find the solid form to be difficult to handle |
5. Best Budget — Amish Country Popcorn – 30 Ounce Coconut Oil – with Recipe Guide
Whether you fly through popcorn oil incredibly fast, or you just want to save a little extra when choosing an oil, Amish Country Popcorn’s coconut oil is the best low-cost oil on the market. At only around $10 for 30 fluid ounces, this oil will be the perfect match for your freshly popped popcorn.
This popcorn is also all-natural, vegan, and peanut and tree nut-free – so it’s safe for more dietary restrictions. It’s also low-calorie and boasts the healthy benefits of coconut oil. To top this all off, this is 100% grown, manufactured, and packaged in the heart of the USA.
Not only will you get a huge quantity of oil for your popcorn for only $10, but you’ll also have access to a “15 Amazing Popcorn Recipes” eBook! This is a great additional item to receive for any popcorn fanatic looking to upgrade their snacking experience.
The only setback to this popcorn oil is that the flavor is pretty mild compared to other popcorn oils. This still works really well as a way to oil the popcorn so that any shake-based toppings can easily stick and stay on the popcorn.
| Pros | Cons |
| Best low-cost popcorn oil Includes “15 Amazing Popcorn Recipes” eBook | Mild flavor |
Buying Guide:
When shopping for popcorn oil, there are a few points to keep in mind that will make your selection easier. First, it’s always important to check whether the popcorn oil is a safe choice given any dietary restrictions. Since there are many options available, finding a popcorn oil that you both enjoy and satisfies your diet shouldn’t be too difficult. This article has highlighted a few of the best options!
Second, you can consider what type of oil you’d prefer. For example, coconut oil is a very popular choice because it offers several healthy fats that help make a well-rounded diet. There are other oil types as well, such a canola oil. Each oil varies in its health and flavor so you can choose whichever you prefer. We covered several coconut oils in this list since it is usually known for being the best option for your health.
Finally, there are several quantities you can purchase popcorn oil in. So, knowing whether you eat popcorn every week or only occasionally is useful so you don’t end up with too much or too little for your needs. Looking at the shelf life can also help you decide since if you use the oil infrequently a longer shelf life would be ideal. Also, keeping in mind that some oils need to be refrigerated will help prevent you from having to take away valuable storage space that you may not want to give up. Some oils can be kept on the pantry shelf even after use, so if you don’t want to lose fridge space you should look at one of these options.
In short, popcorn is a delicious snack that is not only a healthy choice but also a delicious one! Using something like coconut oil can bring the movie theatre style of popcorn right to your home, plus added health benefits. You’ll get super light and fluffy popcorn. Plus the oil will help to stick any extra seasoning that you might want to add on top. You’ll also be able to find an oil that fits any dietary restrictions. It’s a great way to upgrade your typical movie night-in snack! Now that you know the best popcorn oil options, it’s time for you to get poppin’ and enjoy a delicious movie night in!
FAQ
What oil gives the most authentic movie theatre flavor?
Typically, movie theatres use canola oil, coconut oil, or a combination of the two. These oils have a high smoke point, so they’re suitable for either stovetop or air-popped popcorn. Many of these oils also come colored and flavored like butter, so you can get that extra bit of delicious movie theatre style without even having to add unhealthy butter.
Can you use butter instead of oil to make popcorn?
Butter has a low burning point compared to oil, which makes it far more difficult to use as a substitute. You may add melted butter on top of popcorn after popping. However, it is recommended that you use only a proper oil type for the kernel popping process.
What is the best tasting popcorn oil?
Most regard coconut oil as the best tasting. Some other good options are extra virgin olive oil, walnut oil, avocado oil, or canola oil.
Does popcorn oil go bad?
Proper storage of popcorn oil will ensure that it stays edible for as long as possible. It is generally advised to keep it away from light and heat and to refrigerate the far once it’s been opened. As well, make sure the lid is always sealed as tightly as possible. Popcorn oil can typically last for a year. Some oils are sold in a spray can, which can extend shelf-life even longer.
