Some types of microwave popcorn
Microwave popcorn is a convenient snack made from dried corn kernels that pop when heated in a special bag within a microwave. The bag typically contains kernels, oil or fat for popping, and flavorings like butter or salt. It is a modern, processed version of the ancient snack of popped corn, originating in the United States.
🍽️ Nutrition at a glance
Microwave popcorn is generally high in carbohydrates from the corn and can be high in fat, especially saturated or trans fats from the oil and butter flavoring. A typical serving provides a quick source of energy and some dietary fiber, but can also be high in sodium.
Nutrition breakdown
| Calories | 150 kcal |
| Protein | 2 g |
| Carbs | 17 g |
| Fat | 9 g |
| Fiber | 3 g |
| Sugar | 0 g |
| Sodium | 280 mg |
| Iron | 1.8 mg |
| Magnesium | 32 mg |
| Phosphorus | 60 mg |
| Zinc | 0.7 mg |
| Copper | 0.1 mg |
| Manganese | 0.3 mg |
| Selenium | 2.5 mcg |
| Thiamin (B1) | 0.1 mg |
Per 1 bag (about 28 g unpopped, yielding ~5-6 cups popped) · estimated, varies by recipe
💡 What's interesting
The 'butter' flavor in many microwave popcorns is often created using synthetic flavor compounds like diacetyl, which became a point of cultural discussion regarding artificial ingredients. Nutritionally, the whole grain corn provides a source of polyphenol antioxidants, though this is often overshadowed by added fats and sodium.
