2024-09-26 15:15:02
If you’re anything like me, popcorn is a must-have snack. There’s always a bag of kernels waiting for me in my pantry after a long week when I’m ready for a cozy movie night. But with homemade popcorns comes lackluster flavor. So when I discovered Orville Redenbacher’s, the beloved microwave popcorn brand, had a line of seasonings, I had to give them a try. I grabbed five for a gourmet popcorn taste test, from classic butter to indulgently sweet. Here’s my honest review of the Orville Redenbacher’s popcorn seasonings.
The history of Orville Redenbacher’s
If you’ve ever made microwave popcorn before, chances are you’ve enjoyed the brilliant creation of Orville Redenbacher. I mean, the smiling man on the red box is pretty much synonymous with the buttery snack. Dubbed the “Popcorn King,” Redenbacher was an American agriculturist who dedicated his career to creating larger, fluffier popcorn.
By the 1970s, Orville Redenbacher’s became a household name in America. Redenbacher, the face of the brand, even starred in his own commercials well into his 80s, with his signature bow tie and glasses. The brand offers a range of products including classic butter, low-fat and whole grain varieties and plain kernels.
What are the Orville Redenbacher’s popcorn seasonings?
The seasoning line includes eight flavors to choose from, so you can suit both your savory and sweet cravings. The full list is below:
- Sweet & Salty Kettle Corn
- Movie Theater Butter
- Nacho Cheese
- White Cheddar
- Vlasic® Dill Pickle
- Ranch
- Buffalo Wild Wings® Buffalo Sauce
- Cinnabon® Bakery Inspired Cinnamon Roll
The nutritional content
One of the best things about popcorn is that it has always been a great, low-calorie snack—especially if you pop it yourself. That said, sometimes it’s the toppings we put on top that end up making it more of a guilty pleasure. Thankfully, Orville Redenbacher’s seasonings keep things light. Each flavor contains zero calories per serving (a quarter tsp.) and no fat.
They seasonings are also gluten-free, with no artificial dyes, though each flavor does come with a modest sodium count (45–55 mg per serving).
My review of the Orville Redenbacher’s popcorn seasonings
Now, onto the fun part: a chance for me to pop a ton of popcorn. Here’s my review of the five seasonings I tried, ranked from best to least impressive.
As a note, I would also recommend using a light hand—the powder-like seasoning comes out fast. Your bowl will probably look a bit dusty like mine, which I didn’t mind.
1. White Cheddar
This one easily stood out as the best of the bunch. It reminded me so much of the Smart Food popcorn I used to eat when I was younger (and still love). The white cheddar is sharp, but I didn’t find it heavy or artificial at all. In fact, the flavor made me want to make a second bowl.
2. Nacho Cheese
If you like your snacks bold, Nacho Cheese is for you. The flavor is tangy with a slight kick, similar to those Mexican cheese blends you’d put on your tacos. While it doesn’t match up to real nachos, it definitely brings some fun to the snack table.
3. Movie Theater Butter
This seasoning does a decent job of mimicking that classic butter-drenched popcorn we all know. However, I felt the aftertaste leaning more cheesy than buttery and the flavor was so mild I had to re-reason. Still, if you want a movie theater vibe, this is a good option.
4. Cinnabon Bakery-Inspired Cinnamon Roll
This was the most unique flavor but not my favorite. The cinnamon flavor is there, and I appreciated how the smell wasn’t too strong. But it missed the sweetness you’d expect from something “Cinnabon-inspired.” A fun idea, but it didn’t quite hit the dessert popcorn mark.
5. Sweet & Salty Kettle Corn
While this flavor isn’t bad, it doesn’t really stand out. Maybe it’s because I don’t like kettle corn in general, but the strong artificial smell was unappealing. You get sweet and salty, but nothing stondout. If you’re craving something on the sweeter side, it’ll do the job.
Overall, Orville Redenbacher’s popcorn seasonings are a fun way to experiment with your popcorn. The White Cheddar was my clear favorite, and while others fell a bit short, each brought something new to the table without extra calories.
