Are you a late-night snacker, a movie buff, or someone who simply loves the irresistible crunch of freshly popped kernels and looking for the best oil for popping popcorn to elevate your experience?
Zoe Extra Virgin is the best oil for popcorn because it adds fruity notes, the aroma of spices, and superior quality to your popcorn. It has cold-press Cornicabra olives from Castilla-La Mancha blended with other Spanish varieties. This premium oil is rich in monounsaturated fats and also has anti-inflammatory properties.
In this article, we’ll explore the best oil for popcorn to add coveted buttery goodness and irresistible flavor to your kernels.
Best Oil For Popcorn in 2023 – Reviewed
The Amish Country Popcorn butter flavored canola oil has the most delightful buttery taste and is the best oil for popcorn due to its high smoke point, ensuring you get crispy and satisfying popcorn for your movie night. Moreover, it offers premium quality with 100% pure non-GMO canola composition, meaning you can indulge in your favorite snack without concern.
Below, we’ve thoroughly researched and listed the best oil for popcorn to help you add a new level of scrumptiousness to your favorite snack.
Zoe Extra Virgin Oil
Zoe Extra Virgin oil enhances the popcorn experience by adding a hint of fruitiness and a delightful aroma of mixed spices. This high-quality oil is cold compressed from Cornicabra olive groves in Castilla- La Mancha and blended with other Spanish varieties, such as Hojiblanca and Picual.
The aroma of Zoe Extra Virgin oil is delicious and inviting, ensuring your snacking experience is more enjoyable. Since extra virgin olive is rich in monounsaturated fats and anti-inflammatory compounds, this oil provides health benefits when popping popcorn.
Snappy Popcorn Peanut Oil
Snappy Popcorn Peanut truly lives up to the expectations of quality popcorn oil and is free from cholesterol, artificial coloring, and trans fat, making it a healthy option. It also has a 450 °F high smoke point, which means it can withstand the high temperature required for perfectly popping the kernels.
The natural nutty flavor of this peanut oil adds a delicious richness that enhances the overall taste of your kernels. Moreover, the Snappy Popcorn Peanut Unique is made from 100% peanuts, which means the oil does not contain any artificial flavoring.
Amish Country Popcorn Butter Flavored Canola Oil
The Amish Country Popcorn butter flavored canola oil is undoubtedly the best oil for popcorn. Its buttery, mild flavor and aroma mimic the taste of movie theater popcorn and enhance the overall snacking experience.
Since Canola oil is known for its high smoke point, you can make popcorn without worrying about burning the kernels. It’s made from pure canola and contains no GMOs, which might harm the body.
Healthy Harvest Non-GMO Sunflower Oil
The Healthy Harvest Non-GMO Sunflower oil is the perfect choice when looking for the best oil for popcorn. It is processed without chemicals or damaging methods, ensuring the best taste and flavor while popping the kernels.
With an approximate smoke point of 450, Healthy Harvest Sunflower oil is ideal for high-temperature cooking, like popping popcorn. Since naturally processed, this oil retains natural antioxidants and Vitamin E, which is a nutritious and healthy choice for your meal.
La Tourangelle Avocado Oil
La Tourangelle Avocado oil adds a delightful touch to your popcorn kernels. Handcrafted from premium avocados, this all-natural oil is known for its rich flavor and nutritional benefits.
Avocado oil generally has the highest smoke point of 510 to 520 ℉, so you don’t have to worry about burning your favorite popcorn. Like Healthy Harvest, La Tourangelle’s avocado oil is expeller-pressed, rich in vitamin E, and contains antioxidant properties.
Franklin’s Gourmet Popcorn Butter Flavored Coconut Oil
Fraklin’s Gourmet Popcorn butter flavored coconut oil gets you the same delicious taste of movie theater popcorn in your home. The consistency is right, not too thick or too thin, ensuring each kernel gets coated evenly.
The flavor of Franklin’s Gourmet coconut oil complements the popcorn, enhancing the natural taste without overpowering it. The oil is trans-fat-free which is suitable for people who are allergic to gluten or follow a strict vegan diet.
Snappy Popcorn Butter Burst Soybean Oil
Snappy Popcorn Butter Burst soybean oil infuses a rich buttery taste, ensuring a mouthwatering flavor in every bite. It can withstand the high heat of up to 450 °F on the stovetop or popcorn machine, resulting in fluffy and crispy snacks each time.
Instead of relying on preservatives or chemicals, the company uses beta-carotene found in carrots to color the oil. The product comes in a convenient pour bottle, which makes it easy to drizzle just the right amount onto your popcorn.
La Tourangelle, Expeller-Pressed Grapeseed Oil
The La Tourangelle, Expeller-Pressed Grapeseed oil has quickly become a go-to choice for people who want to pop the corn kernels to perfection. The brand process the oil using the expeller-pressing method, which preserves its natural properties.
What sets La Tourangelle apart from other oils is its light texture and neutral flavor, adding subtle nuttiness or grassy notes to your popcorn.
Does It Matter What Oil You Use For Popcorn?
The type of oil you opt to use for making popcorn can affect its taste, texture, healthiness, and overall popping quality. Peanut oil is the best oil for popcorn on stovetops due to its relatively high smoke point compared to other oils. However, if you want an authentic theater-like taste, use canola oil to make your popcorn in the popping machine.
The best oil for popcorn depends on your personal preference and needs, but here are some of the top choices for popping the kernels:
Peanut Oil
Peanut oil has a high 450 degrees Fahrenheit smoke point and imparts a subtle nutty flavor and crispiness to your popcorn.
The oil is richer in healthy fat content than others but is unsuitable for those with peanut allergies.
Sunflower Oil
Sunflower oil has a light and neutral taste which does not interfere with the texture of popcorn or its toppings. It has a high smoke point and can produce crispy, perfectly popped popcorn without unpleasant burnt flavors.
Additionally, the oil is rich in monounsaturated fats and Omega fatty acids, suitable for lowering cholesterol and improving heart health.
Avocado Oil
Known for its smooth light texture and mild flavor, avocado oil is pressed from the avocado fruit pulp and is often used for cooking popcorn. The oil is a good source of lutein, oleic acid, and vitamin E which are beneficial for your eyes and heart health.
However, Avocado oil is high in calories due to its fat content and is more expensive than other oils.
Olive Oil
Olive oil or liquid gold is a staple in Mediterranean cuisine for its flavor and nutritional properties. It comes in different varieties, such as:
- Extra virgin.
- Virgin.
- Refined.
- Pure olive oil.
The extra virgin oil is the highest quality and imparts a distinct flavor profile to your popcorn.
Grapeseed Oil
Grape seed oil is a fantastic choice for adding a touch of lightness and delicacy to your gourmet popcorn. The oil is extracted from grape seeds and is usually the byproduct of the wine industry.
Regarding nutritional benefits, grapeseed oil is rich in polyunsaturated fats, including omega 6 and Vitamin E which promote heart health and protect the cells from damage.
Soybean Oil
Extracted from the Glycine max seeds, soybean oil ranks second in vegetable oil consumption. It has a light yellow color with no odor and a high smoke point of 450-460 degrees Fahrenheit.
Due to its neutral taste, soybean oil is a great choice for popping the kernels as it won’t interfere with the natural flavor of popcorn.
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil acts as a flavor booster and gives your popcorn a subtle sweetness and nuttiness. People prefer this oil because it is usually less processed than others and is readily available in most grocery stores.
On the nutritional side, the oil contains medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), which boost metabolism and increase fat burning.
NOTE: When using an air fryer to microwave popcorn, use coconut or olive oil to get the delectable taste.
Canola Oil
Another excellent choice for a healthy popcorn snack is Canola oil. It has a high smoke point and a mild taste because of its extensive refining.
But this also makes the oil a controversial choice for health. Some consider Canola oil a healthy option due to its high monounsaturated and polyunsaturated omega-3 (ω-3) fat, while others avoid it because of the heavily processed chemicals in it.
INFO: Walnut, corn, or vegetable oils are also the best options for making popcorn.
What Is Best Oil To Use For Popcorn?
After carefully reviewing the different brands and oils, we suggest coconut oil, specifically Franklin’s Gourmet Popcorn Butter Flavored Coconut Oil, as the best option for making popcorn.
Here are some of the advantages that this oil offers:
- Adds a tropical flavor.
- Rich aroma.
- Organic and less processed.
- Rich in medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs).
- Safest oil to make popcorn.
Conclusion
In this article, we’ve reviewed the best oil for popcorn and provided information on various options considering factors like taste, quality, and smoke point. We’ve also discussed the type of oil for popping the kernels.
After reading this article, you now have an idea about choosing the right oil to make perfectly popped and delectable popcorn for your movie nights or snack cravings.
FAQs
Is It Healthier To Make Popcorn With Olive Oil?
Olive oil is a healthier option to make popcorn than other options. The oil is rich in heart-healthy monounsaturated fats and has beneficial antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
But it’s important to note that olive oil has a lower smoke point, so use it on medium or low heat to make your popcorn.Â
Can You Use Too Much Oil When Popping Popcorn?
Too much oil can lead to poor popping results with greasy and heavy popcorn, affecting its texture and taste. Additionally, excessive oil adds unnecessary calories and fat to popcorn, which might not be desirable for health-conscious individuals.Â
Which Is Healthier Popcorn Butter Or Oil?
Oil is healthier for making popcorn because it doesn’t burn as easily as butter at high temperatures due to its higher smoke point. On the other hand, heating butter to high temperatures creates harmful compounds called free radicals.Â
Additionally, oil is lower in saturated fats and has lower calories of 35 per cup than butter which has 80 calories.
How Much Oil Do You Need To Pop Popcorn?
The amount of oil you need to pop kernels depends on how much popcorn you are making. Generally, you need 3-4 tablespoons of oil for 1 cup of popcorn kernels.
Should Popcorn Oil Be Hot Or Cold?
Popcorn oil should be hot enough to pop the kernels but not so much that it burns or smokes. The ideal temperature range for popcorn oil is between 400°F and 460°F, depending on the type of oil and the popping method.Â
What Is The Healthiest Oil To Pop Popcorn?
The healthiest oil to pop popcorn should have high monounsaturated and low saturated fats, such as extra virgin olive, avocado, canola, or walnut oil.
