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Frugal Friday: Buckets of Popcorn
Healthful, whole grain, and cheap!
We all know that the microwave popping corn that comes in those convenient bags can be super high in fat and sodium, depending on the type you buy. The label on a box of Orville Redenbacher's Butter Microwave Popping Corn says that 2 tablespoons of unpopped corn equals a serving so that's what we will use for comparison.
Here's the difference nutritionally...
2 tablespoons (unpopped) of Orville Redenbacher's Butter Microwave Popcorn contains:
2 tablespoons (unpopped) of Orville Redenbacher's Gourmet Popping Corn (the kind you pop yourself in an air-popper) contains:
Here's the BIG savings in your wallet...
A box of Microwave Popping Corn, with about 3 bags (containing a total of 9 servings) sells for about $4.19
THAT'S HALF THE PRICE!
Related Topics:
Kernel of Truth About Butter Flavoring Whole Grains Fight Belly Fat
We all know that the microwave popping corn that comes in those convenient bags can be super high in fat and sodium, depending on the type you buy. The label on a box of Orville Redenbacher's Butter Microwave Popping Corn says that 2 tablespoons of unpopped corn equals a serving so that's what we will use for comparison.
Here's the difference nutritionally...
2 tablespoons (unpopped) of Orville Redenbacher's Butter Microwave Popcorn contains:
170 calories, 12 grams fat, 6 grams saturated fat, 3 grams of fiber and 380 mg sodium.
2 tablespoons (unpopped) of Orville Redenbacher's Gourmet Popping Corn (the kind you pop yourself in an air-popper) contains:
80 calories, 1 gram fat, 0 grams saturated fat, 4 grams of fiber and 0 mg sodium.If you like the butter flavor you can always add a tablespoon or two of melted whipped butter to an entire bowl of popcorn (making several servings). Each tablespoon of whipped butter contributes around 7 grams of fat.
Here's the BIG savings in your wallet...
A box of Microwave Popping Corn, with about 3 bags (containing a total of 9 servings) sells for about $4.19
- Price per serving = 47 cents per serving
- Price per serving = 24 cents per serving
THAT'S HALF THE PRICE!
Related Topics:
8 Comments:
Cool. I like the NO SALT. I have been eating a different brand...but this seems a lot less expensive. Thanks
This is a great tip, for those with an air popper. The microwave type gives convenience and can be done in the work-place microwave.
I save my money by buying Pop Weaver brand, at Walmart, which cost only $2.85 for a 15 bag box. Which comes out to only .19 per serving. They have a light butter that is excellent!
Why doesn't someone just post the actual POPPED nutritional value of a BAG of microwave popcorn? Who eats 2 tablespoons of unpopped popcorn? And guess what? Most people eat the whole bag when they pop it and anyway, I don't see any measuring cups in my break room!
Have gourmet popcorn for about $.15 per bag, and control the amount and kind of fat in it. You don't need special bags or a particular brand of popcorn. I buy the big bags for about $.69/lb.
Put 1/2 cup of popcorn in a brown paper bag that measures about 4.5" by 6.5". Fold the top down a couple of times and secure with a PLASTIC paperclip. Place the bag on its side in a microwave and shake to spread out the popcorn. Heat on "high" for about 3.5 minutes. Experiment with bag size, amount, and time until you match your microwave's power.
Since you used no oil to pop it, don't feel guilty using some for flavoring. Consider the healthy oils, not an option with the instant bags. I like peanut mixed with a little sesame oil for flavor. Yum! Make kettle corn, sprinkle with cheese, or use a spice mix. I like a mix of parmesan and a barbecue rub.
This is almost as convenient for work as the instant bags from the store. Just keep an oil spritzer, your flavorings, a few paper bags, and popcorn in your desk. If there's a refrigerator available, keep the popcorn in the freezer. It pops better.
This tastes much better than the instant kind, and you won't miss the heavy layer of palm oil Orville leaves on your tongue!
We use an air popper and mix in a handful of trail mix--no butter or salt.
I use an air popper and as the popcorn comes out of the chute, I spritz it with Smart Balance Butter Flavor spray. The calories and fat are next to nothing. The flavor is excellent.
I like to add crushed red pepper and garlic powder to my air popped pop-corn. I usually spray some butter on it before I season. I've also tried adding grated parmesan cheese with garlic powder which turn out good too.
I'm glad someone else is using the brown bag with plain popcorn idea. I fold down the top two times. Then I cut two slits (about 3/4 of the way down the fold and about 1 inch apart) on each side of the fold. I then fold down the area between the two slits and it holds. I take it to work and nuke it there.
Just an FYI to those who like garlic: I took some garlic sprinkled popcorn with me to Disney in Florida once, so that I'd have a healthy snack to eat rather than the fatty snacks they sell there. Soon after I ate it, I realized the lines were clearing off and people were looking at me strangely. I had no idea that the garlic powder would reek out of every pore of my body! Embarrasing!!! But funny... now that it's ten years later :-)
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