Which Brand of Popcorn Is Air Popped?

November 28, 2025 •

3 min read

Over 70% of Americans prefer air-popped popcorn over oil-popped, citing its lighter texture and lower calorie count. For those looking for healthier, ready-to-eat options, knowing which brand of popcorn is air popped is essential. Brands like SkinnyPop and Smartfood use this method to deliver a satisfying, guilt-free snack.

Quick Summary

This guide details popular brands that offer air-popped popcorn, including ready-to-eat bagged varieties and specific kernels for use with an air popper. It covers the benefits of air-popping and helps consumers make informed choices for a healthier snack. A comprehensive comparison of brands is also included.

Key Points

SkinnyPop: Offers pre-popped, air-popped popcorn known for simple ingredients and a dairy-free, gluten-free recipe.
Smartfood: Provides pre-popped air-popped options, including their famous White Cheddar and a Simply™ Sea Salt version.
Angie's BOOMCHICKAPOP: A brand known for its air-popped and gluten-free snack options, available in multiple flavors.
LesserEvil: Specializes in organic, air-popped popcorn with minimal processing and high-quality ingredients.
DIY Kernels: Brands like Orville Redenbacher's and Amish Country Popcorn sell kernels suitable for air poppers for home use.
Health Benefits: Air-popping creates a lower-calorie, lower-fat snack that retains more beneficial antioxidants (polyphenols).

Popcorn has long been a staple snack, but modern preferences are shifting toward healthier, less processed options. Air-popped popcorn, which is cooked using hot air rather than oil, has surged in popularity. Numerous brands have responded to this demand, offering both pre-popped varieties and kernels specifically suited for air-popping at home. This article explores some of the most prominent brands in the air-popped popcorn market.

Popular Pre-Popped Air Popped Popcorn Brands

Many consumers prefer the convenience of ready-to-eat popcorn that's already air-popped. Several well-known brands dominate this segment, offering a range of flavors without the added fat and calories of oil-popping.

SkinnyPop Popcorn

SkinnyPop is arguably one of the most recognized air-popped brands. It's famous for its simple ingredient list, typically consisting of popcorn, sunflower oil, and salt. The original variety is a favorite among health-conscious snackers for its light, fluffy texture and balanced flavor. The brand is also known for being dairy-free, gluten-free, and having no artificial ingredients.

Smartfood Popcorn

Smartfood, another industry giant, also offers several air-popped options, including their popular White Cheddar and Kettle Corn varieties. The brand uses 100% whole-grain popcorn and is committed to using no artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives. The Simply™ line from Smartfood, featuring a Sea Salt flavor, specifically highlights its air-popped nature.

Angie's BOOMCHICKAPOP

This brand is a favorite for those who enjoy slightly more adventurous flavors, though it offers simple varieties as well, such as Sea Salt and Sweet & Salty Kettle Corn. BOOMCHICKAPOP is known for its wholesome, gluten-free snacks, with many of its offerings being air-popped for a lighter texture.

LesserEvil Popcorn

For consumers seeking organic and sustainably produced options, LesserEvil offers a range of air-popped popcorn, including their popular Himalayan Pink Salt flavor. The brand emphasizes its use of minimal, high-quality ingredients and often avoids vegetable oils, using healthier alternatives like high oleic sunflower oil.

Kernels for DIY Air Popping

For those who prefer to make their popcorn fresh at home, there are many kernel brands perfectly suited for air poppers. This method gives you complete control over seasoning and fat content.

Orville Redenbacher's

While Orville Redenbacher's is famous for its microwave popcorn, the brand also sells high-quality gourmet popping kernels that work excellently in an air popper. Their kernels are known for producing fluffy popcorn with few unpopped kernels.

Amish Country Popcorn

Specialty kernel brands like Amish Country Popcorn offer a variety of kernels, including hulless types, which are ideal for air-popping. Their kernels are often smaller, resulting in a tender texture without the annoying hulls.

Black Jewell Gourmet Popcorn

Black Jewell offers unique black kernels that pop into white, fluffy, and hulless popcorn. They specifically market salt and oil-free options, ideal for use in an air popper for a pure, natural snack.

Comparison of Air Popped Popcorn Brands


Feature	SkinnyPop	Smartfood	LesserEvil	Amish Country (Kernels)
Availability	Widely available in stores and online.	Widely available in stores and online.	Increasingly available, often found in health food aisles.	Specialized brands, more common online or at specialty stores.
Ready-to-Eat	Yes.	Yes.	Yes.	No (Kernels only).
Oil Usage	Uses sunflower oil for flavor.	Uses oil for flavor (e.g., in Kettle Corn).	Uses high oleic sunflower oil for certain flavors.	None in the popping process (User adds oil or seasons).
Organic Options	Offers organic varieties.	Standard options.	Primarily organic options.	Varies by product.
Flavor Variety	Original, White Cheddar, and more.	White Cheddar, Kettle Corn, and Simply.	Himalayan Pink Salt, Butter, etc..	Dependent on user's seasoning.

The Benefits of Air-Popping

Air-popping is a simple, effective method for producing healthier popcorn. Unlike oil-popping, it eliminates the need for added fats during the cooking process. This results in a significantly lower-calorie snack that's also lighter in texture. Moreover, air-popped popcorn is packed with antioxidants, specifically polyphenols, making it a surprisingly nutritious whole-grain snack. For those with dietary restrictions or who are watching their fat intake, air-popping provides a clean and satisfying alternative.

Conclusion

For consumers seeking to know which brand of popcorn is air popped, the market offers many excellent choices. For convenience, brands like SkinnyPop, Smartfood, and Angie's BOOMCHICKAPOP provide a variety of ready-to-eat, air-popped options. If you prefer to make your own, kernel brands such as Orville Redenbacher's, Amish Country, and Black Jewell are perfect for use in an at-home air popper. Whether you choose pre-bagged or DIY, air-popped popcorn is a delicious, healthy snack that doesn't compromise on flavor or texture.

Authoritative Link

For additional information on the nutritional aspects of air-popped popcorn, see this study on whole-grain benefits.

Frequently Asked Questions

While 'healthiest' can be subjective, brands like SkinnyPop and LesserEvil are frequently cited for their simple, minimal ingredient lists, with SkinnyPop often made with just popcorn, sunflower oil, and salt. Choosing a brand with organic ingredients and no artificial flavors is a good rule of thumb.

Yes, SkinnyPop does use oil. While the popcorn is air-popped, it is then tossed with sunflower oil and salt for flavor, but it contains no artificial flavors or preservatives.

Yes, Black Jewell Gourmet Popcorn offers specific products that are air-popped without added salt or oil. Additionally, some brands of plain, unpopped kernels, such as those from Amish Country Popcorn, can be air-popped at home without any additions.

The core Smartfood varieties, including the White Cheddar, are air-popped. However, it's always best to check the specific product's packaging, as ingredients can vary across the brand's many product lines.

Yes, Orville Redenbacher's sells gourmet popping kernels that are excellent for use in an at-home air popper or for making stovetop popcorn. This allows you to control the exact amount of oil and seasoning used.

The main difference is the popping method. Air-popped popcorn uses hot air, resulting in a lighter, lower-calorie snack, while oil-popped popcorn is cooked in oil, leading to a richer flavor and denser texture.

Air-popped popcorn brands like SkinnyPop, Smartfood, and LesserEvil are widely available at most major grocery stores, big-box retailers like Walmart, and online through retailers like Amazon.