{"id":12160,"date":"2026-01-09T19:17:14","date_gmt":"2026-01-10T00:17:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/snarklesauce.com\/blog\/?p=12160"},"modified":"2026-01-09T19:17:14","modified_gmt":"2026-01-10T00:17:14","slug":"costco-kirkland-microwave-popcorn-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/snarklesauce.com\/blog\/2026\/01\/09\/costco-kirkland-microwave-popcorn-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Costco Kirkland Microwave Popcorn Review"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Author’s Note: I have no affiliation with Costco<\/a>. These are my own crunchy opinions. Not a paid or sponsored review, as always.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I did it for the fiber.”<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I just bought 9 pounds of microwave popcorn. So now you have to hear all about it. There is no escape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spoilers: this popcorn is not at all<\/em> what I expected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Story time!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are 44 packets of popcorn in this box. 110 servings. I question my life choices every time I have to reach my spindly little arms up to the top shelf of my pantry to haul down this ridiculously heavy box of popcorn. Urrrghhh. No need to buy a gym membership, I guess? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is only one stomach at my house; why did I think this much<\/em> popcorn was a good idea?<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Well, why did you buy it?!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I don’t know what happened. I think it’s been a solid 15 years since I’ve had microwave popcorn. (I’m serious.) I usually make my own on the stove with melted butter tossed in at the end. If you’ve been reading my reviews, you know I prefer natural foods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Out of the blue, I had an intense<\/em> craving for absurdly fake-butter-flavored popcorn. I wanted the most disgustingly<\/em> thick coating of nasty flavor powder known to mankind. Obnoxious butter flavor — yellow and greasy — and as artificial as an aging pop star. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I can’t explain it. I tried to ignore the craving. But it persisted. No, I am not pregnant. Finally, somewhere in the cavernous snack aisle at Costco, I caved to my temptation. And, boy did I cave!<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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This is not what I expected.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is very good popcorn. But I think calling it “Movie Theater Butter” is slightly misleading. It’s super lightly flavored. And lightly salted. It has a delicate, natural taste. The ingredients are a million times better than I expected (more about that later<\/em>). This is a relatively wholesome snack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I wanted something unhealthy. I didn’t get it. Am I mad? Not really! I like what I got.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"Fingers<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Popcorn texture<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The kernels are exceptionally airy and crisp, with minimal hard bits. Most kernels popped thoroughly, too. There’s just a scattering of un-popped pieces at the bottom of my bowl. Behold:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

“Buttery” coating<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although there is<\/em> butter in the mix, most of the fat here is Palm Oil. The popcorn appears to be very evenly and lightly<\/em> coated. It’s a barely-there flavor. It doesn’t feel “greasy,” and there are no unflavored pieces. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Microwaves reliably<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The directions say to microwave on HIGH for 1 minute and 45 seconds. This works pretty well, although I got more kernels to pop at 2 minutes. It doesn’t fully finish popping before the timer goes off. But it develops a slight burnt taste if I cook it past the 2 minute point. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I’ve now eaten half the 9-pound box (keep your judgey thoughts to yourself!<\/em>), and every bag popped dependably. This is a reliable product.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"Ingredients<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Ingredients in Costco Kirkland Microwave Popcorn<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Here are the ingredients from the label. Which are much more impressive than I expected:<\/p>\n\n\n\n