N
The Global Insight

How many calories are in 3 cups of air popped popcorn

Author

Ava White

Updated on April 11, 2026

Like other whole grains, popcorn is highly nutritious — 3 cups (24 grams) of air-popped popcorn contain ( 7 ): Calories: 90. Fat: 1 gram. Protein: 3 grams.

How many calories are in 4 cups of air popped popcorn?

Popcorn is considered a whole grain food. There are about 30 grams of carbohydrates in a serving of popcorn. A serving of popped popcorn is roughly 4 to 5 cups popped, which is the amount you get from 2 tablespoons of unpopped kernels. A serving of air-popped popcorn contains about 120 to 150 calories.

Is air popped popcorn fattening?

When it’s air-popped and lightly seasoned, popcorn is an efficiently healthy snack. That’s because it is a whole grain, and high-fiber whole grains have been linked to a lower risk of heart disease, diabetes, some cancers and other health problems.

How many calories in a bag of air popped popcorn?

These are all characteristics of a weight loss friendly food. With 31 calories per cup, air-popped popcorn contains much fewer calories than many popular snack foods.

How many calories in a third of a cup of unpopped popcorn?

There are 338 calories in a 1/3 cup, unpopped, yields of Buttered Air Popped Popcorn.

What is the healthiest popcorn?

  1. Quinn Snacks Just Sea Salt.
  2. Eliza’s Organics Organic Microwave Butter Popcorn. …
  3. Act II Light Butter. …
  4. SkinnyPop Sea Salt Microwave Popcorn. …
  5. Pop Secret Homestyle. …
  6. Angie’s Boom Chicka Pop Sea Salt Microwave Popcorn. …
  7. Orville Redenbacher Simply Salted. …
  8. Newman’s Own Sea Salt. …

How many calories does 1/2 cup of unpopped popcorn have?

Calorie Content LIVESTRONG. COM’s MyPlate notes that a 1/2-cup serving of unpopped popcorn kernels contains 420 calories. This amount provides 21 percent of the recommended daily intake of 2,000 calories.

What is the lowest calorie popcorn?

® With just 100 calories per 6 cups (and 0 grams trans fat per serving), you can snack on 94% fat free popcorn without giving up the fresh-popped taste and aroma you love.

What is the healthiest way to make popcorn?

  1. Make popcorn on the stovetop. …
  2. Use walnut, avocado or extra virgin olive oils. …
  3. Manage portion sizes. …
  4. Avoid microwave popcorn. …
  5. Avoid butter — or use it sparingly. …
  6. Limit kettle corn. …
  7. Beware of added sweeteners and chemicals. …
  8. Add healthier, lighter toppings.
How many cups popcorn in a bag?

(For comparison purposes 1 regular-sized bag of Microwave popcorn yields approximately 4.5 cups of popped popcorn.)

Article first time published on

Is it OK to eat popcorn everyday?

If you’re eating microwave popcorn or movie theater popcorn every day, you might be taking in a lot of extra salt and calories, as well as potentially harmful chemicals and artificial ingredients. However, homemade popcorn that’s made with olive or avocado oil can be a healthy addition to your daily diet.

How many calories in air popped popcorn with butter?

Air-popped popcorn has only 30 calories per cup; oil-popped popcorn has only 35 calories per cup. When lightly buttered, popcorn is about 80 calories per cup.

Which is better for you nuts or popcorn?

Check the labels on microwave popcorn, as many brands contain high levels of sodium and fat. Nuts contain monounsaturated fats, which can lower your total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels, while clearing your arteries and preventing the build up of arterial plaque.

Is popcorn hard on your stomach?

Corn passes through your system undigested; as such, it can cause cramps, abdominal pain, and gas in the process.

Is air popped popcorn better than microwave?

A full cup of air popped popcorn is only 31 calories and is roughly 1 mg of sodium. Even if you make 10 cups worth of it, it is still only 310 calories and 10 mg of sodium, which is significantly better than any microwave bag or movie theater popcorn out there.

How much calories in 1/4 cup popcorn kernels that are popped?

There are 8 calories in a 1/4 cup of Air Popped Popcorn.

Does popcorn have more calories popped or unpopped?

By weight, popped popcorn has more calories than unpopped because a small amount of water and oil is lost during the popping. By volume, popped popcorn has fewer kernels per cup of popcorn than unpopped.

What is the ratio of oil to popcorn?

You only need 2 tablespoons of oil per half cup of kernels, so this popcorn won’t taste greasy!

How many calories in 100g air popped popcorn?

NutrientUnitPer 100 gEnergycalories387Proteing12.94Total lipid (fat)g4.54Carbohydrateg77.78

How many calories does a cup of unpopped popcorn have?

There are 1077 calories in 1 cup, unpopped, yields of Buttered Popcorn Popped in Oil. Calorie breakdown: 59% fat, 36% carbs, 5% protein.

How many cups of popcorn does 1 cup of kernels make?

1 cup of kernels, which is equivalent to 8 ounces of kernels, will make approximately eight quarts 28 cups of popped popcorn.

Is eating a whole bag of popcorn bad?

When popcorn is made without oil or butter and eaten in moderation, it’s a healthy, fiber-rich snack. However, eating a whole bag of microwave popcorn — particularly if it’s flavored with butter — won’t do your health any good.

Which is better for you white or yellow popcorn?

What Is The Nutritional Difference Between White & Yellow Popcorn? Excluding the butter and salt, there is almost no difference in nutritional value between white or yellow kernel popped corn.

Is it OK to have popcorn at night?

While you might be tempted to dish out late-night bowls of ice cream or make popcorn at midnight, your body needs several hours to digest a large snack, and that can disturb sleep. Worse, you could all feel groggy the next day, even if you didn’t wake up in the middle of the night.

How many calories in popcorn popped in olive oil?

Extra Virgin Olive Oil Popcorn (3.25 cups) contains 17g total carbs, 14g net carbs, 6g fat, 2g protein, and 130 calories.

What oil is best for popcorn?

  1. Coconut Oil. With a slow smoke point at 350F, coconut oil heats up just enough to make popcorn, but not so much as to become unhealthy. …
  2. Olive Oil. …
  3. Avocado Oil. …
  4. Sunflower Oil. …
  5. Canola Oil. …
  6. Grapeseed Oil. …
  7. Peanut Oil. …
  8. Ghee.

Is peanut oil good for popcorn?

Making Popcorn on the stove is simple, cost-effective and doesn’t have the chemicals that are used to line microwave bags. It also allows you to add your own flavors and use your oil of choice. Coconut and peanut oil have high smoke points and add great flavor.

How many calories are in a bag of Orville popcorn?

Orville Redenbacher’s Movie Theater Butter Microwave Popcorn 3.29oz (93.3g) Bags From Bj’s – 6c Popped Per 1 Serving = 170cals X 2.5 Servings Per Bag = 425 Cals Per Entire Bag!

How many cups are in a bag of Act 2 popcorn?

Act II Butter Lovers Microwave Popcorn is America’s #1 Flavored Act II Popcorn. It’s the Popcorn that makes Movie Time Special! Each 2.75 oz. Bag is about 2.5 Servings or about 4.5 cups popped.

Why you shouldn't eat popcorn?

The trouble with PFCs is that they break down into perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a chemical that’s suspected to cause cancer. These chemicals make their way into the popcorn when you heat them up. When you eat the popcorn, they get into your bloodstream and can remain in your body for a long time.

Why do I crave popcorn?

Craving popcorn or crisps can be an indication of stress hormone fluctuations or a deficiency in chloride or Essential Fatty Acids. Try incorporating some meditation or breathing exercises and light exercise such as walking into your day and eat more leafy greens and ‘oily’ foods such as flaxseeds, nuts, olives.