Orville Redenbacher SmartPop

So has anyone else experienced problems with microwaving these?

It's like have the bags I pop end up only half-popped.


I always have to but them in for, like, 4 and a half minutes...at LEAST!  I don't think it's my microwave, but I guess it could be.


Anyone else have issues here?  Suggestions?

Generally, Orville Redenbacher popcorn fails horribly at popping =(.  The only advice I can give is to make sure you get it fresh so the kernels don't have time to dry out.  Your popcorn should only take 3-4 minutes in the microwave, as far as I know.  Try popping a bag in someone else's microwave and see if it works better? Good luck =]

I have no problem... takes 2 minutes with my fairly new microwave.  We buy the full pack - kettle corn and also the 100 cal packs.

i buy the big bags of smartpop (260 calories a bag) and it takes my microwave about 5 minutes, but my microwave's like 20 years old, and almost all of the kernels are popped after the 5 minutes too.

the president's choice bags are such a biatch to pop -_-

Before I moved, the microwave I had didn't pop bagged popcorn AT ALL.  It was the strangest thing.

That being said, I popped my first bag o' smartpop (the 100 calorie mini bag) today in 1:30 just like the bag said. :)

What's your microwave's wattage? 1000W+ is ideal for popping popcorn.

I lovvveeeee micro popcorn.  One thing I found worked with my crappy old microwave, pop the bag on top of an empty bowl, so that hot(ness) circulates underneath it.  Sounds wierd but it seemed to work better.

I love Jett's idea.  I think I'm going to have to try that one!!!

I have a hard time with the Orville popcorn burning but if I lessen the time then I'm left with a lot of unpopped kernels.  I don't have this problem with Act or Popsecret.  I prefer the flavor of either of those anyway. 

is it really 260 cals for a full bag of smart pop?? i've measured mine out after popping and get around when measuring in cups 135 calories

I actually noticed today that the popcorn is only all messed up if I microwave it AFTER I microwave something else...so maybe that's it...

It might just be the elevation.  I know for a fact that my microwave at home (sea level) does a much better job than the one at school. 

I never have a problem.  I use the popcorn setting which is 2.5 minutes and the bag pops up just fine.  There are some unpopped kernels like any other popcorn, but not too many. 

Original Post by discoqueenx3:

is it really 260 cals for a full bag of smart pop?? i've measured mine out after popping and get around when measuring in cups 135 calories

 the kind i buy says that there are 130 calories in half of a bag, so.. that'd be 260 calories for a full bag.

mine does too. but it also says to 15 calories per cup and i usually end up with 9 cups if i measure out the bag.

i havent had issues.. but looking around walmart... I could only find the mini bags and the smart pop... I want the 100 cal ones... where did you find yours?

Wal Mart, haha.


The minibags ARE the 100-cal bags.

Check the nutrition info on the box; you'll see.

Original Post by raediant:

i havent had issues.. but looking around walmart... I could only find the mini bags and the smart pop... I want the 100 cal ones... where did you find yours?

The 100 calorie bags and the mini bags are one in the same.  My 100 calorie bag o' popcorn is Orville Redenbacher's Smart Pop Mini Bag in the butter flavor.

My microwave is old and it takes me about 4~ mins to pop and sometimes most of the popcorn doesn't pop but isn't cooked (they're still light brown/yellow and not dark). One day I'll buy a not-so-ancient microwave. :)

Mine pops in 2 minutes, there will be a few kernels that dont pop but the majority of them do. The whole bag will be full. I love smart pop. Does anyone put anything on top of their popcorn to make it taste better? I add popcorn seasoning to mine and it tastes great!

Original Post by oxymoron00:

Wal Mart, haha.


The minibags ARE the 100-cal bags.

Check the nutrition info on the box; you'll see.

 Nope, mine say 190 per bag and that is the mini bags. I've seen ones that say 100 cal on the front of the box... the lowest I've seen is 190 and thats what I have.

Original Post by raediant:

Original Post by oxymoron00:

Wal Mart, haha.


The minibags ARE the 100-cal bags.

Check the nutrition info on the box; you'll see.

 Nope, mine say 190 per bag and that is the mini bags. I've seen ones that say 100 cal on the front of the box... the lowest I've seen is 190 and thats what I have.

Those must be a different flavor because we're not lying.   The butter Orville Redenbacher's Smart Pop mini bags are 100 calories.  Also, you just said "I've seen ones that say 100 cal on the front of the box" and "the lowest I've seen is 190" which makes no sense. :)