What is Flavacol for popcorn?

Movie theater popcorn always tastes better, right? They are perfectly salted and have just the right amount of butter, but try as you might, you can never seem to recreate the flavor at home.

Have you ever wondered why? Do they have a secret ingredient that they add to make their popcorn taste 100 times better? In fact, they have!

It all comes down to an ingredient called Flavacol. Chances are you’ve never heard of it since it’s only used by movie theaters, but it’s what takes popcorn to the next level.

So what is Flavacol for popcorn? Flavacol is a bright orange butter-flavoured salt that is added to popcorn to give it a nice flavor and a distinctive yellow color.

Read on to find out what Flavacol is made of, what it tastes like, how to use it, how much is needed for a bag of popcorn and much more.

What is Flavacol made of?

Flavacol (which you can buy online here) is made up of a couple of basic ingredients, like salt and artificial butter seasoning. It also includes artificial yellow food coloring to give the popcorn a nice color.

The color part is a visual tactic used by movie theaters to attract hungry customers.

Salt is the main ingredient used in Flavacol, which is ground much finer than regular table salt. The reason is to prevent the salt from coming off and sticking to the popcorn.

Next we have the Granulated Artificial Butter Seasoning, which is the same size as salt, making the two work perfectly together. It also adds that distinctive buttery flavor that everyone loves in their popcorn.

Finally, the two artificial food colours, yellow 5 and yellow 6, are added to Flavacol to enhance the appearance of the popcorn.

The combination of a bright, light yellow mixed with a muted yellow undertone removes the current whitish look of popcorn and adds a nice pop of color.

What does Flavacol taste like?

Flavacol tastes like a mixture of salt and butter, since they are two of its main ingredients. You may think that simply adding salt and butter to your popcorn would give you similar results, but it doesn’t.

Regular salt and butter don’t stick to the popcorn as well as Flavacol, which is finely ground so the popcorn gets its full flavor.

You don’t have to worry about the popcorn going mushy or losing flavor like you would if you used regular butter and salt.

The yellow food coloring used to give the popcorn a pretty color does not affect its flavor and is simply there to add a unique and appealing look to the best movie time snack.

How to use Flavacol

Getting the same flavor of movie theater popcorn at home has never been easier. All you need is a few popcorn kernels, some good quality Flavacol seasoning, and the right technique to pop, pop, pop.

Here are two of the best ways to use Flavacol for popcorn for maximum flavor:

1. Place your bag of popcorn in the microwave and let it pop. When finished popping, carefully open the bag partially and sprinkle ½ teaspoon of Flavacol over the popcorn. Shake the bag for about 30 seconds, making sure to turn it frequently. Open the bag and enjoy your perfect movie theater popcorn at home.
2. After adding the popcorn kernels into a popcorn machine, add ½ teaspoon of Flavacol into it and pop the kernels until they are all set. Stir the pot well and enjoy your delicious butter popcorn.

Regardless of the method you choose to incorporate Flavacol into your popcorn, you’re sure to love the end result.

Flavacol is perfectly safe and delicious, made with just a handful of ingredients, and once you start using it, there’s no going back. You can trust our word.

How much Flavacol to use

Flavacol is a seasoning with a powerful and concentrated flavor, so you don’t have to use too much. A little is enough.

½ teaspoon of Flavacol is enough for about ½ cup (4 ounces) of popcorn kernels, which means you only need ½ teaspoon of the seasoning to coat 16 cups of popcorn.

That being said, if you ever buy a carton of Flavacol to keep in your pantry, you may not need to buy it again as it will probably last you a lifetime.

You can refer to these quantities when making Flavacol popcorn at home:

How to make Flavacol popcorn in the kitchen

To make high-quality popcorn at home on the stove, here’s what you’ll need

• ½ cup popcorn kernels
• 1 to 3 tablespoons of coconut oil
• ½ teaspoon of Flavacol

Instructions

• Start by heating the coconut oil to 400°F in a heavy-bottomed pot or skillet over medium heat.
• Check the temperature of the oil by adding a grain or two into it and wait for them to pop.
• When they burst, the oil has reached the proper temperature and is ready to be used.
• Put the rest of the popcorn kernels in the pot, making sure they are evenly spread.
• Add the Flavacol and mix it well with the oil so that the grains are perfectly covered.
• Keep mixing the beans until you hear the first ones pop.
• Partially cover the pot with a lid, making sure to leave it slightly open to allow steam to escape.
• Keep shaking the pot every few seconds to help the kernels pop.
• Once it stops popping, remove the pot from the heat and serve the hot popcorn immediately.
• Add more ingredients according to your preferences.

Related questions

Now that you know all about Flavacol, its flavor and how to use it, here are some additional questions we thought you might have!

Is Flavacol gluten free?

All Flavacol seasonings produced by Gold Medal Products, the most popular Flavacol brand in the US, are gluten-free. The popcorn kernels are also, of course, gluten-free, as is the oil used to make them.

What are the best ways to season popcorn?

Salt and butter are the real options for seasoning your popcorn. However, there are other great options that you can also try.

You can use garlic powder or garlic salt, dried parsley, grated Parmesan, taco seasoning, nutritional yeast, melted mozzarella, or truffle oil.

For a sweeter option, you can go for caramel, peanut butter, dark chocolate, cinnamon and sugar, maple syrup, coconut flakes, chocolate chips, and honey.

Does popcorn seasoning expire?

Dried popcorn seasonings don’t usually go bad and you can use them for a long time unless they’re exposed to moisture, in which case they can start to mold.

In any case, for the best quality and maximum flavor, it is recommended to check the expiration date on the packaging to ensure that the flavor is not compromised.

How long does microwave popcorn last?

Microwave popcorn usually has a best before date and will keep for around 6-8 months. However, once the kernels are popped, they don’t last long as they often have product on them.

Microwave popcorn often contains oils, which do not stand the test of time and begin to lose their flavor.

How do you know if the popcorn has gone bad?

The best way to tell if a bag of popcorn has gone bad is to check how it looks and smells.

Popcorn tends to go stale after a while, and unless stale popcorn is okay with you, we suggest throwing the bag away immediately.

In addition, the bad odors that your popcorn gives off usually indicate the presence of mold and the time to throw it away.