Blockbuster Microwave Popcorn

My wife and I had a chance to try Blockbuster's brand of Microwave Popcorn the other night. Their popcorn is unique, in that it comes in a large'ish popcorn tub instead of a paper bag. The oil and corn are held to the inside bottom of the tub by a layer of pleated plastic that is attached to the inside walls of the tub. As the corn pops, the plastic layer rises to form a dome. To eat, you pull the plastic away from the inside of the tub and you're all set.


I was amazed at just how full the tub was at the end of the popping cycle. I expected it to be maybe 2/3 full at most. Nope... it was practically ready to spill out of the tub. My wife and I don't overdo it but one tub was PLENTY for the two of us. (The same is not true for one bag of traditional microwave popcorn.) I didn't tear one apart, but the tub seems to have some sort of material in the bottom that does an extremely good job of heating the oil and corn.


So, how did it turn out? The kernels popped nice and big and they were not chewy. It also seemed to have just the right amount of salt. We've tried lots of different brands of microwave popcorn over the years but I think this was easily the best we've ever had. The fact that you serve it right up in the movie house style tub is a nice plus (although, it would be nice if it didn't say "Blockbuster" all over the thing). There were extremely few unpopped kernels. In fact, I don't think there were more than 6 or 8 kernels in the bottom of the tub when we finished. I NEVER get that good of a result with traditional microwave popcorn.


I'm not trying to suggest that this product might replace the use of a "real" Popcorn machine and the right recipe. But, as far as quick and convenient goes, I think this is about the best we've had. Over the years, I've certainlly had some movie house popcorn that tasted worse.


BTW, Blockbuster's current sale price (at my local Blockbuster) is two tubs for $3. Reasonable.


Mark