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Popcorn's better with cheddar

By KATHY SAUNDERS
Published May 31, 2006

Warning: If you serve cheddar-flavored popcorn to your guests they may never leave. That's what happened when the Taster's Choice panelists sampled six brands of the ready-popped snack on a recent morning. I had to send the leftovers home with them.

To be clear, most of the popcorns we tried are not diet-friendly. They were full of fat and high in calories. A couple of brands were natural blends of corn and rice with fewer calories and fat. But those were not among the top picks from our panelists.

I was first introduced to white cheddar-flavored popcorn by my 7-year-old. It became an addiction that nearly required a 12-step program to kick.

Our judges were almost as easily hooked.

The winner was from the popular potato chip maker, Wise $1.69 for a 5-ounce bag. One healthy fact: The packaging for the Wise Premium White Cheddar popcorn did boast of no trans fats. Our panelists boasted about the flavor.

"Yummy, yummy, yummy, I can almost imagine being at the movies," said one. "Yes, yes, yes!"

The Wise brand was so good that it made our newly established Hall of Fame list - sampled foods receiving more than 80 out of 100 possible points. The Wise popcorn got 93 points.

"These are crispy, salty and cheesy," said another panelist. "These are fluffy, well-endowed kernels."

The second favorite - my daughter's usual pick - was the popcorn from Smartfood ($2.49 for a 5.5-ounce bag). Judges gave the Smartfood brand 76 points.

Judges liked the sharp white cheddar flavor of the Smartfood snack as well as the puffy kernels.

"These are a great after-school snack," said a judge. "This looks like popcorn should look."

Two brands tied for third place in our survey. Judges gave 74 points to the cheese-flavored bags of popcorn from Hannaford ($1.79 for a 5.5 ounce bag) and Cape Cod ($1.69 for a 5-ounce bag).

The Cape Cod popcorn had a strong, sweet smell that judges inhaled. They also liked the chewy texture of the brand. One judge thought the Hannaford popcorn had more of a "light dusting of cheddar" than some of its competitors. But no one was complaining.

"I would absolutely buy this," the judge said of the Hannaford. In fact, all five judges said they would buy all of the top choices.

Other brands in the sample were Pirate's Booty by Robert's American Gourmet ($1.50 for a 4-ounce bag) and Eatsmart Cheddar Airs ($3.49 for a 5 ounce bag).

Panelists were Nan Jensen, registered dietitian with Pinellas County Cooperative Extension; Bob Devin Jones, artistic director of Studio@620 personal chef Julie Overton; Gary Kawalec, chef/owner of Tampa Bay Supper Club in Safety Harbor; and Jim Yockey, aesthetician at Indulgence Medical Day Spa in St. Petersburg. All foods were tasted blind.

RANKINGS

1. Wise

2. Smartfood

3. Hannaford and Cape Cod

[Last modified May 30, 2006, 11:15:02]