Types of Popcorn: A Guide to the Best Popcorn Kernels

Popcorn kernels come in different colors, sizes, shapes and varieties — and choosing the right one can make a noticeable difference in how your popcorn pops, tastes and feels when you eat it. Some popcorn kernels pop light and fluffy, while others are smaller and crunchier. Some are better for butter and seasonings, while sturdy varieties are ideal for caramel corn and other coatings.

Whether you're making a big batch of caramel corn or planning a cozy movie night, this guide will help you compare different types of popcorn kernels and choose the best popcorn for the way you like to eat it.

Quick answer: The best popcorn kernels depend on what you're making. Butterfly popcorn is a classic choice for movie-night popcorn and seasonings, while round, sturdy Mushroom Popcorn is best for caramel corn and other heavy coatings. White, yellow, blue, red and Rainbow popcorn varieties offer different kernel sizes, textures and flavors, so the best choice ultimately comes down to how you plan to pop and serve it.

What Are the Different Types of Popcorn?

There are a couple of ways to talk about different types of popcorn. Butterfly and mushroom describe the shape of the popcorn after it pops, while terms such as yellow, white, red and blue describe characteristics of the unpopped kernels or particular popcorn varieties.

Butterfly popcorn opens into an irregular shape with delicate “wings” extending from the center. Mushroom popcorn pops into a denser, more rounded shape. Both can come from different popcorn varieties, which is why you'll sometimes see popcorn described by its popped shape and other times by its kernel color or variety.

Below, we'll break down both — along with which popcorn kernels work best for different snacks and recipes.

What is Butterfly Popcorn?

Butterfly popcorn is probably what you picture when you think about a big tub of movie theater popcorn. Once popped, the kernels have delicate, irregular wings—like little arms and legs sticking out from a puffy center. That’s where the name "butterfly" comes from.

Those winged shapes aren’t just cute, they’re also super practical. All those nooks and crannies are perfect for catching and holding onto butter, oils, or seasonings. This popcorn is light, fluffy, and easy to eat by the handful, making it the go-to choice for movie night.

What Is Mushroom Popcorn?

No, Mushroom Popcorn doesn't taste like mushrooms! It’s the question we’re always asked and the answer is no, not at all. Despite the name, mushroom popcorn doesn’t have a mushroom flavor. The name refers to the shape it takes when popped: large, round, and compact - kind of like the top of a mushroom.

This isn’t a new trend either; the term has been used in agriculture and popcorn production for decades.

Its sturdy, rounded shape also makes Mushroom Popcorn especially good for caramel corn and other coated popcorn recipes, because the popped pieces hold up better when they're stirred with heavier coatings.

Dell Cove® Extra Large Mushroom Popcorn Kernels have a classic corn flavor and crunchy texture. They pop into large, sturdy pieces designed to stand up to caramel, chocolate and other heavier coatings.

Great for: Caramel corn, candy popcorn, chocolate-coated popcorn and other recipes with heavier coatings

What Is Yellow Popcorn?

Yellow popcorn is the classic popcorn many people associate with movie theaters and concession stands. The kernels are typically larger than white popcorn kernels and pop into familiar fluffy pieces with a slightly more pronounced corn flavor.

Dell Cove's Movie Night popcorn kernels are a yellow butterfly popcorn. When popped, their irregular shape creates plenty of little nooks and crannies for catching melted butter, oils and popcorn seasonings, making them an easy choice for classic movie-night popcorn.

Great for: Movie nights, buttered popcorn, savory popcorn seasonings and everyday snacking

What Is White Popcorn?

White popcorn kernels are generally smaller than traditional yellow popcorn kernels and pop into smaller, tender pieces with a mild popcorn flavor. Like all popcorn, white popcorn has a hull — the outer layer that helps trap the moisture and pressure needed for the kernel to pop.

Dell Cove® Baby White Popcorn Kernels are a small white popcorn variety often described as “hulless.” That doesn't mean they're actually hull-free. Instead, the smaller kernels have thinner, more delicate hulls that break apart when popped, so the hull pieces can be less noticeable when you're eating them.

Baby White pops into small, bright white pieces with a tender crunch and classic popcorn flavor. It's a good choice for popcorn lovers who prefer smaller popped kernels or find the hulls of larger popcorn varieties distracting.

Great for: Everyday snacking, smaller popped kernels and popcorn lovers looking for a more delicate hull

What Is Blue Popcorn?

Blue popcorn kernels get their striking color from naturally occurring pigments called anthocyanins, not artificial dyes or coloring. The unpopped kernels range from blue to deep blue-purple, depending on the variety.

But blue popcorn doesn't pop blue. When the kernel pops, the starchy white interior expands and turns outward, so the finished popcorn is mostly white. Dell Cove® Midnight Blue Popcorn Kernels pop white with a darker gray center.

Dell Cove® Blue Popcorn has a slightly sweet flavor and crunchy texture, making it a fun alternative to traditional yellow or white popcorn — especially if you like a smaller, crunchier piece of popcorn.

Great for: Everyday snacking, popcorn seasonings and popcorn lovers who prefer a smaller, crunchier texture.

What is Red Popcorn?

Red popcorn kernels get their distinctive color from naturally occurring pigments, including anthocyanins. Depending on the variety, red popcorn kernels can range from bright reddish tones to deeper burgundy.

Like Blue Popcorn, though, red popcorn doesn't stay red when it pops. Dell Cove® Ruby Red Popcorn Kernels pop mostly white with a dark red center, so some of that distinctive kernel color is still visible in the finished popcorn.

Our Ruby Red Popcorn has smaller kernels that produce smaller popped pieces with a crunchy texture and mild corn flavor. It's especially good with savory popcorn seasonings, where the smaller, crunchy pieces make for an addictive snack.

Great for: Savory popcorn seasonings, everyday snacking and popcorn lovers who prefer smaller, crunchier pieces.

What Is Rainbow Popcorn?

Rainbow popcorn gets its name from the naturally colorful kernels you see before popping. Depending on the popcorn, “rainbow” can describe a blend of different colored popcorn varieties — but Dell Cove® Rainbow Popcorn is a little different.

Most of our Rainbow Popcorn Kernels come from ears of popcorn that naturally grow with kernels in a mix of colors. That gives each batch its own combination of yellow, red, blue, purple and other naturally occurring shades. Because it's an agricultural product, the exact colors and mix can vary from harvest to harvest and batch to batch.

But here's the surprise: Rainbow Popcorn doesn't pop rainbow-colored. The kernels pop mostly white, although some retain a little of their natural color in the center or hull. The rainbow is much more dramatic before the kernels are popped.

The mix also produces some variation in the size and texture of the popped pieces, which makes a bowl of Rainbow Popcorn a little different from popcorn made from a single variety.

Great for: Movie nights, popcorn gifts, colorful displays and anyone who enjoys a mix of popcorn sizes and textures.

Which Popcorn Kernels Are Best?

There isn't one type of popcorn kernel that's best for everything. The best popcorn depends on how you like to eat it, whether you want fluffy movie-theater popcorn, sturdy pieces for caramel corn or smaller, crunchier popcorn for snacking.

Our in-house guide for you:

Does the Type of Popcorn Change How You Pop It?

Yes. While all popcorn kernels need enough heat to turn the moisture inside the kernel into steam and make it pop, some popcorn varieties can perform better with different popping methods.

For example, Dell Cove® Mushroom Popcorn needs high heat to produce its large, round shape, while some of our smaller specialty kernels may leave more unpopped kernels when used in an air popper. Your pan, microwave, oil and heat level can all affect the final bowl, too.

If you're trying a new variety, start with the popping directions that come with your kernels. You can also see our How to Pop Popcorn guide for stovetop, microwave and other popping methods.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What are the different types of popcorn?

Popcorn can be described by its popped shape or by the variety and color of the kernel. Butterfly and mushroom describe the shape popcorn takes after popping. Yellow, white, blue, red and Rainbow are different types or varieties of popcorn kernels, with differences in size, texture, flavor and appearance.

What are the best popcorn kernels?

The best popcorn kernels depend on what you're making. Yellow Butterfly Popcorn is a classic choice for movie-night popcorn and seasonings, while sturdy Mushroom Popcorn is especially good for caramel corn and other heavy coatings. Baby White is a good choice if you prefer smaller, tender popcorn, while Blue and Ruby Red offer smaller pieces with a crunchier texture.

What popcorn kernels are best for caramel corn?

Mushroom Popcorn Kernels are one of the best choices for caramel corn because they pop into large, round, sturdy pieces that hold up well when stirred with caramel and other heavy coatings.

What's the difference between butterfly and mushroom popcorn?

Butterfly popcorn pops into light, irregular pieces with delicate “wings” that are great for catching butter and seasonings. Mushroom popcorn pops into larger, rounder and sturdier pieces, making it particularly well suited to caramel corn, candy popcorn and other coated recipes.

Is hulless popcorn really hull-free?

No. All popcorn kernels have a hull, which helps contain the moisture and pressure needed for the kernel to pop. Popcorn sold as “hulless,” such as Baby White, generally has smaller or more delicate hulls that break apart when popped, making the hull pieces less noticeable when you eat them.

Does colored popcorn pop in different colors?

Usually, no. Blue, red and Rainbow popcorn kernels lose much of their dramatic color when they pop because the white starchy interior expands outward. The popped popcorn is generally mostly white, although some of the original kernel color can remain visible around the center or hull.