Smartfood vs Cape Cod
Smartfood was created in the mid-80’s and I believe in good ol’ Massachusetts. Before it was bought by Frito-Lay, Ethan pointed out they used to have little facts or something interesting on the back of the bag that he liked reading. Frito-Lay just talks about how awesome Smartfood is.
I think there are a few different versions of Smartfood but the one closest to it in the store was Cape Cod’s White Cheddar Popcorn, so we got that.
Smartfood:
Even though Frito-Lay has taken over, I think they’ve done a pretty good job at keeping the consistency of the quality in this product. I didn’t think “This isn’t as good as I remember!” as is the case with some products that go through a buy out or even just some companies cheap-out on their ingredients.
The cheddar powder is thick and completely covers the fluffy kernels. The taste of the cheese has a nice tang to it and conveys a creaminess too. We noticed the kernels are good sized and almost always round and have a nice softness while still providing a satisfying crunch.
Cape Cod:
We notcied that Cape Cod’s kernels were a little smaller, not as soft and seemed flatter when bitten down on. The cheese powder was cheesy but not as tangy as Smartfood. Also there was a slight toastiness to the popcorn, not sure if some kernels were overcooked or the cheese powder did not coat the kernels as much. Not bad though.
Wrap up:
We’d go with Smartfood because of the little bit of sharpness in the cheddar flavor and the more substantial kernels. If Cape Cod is all that’s available though, you won’t be too disappointed as the subtle differences aren’t enough to rule it out as a good product.
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March 18th, 2009 at 6:15 pm
Smartfood for sure! I used to eat that stuff like it was my job. It’s not cheddar popcorn, but if I’m going to buy bagged popcorn now I go for Popcorn, Indiana’s Kettlecorn. It’s so ridiculously good it’s not even funny.
March 19th, 2009 at 3:40 am
Cheesey popcorn? yuck! I’ve never heard of it before today…caramel popcorn is ok though.
March 19th, 2009 at 5:06 pm
Smartfood wins hands down. It’s one of the few things I ate when I was younger that tastes the same now that I’m older. I love popcorn, and it’s definitely one of my favorite brands.
March 21st, 2009 at 1:49 pm
[...] Cheese Popcorn Throwdown! Second Rate Snacks compares SmartFood White Cheddar Popcorn with Cape Cod White Cheddar Cheese Popco… [...]
May 13th, 2009 at 6:32 am
I don’t know why these 2 get compared. Smartfood tastes very poor in taste compared to capecode white cheddar popcorn.
June 19th, 2009 at 9:17 pm
Capecod is the best when going on those long fishing trips with grandpa.
Although heavily covered with the cheese, I enjoy licking it off my fingers. Also, they are next door to my Walmart, so it’s always easy to grab a bag, go home and eat a few.
Never heard of Smartfood but if I find it, I’ll try it I guess.
August 27th, 2009 at 2:13 pm
Well, I found Smartfood at my Food 4 Less, and I’m actually very shocked that it tasted better and more cheesier than Cape Cod. Goes to show I can’t just rely on past experiences from a different time. lol
September 5th, 2009 at 8:26 pm
I remember the original Smartfood (pre-Frito Lay) the company was owned and operated by the folks who went on to found Annie’s. The original smartfood was WAAAAAYYYY better than the post Frito product.
So much cheesier and just plain good.