Best Gochujang

Last Updated: Apr 26, 2023 @ 10:12 am.

The Secrets To Great Popcorn

Here at the home office, we take our popcorn seriously.

We’ve tried all the standard ways of making popcorn—stovetop, air-popped, microwave and more. 

Along the way, we’ve learned these key secrets to amazing popcorn:

• Toppings are essential. The butter toppings reviewed below are essential for great air-popcorn . . . that’s because salt won’t stick as well.

• Not any salt will do. The best popcorn salt is FINELY ground. Forget Kosher salt or other coarsely ground salt—it won’t stick. Later in this article, we’ll recommend a salt plus topping combo that is a fave.

• Topping or popping? All the top popcorn butters in this article can either be used topping or popping—that is, oil to pop kernels!

Here are our top popcorn butter options:

Gochujang 411: Finding the best!

Let’s talk gochujang!

The sweet hot flavor profile of gochujang comes from a mix of red pepper and rice.

Gochujang comes in five different spice levels: mild hot, slight hot, medium hot, very hot and extreme hot. 

Popular as an ingredient to make kimchee, gochujang paste is also used to flavor soups, stews and marinate meat. Gochujang sauce is used as a condiment like ketchup or BBQ sauce. 

FYI: The paste should be thinned out with a little oil, stock or water as it is very thick!

Allergy alert: most gochujang contains soy. And if you are trying to avoid gluten, be aware that most gochujang brands are NOT gluten-free!

After doing a blind taste test with several popular gochujang brands, here are the ones we liked the best! Enjoy!

Why Trust Us

We’ve been rating and reviewing products for the home and families since 1994. We do hands-on testing—we buy the products with our own money and evaluate with an eye toward quality, ease of use and affordability.

Here’s another key point: we don’t take money from the brands we review. No free samples, no sponsors, no “partnerships.” Our work is 100% reader-supported!