8 Best Popcorn Poppers Reviewed [UPDATED]

What are the best popcorn poppers to make your own - movie theater quality - popcorn at home?

In this short review I will show you the best of the various types of poppers available today. I will be reviewing the top eight home use poppers to help you make an educated decision on which one is the right investment for you. Whether it's a microwaveable bowl, hot air popper, or even a fancy commercial machine, they all - ultimately - do one thing: They turn popcorn kernels into tasty treats!

So whatever popper you pick, know you can not go wrong with any of the recommended products listed in this review post.

Best Popcorn Makers

This comparison chart shows all the top rated poppers in their category, along with genuine customer ratings from Amazon. Beneath the chart you will find more detailed reviews of each of them.

*Ratings are /5 (out of five)

Let's look at each of the units in more detail!

PopMaize Popcorn Bowl Review

The PopMaize bowl has got to be the best microwave popper ever invented. It is made from food-safe silicone, which makes it lightweight and collapsible (from 5 down to 2-inches height) for easy storage.

The silicone used is also very durable and easy to clean. In fact, it is even safe to wash the PopMaize bowl in the dishwasher.

It's also very easy to fill without requiring a measuring cup. Inside the bowl is a fill-line marking the amount of kernels it can safely pop. I personally was able to get it down to just 4 unpopped kernels (without burning the popcorn) after just my second time using it, which is exceptionally good!

Thanks to the suction lid, there is no worry about popped kernels overflowing and having to be cleaned out from the microwave (as was the case with another microwaveable bowl we had before).

The PopMaize bowl doubles as an attractive serving bowl that holds up to 12 cups of popped popcorn, which is a standard amount among microwave popcorn makers.

Needless to say I am very happy with this easy to use unit, and if you have a microwave in your home, this is probably the best popper product on the market today!

CONS: Because it's silicone it bends and folds easily and is not firm like you'd expect from other bowls. It has never been a problem for us, but it is worth mentioning.
PROS: Foldable. Takes up very little space when not in use. Is easy to clean and can be used as a serving bowl... which of course means less dishes 🙂

Nordic Ware Microwave Popper Review

The Nordic Ware Microwave popcorn popper is the way we made popcorn after we originally ditched pre-packaged microwave bags. The bowl is made from unbreakable, chip-proof gemstone material with a plastic lid. I love that both parts are dishwasher safe.

You can pop and serve the popcorn in the same bowl. Like an air popper, this microwaveable bowl requires no oil for popping. However, we found that adding a little oil to the unpopped kernels, actually results in a better end product.

There is a learning curve to making the best possible popcorn with each new appliance. With the Nordic Ware Microwave Popper we learnt that we had to turn off the microwave before it gets to '1 pop per second' as instructed in the manual. When we waited this long the popped kernels started burning.

Once you've figured out the timing, it was very easy to use.

CONS: You have to use it a couple times to learn how to get it just right. It also does not fold like the other bowl we reviewed on top.
PROS: Is dishwasher safe and is a sturdy serving bowl.

 

Whirley-Pop Stovetop Popcorn Popper Review

With the Whirley-Pop you get stovetop popcorn at its best! The one-of-a-kind design of this aluminum pot features a clip on lid and a stainless steel stirring mechanism with a wooden hand crank that stays cool.

The Whirley-Pop makes up to 24 cups of fresh, crisp popcorn at once in just 3 minutes.

If you are familiar with stovetop popcorn, you know how you have to keep the pot moving to prevent burning. The hand crank stirring system of the Whirley-Pop makes stovetop cooking a breeze. No vigorous shaking of a dangerously hot pot required.

Just make sure you are using medium heat. The lightweight aluminum pot is different from most of your regular heavy bottom cookware. Medium heat is all it needs to heat it up quickly and evenly.

CONS: It's a touch bulky and not ideal if you have limited kitchen cabinet space.
PROS: Because it's a stove-top popper, there is no need for a microwave or even electricity.

 

Presto Poplite Hot Air Popcorn Machine Review

The Presto Poplite is an absolute bestseller not only among hot air poppers but popcorn poppers in general. The huge plus? The hot air technology pops corn without any added oil!

Because the popped corn leaves the heat source after popping, there is also no risk of it burning (as is quite common in microwaveable bowls).

It also works very quickly. In less than 2.5 minutes it can produce up to 18 cups of popcorn per cycle. The removable butter warmer in the chute doubles as measuring cup for the right amount of kernels it can handle in one go.

We've been using this air popper in a slightly older version for a long time and love it.

Although the housing and chute cover are made from plastic, the inside part that 'cooks' the corn is actually stainless steel. The Presto Poplite comes with a variety of color options. I love this red one. There also is a black and several different white versions.

CONS: The first few kernels go all over the place. It's easily remedied by covering the shoot and bowl with a kitchen towel. It also does not have an ON and OFF switch. Meaning it starts working the second it's plugged in.
PROS: It's quick, efficient, and stays clean. It does not require any oil or butter which is ideal for those who are fat intake conscious.

 

West Bend Stir Crazy Electric Popcorn Machine Review

The Stir Crazy Popper by West Bend is one unique looking appliance. I probably would never have known about it if we hadn't received one as a wedding gift. The shape reminded me of a UFO when I first saw it.

The kernels and a little oil are placed on the non-stick heating surface. A stirring rod keeps them moving to ensure even heating and no burning of popped kernels.

The plastic lid doubles as serving bowl. If you place a little butter in the butter well, it drizzles over the popcorn as it melts in the popping process.

We had a lot of fun with our Stir Crazy appliance. My only caveat is, that it is rather bulky and takes up a lot of cabinet space.

CONS: It's a bit bulky. Not ideal if you have severely limited kitchen cabinet space.
PROS: Comes with a bowl (less dishes).

 

Cuisinart EasyPop Hot Air Popper Review

This Cuisinart air popper is a great looking small appliance that would make an elegant style statement in your kitchen. I'd definitely be comfortable to have this one sitting on my countertop permanently.

It makes up to 10 cups of popcorn at a time. Compared to lower priced air poppers it has some really useful additional features. Instead of starting up when being plugged in, it has an on/off switch and a nifty way to roll up the cord for storage. It is also fairly quiet compared to other hot air poppers.

All removable parts (the cover and butter melter) are dishwasher safe for easy cleaning. The plastic parts are BPA free which is very important when heating food in plastic containers.

The color options include red, white and metallic red, which looks especially classy.

CONS: A little pricier (granted the added features are worth it).
PROS: It comes with an ON and OFF switch (most air poppers don't). It operates relatively quiet and is beautiful to look at.

 

Great Northern Pop Pup Retro Style Popcorn Machine Review

This Great Northern Pop Pup Popcorn Machine gives you a full experience of movie theater popcorn at home. It not only tastes like theatre popcorn, but the machine also looks just like the machines you see at the movies.

A stainless steel kettle pops the corn, which can then be inverted into a removable serving tray (which is dishwasher safe). At 9.8 x 11 x 18.8 inches, it is small enough to fit on even the smallest kitchen counter.

It can pop 2-½ ounces of kernels at a time, which makes 16 cup of popped corn. For something bigger, check out the Great Northern Movie Theater Style Popcorn Machine or check out my commercial popcorn machine review here.

The warm-keeping light is a function that is unique to this type of machine and is designed specifically to keep the popped corn fresh, crispy, and warm.

So - whether you run a charity event, concession stand, have a lot of friends over to watch sports, or simply like to make large amounts of popcorn, nothing makes more of a statement than one of these classy ones.

 

Why Own a Popcorn Popper?

Here are just a few reasons why homemade popcorn trumps pre-popped or pre-packaged microwave popcorn bags:

• Healthy

  Plain popcorn kernels (and sometimes a little oil) are literally the only ingredients. Pre-packaged microwave popcorn bags contain not only popcorn kernels and fake butter, but also a whole list of chemical additives that can pose serious health risks.

  For example:
  - Diacetyl is the chemical used to synthetically add butter flavor.
  - PFOA, the chemical used to line the microwave bags is considered a 'likely carcinogenic'.
  - Trans-fat is added to imitate melted butter.

• Environmentally friendly

  Using a popcorn making appliance results in minimal waste. Pre-packaged microwave bags don't exactly yield the largest amount of popcorn. If you are getting together with family or friends for a movie night, you likely have to use several bags to make enough for everyone. All of these bags create trash that you wouldn't have when using an actual popcorn popper.

• Economical

  If you've never bought a bag of popcorn kernels, you'll be surprised to learn how affordable they are. A big bag results in a LOT of popped corn (enough to feed an army). When compared to pre-packaged microwave bags, you can save up to 70%!

  We make homemade popcorn several times a week and all of our different cookers have more than paid for themselves by this calculation.

How To Choose The Best Popcorn Popper

So you have decided (or maybe I have convinced you 😉 ) that you need a home popcorn maker. The next question is, which one? There are different aspects to consider when choosing the one best for you and your home.

1. Type

Essentially, all models fall in 2 categories: they are either standalone small appliances or need an outside heat source.

Within the latter category, that heat source is either the microwave or the stovetop. If you avoid using the microwave altogether or just plain don't own one, your option is a stovetop or a stand-alone countertop appliance.

Then, among the countertop ones there are two more categories: hot air poppers or ones that require oil or butter.

If you are avoiding fat for health reasons or you just hate the buttery or oily texture, air poppers are the way to go. With just high heat and a revolving fan, air poppers do a great job of making fat-free popcorn.

Of course you could still melt butter separately and add it in after if you really wanted to. Most of the ones that require oil or butter will automatically mix the butter in as it cooks the popcorn.

2. Size

Considering the size is important when deciding which appliance to buy. Air popper machines are usually the smallest standalone appliances because they require a separate bowl to collect the popped kernels. Where as the foldable silicone microwave bowl I mentioned above is the overall smallest as they can be folded and stuffed in even the tightest shelf space.

Stovetop poppers are bulkier but can easily be stored nesting with your other bowls and cooking pots.

Theatre style countertop poppers will take up the most space. You'll have to consider if you have counter space to spare. They look so nice that you may not even want to hide it, so there's that.

Without any extra counter space to store and display a bigger standalone machine, you will at least need to find some cabinet space to put it once you're done using it.

3. Output

Have a look at how much popcorn you get in each batch. If you have regular family movie nights, you need a popper that can produce more than one serving. Otherwise, making enough for a family or group of friends can turn into a laborious and time-intensive activity. So much for a relaxing evening, right?

With that said, we are a family of 3 and have never had issues with any of the smaller ones listed on this page!

4. Material

You may also need to pay attention to the material the popper is made of. If you are avoiding non-stick coatings on your cookware or plastic in general, you want to make sure that the appliance you choose isn't made of these. Look for stainless steel in stand-alone appliances or silicone with the microwave poppers.

5. Cleaning Ease

You've enjoyed your crunchy popcorn, but now it's time to clean (and possibly put away) the popper. If you prefer not having to hand wash, pick a popper type that is in part or entirely dishwasher safe.
Or choose a hot air popper that does not require much (if any) cleaning after use.

6. Aesthetic Appeal

With most (small) appliances, function is more important than appearance. However, the question of aesthetic appeal arises when your machine is going to get a permanent spot on your kitchen counter (see 2. Size). If you are going to see it every day, you should at least not hate the way it looks.

Choosing Popcorn Kernels

The poppers I've listed on this page will pop any conventional popcorn kernels you can find at your local grocery store. Since you're ordering your popper online though, why not order a batch of kernels as well?

This here is one of my favorites: [easyazon_link identifier="B0098IOL2S" locale="US" tag="special03b-20"]Orville Redenbacher's Gourmet Popcorn Kernels[/easyazon_link]

It will probably last you a few months, but the good news is that unpopped corn doesn't rot - ever. Meaning it will likely still be good years later if you keep it dry. Oh and, did I mention it's super affordable to stock up on popcorn kernels?

Even if (God forbid) famine ever hits the land, at least you will have one thing to barter with: An unlimited supply of fresh popcorn. Not a bad deal if you ask me 🙂

Happy Popping!

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