Best Popcorn Poppers in 2022

Last update: November 11, 2022

Can you use real butter in a popcorn machine?

Yes, you can use real butter in a popcorn machine. Most machines have a butter tray or cup that you can place pats of butter in. The heat from the machine will melt the butter and it will be distributed over the popcorn as it pops.

Does soaking popcorn in water make it pop better?

Yes, soaking popcorn in water does make it pop better. The water helps to soften the hulls of the kernels, making them more likely to burst when heated.

How do you make air popped popcorn taste like movie theater popcorn?

To make air popped popcorn taste like movie theater popcorn, you'll need to start with good quality popcorn kernels and cook them in a hot air popper. Once the popcorn is cooked, add a small amount of butter and some salt. You can also add a little bit of sugar if you like.

How do you make popcorn crispy in a popcorn maker?

To make popcorn crispy in a popcorn maker, start by adding oil to the bottom of the machine. Then, add your popcorn kernels and put the lid on the machine. Next, turn on the machine and wait for the kernels to pop. Once they are done popping, remove the lid and enjoy your crispy popcorn!


The Original Hotpop Microwave Popcorn Popper, Silicone Popcorn Maker, Collapsible Bowl Bpa Free and Dishwasher Safe- 12 Colors Available (Aqua) Review:


I have a Panasonic 1250 watt microwave and found that this tub works well at 2:50 on the timer, at full power. One Star deduct for the fact that, when I use 1/3 cup of Jolly Time popcorn (which takes it up to the lower line level inside the popper, that it always leaves about 2-3 tsp of unpopped kernels. After removing the popped kernels, I can put the unpopped back in for another minute or so and get most of them to pop. Well, what if I just extend the original cooking time? Although I have not tried it, I fear or suspect that it might start burning the already popped kernels. I do not use oil, since that would be counterproductive to why I bought this to begin with. I don't understand why the rest of the kernels don't pop in the original time frame, but am willing to live with the wasted kernels, since using this is so easy, hassle free, and needing no cleanup afterwards, beyond wiping the insides with a paper towel. 1/3 cup of kernels is just right to completely fill this tub, but to make larger batches for movie night for several viewers, I have to resort to my Stir Crazy, which uses 1 cup of kernels to produce two large movie theater style popcorn tubs. I would have to do 3 batches in the HOTPOP to equal that, which becomes less convenient than the Stir Crazy (which requires 2-3 Tbsp of oil to pop 99% of the Jolly Time kernels.After seeing a lot of 1 Star reviews, I do not trust them at all and think some reviewers purposely fabricate sabotage reviews or false reviews for reasons that I can't fathom. When used as directed and following advice to do test runs on length of time to microwave successfully in whatever microwave one owns, this tub performs pretty efficiently and does not burn the popcorn. I think most people can set their timer for 3 minutes or 3 plus 15 seconds and then standby to listen for the signs that kernels have pretty much stopped popping and noting the time left, to be subtracted from their starting time, to establish the optimum time to set the timer in the future. Generally when popping lapses reach 3-5 seconds of silence, its time to open the door and remove the tub. At that point, all but 1-2 tsp will be left unpopped.One thing I noticed which surprised me was how hot the HOTPOP tub gets (on the handles as well as the body of the tub) (on the handles as well as the body of the tub). It is manageable after one tub is popped, but if you do tubs in succession for more than one tub, the handles get too hot to handle without using pot holders. So something in the chemical composition of the silicone is causing the tub to react to the microwaves and heat in response. This can sometimes also be noticed when microwaving things in glass cookware, such as Corningware bowls. I don't know whether that is a negative thing with the HOTPOP, as regards to health, but I suspect that it is harmless since I don't think that there can be any transfer of the tubs substance to things that are heated in the dry environment of no oils to leach from the tub to the popcorn. As a former restaurant owner I was, and am keenly focused on food safety (not using any aluminum cookware especially, since the jury is out on whether aluminum can leach into liquids cooked with acidic ingredients such as tomatoes etc) (not using any aluminum cookware especially, since the jury is out on whether aluminum can leach into liquids cooked with acidic ingredients such as tomatoes etc). So for me, if it isn't stainless steel, I am not cooking in it. But when it comes to a product like this, I think it is most likely a safe situation.Other reviewers keep mentioning the failure of the pinch test to determine if something is 100% silicone. I am not convinced that is the absolute barometer one should use in judging all of the various brands of competing microwave popping tubs. So many of the brands pledge on a stack of bibles that they are 100% pure silicone, but when you read reviews on every one of them, there are plenty of naysayers out there in the 1 and 2 Star review categories that claim and show through pictures that the pinch test revealed the inclusion of non-silicone ingredients. Something is not right on this point. Is the pinch test really relevant at all or are the manufacturers flat out lying, or are the reviewers not being entirely honest. For me, in the big picture of all this, I think it is a worthless attribute to focus on, without empirical evidence through destruction testing to define what exactly is in a specific product, if it is not pure 100% silicone. And lastly, as regards to the safety of silicone, we should be mindful of the fact that silicone breast implants have been proven to be extremely injurious to the health of women who have had silicone leaking into the system from failed implants. So who is to say that it is save in a situation like a microwave popper. I thing it is all a bunch of false noise and will feel entirely comfortable using this popper or other brands that are the most popular on the market.Sorry for all of the detours in this review, but these are thoughts that come to mind when deciding what to share, that might be helpful or of value to consider.I also have a stir



The Original Popco Silicone Microwave Popcorn Popper with Handles, Silicone Popcorn Maker, Collapsible Bowl Bpa Free and Dishwasher Safe - 10 Colors Available (Aqua) Review:


UPDATE:sI am 10 months in with using this bowl regularly, and it has definitely held up to it's original standard! I still wash it in the dishwasher (top shelf) and it has definitely kept up with my regular use. The only complaint is that the brown spot on the bottom (from using too much oil) had grown a touch, but it hasn't affected the flavor and definitely still seems safe to use.ORIGINAL REVIEW:sYeah so I like popcorn a lot. Like a lot. This bowl has saved me so so much money since I bought it 6 months ago. Kernels are so much cheaper than the instant bags, and the air popper can let you make healthier popcorn or flavor it your own way. This air popper has two different fill lines, for one serving and for two. If you fill it to the two serving line, it'll pop the lid up so that it just rests on the mountain of popcorn teeming out of the bowl.When I bought this, POPCO sent me an emailed pdf with literally hundreds of popcorn recipes. However I've found my favorites to be either avocado oil and sea salt or olive oil, sea salt, rosemary, and lemon.The only issue with this is that it can be difficult to clean if you are an avid hand-washer. It comes clean in the dishwasher though, and I've put both the lid and the bowl on the top shelf regularly. I use this basically everyday (I told you I really like popcorn) and it hasn't shown any signs of wear other than some brown parts on the bottom when I used too much olive oil.All in all, what an amazing buy. If you're looking for a way out of junk food, this is such a power move.Pro tip: look up oils and their smoke point before using this. If you use oils with a higher smoke point (like avocado) your popcorn will be less likely to be burnt and you'll avoid the brown spot I got in the bottom of mine when I used olive oil. Also, keep in mind that your microwave times will be different based on what you put on it (and honestly you can just put naked kernels in and be fine) (and honestly you can just put naked kernels in and be fine).



Original Salbree Microwave Popcorn Popper, Silicone Popcorn Maker, Collapsible Bowl BPA Free - 15 Colors Available (Black) Review:


When a friend suggested this product to me, I was afraid it would be another expensive waste of money because I had previously tried microwave popcorn bowls and wasn't impressed by them. He assured me that this would be appropriate in answer to my protest that "I just want to eat some excellent popcorn that's easy to fix and doesn't have all the chemical garbage in it like the microwave bags have!"So I purchased it. Why not check it out since it wasn't terribly expensive? When it arrived, I set it next to the sink for the next day's washing. It was still there a week later. After two weeks, it was still there. I decided against trying it. I anticipated becoming furious when again another useless product overpromised and underdelivered. How difficult can it be to microwave popcorn with little to no burning, a high rate of kernel erupting, and simplicity?"Squandered money or not, it's certainly as heck being wasted right now," I thought as I got closer to a month of having this item sitting beside my kitchen sink. I cleaned it, and the lid effectively dried them, then I looked up the instructions. I downloaded the PDF from the company's several emails, followed the instructions exactly, and what do you know? Delicious popcorn that was simple to prepare, didn't scorch, and didn't burn the container like it was kissing a tailpipe.I gave a different batch a go and added some spices. Scorched! Alright, lesson learned. I'm not very smart, but after it's cooked, add things like that.This is an excellent item. If you follow the instructions, you should be able to enjoy some popcorn whenever you want. The best part? NO HULLS STUCK IN MY TEETH! It folds up nicely for storage, fits in the smallest microwaves (mine is the smallest microwave sold by a national retailer). Since when did eating popcorn relieve me of the need to spend three days picking hulls out of my gums and teeth?If you a popcorn fan and don't like the idea of all the chemicals they put in the microwave bags and don't want to buy another small appliance to put on your counter just so you can have good popcorn...buy this thing. You'll be pleased I'm certain!



Collapsible Silicone Microwave Hot Air Popcorn Popper Bowl With Lid and Handles Review:


I adore popcorn. I'm the guy that buys the big tub of popcorn at the theater and eats it all while the show is on. I like popcorn that has been popped in a hot air popper without salt as well as popcorn that has been popped in oil and salt. The challenge I had with my hot air popper, though, was keeping the popcorn kernels in the bowl and preventing them from flying all over the counter. Using THIS popper, I adhered to the clear instructions. 14 cup of uncooked popcorn should be added. Put the lid on. Cook for two minutes on high. The first time I attempted it, I produced a fantastic pot of popcorn. At the bottom, there were a few unpopped kernels, so I tried 2 1/2 minutes the following time. A few of the popcorn kernels were burnt when I removed the cover, but the most was unharmed. On my third attempt, I divided the difference and lasted for two minutes and fifteen seconds. My God, Goldilocks! It fit perfectly. No burned kernels. There weren't many "old maids" remaining in the bottom. The popcorn was, in my humble view, perfect because it was both light and crunchy. The popper accomplishes its task, cleans up quickly in the dishwasher's top rack, and compresses for convenient storage. If you use YOUR microwave, you might need to play with the cook time, but after you figure it out, I'm sure you'll love it too. Because that's all the stars they gave me, I gave it five stars.



Silicone Microwave Popcorn Popper with Lid for Home Hot Air Microwave Popcorn Makers with Handles Collapsible Popcorn Bowl Review:


I'm upgrading this to four stars. I prefer stovetop popcorn but you can't beat the convenience of this. Just understand that you will have unpopped kernels and if you try and beat that you'll set your smoke alarms off just like with any type of microwave popcorn. I like another reviewer's method of lightly coating sides with oil and sprinkling salt or spice on the oil, then putting popcorn essentially dry on bottom. It mixes itself plus gives a little something for the salt to stick to. I use 1/3 cup of corn the lid rises to the top. I guess it depends on what popcorn you're using and your microwave. I tried adding oil to bottom and it burns easier that way and didn't come out any better. Practice didn't make perfect but I think I have got this down to the best I'm going to get out of it.One really good thing - it cleans up really quickly whether or not you use any oil. And it doesn't take up much space.



Ecolution EKPRE-4215 Original Microwave Micro-Pop Popcorn Popper, Borosilicate Glass, 3-in-1 Silicone Lid, Dishwasher Safe, BPA Free, 1.5 Qt - Snack Size, Red Review:


I wanted to get our family away from ordering cases of single-serve popcorn bags as well as microwave popcorn. This did the trick. It only holds a half-serving, which I like. The air popper in our cabinet has to be full or it blows half the kernels out, and once it's popped it's hard to restrain yourself from eating 8 servings.It worked with the popcorn setting on my microwave that determines how long to pop on its own. (How does it know?) It worked the same when I put some olive oil in the bottom so salt and "yeast food" would stick afterward. No issues in the dishwasher, either, though I don't use the dry setting.EDIT: Our microwave occasionally stops rotating. I didn't notice and it melted a portion of the bottom while leaving most popcorn unpopped and the rest scorched. It still works in spite of the damage, but I now know it has to be moving.



West Bend 8231 Stir Crazy Deluxe Electric Hot Oil Popcorn Popper Machine, Red Review:


I've owned poppers like that in the past, but over time I started favoring microwave popcorn because it was more convenient.I recently tried popcorn made with a pricey kettle-style carnival popper that you can buy here on Amazon, and I was blown away by the flavor.Since then, I have wanted to make the same delicious popcorn at home but have refrained from spending $100 to $200 on a kettle-style popper. In addition, I genuinely lacked the space in my house for a sizable popcorn maker. I decided on the Stir Crazy popper for that reason.Three of the Great Northern popcorn kernel packets I've tried so far are my favorites. Only the following variations in size applied to each pack. There are also these packs on Amazon.2.5 ounce pack, sufficient for one individual4 ounce pack, sufficient for 1-2 personsenough for 4 or more from a 6 oz pack (fills stir crazy machine completely up)Easy to use is a plus. In less than five minutes, turn on and enjoy some popcorn.- simple to tidy up. After it has cooled, wipe the lowest area with a damp towel. Dishwasher safe top that doubles as serving bowl.- small. keeps hidden in my cabinet.- The premade popcorn bags that may be used with this machine are wonderful.- affordable. Fantastic pricing for homemade theater-style popcorn.inexpensive to use Purchase your own popcorn and oil to save a ton of money over microwave popcorn.Cons: The top portion (bowl) appears to be a little thin. I handle it carefully because I can already see that this will be the first item to shatter, especially if I drop it on a hard surface.- bowl cover. When I use the top half of mine as a bowl, the bottom is already sliding off. I'm not sure how to resolve this.I gave it a rating of four stars because it's excellent but not flawless. I'll update this review in a few months.



Wabash Valley Farms - Traditional Shake and Pop Popper - Outdoor Review:


I really like this popper — popcorn tastes so much better! Quick and easy to use, though sometimes slightly difficult to empty when it pops really full. Premeasured 4 oz. packets of popcorn and oil are just slightly too much for this popper — have a chop stick ready to help dislodge wedged popcorn from the pot after popping if you are using these packets.One pointer: When popping corn grip the wood handle near the crank end, not near the pot itself. There are tiny gaps in the lid at the hinge that allow tiny droplets of hot oil to spatter out. If you grip too close to the pot your hand can get burned by these tiny droplets. To stir the popping corn requires only a slight grip, so gripping near the crank end is sufficient and protects your hands.One detraction: I'd like to see a second handle on the actual pot itself. The one handle it has is attached to the lid with some rather thin brackets. When lifting the hot and very full pot by the handle to empty it into a bowl I sometimes feel it sway around a bit as I shake, putting more strain on those thin brackets. Additionally the handle on mine arrived very slightly bent, unnoticed until I was turning the knob to stir as making popcorn (the handle proper moves in a small circle as the knob is turned) (the handle proper moves in a small circle as the knob is turned). I'm sure the strain placed on the handle when I attempt to empty it is doing the turning rod no favors. A second handle (could simply be a loop handle vertically placed on the side of the pot opposite the opening of the lid) would allow for more secure gripping while shaking out popped corn and would remove strain from the lid and turning handle.



Nostalgia CCP510BK Vintage Professional Popcorn Cart-New 8-Ounce Kettle-53 Inches Tall-Black Review:


My father-in-law received this from us as a gift, and he was over the moon with it. Works perfectly and looks fantastic.



Presto 04820 PopLite Hot Air Popper Review:


This popcorn maker works well. Simply load the machine with popcorn kernels, plug it in, and set a sizable bowl beneath the output area. Freshly popped popcorn is provided for you to season however you choose. You do need to be careful when placing your bowl and clear them out if you don't want to run into hot kernels when eating because it does toss some hot ones at first before the popcorn starts popping. Overall, though, we've discovered that it almost always pops every kernel, and cleanup has been a breeze.One little durability observation: the butter softener on top appears to be having some issues with the heat produced by the appliance. Even if the butter doesn't fully soften (unless you microwave it beforehand, which I feel kind of negates the purpose), the corner of our butter softer plate has melted. We don't use that tray very often, so we're not sure how or when it happened, but now we have to move it around a little to for it to fit in its slot. By no means a deal breaker, but something to be aware of.The fact that there is no off button and you must unplug the device is the main issue I have with it. You are pulling a live plug out of the wall because other reviews appear to imply that it has an auto-off feature, but ours has never switched off by itself. It's not the safest thing in the world, so make sure you aren't allowing youngsters do it on their own unless they have the necessary knowledge on how to manage the plug to prevent sparks.We've made a ton of popcorn since getting this machine in February (we went through a little popcorn fever after getting it), and it hasn't burned out yet, contrary to what some other reviews have observed. In general, we are happy.


Is a popcorn maker worth it?

A popcorn maker is a great addition to any kitchen, especially if you love popcorn. Not only is it a fun appliance to use, but it also pops popcorn quickly and evenly. Plus, it’s easy to clean. If you’re on the fence about whether or not a popcorn maker is worth it, we say go for it!

Is Homemade popcorn better than store bought?

There are many benefits to making popcorn at home instead of buying it from the store. For one, it is much cheaper to make your own popcorn. You can also control the ingredients that go into your popcorn, so it is healthier and tastier. Finally, making popcorn at home is fun and easy to do.

Is popcorn a good weight loss?

Popcorn may be a good weight-loss food because it is low in calories and high in fiber. A 1-ounce serving of popcorn has about 30 calories, while a 1-ounce serving of potato chips has about 150 calories. Popcorn is also a whole grain, and a good source of fiber. Fiber helps you feel full and may help you lose weight.

Is popcorn a junk or healthy food?

Popcorn is a healthy snack option that is low in calories and fat. It is also a good source of fiber and antioxidants. Popcorn is a whole grain and a good source of several vitamins and minerals.

Is popcorn healthier than junk?

Popcorn is a whole grain food that is low in calories and high in fiber. It is a good source of antioxidants and has been linked to a lower risk of heart disease and other chronic health conditions. Junk food is typically high in calories, sugar, and unhealthy fats. It is often lacking in important nutrients like vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Junk food has been linked to a higher risk of obesity, heart disease, and other chronic health conditions. So, which is healthier? Overall, popcorn is a healthier choice than junk food. However, it is important

What is best popcorn popper to buy?

There are a few factors to consider when purchasing a popcorn popper. The first is whether you want an air popper or a stovetop popper. Air poppers are faster and easier to use, but stovetop poppers tend to produce better-tasting popcorn. Another factor to consider is the size of the popper. If you plan on popping large batches of popcorn, you'll need a larger popper. Smaller poppers are better for individual servings. Finally, you'll need to decide on a budget. There are a variety of popcorn poppers