The Best Popcorn Makers Of 2022
Daniel De Lucia/Shutterstock By Anita Surewicz/July 5, 2022 6:46 pm EST
We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. The first commercial popcorn maker was a far cry from today’s compact and portable poppers. Invented in 1885 by Charles Cretors, the steam-powered machine was usually wheeled around to serve patrons attending sporting events and fairs (via America’s Favorite Gourmet Popcorn). Over the years, popcorn machines became smaller, faster, and more affordable. Today’s poppers can easily fit on a kitchen countertop and are speedy enough to make batches of flawless popcorn in minutes.
From collapsible bowls to concession stands, poppers come in all shapes and sizes. Some of the most popular machines use hot air, microwaves, stovetops, and electricity. And while there are many different types of popcorn makers on the market, they all have one feature in common — they give you absolute control of the popping process, which means personalized and often healthier popcorn. Looking for a popcorn maker to lift your movie game to the next level? Keep reading!
How we selected products
Syda Productions/Shutterstock
While buying a bag of microwave popcorn at your local grocery store may be convenient, nothing lets you customize your popcorn like a popper. However, with so many different styles and designs on the market, selecting an appliance that’s right for your needs can be a challenge. Luckily, this is where we can help.
There are certain elements you should keep in mind when investing in a popcorn machine. Health-conscious eaters might wish to opt for an air popper since it can be used without oil. If ease-of-use is high on your list of priorities, you should look at purchasing a microwave or stovetop popcorn maker. Some other considerations include the machine’s price, capacity, speed, cleanup, and, of course, performance. To make your selection easier, we have scoured the deep recesses of the internet to bring you a list of the best popcorn makers of 2022. Here are the results of our research.
The Best Popcorn Makers Of 2022
Daniel De Lucia/Shutterstock
By Anita Surewicz/July 5, 2022 6:46 pm EST
We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. The first commercial popcorn maker was a far cry from today’s compact and portable poppers. Invented in 1885 by Charles Cretors, the steam-powered machine was usually wheeled around to serve patrons attending sporting events and fairs (via America’s Favorite Gourmet Popcorn). Over the years, popcorn machines became smaller, faster, and more affordable. Today’s poppers can easily fit on a kitchen countertop and are speedy enough to make batches of flawless popcorn in minutes.
From collapsible bowls to concession stands, poppers come in all shapes and sizes. Some of the most popular machines use hot air, microwaves, stovetops, and electricity. And while there are many different types of popcorn makers on the market, they all have one feature in common — they give you absolute control of the popping process, which means personalized and often healthier popcorn. Looking for a popcorn maker to lift your movie game to the next level? Keep reading!
We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.
From collapsible bowls to concession stands, poppers come in all shapes and sizes. Some of the most popular machines use hot air, microwaves, stovetops, and electricity. And while there are many different types of popcorn makers on the market, they all have one feature in common — they give you absolute control of the popping process, which means personalized and often healthier popcorn. Looking for a popcorn maker to lift your movie game to the next level? Keep reading!
How we selected products
Syda Productions/Shutterstock
While buying a bag of microwave popcorn at your local grocery store may be convenient, nothing lets you customize your popcorn like a popper. However, with so many different styles and designs on the market, selecting an appliance that’s right for your needs can be a challenge. Luckily, this is where we can help.
There are certain elements you should keep in mind when investing in a popcorn machine. Health-conscious eaters might wish to opt for an air popper since it can be used without oil. If ease-of-use is high on your list of priorities, you should look at purchasing a microwave or stovetop popcorn maker. Some other considerations include the machine’s price, capacity, speed, cleanup, and, of course, performance. To make your selection easier, we have scoured the deep recesses of the internet to bring you a list of the best popcorn makers of 2022. Here are the results of our research.
There are certain elements you should keep in mind when investing in a popcorn machine. Health-conscious eaters might wish to opt for an air popper since it can be used without oil. If ease-of-use is high on your list of priorities, you should look at purchasing a microwave or stovetop popcorn maker. Some other considerations include the machine’s price, capacity, speed, cleanup, and, of course, performance. To make your selection easier, we have scoured the deep recesses of the internet to bring you a list of the best popcorn makers of 2022. Here are the results of our research.
Best overall popcorn maker
Presto
Suitable for both standard and gourmet popcorn, the Presto popper leaves very few unpopped or burnt kernels. And once the popcorn is ready, the unit’s plastic chute guides the popped kernels right into a bowl. When you are done, simply remove the cover and measuring cup and clean them with warm water and soap. There’s also a handy cord wrap at the back of the device for easy storage when it’s not in use. And from the sound of various reviewers who say they’ve been using theirs for decades, the Presto popper is also highly durable (via She Speaks).
Best microwave popcorn maker
W&P
So what about the results? Alex Loh from EatingWell was impressed with the way the W&P Personal Popper conducted heat, writing, “in my batch of popcorn, only one kernel was left unpopped and zero popcorn pieces were burned.” Another bonus is the fact that you can enjoy your popcorn directly from the popping bowl, which equates to both convenience and less cleanup at the end of the night.
Best stovetop popcorn maker
Wabash Valley Farms
Simply pop some kernels and oil in the pot, turn the wooden crank, and wait until you stop hearing the pops. While the unit features die-cast metal gears to ensure that the stirring crank works smoothly, Stephen Turner from Food Editorial.co recommends “keep[ing] an eye on things since all stove tops can burn your popcorn if [you leave] them at it for too long and don’t crank when you are supposed to.”
The Wabash Valley Farms Whirley-Pop Popcorn Popper is a vast improvement on the company’s aluminum popper. While the aluminum unit pops the kernels faster than its stainless steel counterpart, it’s not as durable due to possible warping caused by repetitive reheating and cooling. On the other hand, the stainless steel popper comes with a 25-year-guarantee so you can rest assured that you’re purchasing a quality product.
Best electric popcorn maker
WestBend
The inside of the WestBend Stir Crazy popcorn machine is covered in PTFE non-stick coating to make cleaning a breeze. The popper is also easy to store; simply wrap the cord around the hooks on the bottom of the device and place the heating base inside the nesting cover.
On the downside, the Stir Crazy popcorn machine requires the addition of a little oil to the base prior to popping. Using margarine, butter, or lard isn’t recommended since they can burn the kernels. In addition, unlike many other poppers, this unit doesn’t come with a measuring cup (via Top Ten Reviews).
Best budget popcorn maker
Hotpop
Best popcorn maker for one
Ecolution
Best theater-style popcorn maker
WestBend
The unit’s non-stick stainless steel kettle pops up to four quarts of popcorn at a time. Simply fill the kettle with kernels, wait a few minutes, and watch as it tilts to deliver fresh popcorn into the serving area. While the motorized stirring rod keeps the number of unpopped kernels to a minimum, any unpopped kernels end up in a catcher tray. Once the popcorn is ready, the kettle is fully removable for fast cleaning. The popcorn machine comes with a measuring cup and spoon, as well as a scoop.
Best popcorn maker for kids
Uncanny Brands
The Uncanny Brands popcorn maker is about more than just aesthetics. It uses hot air to pop kernels, which means that you can prepare your snack without oil or butter. Simply use the measuring cup to add kernels to the popper’s chamber, wait for two or three minutes, and watch as the popcorn is transported via the transparent popping chute to the top cover of the machine, which doubles as a serving bowl.
Best vintage popcorn maker
Nostalgia
The Nostalgia Popcorn & Concession Cart comes with a 10-ounce stainless steel kettle that produces up to 40 cups of fresh popcorn per batch to keep the entire clan happy. The kettle features an in-built stirring system to ensure uniform popping and a hinged lid that lets you tip the popcorn into the popper’s main shelf. This device comes with a kernel measuring cup, an oil measuring spoon, and a popcorn scoop.
