Popcorns are a favorite low-calorie snack and one just can’t resist a freshly made batch of popcorns with butter and your choice of seasonings. Well, if you decide to watch a Flix or catch a movie or have your friends over, you don’t want to be wasting time making batches and batches of popcorn. That would mean you keep getting up to cook, missing the game or your movie. Nah! Who would want to do that?
What you need is a popcorn popper that does your job for you quicker, so that you can have an easy evening with friends or alone. With so many options in the market, perhaps you would benefit from our in-depth reviews of the five best popcorn poppers. Go ahead, read these reviews and choose one that best suits your needs.
Best Popcorn Poppers
| Image | Best Popcorn Poppers | Rating |
|---|---|---|
 | 1. Original Salbree Microwave Popcorn Popper | 99% |
 | 2. West Bend Stir Crazy Popcorn Popper 82505 | 96% |
 | 3. DASH Hot Air Popcorn Popper | 92% |
 | 4. Ecolution Original Microwave Micro Popcorn Popper | 89% |
 | 5. Wabash Valley Farms Whirley Pop Stovetop Popper | 85% |
Want to learn more?
Here are our best popcorn poppers’ reviews:
1. Original Salbree Microwave Popcorn Popper
The Original Salbree popcorn popper is one of the best as it requires no oil to make popcorns. With no oil added, you have a bowlful of healthy, delicious, and nutritional popcorn for your snacking. Add popcorn kernels, set the microwave temperature, and allow three to four minutes before you have mouth-watering, popcorns ready.
With this microwave popcorn popper, you can reminiscence the large popcorn makers at a fair or a movie theatre, sitting at the comfort of your home.
This popcorn popper is made from high-quality silicone. It does not scorch due to temperatures or constant use. It is available in twenty-five different colors, giving you a choice that you will love. Its handles are made for easy lifting and placing into and from the microwave. The manufacturer suggests you can easily hold the popcorn maker, to add any seasonings. Yet, we recommend that you always use cooking mitts/ oven mitts to manage any cookware that is being transferred in and out of the microwave for your safety.
The high-quality silicone makes it easy to clean in a dishwasher or a warm soapy water solution. The silicone material used is non-porous. As such, when you make popcorns they do not stick on the bowl surface, making it easier to clean.
Some users verify that they are very pleased with this model as it does not use any oil. They are happy with the low-calorie snacking option that this unit offers.
Why do we like it?
- Choice of twenty-five different colors
- Dishwasher safe
- Easy to clean and maintain
2. West Bend Stir Crazy Popcorn Popper 82505
Spoilt for choice of popcorn makers, smart folks ones will mostly prefer this West Bend popcorn popper. Why? The large size of 6-quart makes it convenient to pop and store or have them as you watch the big game or your favorite programs on the telly, or pack a box for your child’s school. Add the clear cover (provided) you are never going to regret your decision in buying this popcorn maker. The clear cover is vented, and doubles up as a pop-corn bowl, to store and serve as you get to work or relax.
The best part is that ventilated clear cover has a separate area, butter well, for placing butter cubes. The butter tray (provided) snaps onto the butter well. Once the popcorns are popped, go ahead and lock the butter tray loaded with butter. Unplug the machine, and let the butter melt away to drip and coat the popcorns with the distinct flavor of butter. You can add seasonings of your choice if you would like.
Working on 120 volts AC, this unit has a motorized stirring rod that rotates the popcorns to enable even cooking. It also reduces the number of kernels that are left uncooked at the bottom of the bowl. This bowl has a non-stick coating that enables easy clean-up.
The cover also can hold the entire unit, thereby making it easier to store the compact unit in your kitchen drawer or cabinets. The electric cord is non-detachable and is permanently fixed. However, it easily folds away to nest under the unit, tangle-free.
Why do we like it?
- Popcorn stirrer function
- Clear vented lid
- Butter well for adding butter
3. DASH Hot Air Popcorn Popper
Making popcorns for a big gathering? Look no further than this DASH hot air popcorn maker with extra power. A hot favorite and an excellent model that gives you up to 16 cups of freshly made delicious, popcorns in a matter of minutes. The best part is that it uses only hot air to pop the kernels and does require the addition of butter or oil unless you wish to add.
All you need to do is add the kernels of your choice and switch on this easy-to-use electrical appliance. With a one-touch start, you have popcorns ready in a matter of minutes using the 1400 watts strong electric motor it has.
Available in three different colors, this unit has a measuring cup included in the packaging. The cup doubles up as a butter tray, melting butter on top of the unit. You can use this melted butter on popped kernels along with your favorite flavorings, before mixing and serving.
The compact unit makes it easier to store in your kitchen drawer or cabinets. Some users mentioned that they carry this along with them when traveling for holidays or when going camping and fishing.
Cleaning all non-electrical parts is quite easy, in the top rack of your dishwasher. Remember, you can always opt to hand wash it using a warm soapy water solution. Available in trendy colors this simple electrical appliance comes with a recipe book and access to a database of recipes.
Users caution you not to add any butter, flavorings, or seasonings into the unit. This unit using hot air and any addition will spoil it. You need to add butter and flavorings after the readied popcorns are removed into any other bowl.
Why do we like it?
- 1-year manufacturer warranty
- Includes measuring cup that doubles as a butter tray
- Available in trendy colors
4. Ecolution Original Microwave Micro Popcorn Popper
If you have been reviewing popcorn makers of different brands, you are bound to stop with this option from Ecolution. No silicone or harmful chemicals! Made from borosilicate glass, this glass bowl is one of the best ways to get your favorite snack in a matter of minutes from the microwave.
Elegant looking, simple to use, and easy to operate, this glass bowl is temperature safe to be used in a microwave. You will not need any butter or oil to pop the kernels unless of course, you decide to. Low-calorie popcorn is ready in minutes.
It uses the hot air circulation of the microwave to make the popcorns. You can use the cover made from BPA-free silicone material to melt the butter after the popcorn is done. Depending upon the kernels you select and the temperature you set, you will have no uncooked kernels left at the bottom.
The temperature-resistant glass bowl is free of BPA and resistant to thermal shock. The glass bowl has a wide mouth for easy input and output of material. The ergonomically designed handle makes it easier to place/remove inside the microwave. Remember to use cooking/oven mitts when touching any hot surfaces. Cleaning the glass bowl is easy with a warm soapy water solution after it has cooled down.
Why do we like it?
- See-through glass bowl
- Free of BPA silicone lid
- Uses hot air
5. Wabash Valley Farms Whirley Pop Stovetop Popper
For those who love having freshly made popcorns the traditional way, here is the original Aluminum Whirley Pop Stovetop Popcorn Popper. No risk of BPA, no harmful chemicals; just make them the traditional way as mom would do! Add the kernels to this aluminum popper, place it on the stovetop, add melted butter or oil of your choice or have them just dry. Close the lid, spin the lid, and you hear them popping. You have hot, freshly made popcorn in a matter of just three minutes.
This popper has metal gears that have been die-casted to give a stir to the popcorn so that all are cooked evenly. Resulting in a higher popping percentage than any other, this mechanical, gas stovetop popper is efficient. Three minutes of stirring the popcorns ensure that each kernel has been moved before it pops! Slow heating gives you perfect results and a higher yield for the six-quart. Each kernel poops up to forty-two times its size.
This unit comes with a removable lid, once the popcorn is out and served, you can wash it easily. Wipe it dry before you use it again. Some users prefer to ash it by hand and mild soap.
Why do we like it?
- Includes a twenty-five-year warranty
- Traditional slow heating
- Stir handle gives you perfectly done popcorns
Best Popcorn Poppers’ Buyer’s Guide
While popcorn poppers/makers are available in a wide choice of designs and shapes, here are some important points to consider just before you buy.
Construction & energy source
Popcorn poppers are made from aluminum, stainless steel, microwavable glass bowls, silicone or plastic, and more. The most traditional popcorn makers were ones that used a metallic pan covered with a lid. However, they would definitely take a little longer than other options that use electricity or microwave as an energy source. The choice depends upon you. If you go for a silicone or plastic one, ensure it is BPA-free so that you don’t ingest any harmful chemicals. If you opt for any that are metallic, check that if they have a non-stick coated which is again BPA-free.
Capacity
Consider the amount of popcorn that you usually make for yourself and your loved ones. If you need a single portion, smaller sizes like the 1.5-quart popcorn makers should be good for you. If you are hosting a larger group you could always complement your temporary needs with other options. Usually, one would use about an ounce of kernels for a single-serve. But of course, use your judgment and preference to opt as per your needs.
Cooking time
When you are ready for a game to begin or a movie, waiting for the popcorns to be ready could be a mood dampener. What you need is a popper that can quickly do the task for you. Check for the cooking time under product specifications. Most poppers indicate a cooking time of three to 5 minutes. Opt as per your choice.
Ease of use
Look for appliances that have a removable lid with a wide mouth to allow the popcorns to come out easily once done. If you are considering an electric model, ensure that the heating plate is concealed so that washing the unit internally is easier.
Features
Most units are easy to plug and play. However, some brands and models offer you things like an in-built stirring mechanism that ensures popcorns are moved so that they puff up. Other features include heatproof handles or handles with extra space so that you can lift them wearing oven/cooking mitts. Don’t forget the ones that offer you measuring cups, a butter tray to melt butter, a tray to sift out uncooked kernels, cord storage, ergonomic handles, see-through lids, compact foldable units making storage easier, compatible to use in RV adaptor/sockets that work on 12V DC and more.
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