The Best Popcorn Makers (Review) in 2020

For a conscious foodie, just any popcorn maker won’t do. You want the best for your household, one that cooks popcorn which can strike all the right tastebuds and leave you wanting for more but doesn’t come along with any additional chemicals or harmful preservatives. There is also so much more to consider when buying the correct appliance for your kitchen. With this guide, though, we break down the complex art of popcorn maker shopping and answer all your burning questions.

Different Types of Popcorn Poppers

Baffled by all the options in front of you? Struggling to make sense of all the popcorn popper names? Here’s our list of the types of popcorn poppers available in the market and what they actually mean.

• Oil Poppers - A popular choice for homes, this type uses oil to pop the corn to a delicious richness. Usually, oil poppers are covered with a transparent lid. Watching the kernels pop right in front of you is a treat for the eyes. Besides, everybody knows that the taste of popcorn cooked in oil is an absolute winner. So, if you are a low maintenance person looking for buttery rich popcorn, oil poppers may be the right choice for you.
• Air Poppers - Have you been avoiding oil for health reasons? Still can’t curb your craving for some popcorn? Well, the air popper may just be the lifesaver you are looking for. Using just hot air with a revolving mechanical fan, you will never have to say no to a handful (or a bowlful or more) of popcorn. From a chute to a bowl too straight into your mouth, fun and fat-free can now go together.
• Stove Top Poppers - Popcorn is one of those snacks which are all about the experience. Perhaps you want to relish the experience of popping kernels yourself. Or maybe you just want to avoid using the unhealthy microwaving technique. Stovetop poppers here make popcorn not just about the munching but also a fun activity for everyone to chip in. You simply place it on a stove and hold and shake all the way through, making sure all your kernels are popped perfectly and to the right consistency.
• Professional Poppers - If you often need to entertain large crowds of guests in your home, consider investing in a professional popper. Sure to be the show-stealer of all your parties, these are close replicas of the ones we see in movie theatres. Its large capacity with a ton load of controls and options for you to pick from makes it perfect to serve hot, crunchy popcorn everyone is going to talk about for days to come.

What Should You Look For In A Popcorn Maker?

Armed with your new knowledge about popcorn makers, you are now ready to buy the best popcorn maker money can buy. But wait. Have you considered all the vital factors you need? After all, every individual has their own preferences and reasons driving them towards any purchase decision. So, instead of making impulse buys and later finding that it simply was not the right choice for you, dig in a little deeper and understand your needs in a popcorn popper.

• Type of popcorn - You don’t want to be stuck with a popcorn maker that just won’t cook the way you want it to. For instance, perhaps you are on a low oil diet. Oil popcorn makers i.e. those which can simply not function without large servings of oil is a major no-no for you. Therefore, ask yourself what is the kind of popcorn that you will be making the most and start searching with that in mind to narrow down all your options.
• Size - If you have a small kitchen or one that is already struggling with the weight of many appliances, bulky popcorn poppers are not for you. Popcorn makers come in a large variety of sizes, styles, designs and even colors. So, you will always have plenty of options to pick from. Quickly look at your counter space and make a mental note of the right side of the popcorn maker for you. If you don’t want your popcorn maker to be lying around after use, think about where you are going to store it. In this case, detachable popcorn Poppers are your friend.
• Capacity - Before buying any popcorn popper, check out its maximum capacity. Because exceeding it is not an option unless you want to wreck your newly purchased appliance, you will need to keep in mind the maximum capacity that you may require. If you hardly have visitors and are a small family, there is not a lot of thinking to do- you can have your pick of popcorn maker. But if you often have large crowds over or just have a big appetite, take a look at professional poppers. Theater-style popcorn made in your home is like a dream come true for us. Usually, the average popcorn maker can yield up to 4 to 6 quarts of popcorn at a time.
• Budget - Naturally, not all of us want to burn a hole in our pockets for a popcorn maker. After all, popcorn is supposed to be the classic cheap thrill. Once you have all your requirements sorted, do a quick price comparison to make sure your ideal popcorn maker fits the bill. Of the types of popcorn makers we discusses, oil and air poppers are relatively budget friendly. But if you want a high performance, theater style popper, you may have to loosen the purse strings a little.
• Material quality - We have all had an appliance break down on us after a couple of uses or worse, straight out of the packaging. If you don’t want to relive that heartbreaking, soul crushing feeling, better make an informed decision this time around. Quality materials such as high grade steel and scratch proof glass will last you a long time. Low quality plastic, on the other hand, is prone to accidents and overheating. Lastly, don’t forget to peruse customer reviews. These are invaluable, firsthand sources of information which can make or break your purchase decision.
• Cleaning - Cleaning up after using is undoubtedly a hassle for most kitchen appliances. Have a look at the usage instructions of your popcorn maker options to find out which ones are easy to clean. The good ones have clear, step by step guidelines to make sure you don’t have any inadvertent cleaning mishaps. Detachable popcorn makers are a great option if you always want a spick and span machine. Also, look for non-stick coating in your popcorn maker to make sure it is never greasy.

What Is The Best Oil For A Popcorn Machine?

There is more than one way to cook popcorn. And with all the different cooking oils available in the market, you definitely won’t be strapped for variety. The best oil, however, is totally a subjective opinion. Each and every type of oil adds its own distinctive flavor to the popcorn and depending on your personal preference, may be a hit or miss.

Coconut oil is a favorite of most popcorn makers for the theatre quality popcorn they make. If you need to watch your calories intake, ditch coconut oil for canola. Tasting similar, it is a far more nutritious option. Besides, you have plenty of other options such as sunflower, peanut or soy. The only kind of oil you should be steering clear from is vegetable oil. It is notorious for catching on fire as it cannot stand the heat of popping kernels.

Choosing the right popcorn maker doesn’t have to be a complicated process. Don’t forget that whatever your needs may be, the perfect popcorn maker is just a well-researched buy away. Besides, you can never have enough of popcorn melted in delicious fluffiness. So, hit the store to transform your mundane popcorn-less evenings into spectacular movie nights, all in the comfort of your home.

Sources:

1. 20 Things You Didn't Know About Popcorn - HowStuffWorks