You can probably make popcorn on any cooking pot or microwavable container you have lying around the house. It’s nothing particularly complicated, after all. However, if you make popcorn frequently enough, especially in big batches, it might be a better idea to invest in a standalone popcorn maker.
Electric popcorn makers offer a faster, more efficient way of making popcorn. Not only can they make you a batch in five minutes or less, they can even crank them out in massive batches large enough for an entire family to snack on during movie night at home. Heck, even smaller ones can crank them out fast enough that you can make multiple batches without pausing the movie for too long. Suffice to say, they just offer a more convenient way of making your favorite snack.
The best popcorn makers turn the whole process into a fool-proof affair. No need to dial in the perfect temperature, constantly shake the pot, or actively listen for the kernels to start popping in the microwave. They do it without leaving a single burnt popcorn or unpopped kernel, either, as popcorn makers literally do their job to absolute perfection. Plus, cleaning the best popcorn makers is usually a hassle-free affair, requiring little more than a few quick wipes and you’re done.
There are two general types of countertop popcorn makers. There’s air poppers, which use high-temperature heat to pop the kernels, and stirring models, which rely on a moving arm that stirs the popcorn across a nonstick hot plate. We prefer the former rather than latter, since it requires no oil whatsoever, although there are some stirring popcorn makers that might also be worth checking out.
These are the best popcorn makers to make your movie night snacking a much more convenient affair.
Dash Fresh Pop
Pros
- One-touch operation
- Compact size
Cons
- Leaves a few unpopped kernels
- Easy to clean
Capacity: 16 cups of popcorn
Dimensions: 13.5 x 5 x 8.4 inches (height x width x depth)
We love this style of air-popped popcorn makers, whose more upright profile allows it to take minimal space in the countertop, making it just a tad easier to squeeze in even when you have a lot of stuff in the kitchen. The downside is you need to put a large bowl underneath the chute, since the popcorn has nowhere to go as soon as it finishes cooking.
At the top of the popcorn maker sits a removable measuring cup that you can take off to fill with kernels. It can fit around 1/3 cup’s worth of kernels, which is the maximum the device can take. Don’t overfill it, since the machine won’t function when the cooking chamber has too much kernels. You also want to fill it, at least, halfway, since using less increases the chances you will end up with some burnt popcorn. Why is it so strict when it comes to volume? Largely because it’s designed for one-touch operation, which keeps things simple, albeit with those concessions. You can even put butter on the measuring cup when you put it back on, which should melt by the time the popcorn drops off to your bowl.
Dash Turbo Pop
Pros
- Most compact popcorn maker
- One-touch operation
- Perfect for making small servings
Cons
- Doesn’t pop all kernels
- You need to use a big bowl to catch all the popcorn
Capacity: eight cups of popcorn
Dimensions: 6.5 x 5.2 x 6.1 inches (height x width x depth)
If you like the Dash popcorn maker above, but would prefer something even more compact, then you’ll probably like this smaller version, which produces eight cups of popcorn each batch as opposed to the 16 cups of the bigger one. It works in a similar way, with a removable measuring cup on top, so you know exactly how much kernels to put in, along with the one-touch operation that makes the process easy. You can also melt butter on top if you like that in your popcorn. The biggest downside here is the chute, which is much shorter than the one on the Fresh Pop, so the fresh popcorn has a tendency to shoot out all over the place. Basically, you need to put a large bowl underneath to ensure you catch everything (and it will still occasionally miss). It also tends to leave some kernels unpopped, quite a bit more than the bigger version.
Presto Poplite Hot Air Popper
Pros
- Makes lots of popcorn fast
- Minimal unpopped kernels
- Good chute angle directs popcorn straight to bowl
Cons
- No power button
Capacity: 18 cups of popcorn
Dimensions: 13.75 x 6 x 9 inches (height x width x depth)
There’s good reason this is the most popular countertop popcorn maker today: it just works. It makes a pretty big batch, too, at around 18 cups per load, while finishing a batch in just under three minutes, so you can crank out multiple batches in a short amount of time if you’re making popcorn for a large group. Like the Dash models above, this one has its own removable measuring cup on top (that doubles as a tray for melting butter), so you know exactly how much kernels to put in, all while leaving very few kernels unpopped each time out (we’ve even done a couple batches with zero unpopped kernels). We also like the built-in cord wrap, which keeps things tidy, although we don’t like the fact that there’s no power button (it literally starts running as soon as you plug in).
West Bend Stir Crazy Popcorn Machine
Pros
- Makes popcorn with a satisfying crisp
- Leaves no unpopped kernels
- Lid also serves as a serving bowl
Cons
- Takes up more space than air poppers
- Not as fast as air poppers
Capacity: 24 cups of popcorn
Dimensions: 10 x 13 x 10 inches (height x width x depth)
Air poppers make excellent oil-free popcorn. However, they still don’t make them as crispy as other methods that actually use oil. If you want a popcorn maker that can make crispier versions of the corn snack, a stirring model like this one is what you want on the countertop. It makes popcorn with a very satisfying crackle that just feels more fun to eat than your typical air-popped snacks, while being even more thorough, rarely leaving even a single unpopped kernel in the batch. It does cook slower than air poppers, though, taking just a little over four minutes to finish, which is the fastest among the stirring poppers we’ve tried. We love the fact that the cover pulls double duty as a popcorn bowl, so you don’t have to transfer it to a separate container. Do note, popcorn makers like this one requires oil to properly pop the kernels, so you get oil everywhere in the main chamber, which makes it a lot tougher to clean. Basically, it requires a thorough wiping.
Presto Orville Redenbacher’s Fountain
Pros
- Makes 20 cups in just 3.5 minutes
- Integrated bowl
- Very few unpopped kernels
Cons
- Larger size makes it harder to fit in crowded countertops
- Leaves crumbs
Capacity: 20 cups of popcorn
Dimensions: 13 x 10 x 12 inches (height x width x depth)
If you like the convenience of having a lid that doubles as a bowl, but prefer an air popper for all of its advantages, you might like this popcorn machine from Presto. Like other air poppers, it uses hot air to pop the kernels and a built-in fan to expel them off the chamber. Unlike them, the popcorn isn’t led to go down a chute. Instead, they collect at ledges on the sides, after which you can just turn the whole thing over to collect them all in the lid, which doubles as a serving bowl. It’s not as fast as Presto’s Poplite, taking around a minute longer per batch, although it does manage to make more popcorn in one go (20 cups as opposed to 18 cups). We also like the fact that all unpopped kernels collect at a small receptacle underneath (similar to this popcorn bowl), which you can simply unscrew after you’re done eating to throw out. It’s a clever design. Do note, the way this pops kernels occasionally leaves popcorn crumbs that do get all over the place, so you’ll have to clean it all up afterwards. Like Presto’s other air popper in the list, we do wish it has a power button because automatically running after plugging in just isn’t convenient.
