Search results
Feb 15, 2024 · We made bowls and bowls of popcorn, testing each maker multiple times for consistency, taste, and unpopped kernels to come up with the best recommendations for stovetop, microwave, and electric...
- Samantha Lande
- The Winners, at A Glance
- The Tests
- What We Learned
- The Criteria: What to Look For in A Popcorn Maker
- Our Favorite Popcorn Makers
- The Competition
- FAQs
- Why We're The Experts
Fast and efficient, the Presto popped the quickest batches of great-tasting popcorn time and time again, with very few unpopped kernels. It was also easy to clean with a few quick wipes of a dishrag. Only slightly slower than the Presto, the Dash air popper was another great option. It was fast, made good popcorn, and had a low percentage of unpopp...
Popcorn Test: We popped 100 grams (approximately 1/2 cup) of popcorn kernels in each popcorn maker to see how quickly they could pop a full batch (timing how long it took each to do so), and how ma...Taste Test: We tasted each popcorn maker’s popcorn plain and with salt added, rating them on flavor, texture, and crispness.Butter Warmer Test: We placed one tablespoon of butter straight from the fridge in each popcorn maker’s butter warmer to see how quickly it would melt, and how easily it poured.Usability and Cleanup Tests: We noted how easy each popcorn maker was to set up and clean. We also tested any extra features and noted any wear and tear.How Each Type of Popcorn Maker Works
The two main styles of popcorn makers are air poppers and stirring poppers. Air poppers are upright columns that have a well to add your kernels to, and a lid with a chute to direct the popcorn into your bowl. The kernel well sits directly on top of a hot air blower, which then heats the popcorn and causes it to pop. The popped popcorn is then blown up and out of the chute and into your bowl. They’re fast and pop big, puffy popcorn, and because they don’t use any oil, they’re also easy to cle...
Air Poppers Were (Mostly) Efficient
Quick, and with very few unpopped kernels, the Presto Poplite Air Popper and Dash Hot Air Popcorn Maker were extremely efficient. With our winning air poppers, the popcorn immediately blew up a chute and out into a serving bowl, there was also no need to babysit each model to prevent burning. The Presto finished full batches in just under two-and-a-half minutes with 2% unpopped kernels, while the Dash was about 20 seconds slower and averaged 4% unpopped kernels. We also tested the Cuisinart E...
The Best Stir Poppers Made Crisper Popcorn
Both the West Bend Stir Crazy Popcorn Maker and Dash SmartStore made the crispest popcorn we tasted. Each piece of popcorn from these models had a nice crackle and, as a bonus, neither of these models left any unpopped kernels. They were considerably slower than the top-performing air poppers, though. While the West Bend finished batches in just under four minutes, the Dash stirring popcorn maker took almost six. And then there was the Cuisinart EasyPop Stirrer—its last kernels popped after a...
The best popcorn makers are fast, popping full batches of popcorn in under three minutes for air poppers and under four minutes for stirring poppers. They’re also efficient, with very few unpopped kernels. They popped big, puffy popcorn without any burnt pieces and, finally, were easy to clean up afterward.
What we liked: The Presto popped the fastest, and it also produced big, fluffy, tasty popcorn. It routinely had a low percentage of unpopped kernels (around 2% compared to the 4 to 5.6% of the other air poppers). We appreciated the design details of this popper, too: the butter warmer poured neatly, the plastic pieces were sturdy and all fit togeth...
Is an air popper worth it?
Air poppers are relatively inexpensive, fast, and efficient. They’re a convenient way to make consistent popcorn with very little cleanup. Because the hot air pops the corn so quickly, air poppers tend to produce big, fluffy popcorn that's ready for all sorts of inventive popcorn toppings.
Can you use butter with an electric popcorn maker?
Many electric popcorn makers come with a butter warmer built in, but most aren’t up to the task of melting butter straight from the fridge—and they’re not great at pouring, either. Instead, we recommend melting butter in the microwave or on the stovetop and then drizzling it over a finished batch for better results.
Is there a popcorn maker that doesn't use oil?
Air poppers rely on a high-temperature fan to pop popcorn, and don’t use any oil. Popcorn pops when the remaining moisture in a kernel heats up to the steam point, causing it to explode outwards, and air poppers work by heating the kernels directly.
Jesse Raub was Serious Eats' commerce writer. In his time at the site, he wrote numerous reviews, including espresso machines and baking stones.For this review, Jesse tested six popcorn makers, evaluating their speed, efficiency, cleanup, and more.- Jesse Raub
Mar 1, 2023 · The best home popcorn makers and poppers from Cuisinart, Whirley Pop and Presto for microwave, air popped and stove top popcorn with or without oil.
Jan 23, 2024 · Freshly popped popcorn is an easy and enjoyable snack. We tested the best popcorn makers for making both air-popped and theater-style popcorn at home.
Apr 25, 2024 · Cooking on a budget or just price-conscious? You can’t do much better than the Cuisinart Pop and Serve Microwave Popcorn Maker. Let’s do some quick math.
Mar 15, 2024 · The best popcorn makers will quickly make a delicious bowl of fresh popcorn without any kernels left behind. It’ll also be easy to clean and take up very little space on your countertop for easy use. We spoke to a cooking expert and researched the market to find the best models.
Mar 2, 2023 · Our top popcorn machine picks. Best microwave: Lekue Microwave Popcorn Popper - See at Amazon. The Lekue Microwave Popcorn Popper is compact and produces small batches of popcorn with minimal...
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/presto-poplite-hot-air-popper-kevin-norris_0731-2000-8d24bdedd4f347008ac73c5aa64a65e8.jpg&q=+popcorn%20maker&ck=2A0F3DD3F6CC736AB327C8D8104C022E&idpp=rc&idpview=singleimage&form=rc2idp "popcorn maker1")
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/west-bend-stir-crazy-popcorn-machine-6353826666ee4325ac09fc77513a72c4.jpg&q=+popcorn%20maker&ck=7BE4BCA460342E54A1A4F0AA680698E3&idpp=rc&idpview=singleimage&form=rc2idp "popcorn maker2")
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/faw-product-whirley-pop-color-changing-popcorn-machine-samantha-lande-14-de4e933b6f624fb7880881cacafc3240.jpeg&q=+popcorn%20maker&ck=B01D89B8FFC31C42681C78D92DC08567&idpp=rc&idpview=singleimage&form=rc2idp "popcorn maker3")
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/fw-best-popcorn-makers-tout-badge-2bf9b70d509b44879599572f93e7b9fa.jpg&q=+popcorn%20maker&ck=F58D560101004FAC7B416E7B9D40874C&idpp=rc&idpview=singleimage&form=rc2idp "popcorn maker4"){kind=icon}
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/wabash-valley-farms-whirley-pop-color-changing-popcorn-maker--12e6e2b2d76a4602a1c0daec02f5b3da.jpg&q=+popcorn%20maker&ck=1849CECDA68F041ADA5503F35CD0CDAD&idpp=rc&idpview=singleimage&form=rc2idp "popcorn maker5")
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/ses-product-paragon-1911-popcorn-machine-allison-wignall-09-9012d27dfa00410f90611615688b63a8.jpeg&q=+popcorn%20maker&ck=4E1966ACAE43D690B357227437D07652&idpp=rc&idpview=singleimage&form=rc2idp "popcorn maker1")
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/018_Popcornmakers_PhoebeCheongPhoto-c9acd2f0e0c946caac51a8e16b07aaa2.jpg&q=+popcorn%20maker&ck=3FB5EACC2B92C2E9C08D1D4C0B7705E0&idpp=rc&idpview=singleimage&form=rc2idp "popcorn maker2")
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/016_Popcornmakers_PhoebeCheongPhoto-afc366558c6f4cc094d53b1422306cb6.jpg&q=+popcorn%20maker&ck=9F7447B3693082FE9D67FAE5426CF314&idpp=rc&idpview=singleimage&form=rc2idp "popcorn maker3")
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/popcorn-maker-group-product-crop-phoebe-cheong-photo-d142a860754c46c78e7dd2fa9a519e25.jpg&q=+popcorn%20maker&ck=9FDF2F4A089B75ABDA767EE6BB8CDEC1&idpp=rc&idpview=singleimage&form=rc2idp "popcorn maker4")
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/hotpop-microwave-popcorn-popper-silicone-blue-phoebe-cheong-photo-bf67d462b3014b62854f8bba85bbbea8.jpg&q=+popcorn%20maker&ck=64C4C55F599D53F701DED162992BC644&idpp=rc&idpview=singleimage&form=rc2idp "popcorn maker5")
