Top 10 Best Popcorn Makers in 2022

Nothing beats making your very own popcorn. Homemade popcorn is always better than the often stale popcorn you may buy elsewhere, including movie theaters. Of course you can make popcorn using your microwave oven, but we all know that it’s never as tasty as using a real popper. To get the best possible popcorn, you just have to use a popcorn machine, and the popcorn should also be as fresh as possible. All popcorn makers are not the same. There are differences in design, functionality and quality. The goal of this top 10 popcorn maker list thus, is to highlight only the best of the machines for you, making your purchase decision thereby, much easier.

Popcorn Maker Purchase Considerations

There are certain features of popcorn makers that are worth knowing about, as well as worth considering before making a purchase. These features include:

– Popping Time
Popping or cooking time refers to how long the machine takes to pop a batch. If you are planning on serving lots of people, then you need a machine with less popping time.

– Capacity
Another consideration is the capacity of the popcorn maker. This refers to the amount of kernels you can pop in a batch, again it’s important depending on how much people you are serving.

– Oil and Hot Air
Popcorn has traditionally been made using a little oil, but for health enthusiasts, there are popcorn makers that do not require oil. These use hot air to blow and pop the kernels, cutting down on the total calories served.

– Power Consumption
Power consumption is especially important for eco-friendly people. In this case, a machine with a lower consumption of 600 Watts and less is more desirable. If you will be serving lots of people on the other hand, then an 800 Watt or more machine will be more appropriate.

– Included Extras
Some machines will come with measuring spoons, a starter pack, cleaning utensils or serving bowls. Of course the availability of extras makes any popcorn maker more valuable.

10. West Bend Stir Crazy 6 Quart Popcorn Popper

The first product in this list is this 6 quart (5.6 liter) popcorn maker from West Bend. The company West Bend was founded in 1911 and has been known for top quality products ever since. The Stir-crazy features a motorized stirring rod, which helps to ensure that as much kernels as possible pop. It can process up to 27 cups in 4 minutes, and it comes with a large lid, which can also be used as a serving bowl. The device is made from BPA plastic and comes with a power cord that can be easily wrapped underneath the device for compact storage.

9. Wabash Valley Farms Stove Top Popper

If you are the romantic type, and you would love to make your own movie-theater style popcorn at home and in just 3 minutes, then check out the whirly pop popcorn popper from Wabash Valley Farms. It features the classic wooden handle that you use to stir the kernels inside, ensuring thereby that most kernels pop. The rest of the popper is made from quality stainless steel, providing for a long lasting romantic piece of kitchen equipment.

8. Hamilton Beach Hot Oil Popcorn Maker

In position #8 is this popper from Hamilton Beach, a well known brand in the home appliances industry. It can pop up to 24 cups in a single batch and features a butter well for adding flavors while popping. It also features a nonstick popping plate and a motorized stirring arm to make sure that most kernels pop. Finally the spacious lid can easily double as a large serving bowl.

7. Hamilton Beach Party Popcorn Popper

Another Hamilton Beach appliance, this time a much more stylish and futuristic looking machine. It can pop up to 24 cups a batch as well, and the base doubles as a serving bowl. The upper and the lower part can also be nested together for storage and it comes with a measuring cup for kernels and oils. The popping chamber is dishwasher safe, which makes this one of the easiest to use and clean popcorn poppers ever.

6. Presto-PopLite Hot Air Popcorn Maker

For those who love to count calories, this one is a dream come true. The Presto PopLite is a hot air popper and uses absolutely no oil. It’s also very fast as well, being able to pop up to 18 cups in 2.5 hours. This lack of oil use reduces the popcorn’s calories by up to 42%. Simply load the popper with kernels, switch it on, and watch popcorn flow out like water. The PopLite also comes with a 1 year limited warranty from Presto.

5. Cuisinart EasyPop Popcorn Popper

Cuisinart is well known for making stylish and yet functional kitchen appliances. This Cuisinart popcorn maker lives up to that reputation and spots a design unlike any other popcorn maker. It has a very large and dome shaped popping bowl which also doubles as a serving bowl. It comes with a motorized stirring arm to ensure even popping of all kernels and can pop up to 16 cups at a go. All its removable parts are dishwasher safe, and it comes with a three year warranty.

4. Nostalgia 6 Quart Stainless Steel Popcorn Maker

In position #4 is the Nostalgia machine which makes up to 24 cups of popcorn per batch with its 6 quarts (5.6 liter) size. It comes with a motorized stirring arm and vents to allow moisture to escape. The popping chamber is dome shaped and quickly becomes a serving bowl once the popper is flipped over. The electrical parts of the popcorn maker are housed in a beautiful stainless steel casing, making for an overall functional as well as beautiful product.

3. Cuisinart Hot Air EasyPop Popcorn Maker

In position #3 is another Cuisinart beauty with 1,500 Watts of power consumption. This hot air popcorn maker makes up to ten cups of popcorn in 3 minutes, all without a single drop of oil. It also comes with a melting cup on top, so that you can melt butter to pour on your popcorn when it’s done. All of this hot air popper’s removable parts are dishwasher safe, and are so aesthetically pleasing, in accordance with Cuisinart’s traditions. Style, ease of use and practicality, place this popcorn maker in the third position.

2. Great Northern Popcorn Antique Popper with Cart

If you are a hopeless romantic who loves the good old days of the early 20th century, but still appreciate modern technology, then this one should get your blood pumping. Reminiscent of the early days of the cinema and other social events, this popcorn maker with cart will put a touch of magic in your home. It is made from original commercial grade materials, including a stainless steel and glass enclosed food section, a spot light warmer and an 860 Watt kettle. It also has an extra storage space in its base for popcorn, as well as a drawer for utensils.

1. Great Northern Popcorn Bar Style Antique Popcorn Maker

Holding the number #1 position as the top popcorn maker, is this bar style popcorn maker, coming as well from the Great Northern Popcorn Company. It features most of the basic design characteristics of the previous popper in position #2, but it comes without the cart, and this allows you more flexibility in choosing where to install it. It uses 860 Watts as well, includes switches for the spot light warmer, the stirring arm and the pot heater. It also makes up to 3 gallons of popcorn per batch, is very easy to clean and comes with a kernel tray to filter unpopped kernels. Best feature of all is that it’s easy to integrate into any part of your house. For its commercial quality production, antique design, installation flexibility and price, this machine holds the #1 position as the best popcorn maker for your money.

There are many methods of making popcorn, as well as many ways to flavor it. Your choice of a popcorn maker should therefore depend on your specific needs and desires. You could love the stove-top popper for its romantic appeal, or the hot air popper, if you count calories, but if you are like most people, and you like to entertain family and friends from time to time, then a commercial grade and reliable popcorn maker, like the Great Northern Popcorn antique bar-style popper, our number #1 recommendation, will be a great buy.