Top 5 compared
The best popcorn makers
Fresh popcorn for movie night without the microwave bag.
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The top 5 at a glance
A popcorn maker heats kernels until they burst, and how it does it changes the popcorn. Popping in oil, in a stovetop pot or a kettle machine, gives the rich, movie-theater kind, with a stirring arm to keep the kernels moving so they pop instead of scorch. Hot air and a microwave bowl need no oil, so the popcorn comes out light and dry, ready for butter or seasoning afterward.
A stovetop popper or a microwave bowl fits in a kitchen cabinet, while a theater-style kettle machine takes real counter space; that kind goes back to Charles Cretors, who took his steam-powered popcorn wagon to Chicago’s Columbian Exposition in 1893. Some oil-free poppers melt butter in the lid as they go.
What matters
- Batch size, in quarts or cups, for the crowd you feed.
- A measuring cup, so every batch starts with the right amount.
- Parts that come apart or go in the dishwasher, for cleanup.
- On a kettle machine, a warming deck or unpopped-kernel tray.
#1Wabash Valley Farms Original Whirley Pop Stovetop Popcorn Popper
$30–$50
A stovetop popper with a crank in the lid that turns a stirring arm, so the kernels keep moving over the heat and pop rather than scorch, and 6 quarts are ready in about three minutes. There’s no motor to wear out, and it makes the buttery or sweet kettle-style popcorn a hot-air machine can’t.
What owners say: Owners say nearly every kernel pops, a huge bowl is ready in about three minutes and children love helping. The plastic gears are the weak spot over the years, and some think it’s pricey for a pot.
A closer look: Warm a little oil with three kernels in, and once they pop, add the rest and turn the handle steadily until the popping slows. Tip it straight into a bowl, then wipe the pot out with a paper towel while it’s still warm rather than scrubbing it.
- Crank turns a stirring arm
- Ready in about 3 minutes
- 25-year warranty
- Recipe guide included
Best for: Kettle corn and movie nights
- Type
- Stovetop, hand-crank
- Power
- None (stovetop)
- Popcorn per batch
- 6 qt
- Measuring tool
- No
- Melts butter
- No
- Pops without oil
- No
#2VEVOR Countertop Popcorn Machine (8 oz kettle)
$100–$150
A real movie-theater-style machine: an 8 oz kettle with its own stirrer pops about 48 cups a batch, and the popcorn falls onto a heated, lit deck behind glass doors to stay warm while the next batch goes. Made for parties, game days and a home theater.
What owners say: Owners say it beats the movie theater’s popcorn and that kids and adults alike love it. Cleaning splits them, as does how easy it is to work at first, and a few had a glass door break early.
Heads up: At almost 24 in tall and close to 29 lb, it needs a sturdy counter or table of its own.
A closer look: Switch on the kettle heater and the stirrer, add the oil, and give the kettle a few minutes to heat before pouring in the corn. Leave the warmer on so the popcorn stays crisp on the deck, and once it’s cold, undo the wing nuts to lift the kettle lid off for a thorough clean.
- Lit deck keeps popcorn warm
- Built-in kettle stirrer
- Magnetic tempered glass doors
- Removable crumb tray
- Warmer and stirrer switch separately
Best for: Parties and home theaters
- Type
- Kettle, theater-style
- Power
- 850W
- Popcorn per batch
- 12 qt (48 cups)
- Measuring tool
- Corn and oil spoons
- Melts butter
- No
- Pops without oil
- No
#3West Bend Stir Crazy Movie Theater Popcorn Popper
$50–$75
The look of a movie-theater popcorn cart, sized for a kitchen counter: a stirring rod in the nonstick kettle keeps the kernels moving, a lever tips out 4 quarts at a time, and a tray underneath catches the kernels that didn’t pop.
What owners say: Family movie nights are where owners say it shines, popping almost every kernel with little effort. Some expected it to be bigger, cleaning divides them, and a few had the door or plastic parts break.
A closer look: Use the quarter-cup and tablespoon that come with it for the kernels and oil, and let the stirrer run until the popping slows before pulling the lever. The kettle lifts out to be washed by hand, and the machine stands just under 18 in tall, so check the gap under your cabinets.
- Lever tips out the popcorn
- Tray catches unpopped kernels
- Nonstick kettle lifts out
- Magnetic kettle cover
- Stands under 18 in tall
Best for: Family-size batches on the counter
- Type
- Stirring kettle, theater-style
- Power
- 480W
- Popcorn per batch
- 4 qt
- Measuring tool
- Kernel cup, oil spoon
- Melts butter
- No
- Pops without oil
- No
#4Presto PopLite Hot Air Popcorn Popper
$30–$50
Hot air does the popping, so there’s no oil at all, and up to 18 cups are ready in about two and a half minutes. The cap on top measures the kernels, then melts a spoonful of butter while the corn pops.
What owners say: Owners like how quickly it fills a bowl and how much it pops, and find it good value. A few had one quit after a few months, and others would like an on/off switch.
A closer look: Stand a big bowl under the chute before you start, since popped corn comes flying out within a minute or two. Pour the melted butter over at the end and toss, then wipe the base and chute once they’ve cooled: with no oil, there’s nothing greasy to scrub.
- Ready in about 2.5 minutes
- Cord wraps underneath
- Wipe-clean base and chute
- 1-year warranty
Best for: Oil-free popcorn
- Type
- Hot air
- Power
- 1440W
- Popcorn per batch
- 4.5 qt (18 cups)
- Measuring tool
- Cap doubles as cup
- Melts butter
- Cap melts butter
- Pops without oil
- Yes
#5Ecolution Micro-Pop Microwave Popcorn Popper (3 qt)
$20–$30
No machine at all: a 3-quart glass bowl with a silicone lid that goes in the microwave and pops plain kernels without oil in about three minutes. The lid measures the kernels first and melts butter on top as the corn pops.
What owners say: Owners say it turns out tasty, theater-style popcorn from plain kernels. Results depend on the microwave: some get nearly every kernel popped, others a lot left over or a scorched batch.
Heads up: Use it only in a microwave with a turntable, and skip the popcorn button: set the time yourself, as Ecolution advises.
A closer look: Try a lidful of kernels for two and a half minutes the first time, then add time in short bursts until the pops slow to a few seconds apart, since every microwave is different. Lift it out by the handle, give the glass a minute to cool, and it goes straight in the dishwasher.
- Borosilicate glass bowl
- Dishwasher safe
- Pops in about 3 minutes
- Needs a turntable microwave
- Limited lifetime warranty
Best for: Dorms and small kitchens
- Type
- Microwave bowl
- Power
- None (microwave)
- Popcorn per batch
- 3 qt
- Measuring tool
- Lid measures
- Melts butter
- Lid melts butter
- Pops without oil
- Yes
How they compare
Swipe sideways or rotate device to see all 5.
| Feature | #1Whirley Pop | #2VEVOR 8 oz kettle | #3West Bend Theater | #4Presto PopLite | #5Ecolution Micro-Pop |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Best premium | Best hot-air popper | Best budget | ||
| Picked Rating | 9.1 | 9.0 | 8.8 | 8.6 | 8.4 |
| Price | $30–$50 | $100–$150 | $50–$75 | $30–$50 | $20–$30 |
| Type | Stovetop, hand-crank | Kettle, theater-style | Stirring kettle, theater-style | Hot air | Microwave bowl |
| Power | None (stovetop) | 850W | 480W | 1440W | None (microwave) |
| Popcorn per batch | 6 qt | 12 qt (48 cups) | 4 qt | 4.5 qt (18 cups) | 3 qt |
| Measuring tool | No | Corn and oil spoons | Kernel cup, oil spoon | Cap doubles as cup | Lid measures |
| Melts butter | No | No | No | Cap melts butter | Lid melts butter |
| Pops without oil | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Best for | Kettle corn and movie nights | Parties and home theaters | Family-size batches on the counter | Oil-free popcorn | Dorms and small kitchens |
| Buy now | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon |
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