The 5 Best Popcorn Makers, Tested and Reviewed

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Homemade beats store-bought every time.

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Food & Wine

There’s nothing like curling up on the couch with a big bowl of popcorn to watch a movie. Yes, you can just throw a store-bought bag in the microwave, but these often leave something to be desired in the flavor department, not to mention that they come with a ton of extra packaging.

Making your own popcorn is an easy alternative that can vastly improve your snacking. Homemade popcorn allows you to jazz up each batch in your own way, like Buffalo and blue cheese seasoning or all kinds of other toppings. You can make as much or as little at a time as you like, and many different cooking options are available, including stovetop, electric, and even microwave poppers.

Whether you choose an old-fashioned hand-cranked stovetop model for movie theater-style popcorn, a microwave version that makes popping simple, or a classic electric popper for light-and-airy popcorn, there are stellar choices at every price point.

We made bowls and bowls of popcorn to come up with our list of the best poppers, testing each maker multiple times for consistency, taste, and popping percentage to determine our recommendations for the best popcorn makers.

This stovetop gadget makes incredible popcorn, and its unique color-changing feature is both fun and useful.

It's completely manual and takes a good amount of hand-cranking.

There’s a reason we chose a classic Whirley Pop popcorn maker as our best overall — it makes the best popcorn, hands down. This version gets a modern upgrade, thanksclassic Whirley Pop stovetop maker gets a modern upgrade with color-changing paint on the outside that goes from red to yellow as the pot heats up, then back to red as it cools. It's fun to look at but also makes the machine that much safer, especially when kids are involved.

During testing, we found that the Whirley Pop makes a big batch of consistently tasty, crunchy, and chewy popcorn with very few, if any, kernels left over. We noticed some scorching on the bottom of the pan after one batch, but none on the popcorn itself. It’s easy to clean, too: If used often, you can simply wipe it out after it cools down, or rinse with a little bit of soapy water if you plan to store it away for a while.

The cooking process is quick and simple, although you must be hands-on the entire time, turning the crank at a consistent speed. The pot gets very hot and can release steam through the lid as the popcorn pops, so we recommend wearing an oven mitt.

Dimensions: 16.69 x 9.84 x 7.95 inches | Capacity: 6 quarts | Materials: Aluminum, nylon gears | Dishwasher-Safe: No

This gorgeous stovetop popper comes in five colors and is distinctive enough to keep on display.

It's expensive, and the outer coating can wear down or chip off, especially where the crank attaches.

For a stovetop model that makes large batches, is easy to use, and looks good while doing it, we like The Popper. It works with any kernels and flavors you want, but Popsmith also sells pre-batched packets (in classic butter or kettle corn) that include kernels, coconut oil, and seasonings. It works just the same as most stovetop poppers: Pre-heat over medium for about 2 minutes, drop in the ingredients, and start turning the handle when the popping starts. The Popper is stainless steel and compatible with gas, electric, or induction cooktops, it's dishwasher-safe, and it comes in five colors.

We called The Popper and its homemade popcorn one of our top food trends for 2024, and we really love this thing's designer looks. However, compared to the other just-as-functional popcorn makers on our list, it's a major investment. Over time, we have found that the turning mechanism has caused some wear and tear on the color around the rim, but it's a fairly minor issue and contained to the exterior.

Dimensions: 18 x 9 x 8 inches | Capacity: 4 quarts | Material: Stainless steel | Dishwasher-Safe: Yes

The simple appliance pops without oil and requires next to no maintenance.

There's no on/off switch, so the popper can be hard to control.

Our best electric pick uses hot air to pop kernels and then blows them through a chute directly into the bowl; no oil is required. In a closed popper, like most stovetop models, popcorn can oversteam and become soggy or burn if it's in contact with the bottom for too long. That's not a problem with the open Presto Poplite, which gets the popped kernels out of the chamber quickly. We get light and crisp popcorn every time.

In testing, we noted that this machine didn't get very hot on the outside despite its plastic material. It made around 18 cups of popcorn — two large bowls' worth — in just a few minutes. Butter and seasonings stay out of the Poplite; you add them to the bowl after popping. But there is a warming tray that is inserted at the top of the chute, which uses the heat of popping to melt butter. (It's also a measuring cup, holding the right volume of unpopped corn to fill the machine.)

This machine was the easiest to clean after popping — the butter warmer can be washed with soap and water, and the rest of the machine, including the removable plastic chute, can just be wiped down with a damp cloth. Because there’s no oil, there's very little to clean up.

Dimensions: 6 x 9 x 13.7 inches | Yields: 4.5 quarts | Material: Plastic | Dishwasher-Safe: No

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This convenient popper doubles as its own serving bowl, and it's easy to store and clean.

The colors faded in the dishwasher.

This silicone popper lets you make any kind of popcorn you like in the microwave. Instead of pre-packaged, pre-seasoned bags, you can choose artisanal popcorn and custom blends of salts and spices. It's also an all-in-one space-saver, with a pre-measured space for unpopped kernels and origami-style fold-open sides that turn the whole thing into a serving vessel. You won't need a separate bowl, let alone a measuring cup. This is the perfect popcorn maker for dorm rooms, cubicles, break rooms, and anywhere you want popcorn but don't want to keep track of lots of equipment.

The Pop Top requires no oil or butter to make a delicious batch, though you can add some before or after cooking to add to the flavor. The popcorn we made in both tests was chewy and evenly cooked. We love the silicone construction; this popper feels durable, and its pop-up folding design is molded permanently into the silicone; there aren't any hinges that can break. It's dishwasher-safe, though we did notice the color fading and printing getting spotty after a few trips through the machine. We recommend hand-washing this one for longevity.

Dimensions: 7 x 7 x 4 inches | Capacity: 2.5 quarts | Material: Silicone | Dishwasher-Safe: Yes

This maker can fit in any microwave, simultaneously popping corn and melting butter for one.

It can make just one serving at a time.

For those who prefer glass over silicone, this small but mighty microwave popcorn maker produced evenly popped, chewy popcorn with no uneven cooking or burning in our tests.

We loved the lid, which doubles as a measuring cup for kernels as well as a reservoir for butter to melt slowly over the popcorn while it pops. It's the key to even, mess-free butter distribution. You can choose from six colors, too, making it a fun gift. When it comes time to clean, the Micro-Pop is dishwasher-safe but easy to simply rinse out if you didn't add any oil or butter to the chamber.

The small size is great for single servings or miniature microwaves, and we appreciate its large handle for easy carrying. But if you're making popcorn for the whole family, you'll need to make many batches in a row. Ecolution does make a 3-quart size of the Micro-Pop, but that's still fairly small compared to the rest of our list.

Dimensions: 7.5 x 6 x 5.13 inches | Capacity: 1.5 quarts | Material: Borosilicate glass | Dishwasher-Safe: Yes (top rack recommended)

Our favorite popcorn came from the Wabash Valley Farms Whirley Pop Color-Changing Popcorn Maker, the clear winner in testing for its consistently great batches and fun safety features. If you're a fan of air-popped popcorn and want an easy and convenient electric model, look no further than the Presto Poplite Hot Air Popper.

For this test, we started with 12 electric, microwave, and stovetop poppers. Before testing, we rated each popper and how easy or difficult it was to set up and put together. We then made at least two full-size batches per popper and compared the popcorn's flavor, texture, overall quality, and consistency between batches.

After completing our other tests, we revealed the retail prices of the test models to compare value. At the time of testing, the popcorn makers ranged in price from $13 to $200, with an average of $49.

When shopping for a new popcorn machine, the first thing to decide is whether you want a stovetop, electric, or microwave popcorn maker. A stovetop model produces superior taste but usually requires more hands-on work because you must constantly crank the machine to keep the kernels moving and heating evenly. Electric models are more hands-off and generally produce popcorn faster than stovetop models, but they require an outlet and room on the countertop. Microwave popcorn makers are a straightforward way to produce better-than-store-bought popcorn, though they don't make it quite as tasty as stovetop and electric machines. If you prefer making popcorn without oil, go for an electric or microwave option; either one works well with unadorned kernels, while a stovetop popper needs a little added fat for best results.

The makers we tested ranged in capacity from around a quart, perfect for an individual-sized snack, to up to 6 quarts, enough to feed a whole family. When picking a size, consider how many people you plan to feed with each batch and how much storage space you have. Keep in mind that popcorn expands a lot as it pops; a full quart of popped corn comes from only about 2 tablespoons of kernels.

In general, popcorn makers are relatively easy to clean: Some are dishwasher-safe, some wipe clean with a damp cloth, and others need a quick sponge with soapy water. Electric popcorn poppers usually can't get wet and need pretty gentle treatment, but since they don't use oil, you won't have to do much more than dump out any crumbs and unpopped kernels. Running a popcorn maker through the dishwasher is convenient, but it does cause more wear and tear than hand-washing and can cause colors to fade over time. It may be worth hand-washing even if the dishwasher is an option. Regardless of what model you choose, it's essential to read your machine’s cleaning instructions and follow them closely.

Popcorn just needs heat to pop, and different types of popcorn makers heat the kernels in different ways. In most stovetop models, popcorn and oil are added to the chamber and moved around while they cook — it's a bit like sautéing or stir-frying. Keeping the kernels in constant motion is key to consistent temperatures and avoiding burning.

Electric models work similarly to a convection oven; a powerful fan blows hot air all around the kernels. Because popped corn is much less dense than the kernels, the fan also whirls it up and out of the machine so the pieces don't burn or steam from being stacked on top of each other.

A microwave popcorn maker works very similarly to the bags you can buy at the store, holding the kernels in place as they heat and then keeping the popped corn contained while allowing steam to vent. Microwaves heat popcorn kernels quickly, evenly, and efficiently, and microwave poppers are great at popping every last piece without burning any — unless you let the microwave keep running after the popping stops.

Instructions for stovetop popcorn makers vary but usually involve heating oil and kernels over medium-high heat. For the models we tested, once the oil was hot and the kernels started to sizzle, we turned the hand crank until the popping slowed to once every few seconds. Take the popcorn off the heat, and enjoy.

If the crank hits resistance and you have trouble turning it mid-pop, it means the pot is full; dump out your popcorn and start with fewer kernels next time.

The oil you use for a popcorn machine depends on what type of machine it is and what flavors you want. Popcorn makers can get extremely hot, so you'll want to use an oil with a high smoke point, like canola or soybean oil. We used coconut oil for testing; it stands up to high heat and imparts a bit of rich flavor, although it can be higher in saturated fat than some other oils. If you're looking for a healthier oil, try avocado oil, which has a high smoke point.

Butter and extra-virgin olive oil taste great, but they have a lower smoke point and aren't good for cooking popcorn. You should add these and any other flavorings after popping.

Yes! Most electric and microwave popcorn poppers don't need any kind of added fat. Stovetop versions usually require some oil, as it helps transfer heat evenly from the pan to the kernels. Always look at the individual instructions for your popcorn maker to see if you should add oil, how much, and what kind.

Technically, you can pop popcorn in an air fryer, but we recommend strongly against it. Kernels blowing around in the chamber can get caught in the heating element, which can cause a broken air fryer, if not a kitchen fire. Popcorn also takes longer to cook in an air fryer than in any of the styles of dedicated popcorn makers, and it's more likely to burn. It's just not worth it.

Lékué Popcorn Maker ($21 at Amazon)

We liked this popcorn maker, and it was one of the only microwave versions we tested that allows you to use oil. However, it was more expensive than other microwave versions, the oil didn’t consistently distribute well, and the bowl itself was a little flimsier.

Crate & Barrel Stovetop Popcorn Popper, Black ($40 at Crate & Barrel)

The stovetop models we tested generally worked pretty well, but this Crate & Barrel exclusive didn’t stand far enough above the other options to make it a top contender.

West Bend Stir CrazyPopcorn Maker ($47 at Amazon)

This unique electric model uses oil and works like an automated stovetop popper. It popped evenly without burning, but it took longer to finish, and we felt the flavor was a little muted compared to others.

We tested many other popcorn makers that didn’t make the cut. Some had flaws in design that caused the popped kernels to get soggy, while others left a ton of unpopped kernels. Some were too hard to clean or showed signs of wear after just a short amount of testing. Finally, a few performed well, but compared to our top picks, they just weren't worth the price.

Samantha Lande is a freelance writer with over a decade of experience covering food and drink for publications like Allrecipes, Eater, Good Housekeeping, AARP, and The Food Network. She has tested many products for various national outlets, is also an avid home cook, and is very discerning about the products that live in her kitchen. For this article, she tested each popcorn maker multiple times in her home kitchen.