Best Popcorn Machine

Nothing quite beats theater style popcorn. But how can you recreate tasty popcorn from the comfort of your own kitchen?

Whenever you try to make it on the stovetop or in the microwave, very little kernels actually pop enough to give you the large quantities of tasty popcorn that you’re after. Sometimes they can even catch and burn on the bowl or pan.

This is where a popcorn machine will come in handy. This is a machine that has been designed with creating tasty popcorn in mind. So you will be able to enjoy theater quality popcorn year round without having to worry about differing results.

By using a popcorn machine, you can get the consistency that you’re after from your homemade popcorn. But with so many different popcorn machines on the market, how can you be sure that you’ve found the best popcorn machine?

That’s where we want to help! We’ve done all the hard work for you so that you don’t have to. We’ve researched and reviewed hundreds of products to find the very best that the market has to offer.

So you can rest assured that all of the popcorn machines that we have reviewed in more detail below will be just the thing that you’re after. So let’s take a look at the best popcorn machines!

Best Popcorn Machines

Best Popcorn Machines Buying Guide

Searching for the best popcorn machine can be a real challenge. Especially if you’ve never bought one before!

How are you meant to know which features you should prioritize when it comes to choosing the best popcorn machine? Which features will be essential to ensure that you get the quality popcorn that you’re after?

We’ve taken the guesswork out of the process for you and collated together everything you need to know about popcorn machines in this handy buyer’s guide.

We made sure to include all of the essential features that we used to select our favorite products that we’ve reviewed in more detail above down below. So as long as you bear the below features in mind, you can rest assured that your chosen popcorn machine will be perfect for your needs.

Let’s take a look at everything you need to know about popcorn machines below, or skip ahead to the frequently asked questions.

Style of popcorn machine

One of the most important factors that you will need to consider of course is what style of popcorn machine that you would like to opt for.

There are three different types of popcorn machines that you can choose from: theater style popcorn machine, stirring popcorn machine, and a hot air popcorn machine.

Arguably the best of the three is the theater style popcorn machine. These are typically large capacity machines that can help you to craft ounce after ounce of delicious popcorn.

These are very efficient machines that use a cooking pot to heat up the popcorn kernels, then eject these popped kernels into the main body of the machine. 

However, these machines are also the largest of the three, so will take up a lot of space in your home. They are often more expensive than the other two models, too.

The stirring popcorn machine is just the thing that you need for making popcorn from the comfort of your own kitchen without taking up too much room.

These styles of popcorn machine are basically like the cooking pot of the theater style popcorn machine but without the larger external storage for fresh popcorn. 

These are more compact than the theater style popcorn machine, however, you need to make sure that you use coconut oil with them as butter will catch and burn on the bottom of the pan.

The third type of popcorn machine makes use of hot air to pop the kernels. This is of course much healthier than popcorn that has been doused in liters of oil. They are typically more compact too, and a lot more budget friendly.

However, because they only use hot air to pop your popcorn, they aren’t as efficient as the other two types of popcorn machine that we’ve mentioned.

Ultimately choosing the best out of the three will depend on your personal preferences, and what you’re looking for from a popcorn machine.

Size and capacity

Now that you’ve decided to invest in a popcorn machine, you will need to think about how much space you have to play with in your home. What size popcorn machine can you accommodate?

Do you have the room for a larger theater style popcorn machine, or do you require something a little more compact? 

It will be important to measure the space you have available beforehand. This will give you a better idea of which type of popcorn machine you can opt for.

Another important factor in terms of size is to think about the capacity of your chosen popcorn machine. This will dictate how much popcorn your machine can hold at any one time.

One of the best things about the theater style popcorn machine is that it features a naturally larger capacity. Stirring style popcorn machines will have a much smaller capacity, and hot air style popcorn machines will have an even smaller capacity than those.

If the capacity of your chosen popcorn machine is important to you, then you should make sure to check what the capacity of your chosen popcorn machine is before you commit to your purchase.

Easy to clean

It will be important to opt for a popcorn machine that will be easy to clean once you have finished using it. 

Can you easily disassemble the individual components of the popcorn machine so that they are easier to clean? Or do you have to wash several parts of them together with a damp cloth? Are there dishwasher friendly parts included to make the process even easier for you?

Ultimately, the easier your popcorn machine is to clean after each use, the more useful it will be. Nobody wants bits of burnt popcorn from several batches ago lurking in their bowl! Make sure that your chosen popcorn machine is easy to clean once you have finished using it.

Easy to use

Another important factor to consider is how easy the popcorn machine will be to use. Does your chosen popcorn machine come with a comprehensive list of instructions for you to follow before you first use it?

Is the whole process fairly straightforward? Does it come with all the essential hardware you need to get started?

It will be crucial to opt for a model that is super easy to use. This will make your life even easier, and will mean that you can enjoy your popcorn treat without too much hassle.

If you opt for a model that is fairly complicated to use, this will mean that you have to wait for even longer before you can tuck in to your favorite treat.

Additional accessories

Once you have chosen your style of popcorn machine, the size you would like, among many other factors, you should start to think about any additional accessories that you would like. This will include things such as scoopers, measuring cups, butter melters, and serving cups. 

If your chosen popcorn maker includes a variety of additional accessories as standard, this will save you from having to purchase these separately.

Budget

Lastly, you will need to think about how much budget you have to play with when it comes to choosing the best popcorn machine for your needs.

Some of the more efficient models such as the theater style popcorn machines often cost a lot more than the smaller, more compact stirring machines. So if you want a highly efficient machine, you will need to accommodate its larger price tag.

It will be best not to opt for the cheapest popcorn machine that you can find. This is because cheaper machines won’t last you as long as a popcorn machine that you have invested a reasonable amount of money in.

If you buy cheap, you often have to buy twice. Similarly, you shouldn’t splash out thousands of dollars just to find the best popcorn machine. There are lots of reasonably priced popcorn machines that we have reviewed in more detail for you above.

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of popcorn maker is best?

Out of the two styles of popcorn maker on the market, the best type to opt for is 

The best popcorn machines on the market are:

• West Bend Hot Oil Theater Style Popcorn Machine
• Great Northern Popcorn Machine
• West Bend Stir Crazy Popcorn Machine
• Presto PopLite Hot Air Popcorn Machine
• Popcorn Maker Machine by Paramount

How do I choose a popcorn machine?

There are several factors that you will need to consider when it comes to choosing the best popcorn machine for your needs.

These factors will include: which style of popcorn maker you would prefer; the size of the machine and how easy it is to store when not in use, the capacity of your chosen machine; how easy it is to clean when you’ve finished using it; how easy it will be to use; what kind of budget you have to play with; and whether your chosen popcorn machine comes with a range of additional accessories for you to use.

Is a popcorn maker better than a microwave?

Yes, a popcorn maker is better for making popcorn than a microwave. This is because a popcorn maker has been designed with crafting perfect popcorn in mind, so you won’t have to worry about burnt or uncooked corn kernels.

By opting for a popcorn machine to make your popcorn, you will get the consistent results that you are after.