6 Best Popcorn Makers to Enhance Movie Night

Yield: 6 quarts | Material: Stainless Steel

Whirley-Pop’s time-tested machinery and iconic, old-school method are hard to beat when it comes to manufacturing popcorn at home. The Whirley-Pop gadget, invented by farmer Mike Williams in 1980, combines a deep stainless steel pot, four steam vents, and a crank-operated stirring mechanism that allows kernels to heat up rapidly and evenly. It pops 6 quarts of light, crunchy popcorn in 3 minutes. Although all Whirley-Pop models make excellent popcorn, we prefer the classic look of this copper-plated pot. (Fun fact: Williams’ farm grew corn kernels for popcorn king Orville Redenbacher.)

Pros: 

• Quick and efficient
• Great for big batches
• Time-tested brand

Cons: 

• Not dishwasher-safe

Yield: 2.5 quarts | Material: Silicone

Replace store-bought microwave popcorn with this simple-to-use microwavable popcorn machine. Place popcorn kernels in Korcci’s silicone popper and heat for 2 to 4 minutes in the microwave. As a result, the popcorn is crisp and tasty without the garbage. Of course, you can add melted butter, salt, and spices as desired after it pops, but you’ll have more control over how much you use. When finished, the bowl collapses for convenient storage, making it ideal for a tiny home kitchen or college dorm room.

Pros: 

• Compact and stores easily
• Dishwasher-safe
• BPA-free material

Cons:

• Less aesthetically pleasing than some of the other models on our list

Yield: 1.5 quarts or 3 quarts | Material: Glass

This microwavable popcorn maker is made of robust, temperature-safe glass and distributes air evenly for speedy and equal popping. The glass bowl is BPA-free by nature, and the Widemouth hole makes it simple to fill. The silicone lid also includes a measuring cup that is perfectly sized for the bowl. Finally, note that the lid has small slits allowing users to place a stick of butter on top, which will melt over the popcorn as it pops.

Pros: 

• Dishwasher safe
• BPA-free

Cons:

• Relatively small yield

Yield: 6 quarts | Material: Aluminum

Cuisinart’s stovetop popper makes making homemade popcorn a breeze and is also fashionable. The strong aluminum pot and stainless steel stirring mechanism circulate heat efficiently to turn kernels (and a modest bit of oil) into 6 quarts of wonderfully airy popcorn. Furthermore, the pot’s wooden handle remains chilly throughout. And the pot looks exquisite on the stove—it’s pretty enough to leave out all the time.

Pros:

• Quick and efficient
• Can pop a big batch of popcorn
• Beautiful design

Cons:

• Not dishwasher-safe

Yield: 12 quarts | Material: Stainless steel and glass

Maybe you’re outfitting your family game room or want to upgrade your movie night… Whatever the reason, Cornrush’s popcorn machine is worth a look. It takes the excitement of movie theater popcorn straight into your home, with a stainless steel kettle that is readily removable for quick refill and cleaning and a stirring mechanism. It can pop up to 12 quarts of popcorn in five minutes, which is quite impressive. Meanwhile, the glass sides and door are resistant to heat and breakage. They’re also completely transparent, so you and your guests can see the popping in action.

Pros:

• Fun to use
• Conversation-starting design
• Pops a big batch of popcorn

Cons: 

• Large footprint

Yield: 4.5 quarts | Material: Plastic

Homemade popcorn is simple, but Presto’s air popper is especially simple—plug in the machine, add kernels, and wait 2 to 3 minutes. As the machine warms up, hot air is circulated uniformly around the kernels, leaving almost no un-popped popcorn behind. A tube attached to the top directs the popped corn into your serving bowl (but make sure you have the correct size waiting below so nothing escapes onto the floor), and the cord rolls up for simple storage.

Pros:

• Bestselling design
• Simple and intuitive to use
• Yields a nice amount for the whole family

Cons: 

• Takes up counter and storage space