Best Microwave Popcorn Popper
Popcorn is such a simple pleasure and, short of buying a dedicated popcorn maker, the microwave has become the king of homemade popcorn. For those who love popcorn for every time the snack urge strikes, this article looks at the best microwave popcorn poppers and offers our pick for the popping the perfect popcorn every time.
- Silicone construction and BPA free
- Collapsible for easy storage
- Easy grip handles for convenience
- 14 bright and appealing colors
- Dishwasher safe and easy to clean
- Dimensions: 8 x 8 x 2.2
- Weight: 4.8 ounces
- Heat resistant borosilicate glass and BPA free plastic
- Optimal shape for more popped kernels
- Comes in 1.5 QT and family size 3.0 QT
- Fits 99 percent of all microwaves
- Dishwasher safe and easy to clean
- Dimensions: 8.1 x 7.3 x 8
- Weight: 1.2 lbs.
- Food grade silicone for healthy popcorn
- Unique design spreads heat evenly
- Add oil, butter, salt to the cooking process
- BPA and PVC free materials
- Collapsible and dishwasher safe
- Dimensions: 8 x 8 x 2.2
- Weight: 10.9 ounces
- Easy to use: Just fill to the line and pop the lid on to prevent spillage
- Cooks perfect popcorn in a minute and a half
- Collapsible and easy to clean
- Suction lid to stop spillages
- BPA free and dishwasher safe
- Dimensions: 7.9 x 7.9 x 5.7
- Weight: 9 ounces
- High-density plastic construction
- Dishwasher safe and oven safe up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit
- Available in 2 colors
- BPA free and melamine free material
- Cooks popcorn in 4-minutes
- Dimensions: 10 x 10 x 5
- Weight: 4.23 lbs.
- Collapsible for easy storage
- Cherry red color
- Makes healthy popcorn with no need for oil
- Easy grip tabs for safe removal
- Silicone construction so hard wearing and durable
- Dimensions: 8.3 x 8.1 x 2.7
- Weight: 10.6 ounces
- Cooks in under three and a half minutes
- Add oil or other flavors during the cooking process
- Food grade silicone
- Holds up to 8 servings of popcorn
- Steam vent in the lid to help create fluffy popcorn
- Dimensions: 5.2 x 5.2 x 6
- Weight: 11.2 ounces
This simple popcorn popper is bright, collapsible, and easy to store. It comes in eye-catching colors like magenta and lime and is dishwasher safe. It’s also BPA free, so there’s no need to fret about contaminants getting into the popcorn.
The price comes in at less than $16, so while it’s not the cheapest on the market but it is popular with buyers.
Pros
- Lightweight and easy to store
- Robust design
- Available in 14 bright colors
- Easy grip handles for safe removal from microwave
Cons
- Expensive for what it is
- Handles can get hot so allow time for cooling
This Ecolution popcorn popper is slightly different than most in the fact that it has a borosilicate glass sphere that allows the popcorn to circulate.
Thanks to this feature, the manufacturer claims that their popper is better at heating the popcorn and that fewer kernels are left un-popped. The whole cooking process takes three minutes and, once done, the popper is dishwasher safe and easy to keep clean. It also comes in two sizes: snack size (ideal for two sharing) and family size (with a huge 3.0 QT bowl).
Pros
- Better quality materials than most popcorn popper
- Glass bowl to see the popcorn pop
- Fits in 99 percent of domestic microwaves
- Comes in 2 sizes: large and small
Cons
- Cumbersome to store
- Not all the kernels pop
This Popco popper is made from food-grade silicone, so there shouldn’t be any nasty aftertaste in the popcorn. It also spreads the heat in the microwave so that all the kernels get the chance to pop without burning.
The silicone is BPA free, PVC free, and is collapsible for easy storage. Popco is trying hard to sell the fun aspect of eating popcorn and have produced this Popco popper in eight bold colors to suit the kid in you.
Pros
- BPA and PVC free
- Add flavors while cooking
- Collapsible for storage
- Spreads heat evenly for better results
Cons
- Feels flimsy
- Sometimes popcorn burns, especially if adding oil
This Lekue Popcorn popper is similar to the other silicone varieties; it’s brightly colored, it has a lid for lighter and fluffier popcorn, and it’s collapsible for easy storage.
The price point for this model is pretty similar too. This popper surpasses the rest, though, because it was designed after extensive scientific research on the best way to cook popcorn in association with the Alicia Foundation (an organization dedicated to the innovation and technological advancement of cuisine). The silicone is both BPA free and is made with 100 percent platinum silicone.
Pros
- Scientifically tested for better results
- Cooks in a minute and a half
- Has a suction lid to keep popcorn light and fluffy
- BPA free silicone
Cons
- Expensive for what it is
- Has a tendency to burn the popcorn
This excellent family name in American kitchens has produced the most robust of the popcorn poppers on the list. The Nordic Ware gets heated in an oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit, and it feels a bit bulky, weighing in at a heavy 4.23 lbs.
Made from BPA and melamine free material, there’ll be no contamination of the food, and because of the design and build quality, there won’t be any worries about the thing lasting for a long while. That means years of hassle-free popcorn making!
Pros
- High-density plastic for durability
- BPA and melamine free materials
- Oven safe up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit
- Dishwasher safe
Cons
- Looks a bit dull
- Not cheap at over $16
- On the heavy side
This Housewares Solutions product is BPA free, PVC free, and is made from food-grade silicone. It comes only in cherry red, so you know it’s a fun product, and it can make ten large cups of popcorn in one go (about eight to ten average servings).
It has two safety tabs on the lid to help you remove it from the microwave when it’s piping hot, and since it’s made of silicone it’s dishwasher safe and easy to clean.
Pros
- Bright and fun design
- BPA and PVC free
- Large capacity
- Dishwasher safe and easy to clean
Cons
- Hard to clean if you’re adding flavors like butter
- Only comes in one color: cherry red
The Cestari popcorn popper allows you to add flavors like salt or butter during the microwave process. It cooks in under three and a half minutes, and the steam vent in the lid allows for the popcorn to be light and fluffy.
The silicone is food grade and BPA-free, and the capacity of the popper will serve up 8 cups in one go. Couple that with a “no questions asked” lifetime guarantee, and this little number could be the one for you.
Pros
- Cooks in three and a half minutes
- Add flavors while cooking
- Steam vent in the lid
- Lifetime warranty
Cons
- The container gets very hot
- On the small side
Microwave Popcorn Popper Buyer’s Guide
Because so many popcorn poppers on the market today function in the same way and have the same basic design, selecting a microwave popcorn popper comes down to aesthetics. Do you like the color or the shape? If you are spending what is not a small amount of money, you should at least like the way it looks. In addition, consider the following elements:
Functions
All of these poppers work on the same basic principle: Kernels of popcorn are poured into a silicone container and, as the heat blasts away, the kernels pop. The secret is making sure that the kernels don’t burn before they pop and that there is enough room for the popcorn to expand. Some popcorn poppers have steam vents in the lid to help stop over-cooking, which can make the popcorn tough and chewy. Others have lids that allow you to melt butter during the cooking process or to add extra ingredients to flavor the popcorn.
Styling
Almost every manufacturer has gone for the same, fun, party look, something that would appeal to kids or the kid within us adults. The basic designs are the same, although there are some poppers that employ glass and durable high-density plastic in their styling. It is tough to stand out in a crowded marketplace when the best design is the one used by all manufacturers.
Product Warranty
Because popcorn poppers are basic in their materials and build quality, there isn’t much call for warranties. However, one maker, Cestari, has issued a “no questions asked” lifetime guarantee on its popcorn popper. That’s pretty hard to beat!
Conclusion
Popcorn poppers are a healthy alternative to bagged or pre-packed popcorn. They remove the need for added oil, and they only take a few minutes to cook. Recipes are often supplied with the popcorn popper to show you different ways to freshen up this humble snack: from chocolate sprinkles to sugar and salt, the possibilities are endless.
Ultimately, by using a popcorn popper in the microwave, you are having your cake and eating it too, because what should be an unhealthy snack has now been transformed.
For sheer simplicity of design and use, the Original Salbree Popcorn popper gets our vote. And judging by the number of units sold, it gets the vote of the buying public too. It isn’t the cheapest on the list, but comparing it to others, it seems the Salbree is one of the originals, and still possibly the best. Snacking will never be the same!
FAQ
Can you use oil?
Yes you can. For the best results you can try cooking with a teaspoon of oil, but it is optional.
Does it need to be cooled before washing?
Not necessarily, but it does depend on your heat threshold.
How much popcorn does it pop?
As a rule of thumb, a quarter cup of popcorn makes about eight servings. Some popcorn poppers come with a fill-line so you know exactly how much your adding.
Final Thoughts
Popcorn poppers are a healthy alternative to bagged or pre-packed popcorn. They remove the need for added oil, and they only take a few minutes to cook. Recipes are often supplied with the popcorn popper to show you different ways to freshen up this humble snack: from chocolate sprinkles to sugar and salt, the possibilities are endless.
Ultimately, by using a popcorn popper in the microwave, you are having your cake and eating it too, because what should be an unhealthy snack has now been transformed.
For sheer simplicity of design and use, the Original Salbree Popcorn Popper gets our vote. And judging by the number of units sold, it gets the vote of the buying public too. It isn’t the cheapest on the list, but comparing it to others, it seems the Salbree is one of the originals, and still possibly the best. Snacking will never be the same!
