Top 10 Best Popcorn Popper Consumer Report, Our Picks

Our pick: Presto 05204 Orville Redenbacher's

The Presto 05204 Orville Redenbacher's Stirring Popper offers a straightforward, manual popcorn-making experience with a few thoughtful features. Designed for stovetop use, it provides a clear view of the popping process through its transparent lid and includes a built-in butter melter to enhance flavor. The heat-resistant black body and stirring mechanism ensure even popping and reduce the risk of burning. While it handles a moderate quantity of popcorn effectively, it is best suited for small to medium batches.

Key Advantages

• Transparent lid allows monitoring the popping progress

• Built-in butter melter for easy flavoring

• Heat-resistant construction enhances safety and durability

• Manual stirring ensures even cooking and reduces burning

Main Disadvantage

• Limited capacity (6 ounces) may not be ideal for large groups

The Presto 05204 Stirring Popper is a reliable and convenient option for homemade popcorn enthusiasts seeking control over the popping process and flavoring. Its moderate capacity and manual operation suit casual use well, making it a solid choice for small households or personal use.

Also great: Presto Orville Redenbacher's Fountain Hot Air Popper Popcorn

The Presto Orville Redenbacher's Fountain Hot Air Popper is a highly efficient, oil-free popcorn maker designed for quick and healthy popping. Its stainless steel restrictors optimize air flow to maximize popping performance, delivering up to 20 cups of popcorn in about 3 and a half minutes. The vented lid promotes crispiness, while the thoughtful design allows the base to nest inside the cover for easy, compact storage. The cover also doubles as a convenient serving bowl, simplifying cleanup and serving.

Key Advantages

• Rapid popping of up to 20 cups in under 4 minutes

• Oil-free popping for healthier snacks

• Vented lid ensures crispy popcorn texture

• Compact, nested design for easy storage and serving

Main Disadvantage

• Limited popping capacity for very large gatherings

The Presto Orville Redenbacher's Fountain Hot Air Popper is a practical and health-conscious choice for those who want fresh, crispy popcorn quickly without added oil. Its efficient design and multifunctional components make it ideal for everyday use and small to medium-sized groups.

Also great: West Bend Stir Crazy Hot Oil Popcorn Popper

The West Bend Stir Crazy Hot Oil Popcorn Popper is a versatile and user-friendly popcorn maker designed to deliver evenly popped, flavorful popcorn for families and gatherings. With a generous 6-quart capacity, it suits movie nights or casual entertaining well. The motorized stirring rod helps prevent kernels from burning and ensures thorough popping, while the improved ventilation technology enhances hot air distribution for consistent results. Its dual-purpose vented lid doubles as a serving bowl, adding convenience, and the heat-resistant handles with notches make serving safer and easier.

Key Advantages

• Large 6-quart capacity ideal for families

• Motorized stir rod for even popping

• Vented lid doubles as a serving bowl

• Heat-resistant handles with serving notches

Main Disadvantage

• Requires oil for popping, adding cleanup and calories

The West Bend Stir Crazy Hot Oil Popcorn Popper combines a large capacity with effective stirring and ventilation to produce consistent, flavorful popcorn. Its practical features enhance ease of use and serving, making it a strong choice for those who prefer traditional oil-popped popcorn in a home setting.

Source: Amazon

When it comes to popping popcorn, the "best" method depends on what you prioritize: flavor, convenience, or health. Here are the most common methods and their pros and cons:

• Stovetop Popping: This classic method involves heating oil and kernels in a pot. It offers great control over temperature, resulting in evenly popped, crispy popcorn with a rich flavor. You can also customize the oil type and seasonings. However, it requires more attention and effort than other methods.

• Air Poppers: Using hot air instead of oil, air poppers create light, low-calorie popcorn. This method is ideal if you want a healthier snack with minimal added fat. The popcorn is usually less flavorful on its own but perfect for adding your own seasonings afterward.

• Microwave Bags: Pre-packaged microwave popcorn is incredibly convenient and quick. The flavor is often strong due to added butter and salt, but the quality can vary widely between brands. Also, some varieties contain artificial ingredients or unhealthy additives.

• Electric Popcorn Makers: These devices offer a middle ground, popping kernels with a built-in heating element and sometimes a stirring mechanism. They provide consistent results with less oil than stovetop popping, making them a popular choice for frequent popcorn lovers.

Overall, stovetop popping is often considered the best for flavor and texture, while air poppers win for health, and microwave popcorn scores highest for convenience.

What Popcorn Is Best for Popping?

The quality of the popcorn kernels plays a significant role in the popping experience. The best kernels share a few key characteristics:

• High Moisture Content: Kernels with about 13-14% moisture pop better because the steam inside builds pressure and causes the kernel to explode. Kernels that are too dry will result in more unpopped "old maids."

• Freshness: Fresher kernels pop more consistently. Stale or old kernels lose moisture over time, reducing their popping potential.

• Kernel Type: There are two main types—butterfly (or snowflake) and mushroom popcorn. Butterfly popcorn pops into irregular shapes with light, airy textures, perfect for butter and seasoning. Mushroom popcorn pops into round, compact shapes, often used in caramel corn and coatings because it holds up better.

• Brand Reputation: Trusted brands often provide higher-quality kernels that pop more reliably and taste better.

Some of the widely recommended popcorn kernels come from brands like Bob's Red Mill, Orville Redenbacher’s, and Arrowhead Mills, which are known for their freshness and consistent popping results.

What Is the Secret of Perfect Popcorn Popping?

Achieving perfect popcorn popping involves a few important factors:

1. Correct Heat Level: Too high heat can burn the kernels; too low will leave many unpopped. Medium-high heat is generally best, allowing the kernels to heat evenly and pop fully.

2. Proper Oil Use: If using oil, choose one with a high smoke point like coconut, canola, or avocado oil. Use just enough oil to coat the bottom of the pan, which helps conduct heat evenly and enhances flavor.

3. Shaking the Pan: When popping on the stovetop, gently shaking the pan keeps kernels moving, prevents burning, and allows heat to distribute evenly.

4. Moisture Balance: As mentioned, moisture content is critical. Storing kernels in an airtight container at room temperature helps maintain the right moisture.

5. Ventilation: Once popping slows down to 2-3 seconds between pops, removing the popcorn from heat prevents burning while leaving most kernels popped.

By following these guidelines, you can achieve popcorn that’s fluffy, crunchy, and evenly popped without burning or leaving too many unpopped kernels.

Which Popcorn Brand Pops the Most?

When it comes to popping yield—the percentage of kernels that actually pop—some brands stand out due to their superior kernel quality and moisture content. Based on consumer reviews and tests:

• Orville Redenbacher’s is widely regarded as a top performer. Their kernels consistently deliver a high popping rate with large, fluffy pieces.

• Bob’s Red Mill also receives praise for freshness and consistent popping, especially for stovetop popping enthusiasts who want control over oil and seasoning.

• Pop Secret is popular for microwave popcorn but also sells loose kernels with good popping results.

• Quinn Popcorn offers organic, non-GMO kernels that pop well and have a clean, natural taste.

Ultimately, the best popping brand for you may depend on your popping method and flavor preferences. However, these brands are known for their reliable popping performance and quality.