What is it about homemade popcorn that just tastes better? Is it the room-filling aroma? Or the ability to lather on as many flavours or seasonings as your heart desires? No matter what it is - there’s one thing for sure, you need a specialised device in order to do it right.
No movie night is complete with popcorn. The two go hand in hand like Wimbledon and strawberries, wine and cheese or burgers and chips. As cinemas open once again, you will also save a pretty penny through a BYO approach. Yet, trying to pop the kernels without burning or sticking in a traditional pan is as tricky as it is stressful but with a popcorn maker, you have a short term investment for long term gain. Plus you can buy a pack of kernels for just £1.50 (Waitrose, 510g).
Being able to whip up your own popcorn makes for a much healthier snack. Pre-packaged products can contain unsavoury additives, fat, salt, and more. The high-fibre wholegrain snack should not be calorific but a 30g bag (the recommended portion size) of microwavable butter popcorn is 10 per cent of your recommended salt intake.
When it comes to your popcorn making method of choice, there are three main categories to choose from. The first - microwaveable - tends to be a silicone bowl in which you add the kernels. Simply sling into the microwave and you’ll have a delicious bowl of popcorn in mere minutes. It’s quick and easy and doesn’t require much, if any, in the way of oil or butter. These pots are dishwasher-safe and cost-effective, but they’re not the most durable and can change shape or stain. They also get seriously hot so don’t get too overexcited when you hear the ding.
The second are known as air poppers and these work by heating up the kernels with hot air to encourage them to pop. They may be more expensive than the bowls above but they are pretty much the healthiest you can get as they don’t require any greasy add-ons. These devices can also be attractive with stainless steel constructions or ones designed to resemble a retro movie theatre-style popcorn machine.
Lastly, stove-top pans are different to your run-of-the-mill cookware in that they have a lid with a stirring mechanism that prevents the kernels from burning or sticking to the side of the pan. They are cost-friendly and durable.
Shop the best popcorn makers below.
Joe & Sephs Gourmet Popcorn Maker
Take the guesswork out of the popping process with Joe & Sephs. The brand is known for its collection of gourmet pre-packaged popcorn on the market - with innovative flavour combinations that just work. Now they’ve expanded into the home appliance sphere with this latest device. It is made up of three distinctive parts; the bowl, the middle unit and a lid. Once these are attached together correctly, just pour the kernels in that’s all the work there is. The device has a self-timer of two and a half minutes that ensures optimum kernal popping with minimal wastage. To take your popcorn experience to the next level, invest in some of the brand’s sauces that once heated you can pour over the corn to recreate the deliciousness of the Salted Caramel, Sticky Toffee, Gin & Tonic, Prosecco and the many, many more varieties.
American Originals Cinema Style Popcorn Maker
Hark back to retro movie theatre machines with this vintage-inspired model from American Originals. While it has clear style credentials, it can also whip up enough fresh popcorn to satisfy the entire family: we’re talking 16 cups and there are four buckets included for you to fill right up to the top. Due to the size, it may take longer than you think so plan ahead for your movie nights.
Great Northern Popcorn Original Spinner Stovetop Popcorn Popper
This may be a more manual way of making popcorn than the rest of the devices in this list but the results are worth it for the premium treat that it provides. The first thing to note is the ability to make a very large amount of popcorn very quickly, which is great for impatient big and little kids alike, and also on match nights when you have friends over to watch sport. You will need to continuously turn the handle to prevent burning and sticking but it’s made from real wood so won’t overheat. The aluminium exterior makes for a durable device that can be used time and time again.
Joseph Joseph M-Cuisine Microwave Popcorn Makers, Set of 2
The perfect accompaniment to a night-in, this popcorn maker from Joseph Joseph is a great choice for those deprived of kitchen storage. Each pot provides a single serving of popcorn (around 30g) and you simply place it in the microwave where in just a few minutes the kernels have transformed into the good stuff without the need for oil or butter. The exterior is heat-resistant but the best part of all is that there is little to do in terms of cleaning up once you’ve finished.
SALTER EK2902 Popcorn Maker
This popcorn maker from Salter makes for a compact device that gives you both a healthy and perfectly popped snack in just three minutes. It uses 1200W of power to heat the kernels and so doesn’t require any add-ons like oil and butter that can add unnecessary calories. Just press the single button and watch the magic happen - it doesn’t get much easier than this.
Swan Popcorn Maker
This device works much in the same way as the Salter model above and similarly is relatively compact for those concerned about storage. Using hot air circulation, the kernels will pop to give you a fresh, high-fibre and low-fat snack to go alongside your big screen flicks.
Giles and Posner EK0493G 1200W Popcorn Maker
For your viewing pleasure, Giles and Posner are on hand with this popcorn maker to simplify the process as much as physically possible. Plug it in, pour in the kernels and in three minutes, you have fresh popcorn. Small but mighty, it will see you through your movie nights for years to come.
Klarstein Couchpotato Popcorn Machine
When it comes to hosting screenings for the whole family, you may need to call in the big guns - enter Klarstein Couchpotato. It has a 5.2L capacity so that everyone can enjoy warm and crispy popcorn at the same time without needing to wait for various cycles to finish. Place the kernels on the heated plate with a stirrer that evenly distributes the temperature to ensure no sticky bottoms and make sure that you’re not left with a whole load of duds.
Elgento E26009 Carnival 1200W Popcorn Cart
For the wow-factor, this popcorn maker brings a certain flair and charm to the cooking experience. It crafts light, airy snacks in just a few minutes and looks good while doing it - with a vintage style suited to old school, retro movie nights. The device even distributes the popcorn into the bowl for you so you don’t need to lift a finger.
Verdict
Giving you the Joe & Seph’s popcorn experience from the comfort of your own home, it’s the brand’s machine that does it for us. Honourable mention also goes to the Elgento model for the retro feels.
