Who does not love crunchy, delicious, perfectly seasoned popcorn?
It is a healthy snack that will come in handy on any occasion.
It can be made in various ways, but the best tasting ones are made using a stovetop popcorn maker.
And considering that there are plenty of options to choose from…
we will help you to pick the best stovetop popcorn maker for the most delicious popcorn for your movie nights.
Top 7 Best Stovetop Popcorn Maker
- Cook N Home 6 Quart Aluminium Stovetop Popcorn Popper
- Great Northern 6-1/2-Quart Stovetop Popcorn Popper
- Franklin’s Original Whirley Pop Stovetop Popcorn Machine
- Time for Treats StovePop Stove-Top Popcorn Popper
- Zippy Pop Black Marble Stovetop Popcorn Popper
- Casey-Pop Premium Stovetop Popcorn Popper
- Whirly Pop Whirley-Pop Stovetop Popcorn Popper
Stovetop Popcorn Maker Buying Guide
As the name suggests, a popcorn maker helps you to pop corn. Popcorn is a widely known snack made from corn seeds. People have been enjoying it since ancient times, but it wasn’t until the late 19th century that large-scale commercial machines were invented (by Charles Cretors). They were using a lot of hot oil, so 45% of the calories come from fat. Stove-top poppers on the other hand were invented in 1978, and they give you popcorn with 5% of the calories from fat.
Stovetop popcorn poppers are mostly made from stainless steel, with stainless steel lid or transparent glass lid. They are capable of providing you with large quantities of popcorn, and you can even grab a popper with you while camping.
The interesting fact is that popcorn which is made on the stovetop is actually a lot bigger, fluffier, and stays crunchy the longest in comparison to the popcorn made in an air popper or microwave. If you’re worried that your popcorn may turn out soggy, you can add clarified butter or ghee. This way, you will get a pleasant buttery taste and a crunchy texture.
Some people may not know, but popcorn, if it’s made right, it is one of the healthiest snacks because it’s a whole grain and high in fiber. Therefore, eating popcorn will help you lower the risk of heart disease, diabetes and maintain a nutritious diet. But to be sure that you won’t get any fats and sugars that are not beneficial for your health, it’s better to make the popcorn at home.
Important features
We all know that choosing the right popcorn maker might be a challenge, so you should keep in mind the following features – material, capacity, stirring mechanism, time to pop, and easiness to clean.
Material
It’s no doubt that you want the popcorn maker to be a faithful companion for a lot of occasions. Therefore, you should pay attention to the material that it is built from. The best choice is ones that are made from stainless steel as it’s durable and versatile or aluminum as it helps evenly conduct the heat. You should also check if it’s compatible with all types of stoves.
Size
The larger your stovetop popcorn maker is, the more popcorn you’ll get, it’s as simple as that. So, if you plan on having big parties and movie nights, you know which to choose.
Stirring Mechanism
Nobody likes burned popcorn, that’s a no-brainer. So, if you want to avoid this outcome, you should check if your stovetop popcorn maker has a stirring mechanism. And it should be made from stainless steel.
Timer
If the movie is about to start or all your friends arrive on time, the last thing you need is to wait for ages when the popcorn is ready. So, select one that guarantees that your popcorn will be ready in 2 to 5 minutes.
When the fun is over, it’s highly unlikely that you prefer to spend hours cleaning bowls and a popcorn maker, so it is a good idea to check if it’s dishwasher safe. So, now let us help you to choose the best stovetop popcorn maker for your popcorn fiesta.
Best Stovetop Popcorn Maker Reviews
Cook N Home 6 Quart Aluminium Stovetop Popcorn Popper
Pros
- Has vents for steam to escape
- Made from aluminum
- Has a stirring mechanism
Cons
- Not suitable for induction stove
See price @ Amazon
Best features and specs
Undoubtedly, the popcorn-making process is an easy one, and there are not a lot of things that could go wrong. But, it is also true that almost nobody likes eating burned and soggy corn seeds. This popcorn maker will make sure that you will not encounter either of these two issues. It has a stirring mechanism that prevents the kernels from sticking to the bottom and vents in the lid that let all unnecessary moisture get out.
User impressions
Users are quite impressed with this popcorn maker and say that you wouldn’t want a microwave popcorn after using this maker ever again. That being said, some users noted that the stirring rod doesn’t reach the bottom of the plate.
What we think
We like this stovetop popcorn popper as it is made from aluminum, which is great for distributing heating evenly. Also, this popper has very durable metal gear, a wooden handle, and knobs that always stay cool and comfortable.
Bottomline
Cook N Home 6 Quart Aluminium Stovetop Popcorn Popper is a great choice for someone who is looking for a popcorn maker that will always provide you with the best popcorn. It has a large capacity and will quickly let you make a sizable amount of crispy, hot, and delicious snacks. The knob on the lid lets you easily lift it and pour the popcorn into a bowl. Note that this stovetop popcorn popper isn’t compatible with induction burners.
Great Northern 6-1/2-Quart Stovetop Popcorn Popper
Pros
- Has a stirring mechanism
- Has vents for steam to escape
- Handle and pour are made from heat-resistant wood
- Made from stainless steel
Cons
- Not suitable for induction stove
See price @ Amazon
Best features and specs
It’s highly unlikely that there’s a person who hasn’t heard about the Great Northern Popcorn Company. The company provides all sorts of machines and other equipment that is ideal for snacking in a movie theater and at home. Great Northern 6-1/2-Quart Stovetop Popcorn Popper has the stirring mechanism of a wooden stirrer with metal gears that prevent kernels from sticking and burning.
User impressions
Users like that this popcorn maker makes popcorn evenly coated with butter, but some users were quite disappointed that it doesn’t work with an induction burner.
What we think
We like this stovetop popcorn popper as it has vents in the lid that remove all excessive steam and moisture inside the kettle. This popper has duplex heat pads that reduce the cooking time of the popcorn. Also, this stovetop popcorn popper is made from stainless steel that makes it really easy to clean.
Bottomline
Great Northern 6-1/2-Quart Stovetop Popcorn Popper is a great choice for someone who is looking for an easy-to-use stainless steel stovetop popcorn popper that comes from a trusted and well-known manufacturer. It is capable of producing 5 quarts of popcorn in just a few minutes. An innovatively designed lid allows the moisture to escape through vents, leaving your popcorn crunchy, hot, and tasteful. Note that this stovetop popcorn popper isn’t compatible with induction burners.
Franklin’s Original Whirley Pop Stovetop Popcorn Machine
Pros
- Large capacity
- Patented stirring mechanism
- Lifetime warranty
- Wooden handle to prevent burns
- Made from aluminum
Cons
- No vents for steam to escape
- A bit pricey
- Not suitable for induction stove
See price @ Amazon
Best features and specs
Not only do we want to have kitchen items from reliable manufacturers, but we want to be able to trust the quality of the products we buy. Guys from Franklin’s exceeded our hopes and provided us, customers, with corn and poppers to make the most delicious popcorn ever. As Franklin’s are obsessed with the top-quality of everything, they aren’t giving you only Franklin’s Original Whirley Pop Stovetop Popcorn Machine, but also a packet of popcorn to taste.
User impressions
Users say that this is a very sturdy popcorn maker that produces very crispy popcorn and is designed to be used with small amounts of oil.
What we think
We like this stovetop popcorn popper as it has an extra-large aluminum pot that evenly distributes heat. It has a patented stirring mechanism that prevents kernels from sticking and being burnt on the bottom. Also, this popcorn popper has real wood handles that prevent you from burning yourself. And, it’s unbelievably easy to clean as you only need to wipe the pot with damp paper after each use.
Bottomline
Franklin’s Original Whirley Pop Stovetop Popcorn Machine is a great choice for someone who is looking for quality above all else. This popcorn popper comes from a reliable manufacturer that closely monitors the quality of the released goods under its name. It has a large capacity and a patented stirring mechanism that helps kernels to pop evenly. With this popcorn popper, you will enjoy the taste of popcorn like in old movie theatres. Note that this stovetop popcorn popper isn’t compatible with induction burners.
Time for Treats StovePop Stove-Top Popcorn Popper
Pros
- Large capacity
- Lifetime warranty
- Compatible with gas, electric and induction burners
- 4 vents for steam
- Handle that turns clockwise and counterclockwise
- Made from stainless steel
Cons
- Cheap stirring parts
See price @ Amazon
Best features and specs
It’s always good when innovation means ‘no more trouble’ than ‘more functions than you need’. Creating popcorn is an easy and enjoyable task that shouldn’t be overthought at all. Time for Treats StovePop Stove-Top Popcorn Popper made an easy task even easier as you need only several actions to get the crunchy and tasty result. This popcorn maker has a very ergonomic and useful handle, by turning to mix the popcorn.
User impressions
Users like that this popcorn maker is thoroughly built and works perfectly well with induction burners. Interestingly enough, some users note that this popcorn maker is also good for roasting coffee beans.
What we think
We like this stovetop popcorn popper as it has a magnet in the lid that holds firmly and helps with avoiding any unwanted oil and butter splashes or mixing flavors while you are mixing the popcorn. Also, having another handle to grab while pouring the popcorn into the bowl is a really useful feature.
Bottomline
Time for Treats StovePop Stove-Top Popcorn Popper is a great choice for someone who is looking for a large capacity popcorn popper that will keep your popcorn fresh and crisp as it has 4 vents for steam to escape while the popcorn is popping. Knowing that the whole product is made from stainless steel, bottom included, proves that it will be a reliable helper for a long time.
Zippy Pop Black Marble Stovetop Popcorn Popper
Pros
- Dishwasher safe
- Patented stirring mechanism
- Glass lid with silicone rim
- Made from aluminum
- 5 years warranty
Cons
- Loose knob on the handle
See price @ Amazon
Best features and specs
To make popcorn without any mess is a dream coming true for all of us. Zippy Pop Black Marble Stovetop Popcorn Popper is designed in a way that you can make popcorn easily and effortlessly. You can mix the popcorn with a rotation paddle that is operated by the top handle.
User impressions
Users agree that this is a great popcorn maker because of its transparent glass top and non-stick surface. Users also are quite pleased with the fact that you can wash it in the dishwasher.
What we think
We like this stovetop popcorn popper as it has a special port in a lid that helps with seasoning the popcorn while it’s cooking. Having a tempered glass lid is extremely helpful as we can observe the process of popcorn making. Also, it’s very easy to clean and it’s dishwasher friendly.
Bottomline
Zippy Pop Black Marble Stovetop Popcorn Popper is a great choice for someone who is looking for an innovatively designed popcorn maker with a see-through tempered glass lid that helps with seasoning the popcorn while making it. It has a 5 years warranty and includes a recipe book.
Casey-Pop Premium Stovetop Popcorn Popper
Pros
- Large capacity
- Patented angled stirring shaft
- Has a stirring mechanism
- Made from aluminum
Cons
- None
See price @ Amazon
Best features and specs
It’s always a delight when the manufacturer has in mind the principles of simplicity, convenience, and understands the basic needs of the customer. Casey-Pop Premium Stovetop Popcorn Popper was made by an experienced engineer that shares the love for the perfectly popped popcorn with us. The bowl is made from thick anodized aluminum that prevents overheating and burning popcorn that is ready.
User impressions
Users agree that this is a very lightweight and easy-to-use popcorn maker. Users also say that this popcorn maker is extremely easy to clean up.
What we think
We like this stovetop popcorn popper as it has a carefully designed, patented angled stirring shaft that allows the lid to cover most of the top. And it ensures an easy pouring of the popcorn that is already popped. Also, the bowl is modeled in the way that concentrates heat at the unpopped kernels, by moving ones that popped to the side to prevent burning.
Bottomline
Casey-Pop Premium Stovetop Popcorn Popper is a great choice for someone who is looking for a thoroughly made device that will definitely make the best popcorn ready in no time. It has a very ergonomic wooden handle and two knobs that hold the lid. It’s really easy to clean, as you can lift the stirrer to wash everything.
Whirly Pop Whirley-Pop Stovetop Popcorn Popper
Pros
- Large capacity
- Has a stirring mechanism
- 25 years warranty
- Popcorn will be ready in 3 minutes
Cons
- None
See price @ Amazon
Best features and specs
What’s not to love when a kitchen item is provided by a trustworthy manufacturer? Washab Valley Farm Company has been supplying its customers with top-notch quality Whirley-Pop popcorn poppers for 30 years. This time, though, Whirly Pop Whirley-Pop Stovetop Popcorn Popper is a stainless steel version of a popcorn-making machine. It has a stirring mechanism that prevents popcorn from sticking to the bottom and being burnt.
User impressions
Users like that this popcorn maker is very steady because of the extra layer of metal on the bottom. It pops all the kernels evenly and doesn’t produce burnt popcorn.
What we think
We like this stovetop popcorn popper as it has a really large capacity of 6 quarts and delivers ready and crispy popcorn in just 3 minutes. Also, the company added a packet of kernels with buttery seasoning, and some popping oil which was a really pleasant surprise.
Bottomline
This popcorn maker is a great choice for someone who is looking for a durable, reliable, and mighty popcorn popper that has wooden knobs and handles that will always stay cold to the touch. The knobs will help you when you are popping and then pouring popcorn in the bowl as they hold the lid. It’s really easy to clean and it has a 25 years warranty.