We Tried 11 Popcorn Makers to Find the Best Ones with the Least Amount of Unpopped Kernels

Movie companion, snack time superior, stand-in supper: We love popcorn. 

There are three main types of popcorn makers: air poppers (which use a high-temperature fan), stirring poppers (electric, with a stirring arm), and stovetop poppers. We tested all three—as well as a couple of microwave popcorn poppers—to find out which popped the quickest, produced the best-tasting popcorn, and were the easiest to set up and clean. 

The Winners, at a Glance

Fast and efficient, the Presto popped the quickest batches of great-tasting popcorn with very few unpopped kernels. It was easy to clean with a few quick wipes of a dishrag, too.

Only slightly slower than the Presto, the Dash Air Popper was also great. It was fast, made good popcorn, and had a low percentage of unpopped kernels.

We love the aluminum Whirley Pop so much that we have a whole article on it. Why? It makes popcorn lickety-split, popping one ounce of kernels in a mere nine seconds—yes, really. It also leaves no stone unturned, er, kernel unpopped.

The multi-clad bottom and nonstick interior led to even heating and easy cleanup. We don’t think this makes better popcorn than the Whirley Pop, but it comes in some beautiful hues—including a blue-green mint. 

For crispier popcorn, the West Bend stirring popcorn maker was only slightly slower than our top air poppers, and it left zero unpopped kernels behind. The lid can also double as a serving bowl.

While we prefer air or stovetop poppers, this microwavable, silicone model is small and inexpensive and makes up to 10 cups of popcorn. 

The Tests

• Popcorn Test: We popped 100 grams (approximately a half-cup) of popcorn kernels in each popcorn maker and timed it. We also counted how many unpopped kernels were left. 
• Taste Test: We tasted each popcorn maker’s popcorn plain and with salt added, rating them on flavor, texture, and crispness. 
• Butter Warmer Test: We placed one tablespoon of butter straight from the fridge in each popcorn maker’s butter warmer (if it had one) to see how quickly it would melt, and how easily it poured.
• Usability and Cleanup Tests: We noted how easy each popcorn maker was to set up and clean, tested any extra features, and looked for wear and tear.

What We Learned

Popcorn Makers Came in Three Categories

The three main styles of popcorn makers are air, stirring, and stovetop poppers. Air poppers require no oil and have upright columns with wells you add kernels to. The wells sit directly on top of hot air blowers, which heat and pop the popcorn. The popped popcorn is then blown up and out of the chutes and into awaiting serving bowls.

Stirring popcorn makers have nonstick heating bases with stirring arms and require cooking oil to pop. When you turn one on, the hot plate starts heating and the stirring arm moves the kernels and oil around the base. 

Stovetop popcorn makers—like the Whirley Pop—have metal constructions and stirring arms. They require oil to pop popcorn and for you to manually rotate their arms via handles to ensure even popping.

Stovetop and Air Poppers Were the Most Efficient

Quick, and with very few unpopped kernels, the Presto Poplite Air Popper and Dash Hot Air Popcorn Maker were extremely efficient. The popcorn blew up their chutes and into serving bowls—there was no need to babysit either model. The Presto finished in just under two-and-a-half minutes with 2% unpopped kernels, while the Dash popcorn maker was about 20 seconds slower and averaged 4% unpopped kernels. The Whirley Pop performed exceptionally well, too, leaving only three unpopped kernels behind—though, of course, you do have to watch over it on the stovetop.

Stirring Poppers Were Successful, but Slow

The West Bend Stir Crazy Popcorn Maker and Dash SmartStore made very crispy popcorn, with a nice crackle and no unpopped kernels. They were slower than air poppers, though, with the West Bend finishing in just under four minutes and the Dash taking nearly six. The Cuisinart EasyPop Stirrer needed about seven minutes, so long that the bottom layer of popcorn started to burn and the top layer steamed and became chewy.

The Butter Warmers Stunk

None of the air or stirring models we tested could melt or pour butter well. The Presto dribbled too much, while the West Bend and Dash popcorn makers stirrers suggested adding butter to the top vent, but only after they finished popping. Putting butter on the vents allowed steam to build up, causing the popcorn to turn soggy and chewy. We think you’re better off melting butter in the microwave or on the stovetop instead. 

Air Poppers Were the Easiest to Clean

Because air poppers don’t use oil, they were the easiest to clean (surprise!), requiring just a quick wipe down. The stirring poppers were the most difficult since the electric, nonstick bases couldn’t be submerged, but there was still oil to contend with. While the Whirley Pop’s thin metal construction means it must be hand-washed, this is easy enough to do with soapy water in the sink. The Popsmith is, however, dishwasher-safe.

The Criteria: What to Look for in a Popcorn Maker

Nearly all of the models we tested made good, crispy popcorn. However, the best popcorn makers did so quickly and left very few unpopped kernels. They were also easy to clean. 

Our Favorite Popcorn Makers

What we liked: The Presto popped the fastest, and it also produced fluffy popcorn. It routinely had a low percentage of unpopped kernels (around 2% compared to the 4 to 5.6% of the other air poppers). All of the popper’s pieces were sturdy and fit together well, and the cord wrap secured the lid to the base (so the top wouldn’t fall off when grabbed out of the cupboard). Overall, it was a great popcorn maker that was easy to use and clean—what more can you ask for?

What we didn’t like: It doesn't have a power button and turns on automatically when you plug it in. To shut it off, you have the yank the cord out of the socket.

Key Specs

• Materials: Plastic
• Weight: 2 pounds
• Dimensions: 6 x 9 x 13.75 inches
• Capacity: 100 grams (1/2 cup) of popcorn kernels
• Features: Butter warmer, cord wrap 
• Care instructions: Wipe clean with a damp cloth

What we liked: Only slightly slower (and with a few more unpopped kernels) than our top pick, the Dash worked great. We liked that the lid had notches that fastened it to the base and appreciated its on/off power button.

What we didn’t like: The Dash popcorn maker was slower and less efficient than the Presto. Popcorn piled up on one side of the bowl and overflowed if you didn’t turn the bowl to catch the rest. 

Key Specs

• Materials: Plastic
• Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Dimensions: 8.4 x 4.8 x 13.5 inches
• Capacity: 100 grams (1/2 cup) of popcorn kernels
• Features: Butter warmer, on/off switch
• Care instructions: Wipe clean with a damp cloth

What we liked: The Whirley Pop has an aluminum base, which heats up super fast, popping kernels in a jiffy. This swiftness means that there's less of a chance that you'll end up with burnt or half-popped kernels. This popper also sports strategically placed vents that prevent steam buildup, which results in crispy, crunchy popcorn. In one of our tests, only a single unpopped kernel remained.

What we didn't like: Emptying the Whirley Pop is a little messy, but then again, popcorn always seems to scatter everywhere.

Key Specs

• Materials: Stainless steel
• Weight: 4 pounds
• Dimensions: 18 x 9 x 8 inches
• Capacity: 5.6 liters
• Care instructions: Dishwasher-safe

What we liked: This popcorn maker’s handle turned smoothly—and, wow, was it a looker. Available in pastel hues, we can’t imagine a prettier popper. The multi-clad bottom and nonstick interior led to even heating and easy cleanup. It left more unpopped kernels than the Whirley Pop (2%), but it still did a respectable job. It’s also dishwasher-safe and compatible with induction stovetops.

What we didn’t like: It’s pretty dang expensive. 

Key Specs

• Materials: Aluminum, wood
• Weight: 3 pounds
• Dimensions: 16.89 x 9.8 x 7.99 inches
• Capacity: 5.6 liters
• Care instructions: Hand-wash with warm, soapy water

What we liked: The Westband popcorn machine made crispy popcorn, and it was the fastest of all the stirring models. It had a 100% pop rate and converting the lid into a serving bowl was convenient (if a little awkward to flip over). With this popper, you get a combination of an air and a stovetop popper.

What we didn’t like: It was tricky to clean the hot plate since you can’t submerge the base.

Key Specs

• Materials: Plastic, nonstick aluminum hot plate
• Weight: 3.35 pounds
• Dimensions: 11.5 x 11.7 x 7.5 inches
• Features: Butter warmer, lid converts into a serving bowl
• Care instructions: Wipe the cooking base clean with a damp cloth; dishwasher-safe bowl

What we liked: This microwave popcorn maker made crispy popcorn without the need for extra oil. The silicone construction wasn’t floppy and it made about 10 cups of popcorn. We burnt our first batch, but after lowering the pop time by 45 seconds, we were successful with the second. 

What we didn’t like: The base gets really hot, so use caution.

 Key Specs

• Materials: Silicone 
• Weight: 0.75 pounds
• Dimensions: 7.09 x 7.09 x 4.13 inches
• Features: N/A
• Care instructions: Dishwasher-safe

The Competition 

• Cuisinart Easy Pop Air Popper: This air popper was slower than the competition and left a higher percentage of unpopped kernels. It's also been discontinued.
• Dash SmartStore: Nearly two minutes slower than the West Bend, this popcorn machine made denser, blander popcorn. 
• Cuisinart EasyPop Stirrer: This was the slowest model, and the top half of the popcorn steamed while the bottom portion burnt. Like the other Cuisinart popper, it has been discontinued.
• Ecolution Micro-Pop Microwave Popcorn Popper: This popcorn maker produced horribly popped, burned popcorn in our tests. 
• Lékué Popcorn Maker: This model also resulted in a lot of unpopped kernels. 

FAQs

Can you use butter with an electric popcorn maker?

Many electric popcorn makers come with a butter warmer, but most aren’t up to the task of melting butter straight from the fridge—and they’re not great at pouring, either. Instead, we recommend melting butter in the microwave or on the stovetop and drizzling it over popcorn.

Is there a popcorn maker that doesn't use oil?

Air poppers rely on a high-temperature fan to pop popcorn, and don’t use any oil. 

Why is my popcorn chewy in a popcorn machine?

Popcorn can get chewy if it spends too much time steaming. Air poppers blow popped popcorn into a serving bowl right away, preventing it from steaming. We suggest immediately removing popcorn from a stirring or stovetop popcorn maker once it finishes popping.

How do I make popcorn without a popcorn maker?

If you're tight on space or just don't want to add another appliance to your kitchen, a microwave popcorn maker can be a fantastic solution for making a lot of popcorn, fast. Our favorite microwave popper was made of silicone (so it could fold down for storing) and made up to 10 cups of popcorn at a time.

Why We’re the Experts

• Riddley Gemperlein-Schirm is the associate editorial director of Serious Eats. She’s been with the site since 2021 and has been testing gear professionally for more than six years.
• Jesse Raub was a writer for Serious Eats. In his time at the site, he wrote numerous reviews, including espresso machines and baking stones.
• For this review, we tried 11 popcorn makers, evaluating their speed, efficiency, cleanup, and more.