Popcorn Makers Buyers Guide

Information on Popcorn Makers and How To Buy the Best Popcorn Makers.

Popcorn is an enjoyable food to make and prepare. Popcorn is so easy to make and is a really tasty snack. Kids love standing by the microwave and listening to the little kernels making loud popping sounds. A great way to make popcorn is with a popcorn maker. Whether you plan on selling popcorn on your street corner, at a school or at a fair, popcorn makers are a small investment that can make you some money.

In the past, popcorn machines didn’t even exist, instead people used to shake a metal basket which was filled with corn kernels and put them over a fire. Although, this method worked, a lot of the popcorn produced would be burnt and unevenly cooked. Luckily, today there are tons of popcorn makers which can help you produce better and more delicious popcorn.

Every popcorn maker is unique and works in different ways. Different types of popcorn machines can make the popcorn healthier because some of them will use oil, while other types will heat up the air to cook the kernels. Popcorn makers come in many different shapes and sizes. Small popcorn makers can be kept as a small appliance in your home while larger popcorn makers are usually used at carnivals and movie theaters.

A popcorn maker usually contains a dome, kettle, doors, a drop shelf, and small drawer which will catch un-popped kernels. Popcorn machines are typically large, enclosed in boxes that have a popcorn pan at the top, when the machine is turned on the pan will begin to heat up. While the pan heats up, the kernels are rotating, and the oil heats up the kernel and cause the kernels to pop/burst. Heat from the oil turns the water that is located inside the kernel to expand and explode.

Popcorn Maker Guide - Table of Contents

• 1 Popcorn Maker Product Types
  • 1.1 Electric Popper
  • 1.2 Air Popcorn Maker
  • 1.3 Oil Popcorn Maker
  • 1.4 Microwave Popcorn Maker
  • 1.5 Stove Top Popcorn Maker
• 2 Popcorn Maker Key Features
• 3 Popcorn Maker Product Advice
• 4 Popcorn Maker Buying Tips
• 5 Popular Popcorn Maker Brands
• 6 Popcorn Maker Glossary

Electric Popper

The electric oil popper is a tiny appliance that is easy to move around, and simple to use. All you have to do is put some oil inside the popper and add kernels and you set. In a few minutes your popcorn will be done.

Air Popcorn Maker

These types of machines work by trapping heat and forcing the heat to circulate around in a way that it moves the kernels to the top of the device while cooking them. This machine doesn’t use oil to cook the kernels, so it’s healthier than other popcorn makers, but the lack of oil makes the popcorn less tasty. Using this method to make popcorn will give you less calories and is easy to clean up after usage.

Oil Popcorn Maker

Oil cooked popcorn is most peoples favorite type of popcorn, the oil gives the popcorn a distinct, delicious flavor. Old fashioned popcorn lovers prefer this type of popcorn maker. Before there was electricity this method of making popcorn was extremely popular.

Microwave Popcorn Maker

Technically, using a microwave to pop the kernels doesn’t make it a popcorn maker, but microwave popcorn is the way most people around the world make their popcorn. One of the reasons that this popcorn maker is so popular is because it’s easy to use and microwaves are so commonplace in homes.

Stove Top Popcorn Maker

A good way to make old fashioned popcorn, is to utilize a stone top popcorn maker. They contain special kettles that can be placed on top of a stove with kernels placed inside. Heat from the kettles will pop the kernels. This method of making popcorn is probably the cheapest alternative out there.

What type of popcorn maker do you need?

Before purchasing a popcorn maker you will need to consider the reason for your purchase of this device, for instance you should know how many people you want to serve, how portable do you need it be, and you should know how much money you are willing to spend.

How many people do you plan on serving?

If you are living alone with your dog, you should purchase a large expensive popcorn maker, it will be a waste of your resources, however if you have a large family who loves eating popcorn then you should probably invest in a popcorn maker with a large kettle that can make loads of popcorn at one time. This way you won’t have to make 20 batches of popcorn.

If you plan on trying to use your popcorn machine to make some extra cash, you will need to buy a very large popcorn maker. This way you will be able to serve hundreds of people easily. Popcorn makers of all sizes usually take about the same amount of time (approximately four minutes) to turn the kernels into popcorn, so one of the main differences for every machine is the amount of popcorn they can make during this period.

Portability

Do you need to move your popcorn maker from place to place? Some large popcorn makers have wheels, which make it easier for them to move around. There are a few small popcorn making appliances that need to plug into an outlet. Popcorn makers are usually very portable but only a few can be used on a camping trip, so make sure you get one that fulfils your needs. You will probably want to purchase an electronic popcorn maker or a popcorn making pot if you wanted to make popcorn during a camping trip.

Running Costs

Popcorn makers that create popcorn by using hot air instead of oil are usually more inexpensive than other types of popcorn machines. The smaller the popcorn maker the cheaper it will usually be and the large professional popcorn makers used at movie theaters and carnivals will usually cost at least a few hundred dollars.