Greatest House Popcorn Machines for Any Price range.

When you’re making an attempt to determine the very best popcorn machines, you then’ve in all probability seen the crappy lists on-line.  They examine a bunch of house popcorn machines and even once you learn the entire thing, you continue to do not know which one to purchase. 

As a result of they’re assuming that you understand which sort of popcorn machine to purchase and simply wish to examine totally different fashions. 

This record goes to be totally different.  

I’m going to put all of it out for you and show you how to select a house popcorn machine that you’ll love ceaselessly even in case you have no concept the kind you must get. 

I’m fully certified to do that as a result of we’ve got an obsessive love of popcorn (we purchase it in 50 lb baggage from Amazon and have film nights a minimum of as soon as per week).  We’ve tried and examined all kinds of machines from uber-expensive and sophisticated to low cost and simple.  We LOVE do-it-yourself popcorn greater than absolutely anything else.

It additionally helps that I’m a budgeting and residential administration skilled that focuses on educating simple house routines to the hardest instances of persistent disorganization. 

If you wish to do that proper, you might want to do that in steps.

You realize the previous saying? 

You will get any two of those three issues…quick, low cost or good… however not all 3. 

This saying is VERY correct in popcorn machines. So to start out, we have to determine what you care about most. 

Step 1: Determine what you care about most.

Possibility 1: You Care Most About Aesthetics.  

You need one thing you possibly can exhibit.  

When you’re constructing an epic media room or house theaters and dream of getting a popcorn machine prepared and ready to make theater-style popcorn for film evening, then your greatest wager for aesthetics is… 

Quaint Popcorn Cart Machines – $200- $250

Nice Northern Popcorn Firm. They’ve a pink popcorn machine or a black popcorn machine with a classic look. Count on to pay about $225- $250.  

Nice Northern is the very best classic popcorn machine, they’ve a lot of dupes ( knock off manufacturers that imitate a well-liked model) on Amazon, like this one with 4.5 stars which might be simply comparable.  However the nicely made dupes are solely saving you about $20 on a $250 product so I’d favor the reliability of the unique reasonably than to danger a dupe.

You will discover the Nice Northern Crimson Popcorn Machine right here…

You will discover the Nice Northern Black Popcorn Machine right here…

Trace: Amazon costs above are typically decrease, however if you happen to go on to the Nice Northern Web site you possibly can take a look at a classic movie show popcorn machine in enjoyable colours like teal and pink. 

These quaint popcorn carts are simple to make use of, you possibly can preserve the cart and the provides (like a useful measuring cup) within the media room straight within the storage compartment of the cart, and also you’ll solely spend a minute prepping earlier than the film to get your popcorn prepared. That is an easy-to-clean design, there’s no want for sinks, and so forth. 

They’ve storage under the cart for oil and popcorn and seasoning. You possibly can purchase plastic buckets to serve the popcorn in like these however truthful warning they suck.  They’ll fade shortly and so they’re a ache to scrub. Persist with paper popcorn baggage to serve (you too can use paper lunch baggage for a less expensive and bigger possibility.)

Plan to purchase pre-packaged comfort packs of oil/popcorn/salt for this machine.  You possibly can DIY it your self, however then it’s a ache to measure cups of popcorn, and so forth. and this turns into the much less enjoyable possibility of popcorn machines. 

That is the quaint popcorn machine we put in our FROG once we set it up as a house theater. It appeared superior… and made scrumptious popcorn that was a useless ringer for the stuff you get at a theater.

Upkeep

Upkeep on all popcorn machines (not simply this one) are insanely simple. You technically ought to wipe down the kettle with a humid fabric each time you employ it. The kettle comes out simply on the Nice Northern machine to make this simple.  Most individuals don’t truly wipe it down each time however you must give it a superb wipe each infrequently. Don’t ever wash it with cleaning soap and water. 

Value 

Issues to know: Shopping for pre packaged containers of popcorn is the least price environment friendly method to do that of all the popcorn machines… however nonetheless an enormous financial savings versus shopping for microwave popcorn baggage or shopping for it in a movie show. 

In a 12 months doing weekly film nights as soon as per week, we spent $99/12 months utilizing this machine versus the machine we use now (a mix of a Whirley Pop and a silicone popcorn maker) prices us $68 a 12 months (word: that the popcorn we use now could be specialty, which is WAY higher than what you purchase in these packets).  

Well being

Well being is the place this popcorn machine isn’t doing you any favors. In a 12 months we ate 19,240 energy on this popcorn versus what we do now with 4,680 energy a 12 months. 

And the worst half? Is that the Whirley Pop (4,680 energy a 12 months) tastes considerably higher. 

Style

This shall be similar to movie show popcorn, salty and actually buttery, not crunchy… however barely chewy. 

Tapletop Model: Additionally they make desk prime variations of this machine, however I’d skip except you will have a counter you place it on.  You possibly can nonetheless anticipate it to price round $200 however you lose the storage of the cart and the power to maneuver it simply.  Plus, you’ll want to purchase or make one thing for it to take a seat on. 

My opinion: 

It seems to be actually superior and the popcorn is similar to movie show popcorn. If price range isn’t a difficulty, and also you don’t care in regards to the additional energy and also you’re trying to degree up your media room, I feel it is a nice selection. 

However for most individuals, preserve studying as a result of we will do higher. 

Possibility 2: You Care Most About Style. 

Whirly Pop – $30

That is our trusty Whirly Pop- if you happen to frequent thrift shops… you will discover them there if you happen to look lengthy enough- however they’re additionally actually moderately priced and final ceaselessly. (Don’t purchase off brand- as a result of the costs aren’t a lot decrease and so they don’t final in any respect!)

If you’d like the very best popcorn on the planet, then there’s actually just one possibility. 

You want a Whirley Pop, which is a stovetop popcorn popper with a particular vented lid and a popcorn mixer constructed into the pot prime. 

Years in the past, our pal taught us how one can make popcorn low and gradual within the Whirley Pop.  These stovetop popcorn makers make insanely crunchy popcorn and THAT is how our complete household went from pondering popcorn is a factor you purchase on the movie show to popcorn is life. 

When it’s carried out proper, it ought to have this snap once you pinch it.  That’s from the low and gradual technique under. 

It’s insanely crunchy and salty and “wholesome accidentally”. That means, it’s not making an attempt to be wholesome… it simply occurs to be. 

As a way to make popcorn like this,  you want a Whirley Pop. 

Then observe these steps:

1. Put the Whirley Pop on a burner (chilly or off)
2. Add 12 oz of popcorn and a couple of oz of olive oil.
3. Flip the burner to the 4th notch and warmth (you could have to regulate increased or decrease as you do some trial and error- when you get your candy spot- mark it so that you keep in mind it)
4. Use the deal with on the Whirley Pop to swirl the recent oil and popcorn collectively. 
5. Depart it for about 10 minutes to fifteen minutes, it’ll begin making popping sounds because the kernels pop after about quarter-hour. 
6. After it begins popping, swirl the deal with to combine each minute or so till the popping slows to each two seconds. 
7. Empty the Whirley Pop into a big metallic bowl (our pal who taught us this swears this distributes the salt higher and I agree, although I do not know why)
8. Sprinkle with salt and blend it in. 

The one method we’ve been in a position to get this insane taste, style, and snap is with the Whirley Pop,  nothing else comes shut. 

Enjoyable truth: we go away leftover popcorn proper within the bowl to eat the following day. We don’t even put a prime on it (although we wanted to as soon as we acquired cats who additionally suppose popcorn is life). 

The excellent news is… 

• This technique is fairly low cost (Whirley Pops are about $30).
• You should purchase popcorn in bulk (pink popcorn, blue popcorn, and Woman Finger popcorn are my favorites… however Woman Finger is so small that it wants a special set of instructions… remark under if you happen to want these).
• Popcorn is fairly wholesome.

This technique makes use of comparatively small quantities of olive oil and somewhat salt. It’s method more healthy than microwave popcorn, movie show popcorn, or the comfort packs of popcorn that you just use within the media room popcorn machine (mentioned above). 

The draw back of the Whirley Pop is…

• You simply can’t make sufficient popcorn in a single batch.
• It takes 20-Half-hour to make the popcorn and it’s so freaking good that you just’re going to need a second batch, which takes one other Half-hour after which it’s a must to interrupt the film. 
• You possibly can work round that by making a number of batches earlier than the film, however we’re nonetheless speaking about an hour of semi-active work for 2 batches of popcorn which isn’t precisely real looking for most individuals. 

Possibility 3: You Care Most About Energy or Comfort. 

Our favourite mixture is utilizing the Scorching Pot (proper) which is a microwave popcorn cooker for on a regular basis popcorn and the Whirly Pop (left) for film nights.

Then we carry you to the quickest, simple technique to pop popcorn. It takes method much less time than your different choices. It additionally makes wholesome popcorn, with the bottom energy. That is the final word of microwave popcorn makers and it’s the one we use and LOVE. The silicone popcorn maker. The simplest of the microwave poppers.

Right here’s the way it works…

• Fill the bowl to the within line with kernels. 
• Add the tiniest sprint of olive oil (you possibly can measure it if you would like, it’s a few teaspoon or you possibly can simply wing it).
• Microwave it for two minutes and 30 seconds. 

This popcorn is not going to have the snap, however it’s extraordinarily low in energy. You possibly can add a twig of olive oil (we use a Misto bottle or simply some olive oil cooking spray) and you may prime with salt or popcorn seasoning (the very best ones are bitter cream and chives, cheddar, or Chocolate Donut by Taste God). 

When you’ve got a media room and you’ve got the house so as to add a microwave, it is a nice possibility and a simple improve.  Then you definately’ll have popcorn in minutes proper within the media room. 

This one bowl makes about the identical quantity because the Whirley Pop and makes for a straightforward cleanup. 

Possibility 4: What about Tabletop Air Poppers Popcorn Machines?

They’re not definitely worth the cupboard space for my part, particularly if you happen to’re coping with small kitchens with out a lot house. I’d reasonably use the gadget house for Airfryers, Immediate pots, and crock pots. The style is just like the microwave silicone popcorn maker, however you want a bigger gadget and extra difficult steps (having to even get it out, and so forth). 

If you’d like this anyway, the very best rated electrical popcorn makers is Presto 04821 Orville Redenbacher’s Scorching Air Popper

Which must you purchase?

I’d 1000% advocate going with the Whirley Pop and the microwave silicone popcorn maker.  We’ve used them each for YEARS now, however at one time or one other, we’ve tried all the above and also you actually can’t go incorrect withthe whirley pop/silicone popcorn maker. .  

For particular events or film nights:  when you will have the additional time, use the Whirley Pop. It takes somewhat longer, however this would be the BEST popcorn you’ve ever had.  You’ll by no means return.

Want it quick: Use the microwave silicone popcorn maker.  It’s fast, simple and it makes scrumptious popcorn (with out the crunchy snap).

Better of each worlds: mix them:  When you use the Whirley Pop for a film, you too can make a batch within the microwave silicone popcorn maker and blend the 2 collectively for a double batch. (This can be a good possibility for 4 ravenous individuals).

Step 2:  Different Issues You Have to Know

You can also make single servings with out a machine.

You can also make one serving of popcorn in a brown paper lunch bag within the microwave with a little bit of oil. 

Want Directions?  You will discover them right here…

It’s not price it to us as a result of it might take a lot longer to make a bag for everybody and we’re heavy popcorn eaters. We wish extra popcorn, not much less. 

You possibly can bulk-order popcorn.   

Amish Popcorn Firm is the very best. You can begin by making an attempt a sampler pack.  This fashion you possibly can strive smaller baggage of the totally different popcorn varieties (they style method totally different) and get an concept of those you want greatest.  As soon as you understand what you want, then you should buy a bulk order of your favourite.

We purchase popcorn in bulk in 50 pound baggage from amazon and preserve it in a rolling hermetic meals container with a scoop).

Value Comparability For Specialty Popcorn vs Yellow Popcorn. 

The world of popcorn is so a lot better when you get past these baggage of yellow popcorn you purchase from Walmart.

A 45 oz container of Orville Redinbachers yellow popcorn prices about $7.15 right here (insert eye roll to inflation right here).  So 50 lbs of that might run you about $192

Shopping for your favourite specialty taste from Amish Popcorn Firm in 50 kilos bulk (like this) runs about $90…  

And the 50 kilos lasts you nicely over a 12 months.  So that you spend lower than half and get a lot better tasting popcorn. 

Retailer Your Popcorn in An Hermetic Storage Container.

Clearly, we’re actually severe about our popcorn.   Over time, popcorn kernels can lose the moisture inside that make them pop.  This massive air tight storage container with a scoop is a straightforward storage answer which retains that from occurring and retains your kernels able to pop.  

One other tremendous vital lesson we discovered…

Don’t let a 50 pound bag of popcorn sit open in your pantry in case you have pets.  

For Cats:  A bulk bag of popcorn seems to be like an enormous bag of cat litter and you could not see or notice what’s occurred till it’s too late. Don’t ask me how I do know. Simply belief me on that. The rolling storage container and scoop is the very best $30 funding ever. 

For Canines:  Unpopped kernels are a choking hazard, which may additionally trigger dental and intestinal points.  When you’ve got a curious canine who’s into the whole lot, this might be a harmful (to not point out an costly) challenge.  

Bulk Olive Oil 

It’s also possible to seize olive oil in bulk (in case you have a Costco or Sam’s Membership Membership, they’ve higher costs than Amazon). In addition to cooking the popcorn in olive oil, we additionally use it in these Misto Oil sprayers to provide your popcorn a fast spray. Just a little oil makes for a scrumptious however not overpowering taste.

Form of like a wholesome model of movie show butter. 

Greatest Popcorn Seasonings 

Truthfully salt wins for my absolute favourite popcorn seasoning. Typically I add each salt and pepper.   However, there are a number of different seasonings I like too.  Cheddar Cheese and Bitter Cream and Onion and this Chocolate Donut seasoning (which is miraculously low in energy) by Taste God.    

If you’d like one thing extra like a dessert popcorn and don’t thoughts the splurge in energy strive cocoa powder and confectionary sugar.  

Take pleasure in!