There is nothing quite like the aromatic, auditory nostalgia that comes with entering a movie theater and feeling like you have just walked into a warzone of pure deliciousness.
Explosions seem to be strewn about behind the concession counter and the smell of butter, oceanic in its seemingly endless quantity, lingers in the air like a misty moor.
Alongside this very familiar imagery, is the smell when you arrive at grandma’s house and the edifice, laden with rich aromas, nearly brings you to your knees with insatiable hunger and justified gluttony simultaneously.
The point of introducing these anecdotal examples is precisely this: what if you could bring about the very same savory, knee-dropping, appetite-arousing, sensational experience that one could expect at grandma’s house or the cinema within the comforts of your own home?!
Well, I am here to reassure you that your deepest, darkest, most buttery desires can be achieved through the means provided by these wonderful devices which will not only give you a wonderfully tasty product, but an experience that will leave your nostrils and taste buds coming back for more, again and again.
Things to look for:
Easy Cleanup:
There is nothing more insufferable than preparing a delectable snack or savory meal and having to scrub the pots and pans with all of your possible human might to the point of exhaustion. Therefore, one of the main points to look for with stovetop poppers, seeing as how there is increased risk of burning kernels and thus more cleanup, is for products equipped with nonstick coating and effective stirring mechanics to allow for a quicker and easier cleanup than those without.
Efficient Stirring Mechanics:
Have you ever purchased an appliance and within your first five uses it seems that the handle breaks, a screw escapes, or it simply appears to fall apart? Well, with the stirring mechanics on the stovetop poppers, we will be keeping an eye out for devices that exhibit sturdy stirring hardware that can withstand the test of time and usage.
Quantity:
For the single man or woman who spends their evenings at home with their pet cats, quantity probably isn’t a primary concern. However, for those who prefer a more socially interactive experience, more quantity is better for when guests are invited over for movie marathons or book club gatherings. Who knows, perhaps the cat man or cat lady will prefer more quantity for their furry little lovelies!
Consistency:
How embarrassing is it when you have a bunch of compadres over for a slumber party and your bags of popcorn turn out to be infertile and only provide you with half a bag of successfully popped kernels? Pretty embarrassing I’ll say! That brings us to our next point of scrutiny, which is the consistency with which each popper will leave no kernel unturned and every one unburned.
Aesthetic Appeal:
Obviously, with any appliance that someone purchases, the functionality is the primary focus behind the purchase itself. Yet, it remains that us human beings like pretty, shiny things. As such, aesthetic appeal is the last piece of critical analysis with which we will examine these different devices. Can they pop your popcorn and look handsomely delicious while doing it?
The top 5 best stovetop popcorn poppers:
Great Northern Popcorn Original Spinner 6-½ Quart Popcorn Popper
This sleek, sexy and straightforward piece of stove top wizardry was designed by scientists to make the process of stovetop popcorn popping effortless and affordable with Amazon offering it for an outstanding $22.16!
It is equipped with real wooden handles and knobs, which make for a more rustic, country-like presentation and protect one’s hands from the heat transferred through convection.
Along with the wooden handles, this product is equipped with a uniquely spinning, stirring mechanism which are actually just two rotating wires that sit directly above the uncooked popcorn and ensure minimal burning and an optimal yield of kernels popped. It is also important to note that the gears that operate the stirring mechanics are made of heavy plastic. This means that making sticky, sweet popcorn is highly unrecommended and the plastic can indeed suffer heavy discoloration after just a few uses.
In terms of the optimal amount of total kernels popped, this particular popper can pop 6 – ½ quarts of popcorn in one sitting. That is the equivalent of over two bags of microwavable popcorn!
You are probably thinking, “Well if it yields more popcorn doesn’t it mean that I will have more to cleanup?” NO! With the Great Northern Popcorn Original Spinner you can simply wipe the inside with a paper towel after use and it is clean and ready to go! AND it is topped with a lid that releases moisture that comes from the erupted kernels; resulting in a crunchy, hot and ultimately satisfying popcorn experience!
Wabash Valley Farms Whirley-Pop Stovetop Popcorn Popper
Much like that provided by the Great Northern Popcorn Original Spinner, the Wabash Valley Farms Whirley-Pop is a simple and shiny aluminum pot equipped with wooden handles and a steam-release system which allows for 6 quarts of crispety crunchety popcorn that will leave your mouth watering.
Not only will the popcorn leave you with an insatiable hunger, but the minimal cost will leave your taste buds wanting and yearning for more with a price of $27.09.
As well, it comes with a well-designed stirring system to ensure maximal popping capability and to minimize the amount of unpopped kernels! It is equipped with wooden handles for stirring and circulating the popcorn. It is also important to note that since this apparatus is made of aluminum that it is not compatible with induction stoves. Though it is equipped with plastic gears and wire stirring mechanics, customers have expounded that if you call the manufacturer you can opt out of the plastic default and order a new top with metal gears, and the tools to properly replace them for a low price!
The Whirley-Pop will provide you with a great tasting product with little to no cleanup, and comes with a 25 year warranty that covers and protects all moving parts of the apparatus! This means that Wabash Valley wants to make sure that you are guaranteed a positive and fulfilling popcorn experience for a quarter of a lifetime! Now that is service!
Franklin’s Gourmet Popcorn Whirley Pop Stovetop Popcorn Popper
Franklin’s Gourmet Popcorn Whirley Pop has a bent-wire stirring mechanism and comes with metal gears, which are ultimately longer lasting and more reliable than their plastic counterparts. Made of a black-coated aluminum, which gives it an elegant, opaque look, it ensures a high rate of convection which ultimately means faster popcorn popping!
On top of these great qualities, it comes with a full LIFETIME warranty as opposed to it’s Wabash Valley Farms counterpart! That means that you are guaranteed full customer service and product replacement for LIFE! Purchase the Franklin’s Gourmet Popcorn Whirley Pop Stovetop Popcorn Popper and you will never have to worry about acquiring another popcorn appliance for the rest of your life!
Zippy Pop Stovetop Popcorn Popper with Glass Lid, 5-½ Quart Capacity, Stainless Steel
The Zippy Pop Stovetop Popcorn Popper is a royal silver beauty equipped with a glass lid so that you can see exactly how your popcorn is doing every step of the way!
On top of this, the Zippy Pop is made of stainless steel, which means that it is heavy duty and is also compatible with induction stove tops!
Also, it holds one quart less than other aluminum brands with its capacity maxing out at 5 – ½ quarts, however, it makes up for its lack of space with increased durability and lifespan with it’s stainless steel body. Along with its stainless steel body, it also has a stainless steel stirring mechanism which allows for circulation of the kernels and the maximum potential of kernels popped.
Though the handles are not made of wood like other brands, they are heavy duty which ensures a longer lifespan. However, you may need to grip the handle with a kitchen cloth since the process of convection will transfer heat much more effectively than that of the wooden handles. It disassembles nicely and can fit right in your dishwasher making it far easier to clean.
With all of these great features and lasting durability, the Zippy Pop comes out at a whopping $79.99. Though it is more to spend in comparison to other brands, it is bound to last longer simply due to the heavier metal composition and superior craftsmanship!
CaseyPop USAspun Stovetop Popcorn Popper
The CaseyPop USAspun brings ingenuitive design with its small circular bottom and curved sides, which ensure for localized heating and even popping of the kernels throughout the heating process.
The wide lid is ¾ of the size of the top opening which allows for the release of the finished popcorn and avoids the popcorn getting trapped in the apparatus which would cause burning. Made of aluminum with an elegant, dark grey coating, it allows for fast and easy convection to more quickly and effectively heat one’s popcorn and is also equipped with wooden handles, which are offset to provide more comfortable stirring without getting your hands too hot.
Though the size of the bowl technically only fits 5 quarts, with its semi-opened top it allows for one to cook 7 to 8 quarts in one sitting! The handles are made of sturdy, native American hard maple, and are in a fixed position which allow for a more sturdy product. It also does not have any gimmicky gears that need to be stripped or disassembled for cleaning like many other products on the market.
Considering it is made in the USA and provides the an intuitive design and unique aesthetic presentation, this product goes for $69.95 on Amazon, but is guaranteed to give you a wonderful popcorn popping experience from the comforts of your own home!