The most common and widely-used method of popcorn preparation is, of course, the microwave oven. The microwave has made fast and effortless preparation of many of our favorite foods possible, and from the beginning, popcorn has been a key piece of not only enjoying the comforts of the microwave oven, but also in the development of the appliance itself!
When the microwave was invented near the end of World War II, Percy Spencer, the creator and conceiver of microwave technology, used popcorn for many of his experiments with the technology. Hence, why the popcorn button exists!
Needless to say, nearly all of us have enjoyed microwavable popcorn at some point in our lives. However, for those who want to enjoy the speed and convenience of the microwave oven without the additives and unwanted chemicals found in microwavable popcorn bags, there are now microwave popcorn poppers which allow one to quickly and healthily enjoy their popcorn.
Things to Consider:
Simple Storage
We have all heard the saying, “Bigger is Better.” However, when it comes to simple appliances, especially those that have to do with popcorn, not everyone wants a clunky, commercial-sized popcorn cart from the Great Depression sitting in their kitchen. Small and compact is the name of the game with these microwave popcorn poppers.
Clean up
When it comes to popcorn, there typically isn’t much to clean up aside from the leftover, unpopped kernels and the sheen of butter glistening on the sides of the bowl after consumption, yet, after eating twenty seven servings of popcorn to yourself the last thing you want to do is hand wash a bowl! Luckily for those of us popcorn gluttons, these microwave popcorn poppers are pretty universally dishwasher safe, which ultimately makes them easy to clean!
Quantity
For some, one or two servings of popcorn simply aren’t enough! Even though most of the microwave poppers available do not produce very large quantities and are geared toward more personal uses, it is important to analyze and assess each popper to see if they can satisfy one’s undying love for popcorn.
Design
While many of these popcorn poppers have the same look and design, there are little differences and subtle nuances that make each one unique and speak to each and every person differently. Some are bowls, some are shaped like tea kettles and some are even collapsible! Whatever it is you may be looking for in a microwave popper, it can be found in any one of these wonderfully simple appliances!
Lekue Microwave Popcorn Popper
The Lekue Microwave Popcorn Popper is one of the most effective, affordable, and easy-to-use microwavable poppers out there.
First of all, it is wildly easy to use! Simply fill the bowl with kernels up to the line, and place it in the microwave for 1 ½ minutes! It can be used with or without oil or butter, and yields no unpopped kernels nearly every single time!
It also comes equipped with suction lid which keeps the popcorn from erupting out of the bowl and into the microwave during the process.
It´s not over yet! Along with all of these great features, it is also small and compact in size and is collapsible, allowing for easy storage and universality with microwave ovens! It is also is made of silicone which makes it indestructible, health-conscious and easy to clean! It can be hand-washed or placed in the dishwasher if you don’t have the patience!
In short, this popcorn popper, while it may look similar to many others in terms of design, is one of the best microwavable popcorn poppers on the market and will surely give you a tasty product while looking really good while it does it! And all for the affordable price of $19.93 on Amazon!
Presto 04830 Powerpop Microwave Multi-Popper
The Presto 04830 Powerpop comes chock full of great features such as PowerBase and PowerCup concentrators, universal compatibility with virtually all microwave ovens, and is endorsed by the late, great Orville Redenbacher!
With the Presto 04830, you can prepare up to three quarts of tasty popcorn in less than 2 ½ minutes! Simply put your kernels in the Powercup with whatever seasonings, butter, and/or oil that you desire, place it on the PowerBase and turn on the microwave!
The PowerBase that connects to the bottom of the bowl and allows for magnification of the microwave energy for optimal popcorn popping! The PowerCup is a disposable paper cup that fits in the bottom of the bowl and holds the kernels. Each Presto 04830 comes with eight PowerCups, each of which can sustain about twelve uses with oil and roughly twenty-four uses with oil.
On top of its already simple and easy design, the Presto 04830 bowl and lid are both dishwasher friendly, making them a breeze to clean, and thus, all the more enjoyable!
This product is simple, compact, and streamlined to ensure that virtually no kernel is left unpopped, and all for the great price of $13.85 on Amazon! That is cheaper than a haircut! Which begs the question, “Would you rather look professional, or eat tasty, buttery, heavenly, sinful popcorn?” Yeah, me too.
Ecolution Micro-Pop Microwave Popcorn Popper 1.5 QT/3 QT
The Ecolution Micro-Pop is truly an innovative way to enjoy popcorn economically and healthily. Its clever design looks much like a tea-pot or kettle and is made of heat resistant borosilicate glass. With the coupling of the shape and material, it pops more and burns less! Which is exactly what every popcorn fanatic dreams of! It also comes with a lid that doubles up and serves as a measuring cup for butter or oil to drizzle over the erupted kernels for more flavor and enjoyment!
It comes in two sizes: small and large. The small size produces 1 ½ quarts of popcorn while the large yields 3 quarts. Both sizes can produce popcorn in 3 minutes or less, and both can fit in virtually every microwave oven! The small version is $20.69 and the large is $32.70. While it is a little more expensive than other microwave poppers, considering its ecologically-friendly design and simple cleaning and operation, it is one screaming deal that will leave your belly full, as well as your pockets!
One thing that sets this popcorn popper apart from the rest, is the fact that it is made of glass. Since it is made of heat resistant borosilicate glass, it is 100% BPA free! Meaning you don’t have to worry about you, your friends, or your children consuming potentially harmful carcinogens! This also means that it is dishwasher safe, which makes it as convenient as it is effective!
Salbree Microwave Popcorn Popper with Lid, Collapsible Bowl, BPA Free
What really makes the Salbree Microwave Popcorn Popper stick out from the crowd is its overwhelmingly simple design. It comes in a wide variety of colors including: black, blue, turquoise, red, green, pink and magenta. The bowl is made of silicone, meaning that it is virtually indestructible. On top of being a simple silicone bowl, it is also collapsible which makes it extremely easy to store. Considering its simple design, it only can pop up to a ½ cup of kernels per popping party. However, this makes it an ideal appliance/utensil for college kids, campers, or anyone that loves popcorn!
It is so easy to use that it is confusing: simply pour in the kernels, attach the lid, place in the microwave and heat the kernels until popping completion! “But what about taking it out of the microwave? Won’t the hot silicone hurt my soft hands?” Typically, you would be right about this, but the Salbree popper comes with convenient handles which allow for you to carry your bowl of steamy, hot popcorn without burning your sensitive hands! How bow dah?
For those who want a safe and effective product and wish to lessen the amount of trash circulating in the world, this popper is the ultimate ecological and health-friendly popper to use for tasty, buttery, salty goodness! And for the low price of only $16.90!
Chef’n PopTop Microwave Popcorn Popper (Cherry)
The Chef´n PopTop Microwave Popcorn Popper is an easy-to-use and aesthetically appealing way to prepare and enjoy popcorn.
Available in firetruck red, it is a silicone bowl fully equipped with a unique and cutely designed foldable lid that keeps the popcorn from escaping the bowl during the popping process. While some reviews from customers declare that the lid doesn´t work one hundred-percent of the time, it does work here and there, and regardless of its fickle performance, it is a cool idea and sets it apart from the rest of these similarly designed microwavable popcorn poppers.
Unlike other brands of silicone popcorn bowls, this one can produce a whopping 10 cups in just minutes! It is also dishwasher safe, and since it is made of silicone, it provides healthier popcorn than that of microwavable bags, and with no harmful chemicals that will come off due to heat or washing!
This popcorn popper is as effective as it is affordable, and can be found on Amazon for $19.85! That is a deal if I have ever heard of one!
Conclusion
If you are looking for way to save money, but enjoy your favorite cine-snack in a fast and healthy way, microwave popcorn poppers are undoubtedly the way to go. They provide you with tasty popcorn in just minutes, and do not contain all the unwanted chemicals and additives that the typical microwavable popcorn bags have!
Healthy, fast, and convenient, these poppers will provide you with the ultimate popcorn experience!