Collapsible Silicone Microwave Hot Air Popcorn Popper Bowl With Lid and Handles (Red)

Product Information

Once you've nailed popcorn at home, you might want to add another fun foodie appliance to your kitchen. We've got guides to the best ice cream makers, the best waffle makers, the best smoothie makers and the best pasta makers, all featuring product recommendations from Mumsnetters. Best popcorn maker at a glance While watching the popcorn whizz out of a machine is a big part of the fun, it can be a bit of a safety hazard with little ones around, not to mention a bit of a chore to clean up if the bowl isn't positioned in the correct place. Popcorn makers heat the kernels of corn until the husk expands and pops. The starch in the kernel then turns into the fluffy pieces we recognise as popcorn. Type: Air popper with rotation blades | Capacity: 5 litres | Power r ating: 800W | Dimensions: 35.6 x 30 x 24.9 cm | Warranty: Not specified What we like This model makes 6 quarts at a time, which equals 24 cups—twice as much as your standard microwaved bag. It's made from durable aluminum and comes with a 25-year warranty so you can feel confident it will last many uses. Ultimately, we think it's a great machine to have on hand for birthday parties, sleepovers, and holiday gatherings.

I also found I didn’t like the advice to add the butter and salt and cook longer. My popcorn came out chewy that way. Instead, I found that heating the butter separately in the microwave and then drizzling it on worked better. An air popper will circulate hot air until the kernels have popped and then fire the cooked popcorn out of a small chute. A microwave model works in much the same way but will use a vented bowl to cook the popcorn. The instructions are simple. You fill the whole silicone liner with kernels and place at the bottom of the popping bowl, being careful not to overfill or to let any kernels get under the silicone liner before microwaving. Then put the lid on the bowl, place the liner in the center of the bowl, and microwave on full power in a 1000W oven or the 1000W equivalent if your microwave is higher than 1000W. (The instructions state not to use the Popcorn setting on your microwave if it has one.)

How do I make healthy popcorn?

The Lékué Popcorn Maker comes in three different sizes too; one of them being a mini option that's great for small portions for one, helping to reduce excess waste.

If your little one has got an army of friends over for a party or a sleepover, the Yabano Popcorn Maker is just what you need – it takes just three minutes to cook an impressive five litres of popcorn (around 24 cups). Any part containing an electrical component can't be submerged in water so you’ll need to wipe it down separately. Often the attached bowls on air poppers or microwave options are dishwasher safe too.The EasyPop can hold enough kernels to pop up to 15 cups of corn per batch, while the microwave model can hold about 10 cups of popped corn per batch. I found the EasyPop even easier to clean than the microwave popcorn maker since only the chute measuring cup/butter dish needs to be cleaned. Will the popcorn machine of your dreams be supplying one person or ten? Is this for casual/personal use or is the plan to host an epic movie night with loads of mates? Keep an eye on the maximum load stats if you’re thinking of feeding a big group with your gadget. Are you looking for a healthy option? Nothing will give you a better sense of whether something is worth buying than an honest, unbiased review from a real parent. That’s why our first port of call is always the Mumsnet forums where we trawl the Talk boards to find out recommendations and top tips from the Mumsnet community. Expert opinions

We love that the Lakeland Popcorn Maker has a built-in bowl to catch wayward kernels. Do be aware a couple of reviewers say they still found some of the popcorn escaped from the machine so make sure you don’t overfill it. Cost: If you just plan on using the popcorn machine on the odd occasion there's no need to spend a lot of money and a cheaper option will do the job. If you’re going to be using it more often then you may need to pay a little more. A good start are the microwave versions as they tend to be cheaper than the air popper machines. Only about half the popcorn had popped, and some of the pieces were on the verge of burning. The bowl, especially the silicone, got pretty hot to the touch. I’d recommend using potholders to handle it, especially if kids are involved, or letting it cool off while you melt some butter or gather other toppings. The retro-inspired stovetop popcorn maker features steam vents that release moisture to create fluffier kernels, while the manual hand crank mechanism evenly distributes oil and is meant to prevent burning. While testing it, we found that some pieces got close to burning, but overall the popcorn met our flavor expectations. An alternative way to make popcorn is by using a stovetop popcorn maker. This is a pan with the addition of a rotation device. It is placed directly on the hob and, as the popcorn is heating, you turn the handle to operate the rotation device which keeps the popcorn moving so it cooks evenly. What to look for in a popcorn maker

What to look for in a popcorn maker

This will depend on the type of machine you buy. Most of the air poppers offer a simple one-touch operation. A microwave popcorn maker comes with a vented bowl to put the uncooked kernels in. The bowl is then placed directly into the microwave and cooked for the time specified by the manufacturer. If you opt for a stovetop one, it's likely you'll have to turn a handle to rotate the kernels. Are popcorn makers safe?

The machine makes 60g of popcorn in just two and a half minutes so is a great option if your children have got friends over for a sleepover or a party. The square shape has a secure base that allows for easy placement on a table. This is an all-around durable, reasonably priced and functional popper without the fancy colors or special intricacies. One word of warning, though: VonShef recommends using no more than 30g of kernels at a time. Otherwise, you may end up with unpopped kernels or burnt bits at the bottom of the machine.The first decision to make is to decide whether you want to go sweet or savoury. With both options, the best place to start is simply with melted butter, then for a sweet option add little brown sugar or cinnamon mixed with icing sugar. If it's savoury you’re after, add a sprinkle of salt or even some dried herbs. Electric air popper: As it pops, the popcorn shoots out through a spigot into your bowl. It is the healthiest way to make popcorn (no oil or butter is needed). Air poppers are available in fun colors that look great in your kitchen and they are easy to use and clean. They are more expensive than other types of popcorn makers. Most electric poppers have a measuring cup that doubles as a butter warmer as well for easy measuring and butter melting. The Lékué is simple and safe to use and collapses right down, making it an excellent option if you’re short on space. It can also be popped in the dishwasher after use, so it's ideal for busy families.