Select a popper than can also double as a serving bowl to eat from. This will help minimize the messy cleanup with one less dish to worry about. In addition, there are poppers with built in measuring cup in the lid to help accurately portion the right amount. Overall, they are easy to use, easy to clean and reduce the messy kitchen cleanup. Conclusion

Getting the family together to snuggle up and watch a film is pretty hard to beat, and nothing makes a more authentic movie night than the addition of a bowl of warm popcorn. The Little Bambino popcorn maker includes a 2.5-ounce stainless steel kettle, a pull-out popcorn tray, and a warming light, plus measuring cups and popcorn bags for serving. The kettle features a stirring system for consistent popping and can produce up to 16 cups of crunchy puffs. Type: Popcorn makers use different methods to heat the kernels, whether microwave, direct stove-top heat or electric power to blow very hot air onto the kernels. 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.)Size: Popcorn makers come in various sizes: they can produce a single serving of popcorn in a plastic microwavable popper or can be a commercial-sized machine large enough for a family gathering at home. Select your popcorn maker based on the amount of popcorn that your family will enjoy at a time and how much storage space you have in your kitchen. 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. The 8 Best Silicone Baking Pans in 2023 Cuisinart Pop and Serve Microwave Popcorn Maker vs. Cuisinart EasyPop Hot Air Popcorn Maker

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.

5. Best cinema-style popcorn maker: VonShef Retro Popcorn Maker

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. With the right microwave popcorn popper, you can have healthy oil free popcorn in less than 4 minutes. The bottom of the container won’t burn, and there are few unpopped kernels left behind. Microwave popcorn poppers serve crunchy popcorn in a shorter cook time. Furthermore, there is minimal storage space required in you select a collapsible popper. 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. As is always the case when you’re buying a new piece of kitchenware, it’s worth considering how much space you can actually spare. If you’re a bit short of free space, there are some popcorn machines that can slot easily into a small cupboard when they’re not in use. We have this microwave one - it works well, is easy to clean, and takes up no room!” - PetitsGateaux) Our verdict

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.Type: Air popper | Capacity: Makes up to 40ml of popcorn | Power rating: 1100W | Dimensions: H30.5, W15, D18cm | Warranty: 1 year What we like