How to Choose the Best Popcorn Maker
A popcorn maker, also called a popcorn machine or popcorn popper, is a small home appliance whose purpose is to pop popcorn kernels into popcorn using a variety of methods. For anyone who loves snacking while watching favorite movies or television shows, investing in a popcorn maker pays dividends for years to come.
Many individuals prefer using a popcorn maker rather than prepared popcorn bags which are cooked in the microwave because using a popcorn machine can cut down on the amount of fat and calories in the finished popcorn product. The hot air popcorn maker is the best popcorn machine to use to create the healthiest and lowest calorie popcorn. This appliance uses nothing but heat to help the loose popcorn kernels explode rather than using hot oil or butter which adds fat and calories.
Another type of popcorn maker is a glass kettle designed to be used in the microwave in order to create popcorn. Unlike a sealed microwave popcorn bag, the microwave popcorn maker enables the user to fill it with loose corn kernels and no fats or oils in order to enjoy popcorn that is lower in calories and fat content that the prepared microwave portioned bags.
There is also a popcorn maker designed to be used on the stove-top, a pot with a lid and sometimes equipped with a moving paddle inside that helps to stimulate the corn kernels to explode when exposed to the heat of the stove. A stove-top popcorn maker requires more physical action on the part of the user because it requires constant shaking over the heat source. But some users like its old-fashioned method and believe the ultimate taste of the popcorn is superior to either hot air or microwave popcorn makers.
For those willing to invest more money, a home version of the commercial popcorn maker used in movie theatres enables a popcorn lover to create the aroma and taste of popcorn comparable to theatre popcorn.
No matter what style of popcorn maker is ultimately chosen, be sure it is UL approved if it requires electrical power and read all instructions prior to using it to avoid damaging the unit. Always clean a popcorn maker between batches for best performance. And never submerse a popcorn maker in water to clean it unless the directions indicate that this is a safe cleaning method.