We present to you something for those summer nights to come, the Gold Medal Funpop Popcorn Popper is presented to you in several sizes to suit all needs and requirements. The most recent addition to the Funpop range is the 8oz kettle popper, however if you look around you will be able to find this model in both 4oz and 6oz versions if you are looking for something slightly smaller. This particular model is available in an array of colors including black, red, yellow and even blue, if your lucky enough to get your hands on one as they appear to be quite rare.

The Gold Medal Funpop boasts an "old maid" tray which makes cleaning super easy and quick as well as having the E-Z Kleen kettle which also adds to the usability of this model. All outer surfaces of the Funpop are made from stainless steel making it truely durable an easy to maintain in all conditions. The unique kettle design enables an easy distribution of heat across the popcorn and prevents you from having unwanted hotspots which are likely to lead to overcooking and even scalding.

Most Funpop kettles will come with the Funpop cart which is much better value than buying the cart separately after you have purchased the main unit. You can expect to pay between $300 and $390 for the main unit and cart included, this price decreases to around the $250 range if you buy the kettle alone.

Ingredients:

• 1 quart air-popped popcorn
• 8 ounces raisins
• 6 ounces dried fruit (apricots, apples, etc.), diced

Add diced fruit and raisins to a large bowl of popped corn. Combine and toss thoroughly.

Nutritional Information (based on 3-cup serving)

• Protein 8g; Calories 651; Carbohydrate 162g ; Fat 5g; Saturated Fat 3g; Fiber 15g; Sodium 420 mg.
• Other nutritional ingredients that can be mix in popcorn are:
• 1 /3 cup chopped dried fruit provides iron and fiber
• 2 tbsp. soy nuts gives fiber and calcium
• 2 tbsp. whole almonds gives protein, iron and fiber
• 2 tbsp shredded Parmesan cheese gives protein and calcium
• 10 pretzel sticks gives B vitamins
• 2 tbsp. pumpkin seeds gives protein and fiber
• 1 /2 cup dry unsweetened cereal gives iron and B vitamins

While enjoying your favorite movies at home you can prepare popcorn in just a few minutes. There are many ways to include popcorn on one's healthy diet.

• 12 cups popped popcorn
• 1/2 cup margarine
• 1 cup firm-pack brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1 cup pecan halves
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Grease a 15x10 inch baking pan and place the popcorn on top. Combine sugar, honey and margarine in a 1 ½ quart saucepan. Cook and stir constantly with a wooden spoon. Place this in medium heat until it boils.

Cook this for about 5 minutes and then remove from the heat. Mix vanilla and baking soda then pour it over the popped corn. Next, add some pecans, stir until evenly coated and bake at 300 degrees for about 15 minutes. Stir gently for five more minutes and lay everything down on waxed paper. Lastly, allow to cool and break into chunks.

• 8 cups air-popped popcorn( no oil or salt)
• 1 teaspoon chili paste (Sambal Oelek)
• 2 tablespoons Better than Peanut Butter
• 1 teaspoon curry powder

Air-pop about ½ cup of corn kernels. Put peanut butter on a microwave cup. Add sambal with small amounts of water. Stir in order to make out a creamy and thick peanut butter mixture. Microwave it approximately 30 seconds. Fold the peanut butter mixture onto the popcorn.

• 14 cups popcorn, air-popped
• 2 tbsp. parmesan cheese, grated
• 1/4 tsp. dried oregano
• 2 tsp. paprika

In a small bowl, mix oregano, paprika and cheese. Sprinkle these onto the popcorn and toss. It can yield up to 14 cups. You can also melt organic raw cheese with organic milk and pour this over the popcorn.

Nutrition Data for 1 cup serving: 30 calories/0.5 grams fat

The first and obvious question involves the location of the popper. If you plan to use it strictly at home, then there are a number of excellent choices, whether you want a kettle-style machine, an air popper, or a stovetop unit. For personal or family use, many poppers give you the ability to produce one to two quarts of popcorn in each batch. These units start in price at about $20, and can cost somewhat more than $100 if you choose a model that has style features built in. If you enjoy entertaining and serving popcorn as part of the festivities, there are a number of poppers built with commercial grade components that are designed like antique, retro, or movie theater poppers. They bring a bit of flare and ambience to the fun, and some even sport a vendor’s cart that adds style and storage capacity. If making the popcorn is half the fun at your house, take a look at a stovetop popper that requires manual stirring with the built-in handle. Kids will love being a part of the process.

If you plan to emply the popcorn popper for commercial or organizational use, consider one of the large capacity commercial units we have featured in our reviews. Most are traditional kettle-style units that require oil to pop, and feature a stirring mechanism to produce a fully-popped flavorful batch of popcorn. There are sizes to match any budget and styles to fit any taste. They will produce between 90 and 175 servings of popcorn per hour, and have the durability to deliver continued, long-term service. Most of these units feature easy access doors, a warming element to keep popped corn hot and fresh, tempered glass, and easy to clean design. Check prices on these units, because you will find that often paying just a little bit more for the popper will get you a machine that delivers a lot more capacity.

Health conscious consumers will want to consider an air popper, since they use no oil and will produce a lower calorie snack. But keep in mind, oil poppers use very little oil, and compared with comparable processed snacks, popcorn made with oil is still a very healthy choice, and is naturally high in fiber, as well. Modern air poppers make crisp popcorn with excellent texture and taste, and work very well with regular and gourmet brands. Air poppers also deliver the popcorn the fastest, and are the easiest to clean.

Take some time to peruse our reviews and guides, and we’re confident you’ll find the popcorn popper that will satisfy your cravings in a style you will love.

1. Nostalgia Electrics Old Fashioned Kettle Popcorn Popper

We like these poppers because they produce much more than high-quality delicious popcorn. They also bring back fond memories of the days we’d buy a salty, buttery treat from the vendor at the carnival, the movies, the ball game, or on the city street corner. These large capacity producers feature commercial quality components that make everything easy from the popping to the serving to the clean up. They come in two heights, and are just right for private use, or as the snack producer for your church, school, business, or fund-raising event. They are a good value for the price. Read product reviews, watch video reviews and find a deal on a Nostalgia Electrics Old Fashioned Kettle Popcorn Popper right here.

2. Whirley Pop Stove Top Popcorn Popper

At the other end of the cost and complexity spectrum, this unit brings back the fun of popping corn the old fashioned way. It makes great tasting popcorn with a little manual support from you or the kids – who will get in line to turn the crank and get things popping. The quality design leaves few unpopped kernels, and there’s no burning or sticking. Read product reviews, watch video reviews and find a deal on a Whirley Pop Stove Top Popcorn Popper right here.

3. Nostalgia Electrics Retro Hot Air Popcorn Popper

Join the trend toward healthy snacks with this high-quality table top popper from an industry leader. It’s a highly rated unit, both for the quality of the corn popped, but for durability and ease of use. Add the corn, turn it on, and in just a few minutes you and your guests are enjoying a delicious treat you won’t regret eating in the morning! Read product reviews, watch video reviews and find a top notch deal on a Nostalgia Electrics Retro Hot Air Popcorn Popper.

4. Presto Poplite Hot Air Popcorn Popper

Hot air poppers are popular because no oil is required, essential to those looking for a very healthy, low-calorie treat. Some hot air units produce wooden-textured kernels that taste like packing popcorn, but not this one. The popcorn is fresh, crisp, tasty, and good for you. This is a durable unit that makes 18 cups in 3 minutes, then will turn around and do it again, as long as you need it to. Not much to look at, but then your taste buds don’t really have an eye for aesthetics, just fantastic taste. A good value popper. Read product reviews, watch video reviews and find a top notch deal on a Presto Poplite Hot Air Popcorn Popper.

5. West Bend Stir Crazy Popcorn Popper

West Bend updated their old original popper, loved by a generation of popcorn connoisseurs. Now a new generation will enjoy the experience, made better with the addition of a stir mechanism to reduce burned popcorn and scorched kernels. The non-stick coating on the popping plate is durable and easy to clean. Add a little guilty pleasure to your snack with some butter, melted in the convenient well on top of the unit. Read product reviews, watch video reviews and find yourself some great deals on a West  Bend Stir CrazyPopcorn Popper.

Let’s start with Capacity. If you are looking for a low capacity popcorn popper, for home use only, there are excellent air and oil popper options, with similar price ranges from $20 to $60. If you need a medium to high capacity machine, your options for air poppers is reduced. Larger air poppers will make about 18 cups of popped corn per batch, and they do work quickly. But if you prefer not to be reloading the unit as often, your best bet is to choose a larger capacity oil machine.

Turning to performance, hot air poppers tend to pop a slightly higher percentage of kernels than oil poppers. The kernels may heat more uniformly and pop more consistently. Some oil units use a stir rod or paddle, and if that is not functioning properly, uneven heating or even scorching of some kernels may occur. The biggest factor in kernel popping percentage is the quality and freshness of the kernels. When using good, fresh kernels, both oil and air poppers will perform well.

The bottom line for many is taste. Most agree that corn popped with oil is tastier. But the biggest factor in taste is what you put on the popcorn after it is popped. If eating it plain, then oil popped corn has a definite advantage in taste.

Others are more concerned about eating a healthy snack, and here the advantage goes to air popped poppers – but again, what you put on the popcorn afterwards is a larger factor in how healthy the snack will be, just as with other foods. Low fat oils add a few calories, but far less than a large dose of butter or caramel, for example, or many of the seasonings that are often added. So, if you are using an air popper strictly for health reasons, keep the popcorn fairly plain, with just a dash or sprinkle of your favorite flavoring, if you put anything on it at all. Either way, eating popcorn with even a moderate amount of flavoring is a much healthier snack than fast food or most store bought snacks. Popcorn is naturally healthy, low in calories, and high in fiber. Those qualities make it very attractive as a snack food, or as part of a meal.

When it comes to maintenance, air poppers are decidedly easier to clean. Their construction is typically very simple, and they can be cleaned with a damp cloth, or a small amount of soap and water. Oil poppers have more moving parts and oil can be tricky to remove from small spaces. As far as durability goes, it varies from model to model, without respect to type of popper. Both styles have heating elements, the most common part to fail in poppers. However, the poppers we list on this site are generally well constructed and will deliver durable service.

If you are concerned about safety, there is not much difference in oil or air popper safety. Hot oil can burn, but so can hot air, and both types use heating elements. With either style, using caution and following manufacturer directions should keep you safe.

Knowing what you are looking for will narrow your choices and increase your ability to select a popcorn popper you will enjoy using to produce great tasting, crowd pleasing, healthy treats!

Cuisinart designers know their way around the kitchen. They’ve been producing quality food preparation products like the Cuisinart EasyPop Popcorn Popper for decades. This popper is made from high-grade components like stainless steel, and a dishwasher safe bowl, cover, and popping plate. Add a small amount of oil, your favorite kernels of corn, and hit the switch. The motorized stir mechanism prevents burning, and produces even popping and very few unpopped kernels, while steam vents keep popped corn from absorbing moisture and losing its crunch. The fruit of its labor is a 10-cup tasty, low calorie snack that awaits your favorite sprits or sprinkle of flavor. Each batch takes just 5 minutes, so even if you have a hungry crowd awaiting a savory or sweet treat, you’ll be able to satisfy them with the Cuisinart EasyPop Popcorn Popper. This unit comes in several stylish colors, including red, black and pink, all with a stainless base. Used poppers can be found under $50, while new units cost $59 to $69.

West Bend has been popping fantastic popcorn for a generation or two. If you liked their original popper, you’ll simply love the improved West Bend Stir Crazy Popcorn Popper. This one features a motorized stirring rod that keeps the kernels moving, preventing them from burning before, or after, they pop. Add a bit of oil, your favorite regular or gourmet brand of corn, watch the pop-show, and the results will be very satisfying. Add butter to the melting well on top, and increase your pleasure. The unit shuts itself off when the action is complete, and six quarts of great tasting popcorn is yours to enjoy. Turn the unit over, detach the lid, and you’ve got the perfect serving bowl. This highly rated unit features a non-stick popping surface that cleans up easily. This legendary brand delivers a fresh popped approach to a quality classic, and runs $19 to $29.