Stop Buying Microwave Popcorn; Home Popcorn Makers Are $13

As regular We Know Products readers know, my family loves summer movie nights. Investing in the Anker’s Nebula Capsule projector last year made being stuck at home infinitely more enjoyable, as it added the backyard to the tiny list of places available for recreation. Watching a movie outside on the big screen is a great activity, in some ways even superior to making the trip to the theatre. That is provided you have popcorn.

Maybe you are one of the (many, many) people who have returned to the theatre for a viewing of Godzilla vs. Kong. But for most, moviegoing experiences are going to be ersatz for some time, and for that reason, it is important to make the best of the situation. It is important that you put yourself in a position to succeed in creating an enjoyable atmosphere. It is important that you make good popcorn.

I am not talking about Orville Redenbacher or Pop-Secret or Act II or any other brand that unfolds into a bag once it is placed in the microwave. I am talking about real popcorn. Popcorn that actually tastes like popcorn as opposed to artificial butter. Popcorn that doesn’t inspire self-loathing when you shovel it into your mouth.

You do not have to spend close to $200 on a true theatre-style popcorn machine, although those certainly have their perks. All you need is a small at-home popper. Luckily, there are many of those, and they are not expensive.

Take this popcorn maker, which is shaped like a coffee pot. It only costs $13!

Ecolution Original Microwave Micro-Pop Popcorn Popper, Borosilicate Glass, 3-in-1 Lid, Dishwasher Safe, BPA Free, 1.5 Quart – Snack Size, Black — $12.99

So is this one, which adds the convenience of popping the corn in an usable bowl.

The Original Popco Silicone Microwave Popcorn Popper- 15 Colors Choices – Silicone Popcorn Maker with Handles, Collapsible Bowl Bpa Free and Dishwasher Safe – 15 Colors Available (Light Blue) — $12.99

This one, from Dash, is the expensive one of the bunch at $20. But it has a cool shape, and Dash is a respectable brand, so we will give it a pass.

DASH DAPP150V2AQ04 Hot Air Popcorn Popper Maker with Measuring Cup to Portion Popping Corn Kernels + Melt Butter, 16, Aqua — $19.99

Like air fryers, which became popular a few years back, these popcorn machines do not require oil to operate, which basically turns popcorn into a health food. After all, corn is a vegetable. Right?

Soon enough, every household will have one of these handy devices in it, and you won’t even be able to buy the “instant” stuff at the grocery store. You do not have to wait until then to get your very own.