Reddit mentions: The best popcorn poppers

Well, there are a lot of ways to do it, depending on your budget. It's pretty simple if you buy the right equipment, but "the right equipment" is expensive and improvising is fiddly.

I'd recommend looking this site over some, they have a lot of introductory guides and such. /r/roasting is also an awesome sub in general.

The biggest issue with home roasting is that the beans need to move continuously, for the entire roast, or else they get burned. There are some ways to do this with improvised equipment though:

-Using an air (popcorn) popper. Assuming you have the right model, it does get hot enough to roast coffee, and the beans are light enough to blow around in the interior chamber nonstop. It gets pretty messy though, and you don't have much control. You also can't do huge batches of coffee all at once.

You should have a dedicated popper just for coffee, since you don't want the different oils mixing. Also, some poppers aren't powerful enough, and many modern ones have safety features that'll automatically shut off before it gets hot enough. Some people have fun with disabling those features and/or modding their poppers to give them more control.

"The Poppery II" is a commonly-suggested model for air roasting like this. They don't make them anymore, but they were made like tanks and so you can often find them in thrift stores.

This is a good, cheap, intro way to do it, though the lack of control is annoying. The flavor develops in part based on how long it's kept at each temperature point, and an air popper gives you very few options for adjusting temperature.

Alternatively,

-Using a stovetop popcorn roaster, like this. It has a handle that allows you to stir the coffee continuously, and it can work pretty well. The main drawback is monitoring/nailing the temperature, which is tricky. It's easier with a gas stove.

There are other methods as well, like using a heat gun, but I've never tried them and can't comment. I should also point out that everything I've just explained is a fire hazard, as is coffee roasting in general - the beans need to get quite hot, and they give off a thin, paperlike substance called chaff. I've never had a fire, but it's something you need to be aware of and plan for accordingly.

-If all of that sounds like too much of a hassle, you can just buy an actual coffee roaster. They make it way easier, and you can generally roast much larger batches at once. Sadly, they tend to be pretty expensive.

I'd recommend this one, which is actually on the very inexpensive end for a roaster. It's good quality though, and I've had one for over 1.5 years now without issue. Also note that the site I linked includes 8 pounds of free coffee when you buy from them, and (at least when I bought mine) they charge the same price for the unit as everyone else. So that's nice.

I really like roasting my own coffee. It can be a pain at times, but it means I always have fresh-roasted coffee available. Unless you buy from a local roaster, you've probably never had fresh coffee before. Whole bean coffee goes stale in like a week, and grocery store coffee is much older than a week. Pre-ground coffee goes stale in like minutes or hours.

They cover the stale taste up by burning the shit out of their beans, and so almost everything you see in a grocery store is only 1-2 stages removed from being charcoal. This page shows you what the beans look like at every stage, and you can see how "french roast" actually means "burnt to hell."

Man, long post! At any rate, roasting your own coffee can be quite nice. Green coffee beans run around $4-6/pound normally and you can sometimes find it for even cheaper. At least where I live, even burnt grocery store coffee is often much more expensive than that. So you're paying less for better quality -- as long as you don't mind improvising, or a big up-front investment.

Edited tl;dr: It's a good way to save money and get better coffee, though it can be either annoying or require a big upfront investment. This page has a lot of good introductory info on the whole process.

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Mischief Managed

Roasting your own coffee can give you better coffee for less money, and also providing a fresher cup and let you tune the roast to your preference.

It only takes about ten minutes once or twice a week to roast, and it means you never have to suffer stale coffee. As an added bonus, green beans are usually about half the price of roasted.

Sourcing Beans

Start with a Sweet Maria's sampler pack. It works out to $5/lb before shipping, and if you're in the Bay Area, you can swing by and pick up the beans when you're in the neighborhood. I like the sampler, and usually buy one or two a year for home consumption though that varies depending on whether I'm living near a good café or working from home.

There are probably other sources for green beans, but basically the consensus among people I've talked to is that for home roasters, you can't beat Sweet Maria's for either quality or price.

Storing Green Beans

Keep the beans somewhere out of direct sunlight and away from heat and they'll be fine in a cupboard or drawer somewhere for at least a year. Unlike roasted coffee, they don't need any special treatment. No airtight containers, freezing, or refrigeration, just don't keep 'em above the stove or anything like that.

The Roaster

Go get yourself one of those air popcorn poppers from the 80s. You know the kind. You can find them at garage sales for $2 sometimes. You probably already have one in your cupboard way at the back behind the food processor or in that box of kitchen stuff you never unpacked. Go find it.

Roasting the Beans

Now that you've got the popper, fill the scoop with the green beans you've got as if they were popcorn, and dump them into the main chamber. Place the popcorn popper on your counter so that it points into the sink, and plug it in. You can point it outside on a window sill instead, but it's going to produce a bit of chaff as it works and if you don't collect it somewhere sensible you'll be finding it stuck to your socks for weeks.

This is a good time to go disable your smoke detector. Don't worry, the beans aren't going to fly out. They'll stay in the roasting chamber throughout the whole process.

As the beans roast, they'll yellow, then brown, and then begin suddenly to snap, crackle, and pop. This is known as "first crack". I like to stop the beans at, or around this point for my usual roast. After a little while, this will subside, and then a sweet smelling smoke will begin to be emitted from the beans. After a short period, the crackling will return, for "second crack".

I strongly recommend you do not allow your beans to progress far into, or beyond second crack. If you do, you will end up with what is colloquially known as an "espresso roast", a "Starbucks roast", or simply "charcoal." The chief sign of this (other than a kitchen full of smoke) will be that your beans will be a deep brown and will either already be or soon become oily on their surface.

Some people prefer this taste. To them I say: drink on! Whatever you like is correct!

When the beans have reached the desired level of roast (really, just before) unplug the popper, and dump the beans into a metal colander, onto a cookie tray, or somewhere else you can spread them out to cool. I would put them in a big metal mixing bowl and toss them until they were only warm to the touch.

Enjoying your Coffee

It is generally accepted that the coffee should be allowed to rest for four to twenty-four hours before consumption. To this I say, "pish tosh." The rest, it is true, allows the coffee to out-gas and reduces the amount of foaming that occurs that when the ground coffee comes in contact with water. That said, a little bit of stirring dissipates any foam and hey, I want coffee now, not tomorrow.

That's it! If you follow these easy instructions you will be your own coffee roaster. I tried it for the first time some years ago and never looked back. Many local roasteries are happy to sell you a few pounds of green and would love to talk to you about their roasting process, so if you've got an old popcorn popper lying around you can always try that.

From here, the possibilities are endless. Go forth, and enjoy all that the coffee roasting world has to offer.

Here are my go-to's: 1) www.budgetbytes.com 2) Buy a crock pot. You can even get one used, just plug it in at the thrift store/yard sale to make sure it works. 3) If you ever have the option to shop at ALDI, get all of your dry goods (canned/boxed/shelf stable items) there that you can buy. 4) Do a grocery list and a meal plan every week. Start by taking an inventory of everything you've got in the cabinets and the fridge/freezer. Then, figure out how many meals you're going to need for that week. Plan recipes that use the same ingredients if you want to make a dish that won't use all of an ingredient you're going to need, but it will go bad. Then, make your grocery list (including how much you need of each ingredient). Over time, keep a spreadsheet or chart of what store has the best regular price for items you purchase the most, and which stores have them on sale frequently. Then, post your meal plan on the front of your fridge each week with the number of servings next to each meal you're going to have, and cross one off every time you eat it. (This tells you what your options are without having to root around. It also helps avoid food waste/spoilage, which is the enemy of budget grocery shoppers.) If you still have meals left on the meal plan sheet at the end of the week, that's where you start for next week's meal plan. 5) If any of the stores where you shop have free loyalty cards/ecoupons/signups to get paper coupons in the mail, learn the rules of the program and make them work for you. 6) Make things in big batches, portion them out, and freeze them/put them in the fridge so you can heat them up one serving at a time. Then, being tired/busy/lazy won't be an excuse for not eating well. 7) Embrace frozen veggies--they're frequently as healthy or healthier than fresh, and they don't have as much of a ticking clock on them as far as how long they'll be good, so there will be less in terms of wasted food.

Cheap healthy somewhat substantial snack suggestions: Nuts: they aren't super cheap, but if you can get a good deal, they're a good value because they are pretty filling without having to eat a lot of them. Hummus with fresh veggies to dip. I like multicolored bell peppers and celery, personally. If store-bought hummus is outside your budget, there are TONS of easy hummus recipes (some even on the site I linked above). Popcorn cooked in something like this: https://www.amazon.com/Nordicware-Microwave-Popcorn-Popper-Cup/dp/B06XCF8WPR/ref=sr_1_11?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1504572714&sr=1-11&keywords=microwave+popcorn+popper in the microwave. You can buy unpopped popcorn at crazy low prices, and then you just need a bit of oil (we use coconut oil) and your favorite seasonings/spices/salts. It is so much cheaper than pre-packaged microwave popcorn, and it's also healthier.

Yea I didn't really know anything about it until I got it home and researched it. The people that owned it before were grinding flavored beans (i.e. coated in syrup) so it was kinda gross, but cleaned up easily. This is the grinder. I guess it's up to $100 bucks haha. STEAL!

Popcorn popper roasting is pretty easy. You have to do fairly small batches (about 1/3 cup per ~5 minutes), but it's not a big deal. It's kind of relaxing and I enjoy the experience. This is the one I have. I found it on sale for around $14. Totally worth it. The only details I had to get down were blocking the exit chute with a piece of foil and cutting some vent holes in the side. You have to do it outside since the chaff goes EVERYWHERE, and it's hot here, so the machine kept overheating and shutting off. Other than that, you just put the beans in, plug it in, stir them around a little (I just use a long stick I found outside..still going strong) until they get light enough to auto-stir, then listen for the crack and watch the color.

It's immensely satisfying roasting your own coffee, and places like Sweet Marias are very knowledgeable and have great selection. I usually order their sampler packs of 3-4 pounds. I save one cups worth of roasted beans from each sample then when I'm done with all of them I do a taste test. With an AeroPress it's super easy to brew multiple cups of coffee at once.

Random ramblings:

I recommend IKEA. Most of their stuff is decent quality, and very good for the price. Don't try for the cheapest they have; go a bit up in price. As an example, their SLITBAR Chef's Knife ($50) is made in VG-10, one of the best steels there is. I believe this knife is better than the one I have, which cost me about $250.

Consider non-stick skillets to be semi-disposable. I've stopped buying expensive non-stick skillets; I've tried the absolute top end, and even when I really baby it, it stops working in a year or two. Non-stick pans I've not had the same problem with - I bought some nice TEFAL ones (not the "professional" ones, one step up from that, I unfortunately can't remember the names), and they've so far lasted for over five years.

For cast iron pans, I've not found a difference in quality - anything I've bought has lasted a long time.

For mixing bowls, I recommend getting a bunch of cheap metal ones. I got ten bowls at two euro each about five years ago; one of them has gotten discolored, apart from that they're working fine still. Having lots works wonders. In the US, these are easy to buy at Vietnamese stores.

For plastic stuff, it's hard. IKEA has it, but it's sometimes expensive. I've had some luck with cheap stuff, but you have to look at it really carefully. Quality don't really go with price, but the very cheapest stuff is usually crap. A simple rule of thumb is to go to a cheap place, then look at what the cheapest you can buy is, and then buy something that costs twice that (at the same place). This will usually get you good quality; buying something that costs 10x more somewhere else don't give you any guarantee.

Thermometers are all over the map; go for a digital one, and read reviews. And you DO want a thermometer - it makes all kinds of things easier.

The chef's way of filling a kitchen is buying relatively cheap stuff, and having lots of it. I've copied that - for everything I care about, I buy ten of it. Things usually stack, so they don't take that much space, and having ten of everything means I can work without having to try to wash things in the middle.

You don't want "any" single use tools; they take space, and are a waste. I've got only two single use tools: I've got a garlic press and a WhirleyPop. The former is because it is way faster; the latter is because it is the only way I've found to make Kettle Corn without burning it.

For appliances, garage sales can be great. I paid $20 for my high end KitchenAid (battered but perfectly functional); and I only paid $20 because I didn't have the conscience to take it for the $10 they suggested.

Minimize the stuff you get at first; it's so easy to get lots of stuff, but most of it you hardly ever use.

Stovetop roasting was probably the thing that got me into roasting my own coffee. I bought a whirleypop for $20 and got an aeropress to brew with. For about $120 I was making coffee that (I thought) was better than most local offerings and (for sure) better than grocery store brand coffee. Not to mention I was theoretically saving a lot of money because of how cheap greens were.

However, if you are willing to commit a bit more startup cash, I recommend the freshroast series of roasters as a much better method for controlling your roast profile.

As someone who is starting out, I'd say happy mug is the best supplier for greens. HM has nice coffees at good prices but Sweet Marias has a lot of unqiue vareitals and there's a number of really good coffees on there. The thing is that as a new roaster (and I am still in this category), you probably won't have the cupping skills or the roasting skills to appreciate all of the nuance that SM's beans offer, so HM is a better deal for $4.00/lb and 3-day flat rate shipping.

What are you brewing with?

Ohhhhh this question is for me. I fucking love Amazon.

1. I have an old car with no aux port so this Bluetooth Adapter has been awesome paired with my tape deck! Also works with old bluetoothless speakers.
   
   
2. If you've never heard of Amazon Samples it is pretty awesome! Try stuff and get credits to use.
   
   
3. You ever drink champage? Want to impress a host that's having a classy party? Check out this off-brand, non-breakable Champagne Bong Set
   
   
4. You like popcorn? Still making the shitty, unhealthy microwave kind? Get with the times are get a dank popcorn maker. Healthier, cheaper, add your own butter.
   
   
5. Buy car air fresheners in bulk. They're way cheaper
   
   
6. Cheap, awesome earbuds you won't care if you lose
   
   That's all I got for now!

r/roasting is chock full of good resources. Another good place to start is www.sweetmarias.com
They’ve got a load of startup guides, and they sell pretty good quality green coffee.

The easiest way to get started is to go find a hot air popcorn popper that doesn’t have a mesh bottom in the roasting chamber, but a solid one with side vents. You want the air to swirl around in there. This is the one that I bought http://amzn.to/2xNzhzp Then, get a scale that does at least 2kg at .1g accuracy. You’ll need that to make sure you’re roasting consistent batches.

Everything from there is up to you, and the resources I’ve posted will help you know when a roast is ready to be dropped, and what to do from there.

My favorite thing about roasting my own coffee is that I pay $4-7 per pound for coffee that’s better than Starbucks... assuming I don’t screw it up haha.

Oh, and kettle corn is super easy.

This is a good starting point recipe.

https://www.tasteslovely.com/homemade-kettle-corn/

If you really get into making it on the stove top at home, this is an awesome old fashioned popper that's about my favorite thing in the kitchen.

Wabash Valley Farms 22000MG Original Whirley Pop Stove Top Popcorn Popper Silver - Perfect Popcorn in 3 Minutes, Regular https://www.amazon.com/dp/B010TR1SMW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_e6ITCbYP936MT

I highly recommend getting a stove top popper, like this one:
Great Northern Popcorn Original Spinner Stovetop 6-1/2-Quart Popcorn Popper https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005T3P6PM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_gjqTBb1D9P176

It's super easy and quick to pop your own kernels, and it tastes a million times better than even the best bagged or theater popcorn. All you need to do is melt a little butter or lard in the popper, then throw in your kernels, and keep stirring/moving them. Once you start to hear 1-2 second between pops, turn off the burner and add however much butter and salt you want.

Whirley-Pop all the way! It has a thin aluminum bottom that distributes heat evenly but doesn't retain heat so that as soon as it's done popping, you can take it off heat and the popcorn on the bottom won't burn. The swirling arms also make sure that you get pretty much 100% poppage and that everything pops at the same time. It's amazing because normally in a pot or a wok, there's a gap of maybe a minute or so between when the first kernel pops and the last one does. With the whirley-pop, it all shoots off at once. Like, a five second interval start to finish. It also makes distributing melted butter very easy.

Pro-tip: clarify your butter. The water content is what will turn popcorn soggy.

I buy bay leaves, yeast, and an assortment of dried chilies in bulk and freeze. They are always in my freezer.

The best way to make popcorn is with oil. You can use a covered pot you shake, or better yet something like a Whirley Pop. Unfortunately, using a tablespoon or two of oil doesn't exactly make it a low-calorie snack you want to eat regularly on a reduced intake.

The lowest-calorie method is to use an air popper, then apply a measured amount of whatever toppings or seasonings you prefer. My go-to recipe is to weigh out 20 g of popped popcorn, then carefully apply 3 g of melted butter, stirring constantly to distribute it well. I then sprinkle on sea salt that was ground to a fine powder. This gives a nice 100 calorie snack with just enough buttery flavour to be satisfying.

Unless you are specifically using large crystal salt for the crunchy texture, you probably want to use fine "popcorn salt" to avoid the gritty feeling of regular table salt. You can buy this pre-made, or grind it at home in a blade grinder or mortar and pestle. It has the side benefit that you use less salt because there is more exposed surface area.

There are many, many ways to season popcorn. Sriracha is pretty popular, but you can also use any combination of spices and herbs, or even stuff like nutritional yeast. You will probably get some great suggestions here, but a quick Google will get you a tonne of recipes you can modify to your heart's content.

I find smaller bags usually work better if you use the grocery stuff. One minor tip is I usually nuke the bag for ~20-25 seconds (just before any start to pop, whatever that time is for your popcorn / microwave) and then I shake / massage the bag so the heat / oil / salt is well distributed. I find it makes a minor to moderate difference in evenness, although I haven't exactly done a comparison so it could be a placebo.

Personally I've always felt the microwave does a better and easier job than either a stove top or air popper. If you want to try something better than the bags, I'd recommend something cheap like [this] (http://www.amazon.com/Nordic-Ware-60120-Microwaver-Popcorn/dp/B00004W4UP/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1368250102&sr=8-4&keywords=popcorn+popper) which allows you to use better popcorn and however much salt / fat you want to.

This is an absolute necessity. You might look at it and go "So? It's a blender." It is so much more than that. It is a product that has changed my kitchen for the better substantially. Why? Because it's incredibly powerful, it's super easy to clean, AND IT MAKES SOUP. You can make dinner in it, wash it out, then make milkshakes for dessert. You essentially will not need to ever get another blender. I've had mine for going on 3 years now, and it's just as good as the day I bought it. You can NEVER go wrong with Cuisinart's quality, and this product will show exactly why that is.

http://www.amazon.com/Wabash-Valley-Farms-25008-Whirley-Pop/dp/B00004SU35

this is my best friend, i can make IMMENSELY healthy popcorn (sorry non-carbers :( ) and completely control the oil and salt in it, it's not calorie-free but it is an awesome easy (and CHEAP) munchy that won't totally break your diet.
munch on my friend (but only reasonable portions!)

I have used a brown lunch bag method in the microwave. Pour some kernels in, sprinkle some oil on them, fold twice and staple twice (they won't do any harm in the microwave). Microwave them until you don't hear a couple seconds between pops. Turns out good.

My favorite way is using the best gift we got for our wedding (almost 7 years ago)..popcorn maker

It works awesome, except for the butter melter thing on top, that blows.

I posted this in your LPT thread, I think it is worth reading so here.

A few years back, and even some today, I set out to find out how to make popcorn like at the movie theaters. Alton's recipe does not sound terrible and uses items most people will have on hand. However to make it better (read: more like movie theater popcorn) You will need to buy a few items for this.

1. Gold Medal Flavacol popcorn salt
   
2. Coconut oil for popcorn
   
3. Whirley-Pop
   
   All total the items are under $40 (excluding popcorn) and all but the coconut oil will last a long time. Flavacol is a must have for this to work. I have not been able to find it locally near me. the 35oz carton will last you just about forever.
   
   The coconut oil is a bit on the messy side just because of the container, you can get different amounts which will come in a different container. I have noticed some differences in taste of some coconut oils and the one linked is the brand I am currently using.(note: Coconut oil solidifies at about 76F)
   
   If you are just toying with the idea of better popcorn, try Alton's method of popping. It cuts the total price in half and for a test run\proof of concept it should work. I have tested several poppers and settled with the whirley pop or similar design. Some outdoors shops sell these but charges about $10 more for them. Note: Yes it has a turn handle, but the gears are made of plastic, so do not hulk smash it.
   
   As for popcorn, not all popcorn is created equal. The artisan fancy colored stuff generally does not pop well in my experience. I have experimented with many different kinds and have mostly settled with Orville Redenbacher. This can be purchased off the shelf at most grocery stores or from Amazon. You can try others to find one you like better.
   
   
   
   
   **
   As a note
   I do not have a set amount for any 1 ingredient. I just eyeball it, maybe one of these days I will get this down to a science with numbers and such. When starting out follow Alton's recipe but substitute the above items in it.
   
   

Most of my suggestions are already listed so I won't repeat them, but the one thing that hasn't been mentioned yet is a popcorn popper. Popcorn is one of my favorite things to snack on and I have this super cool silicone popcorn maker for the microwave. You can pop with or without oil and it's collapsible which makes storage way easier than one of those tall electric air poppers.

So, my hubby and I got one of these popcorn popper machines with wedding gift money a few months ago. Because we figured since it was gift money, why not get something totally frivolous we wouldn't normally spend that much money on?! We finally tried it tonight and damn, so worth it! Wish we had more friends near by so we could have popcorn parties xD

I am really happy that you are super happy. Did something special happen or are you just in a really good mood?

I really want to get this for my daughter because she LOVES popcorn, but I just learned that it's really not healthy to eat the microwave popcorn all of the time because of some chemical in the bags.

Here is a really cute picture!

Real talk? A whirlipop popcorn maker, it makes the best damn popcorn I've ever tasted! I make a bowl or two a week and its amazing how consistently good it is. If you like your popcorn a bit saltier there's this stuff on Amazon called Flavacol which is the seasoning they add in theatre popcorn, I put about a teaspoon in with the oil & corn usually.

https://www.amazon.com/Wabash-Valley-Farms-Whirley-Pop-Stovetop/dp/B00004SU35

https://www.amazon.com/Gold-Medal-Prod-Flavacol-Seasoning/dp/B004W8LT10/ref=sr_1_1_s_it?s=grocery&ie=UTF8&qid=1479915964&sr=1-1&keywords=Flavacol

This is of course not factoring in the price of oil and kernels, let me just say that coconut oil will make the popcorn taste x10 better than any other kind of cooking oil.

OMG it would be sooo awesome to have Sting! from your wishlist!
As for mine, this popcorn popper would be a FANTASTIC addition to my dorm room next year! :D
I love Kevin

And for those of you who see time as money: this popcorn maker is a good investment. Occasionally it will go on sale for $10 (which is how much I paid for mine). It's nice because you can basically put the popcorn in, go do something else, and just listen.


I completely agree with OP, popcorn is the best frugal snack ever. You can pay $3 for a bag of potato chips or you can pay $2 for a huge bag of popcorn kernels that, when popped, basically equals... Idk, like 25 bags of chips? Just add butter and salt (or whatever seasoning you like, but with an air popper you can't use oil, so I like to melt a bit of butter for mine), and it's a great snack! (Not to mention a much healthier alternative to chips).

Secrets to theatre style popcorn:

• Stovetop "Whirly-Pop" style contraption.
  
  
• Coconut Oil
  
  
• As far as butter flavoring. I've tried "theatre oils' but its hard to find a good one. I've had the best luck with getting "butter salt" a name brand is "Flavacol" but its all the same stuff.

Whoever posted about the HotPop popcorn maker about a month ago: you have brought great happiness to my household. I tried to find who mentioned it so I could just direct message them but couldn’t find the thread. But if you like popcorn, this thing is great.

You can buy a pretty cheap stove top popcorn maker. The kernels are super inexpensive at the store. It takes about two minutes from thinking "gee I'd like some popcorn" to having a full pot of it: you add a cup of kernels with a spoonful of coconut oil, heat it up and spin it around, then apply butter and salt as necessary when you're done.

I got this one for my birthday six months ago and honestly now when I go to the movies I have zero desire to buy their ridiculously expensive popcorn.

Hey, I love popcorn, it's awesome. Maybe you love it too? Got a stove? If you do, get yoself one of these - http://www.amazon.com/Wabash-Valley-Farms-25008-Whirley-Pop/dp/B00004SU35

If you put it on medium high (electric stove), put in the oil and add three kernels, wait for them to pop then dump the rest of the kernels in, you will have popcorn that pops nearly all of the kernels. The Orville Redenbacher kernels pop the best IMO (I was buying bulk from sprouts, but they weren't popping as well). Also, get this - http://www.amazon.com/Gold-Medal-Prod-Flavacol-Seasoning/dp/B004W8LT10. You now can make movie theater style popcorn in less than five minutes.


Enjoy!

I just got into roasting a few weeks ago!

I roast with one of these and am super happy with the results. I especially love that it's cheap and isn't a unitasker.

That one just looks like a typical air popper. They're around $15-$30. I got this one(#2 Best Seller on Amazon) from Fred Meyer, and have owned it for about a year. It's great, no complaints, and the little cup on top for butter is even the perfect size to measure out how much popcorn you're supposed to put in it. My dad has an older model by the same company, and after around 7 years, it still works almost as good as when he got it.

As for seasoning it, ignore what /u/JustGreg said about using oil to pop if he likes the buttery flavoring. Oil popped popcorn is awesome(I have one of these too), and coconut oil that's been artificially colored and flavored for popcorn is what you should get if you want movie theater style popcorn, but if he likes the flavor of butter, just put butter on it. Take 1/4 to 1/2 a stick of butter, and either microwave it(AFTER you pop the popcorn, unless you have a 25 amp circuit in your kitchen!), or leave it on the the cup on top of the popper while it pops, and drizzle it on the popcorn after it pops. As for salts, I like Flavacol, which is what a lot of theaters use, Paragon Butter Flavored Seasoning Salt, or Jolly Time Buttery Popcorn Seasoning. Or if you're as lazy as I am, you can just pour some of all three into one of these.

Just remember with the air poppers, the only thing that ever goes into the area where it pops is popcorn, never put butter, oil, or seasonings in while it pops!

1 no scotch in this water bottle

2 shorts that work 60% everytime

3 beach towel use the force

4 floatie far far away

5 sun glasses at night

6 classy beach bag

7 lite reading and espianoge

8 [blockbuster movie time] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B076Y4M98R/ref=s9_acsd_top_hd_bw_b2rfnRz_c_x_w?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=merchandised-search-5&pf_rd_r=AJZ7Y9CKT1JG1CV0AHZR&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=0bf21515-1eaa-5336-924c-fa1216514d45&pf_rd_i=2625373011)

9 movie snack time

10 outdoor gnome decor

11 for my pop
who loves napping. He's the greatest and still treats me like a kid, in a good way.

12 [Ahhh-murica] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DYQG5QY/ref=sspa_dk_detail_3?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B01DYQG5QY&pd_rd_wg=Zsv3A&pd_rd_r=Z5PB2MF5ZQG803AN77BT&pd_rd_w=U7gSq)

13 my thunder buddy

14 indoor boredom :|

15 musack

16 snacktime

17 pineapple is yummy

18 baby pineapple plant?

19 bocce balls!

20 ahh sharks!

Nope. I paid less for my entire setup than what I normally spent on movie tickets (at the time).

Projectors can last a very long time. To give you an idea, I bought my HD projector at a Circuit City before it went bankrupt, about 9 years ago. All you need is a wall that's big enough for the image. I don't need a custom dedicated home theater. A normal living room, bedroom or den is fine. I also got a portable projector with built-in DVD, an Epson Moviemate, on sale for under $600.

Presto Air popper for $22.45. I got 2 Primo Flavorstation carbonators for about $25/each on clearance at a Big Lots.

When you add up the cost of tickets, popcorn, soda, etc., you'll be surprised how quickly it will buy everything needed to equip your own affordable home theater experience. You want great sound for cheap? The Logitech THX rated gear is a great value.

How are you popping your popcorn? The only reason I've ever seen popcorn burn is because there wasn't enough oil in the pan, or it was a bag of microwave popcorn with a susceptor.

If you are buying popcorn in a microwave bag, you are doing it wrong. Get something for use with (good), or without (better), a microwave. (I haven't used either of those specific products, but I use ones like them, and the principal is the same, so it is hard to go wrong.) They will pay for themselves in no time, because bulk popcorn and oil is really cheap, and making popcorn properly takes hardly any more time than microwaving a bag.

Stay away from air poppers, unless you want really dry popcorn. If you want to be healthy, cook it with a flavorful oil (e.g cocoanut or olive) and don't add butter. If the oil is flavorful, you won't need the butter to make it taste good.

For the best traditional popcorn though, cook it in cocoanut oil, add clarified butter, and salt it with finely ground salt, often referred to as flour salt.

If you love popcorn, get one of these:

https://www.amazon.com/Wabash-Valley-Farms-Whirley-Pop-Stovetop/dp/B00004SU35

Cooks popcorn amazing and you don't have to use much oil at all! I use coconut oil and sprinkle on some nutritional yeast after cooking, very good popcorn!

If you want the best tasting popcorn, get yourself a Whirly Pop

Just pour in a little bit of oil, some popcorn, and a good amount of salt, and you will have the best tasting popcorn.

I have worked it out... well I googled it and now my popcorn tastes like it was fresh popped in a theater.

You need to:

1. cook in coconut oil
   
2. use Flavacol salt added to the oil before popping
   
   There is special coconut oil but I just use plain the special stuff is just colored.
   
   I use a fancy schmancy popcorn popper that lets the steam out but you should get excellent results following this advice (but still add the Flavacol to the oil with the kernels)
   

I like popcorn.

Buy a microwaveable popcorn bowl for $15 and a big jug of popcorn for $15 at Sam's or Costco. The bowl is a one-time purchase and the popcorn comes out to 20 cents per bowl.

I add a touch of oil to the popcorn before microwaving, but it's not needed (and makes it a little tougher to clean). Otherwise add salt and/or seasoning and you're good to go.

It's the perfect "I'm hungry but don't want a whole meal" option or "It's 11pm and I need a snack to get me through the next few hours of studying" option.

You can do it on the stove in a pot but that can burn easily.

I have this which is an oil free microwave popcorn bowl. Highly recommend it! I snack on popcorn all the time and a $3 1lb bag will last me a week.

Thanks! I was having trouble sleeping and my thoughts were kind of jumbled.

I forgot to mention, if you don't have a traditional kettle popper, a whirlypop-style stovetop popper makes great popcorn. This is also the best choice if it's for only you or for a small group because the kettle style are a pain to clean.

There are lots of knockoff whirlypops but I've heard the the crank/gearing on some are very cheap and break after not too long. I think even whirlypop had QC issues for awhile. There are some good copycat brands, though.

Find the right heat/gas setting on your stove through trial and error and always stick to it for a consistent result. Also, you will get the best result with slow, even stirring as opposed to fast, occasional stirring. Anyway, once the test kernel pops it only takes a few minutes to pop a batch, so you're not handcuffed to the popper for very long.

You need a popping machine :)

It's special purpose hair dryer that's fun to watch in action. It's easy and doesn't make a mess.

If price is the biggest factor, and he doesn't mind a hands-on approach, buy green beans + a popcorn popper and have him roast his own beans. It's a very easy way to roast and will taste better than Starbucks beans with a little effort. It also comes out to about ~$6/lb of coffee after you buy the popper.


Other options roasted beans:

• Happy Mug Coffee ~$11/lb, freshly roasted
  
  
• SW Roasting ~$14/lb, freshly roasted, members of /r/coffee
  
  
• Costco Coffee ~$7.5/lb but YMMV, not freshly roasted however but some have said it's decent quality
  
  Keep in mind that different blends/origins will affect price of the beans. If you need help with suggestions, feel free to ask!

Yup I have a similar collapsible one. It's soo good. I throw some butter and salt with some kernels and 2 mins later perfect movie style popcorn.

Original Salbree Microwave Popcorn Popper, Silicone Popcorn Maker, Collapsible Bowl BPA Free - 15 Colors Available (Blue) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01G7SGOL2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_sw2HDbGQHASA6

I use my food processor much more than my blender but I think it's because I didn't get one with enough power. This is the one

NOTE: I thought the use case of making soup in the blender was going to be stronger than it is but honestly I only do it a couple times a year and a pot is easier with an immersion.

Ok so this is ridiculous but my mother bought one of these in the 80's. A microwave popcorn bowl it just uses bulk popcorn. We never used the microwave bags.

I don't understand why but whenever one of my friends sees it for the first time they think it is amazing.
http://www.amazon.com/Nordic-Ware-Microwaver-Popcorn-Popper/dp/B00004W4UP

I actually make it myself, I have this from Lekué to make it in the microwave - super easy, low calorie, and I usually make around 7 or 8 cups and only use 1 tsp of olive oil to help the spices coat the popcorn (my favorite is salt + ras-al-hanout)

One of the best purchases I've made is a [microwave popcorn maker](http://www.Collapsible.com/ Silicone Microwave Hot Air Popcorn Popper Bowl With Lid and Handles https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01M6ZKZPN/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_2-BXDbXVAKCA6) add kernels and salt and oil and microwave for 2 minutes. And it makes perfect popcorn every time for like 10p a go.

Not OP but I will give you a couple of mine

Boiled potatoes
Popcorn - My wife bought this. Then she puts coconut oil and TJ vegan butter on it. I've never cared for pop corn until she started making it like that.
Chips and salsa and/or hummus - I like to do a chip in spicy salsa then the next chip in hummus for the compliment.
Chips and Guac - if making guac isnt considered cooking
Pasta and marinara
Trader Joe's Spring Rolls - Just bake

You can roast your own pretty easily and cheaply. I bought a 5 lb bag of Ethiopian Yirgacheffe green coffee beans from Etsy for $30 shipped and then I bought this hot air popcorn popper. Put a scoop of beans into the popper, place a bowl under the shoot to collect the chaff so it doesn't go everywhere, angle the popper so the chaff shoots out but the beans stay in, and plug it in. Roast to desired doneness then pour the beans in a mesh colander and shake it until it cools. Let it sit for a few days and then you can grind and drink.

It's really simple and once you've done it a few times you get the hang of it. Just watch a few videos first. Roasting it myself has yielded the best coffee I've ever tasted at roughly the same cost as the cheaper brands.

You can also use pretty much any microwaveable bowl with a lid. Melt the butter, add the kernels and salt, listen, wait, and enjoy. The bowl gets really hot but you don't have to worry about having paper bags around whenever you want popcorn.

I bought a "popcorn bowl" at Target for 8 bucks (you can get one on Amazon here. You can make it without oil or butter (but why?) and it works really well.

This model seems pretty nice, thank god for prime shipping!

These popcorn poppers are amazing!! You can even buy the oil/ butter flavor stuff! I use a ton of regular butter because IDGAF and it's delicious but for me, this whole set up is better than movie theater popcorn. Just sayin!

Thank you for specifying multiple items! I couldn't pick.

1. I want an attractive bar server. Something like this I love my wine and liquor. I have to wait until my kids are all old enough that I don't have to cringe whenever they're near it, though.
   
   
2. A stationary bike. I'm paying $300 a year for a gym membership just to ride stationary bikes. Why not buy my own and cancel the membership? We'd save money long-term. High impact exercises are a problem for me because of repeated injuries to the same ankle. Bikes are my way to burn lots of calories in a short amount of time still.
   
   
3. A nice bird bath for my front yard.
   
   
4. This appetizers on ice thing. This would really come in handy for parties I've thrown!
   
   
5. An awesome popcorn popper. I love popcorn but I have absolutely demolished every other popper I've had...they just don't hold up to once-a-day or even a few-times-a-week use for at least a year. So, if anyone has any other very durable suggestions, let me know!
   
   

OP, if you are tight on kitchen space (like I am), this should be a good solution!

Also, if you aren't totally salt-free, I hear using Bragg's soy seasoning in a spray bottle to lightly coat the popcorn is a great way of making the nooch stick.

We love our Whirley Pop:

http://www.amazon.com/Wabash-Valley-Farms-25008-Whirley-Pop/dp/B00004SU35

buy some virgin coconut oil to pop in and heat real unsalted butter in a pyrex container in the microwave for topping.

shit's great

For one, it's popped the "regular way" and the butter flavor is likely different. Even though it's super unhealthy, buy microwave popcorn with "movie theater butter flavor", and that should taste more similar.

On a related note, I use an air-popper (I use the #1 Best-Seller on Amazon) and I love it. It is much cheaper in the long run. The downside though is you have to apply butter/olive oil/coconut oil/peanut oil and salt after the fact, which takes some added time. Stove popping is also good, but I don't want to deal with cleaning a pot every time I make popcorn. I use extra virgin olive oil because it's healthier and it still tastes good (different type of taste than movie theater butter flavor, but still good). If you want to air-pop and want "movie theater flavor", you can buy Orville Redenbacher's Buttery Popping/Topping Oil.

Go for it.

I'm using the standard air popper set up, works great.

Just pour the beans in, tip it back a bit, turn on the popper, and starting checking the color after the first audible crack (~3-5minutes). When the roast is just before where you want it, turn the popper off and dump the beans into a pan.

There's a bit of smoke and chaff involved, so do the roasting outside or at least pointing out a window.

You save money, time (I buy my green beans in bulk from sweet maria's so I never have to make weekly bean runs again), and you get some truly incredible coffee.

The Nordic Ware microwave Popcorn popper, and Flavacol is what we use. Excellent results every time, and SO easy.

http://www.amazon.com/West-Bend-6-Quart-Electric-Popcorn/dp/B00004RC6R/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1303139391&sr=8-3

Bought this for the gf for valentine's day. Works like a charm and it's really cool to watch as well.

I season popcorn in all kinds of ways. From cajun to curry to bacon to sweet and hot. Anything that chips would taste good flavored as popcorn will also. My normal popcorn is made in a self stiring popper and seasoned with olive oil, cumin, curry, cinnamon and adobo (adobo is a seasoning salt with garlic and all kinds of good stuff in it).

Thanks too. I've read that some use popcorn poppers but didn't realise they were much of a thing here ... some searches on amazon found the one you recommend, at $150!!!! http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wabash-Valley-Farms-25008-Whirley-Pop/dp/B00004SU35/ref=sr_1_79?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1420919362&sr=1-79&keywords=popcorn+maker

But there is a cheaper one by another maker - it's smaller but the same design and seems decent quality. There are also electric ones, starting at around $40 - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Beneo-CinemaTaste-Popcorn-Maker-Stainless/dp/B00LX5PX7G/ref=sr_1_69?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1420919619&sr=1-69&keywords=popcorn+maker

I think you need to make your own popcorn with a popcorn popper. Imagine the warm, buttery, salty goodness of fresh popped popcorn 😀

I think it is pretty close to this one:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00006IUWA/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I have been using that for 5 years to roast. A minor mod that I did was open it up and twist the bimetal overtemp protection closed so I could roast as many batches as I want in succession. Works great. Just don't rely on the air pushing up to circulate the beans. I use a shaking motion to rotate the beans around and you can roast up to 1/3 lb with this.

My husband loves popcorn. possibly more than he loves me

We have this one. It's countertop and just uses a little bit of oil for popping.

>this is the one I got: Wabash Valley Farms 22000MG Original Whirley Pop Stove Top Popcorn Popper Silver

Thanks for linking to a specific Whirley Pop popcorn maker. That helps a lot.

You need to buy one of these, my friend. It make popcorn that's better than movie theater popcorn and you can play around with using different oils to give your popcorn different flavors.

This: https://smile.amazon.com/Salbree-Microwave-Popcorn-Silicone-Collapsible/dp/B01CMT8DFU/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1483750416&sr=8-4&keywords=popcorn+kernel+for+microwave

With this: https://smile.amazon.com/Great-Northern-Popcorn-4-Ounce-Portion/dp/B000PDY3P0/ref=pd_nav_hcs_bia_t_1?_encoding=UTF8&refRID=2PHF0Z7JSY1YQM6G504D&th=1

Dish washer safe, and best tasting popcorn I've ever had at home.

I use something like this: http://www.amazon.com/Nordic-Ware-Microwaver-Popcorn-Popper/dp/B00004W4UP

I used to put butter / salt in but recently I don't want to bother with cleanup. Straight popcorn is good enough for me.

Don't give up. Green bean can be stored for quite a long time. and DIY coffee roasting can help save lot $$$ and give you surprise when you take a sip of the coffee you roasted and brewed yourself.

BTW, as my popcorn popper is almost identical to https://www.amazon.com/Hamilton-Beach-73400-Popcorn-Popper/dp/B00JR5ADG0/ref=zg_bs_1090764_12?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=9CXA78KYSANV50EHDANH and in a country with 240V electricity supply. The power output might slightly varies.

I tried Alton's method a few times and I felt it wasn't really worth the effort. I use the Great Northern Popcorn Original Spinner to pop the kernels in and started to use
ladyfinger. For oils, it's a matter of preference. Coconut is very strong and has a distinct flavor which I got sick of after a month. I always go back to peanut or canola oil. Also, using clarified butter to top it off is the best so it won't make the popcorn soggy.

There are some that are made for it - I use this one. Works fine. I'm sure the paper bag works great too.

What I can think of for most recently is my air popper for popping popcorn. It’s really easy to use. I use some Orville Redenbacher popcorn kernels, Kirkland olive oil, and garlic salt and it creates some deliciously addicting popcorn

I have one of these guys:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0089XJDIK/ref=twister_B01MQ0LAKG?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

You put popcorn into the bowl, optionally add a little bit of oil, and cook in the microwave like usual.

You can even serve from the bowl itself, and it rinses pretty easily

A good popcorn machine isn't even that expensive, really. (We got that one on sale for under $150.)

I mean, yeah, it's not necessarily pocket change, but if you really like popcorn, and eat a lot of it, it's totally worth it.

Hahhaha, I used the goat cheese Parmesan with dinner last night. ;)

It is similar to this but it was a super cheap one and I found it in a store.

Amish country popcorn. I like baby white/yellow and rainbow ladyfinger. It's best popped in a Whirley-popper.

We use this air popper and bulk Amish kernels. No oil, and the resulting popcorn is fantastic.

http://www.amazon.com/Presto-04820-PopLite-Popper-White/dp/B00006IUWA

Highly recommended if you enjoy popcorn.

In the last place I lived, my roommate had one of those stovetop popcorn things. It's amazing. Throw some popcorn kernels in, pour in just enough canola oil to lightly coat (I mean lightly). When it starts to pop, turn the handle. When the popping slows down and starts to stop, pour it into a bowl. I used melted butter and white cheddar seasoning. Probably not the most healthy way, but it's delicious.

can you be more specific? do you mean like an air popper, or a machine like this one? I've seen these and they don't work very well - a lot of the kernels end up unpopped, it's wasteful, inefficient, cumbersome to fill, and hard to clean. I don't recommend it

I prefer to use my Whirly Pop - very high quality and easy to use. avoid the stainless steel ones as they heat up too slowly, aluminum conducts heat faster so it takes less time to pop.

I just wanted to share that I just bought this thing and I love it so hard.

http://www.amazon.com/Lekue-Microwave-Popcorn-Popper-Maker/dp/B00NF9CT0C/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1464892927&sr=8-1&keywords=lueke+popcorn

Ditch the brown bag! You can save money by getting something reusable like this

https://www.amazon.com/Original-Salbree-Microwave-Silicone-Collapsible/dp/B01G7SGOL2/

I probably use it everyday. Its difficult to burn popcorn in, tastes just like air popped popcorn, and you don't need to buy bags!

I bought this [Lekue Popcorn Popper](https://www.amazon.ca/Lekue-Popcorn-Popper-Popocorn-Maker/dp/B00NF9CT0C/ref=sr_1_4?s=kitchen-substore&ie=UTF8&qid=1458086687&sr=1-4 "Popcorn PopperLekue Popcorn Popper") from Amazon.ca and LOVE it!

Agreed, popcorn is great.

Protip: Buy loose kernels in bulk, pop them with one of these bad boys. Now you can pop popcorn/kettle corn perfectly, every time, even when the electricity goes out!!

You don't need anything nearly that fancy. Just get one of these: http://www.amazon.com/Wabash-Valley-Farms-25008-Whirley-Pop/dp/B00004SU35

Trust me, it's worth it. Make sure you pick up some Flavacol and popcorn oil from GFS, and you will be hard pressed to tell a difference between that and movie theater stuff.

The stove top popper is king. Pops every single kernel in 3 minutes, perfectly fluffy.

https://www.amazon.com/Wabash-Valley-Farms-Whirley-Pop-Stovetop/dp/B00004SU35/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1473649262&sr=8-1&keywords=stove+top+popper

This is the one I have: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00006IUWA/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1484497009&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=air+popper+popcorn+maker&dpPl=1&dpID=41ZoUbPF1%2BL&ref=plSrch
And it works like a champ!

Don't even need one! Original Salbree Microwave Popcorn Popper, Silicone Popcorn Maker, Collapsible Bowl BPA Free - 18 Colors Available (Blue) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01G7SGOL2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_jrG2Db4CB827E

Not only is it just one pot, it's just one tablespoon of oil. What's the big deal? I wipe mine out with a paper towel in 10 seconds and it's fine.

I use the Whirly Pop, a tablespoon of canola oil, and melt REAL butter, add salt. Perfect.

> I try to avoid nuts given the high calorie content (not great for mindlessly munching)

Popcorn is the absolute best for mindless munching for me. I use about a tablespoon of butter if I'm feeling indulgent, and just salt otherwise. I can eat an entire (large) mixing bowl's worth by myself and not feel guilty in the slightest. (This is probably one of my most-used Christmas presents in recent memory.)

10 year theater veteran checking in...

You need both proper seasoning and a proper device to make it in.

To make the popcorn, you'll need a popcorn maker that agitates the kernels. Most have this as a manual function. That means that, yes, you have to actually turn that knob for like three minutes. However, you'll get a great batch. This is the most important piece. Every commercial movie theater popper operates that exact same way, albeit in an automated mechanical fashion.

The second thing you need is proper seasoning. You can get pretty good taste with standard salt, but for authentic flavor you'll need butter salt.

So, toss in a cup of kernels and about four tablespoons of canola oil. Then put in a spoonful of butter salt. Turn on high and agitate at a consistent speed. Once popping starts, keep agitating until there are around three to five seconds between pops. Remove from heat and place in a bowl. Enjoy.

Get this: https://www.amazon.com/Gold-Medal-Prod-Flavacol-Seasoning/dp/B004W8LT10?ie=UTF8&qid=1378260313&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1


and this: https://www.amazon.com/Amish-Country-Rainbow-Blend-Popcorn/dp/B00017LEZC?ie=UTF8&qid=1378260344&ref_=sr_1_2&sr=8-2


and this: https://www.amazon.com/West-Bend-82306-6-Quart-Electric/dp/B00004RC6R?ie=UTF8&qid=1378260208&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1


For the best popcorn you have ever tried in your life.

If you don't own an airpopper and dont want to deal with an airpopper. Let me recommend a microwave popper. like the one here: https://smile.amazon.com/Nordicware-Microwave-Popcorn-Popper-Cup/dp/B06XCF8WPR It requires no oil and its become one of my favorite kitchen devices. There are many other types that you can buy, thats just the one that I use.

How do you get the garlic powder and season salt to stick to the popcorn?

Here's my method for microwave popcorn:

Using a microwave popcorn popper dish, like this, add 1/3 cup of kernels. Microwave for 2 minutes. Top with nutritional yeast. I stir in some olive oil to try & get the nutritional yeast to stick to the popcorn, which kind of works, but there has to be a better way.

I bought a silicone bowl popcorn popper on Amazon for pretty cheap a few years ago and it’s still my fave kitchen item. No fat needed to make the popcorn, which means calories saved.Popcorn Maker

Pretty sure it is this one

Growing up, we had a popcorn machine like this. 20 bucks! And all my friends thought we were the biggest snobs for not making it in a bag in the microwave to get that authentic packing peanut taste. Never mind that a gallon of kernels and a machine like that will make you popcorn at a much lower cost than pre-packaged microwave brands. And you can butter to taste, rather than 90% dry sponge, 10% oily sludge.

There is no shame in that. I have done it myself a few times. And microwave popcorn is sacrilege. Stove top is where it's at. A Whirly-Pop makes the best. Not having room for anymore pots and pans and having a glass range that I don't like to shake a regular pan on top of, I have discovered the Presto Pop. It technically makes microwave popcorn, but it's mostly the same as stovetop, and is waaaaay better (and cheaper) than bagged microwave.

we have this: https://smile.amazon.com/Presto-04820-PopLite-Hot-Popper/dp/B00006IUWA/ref=sr_1_5?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1484182397&sr=1-5&keywords=popcorn+air+popper and absolutely love it

yes, I believe you can. haven't done it myself. I prefer the whirley-pop, which I believe -- as a popcorn enthusiast -- is the best way to make popcorn. also, buy good popcorn and keep it air-tight! the secret to fluffy popcorn is (a) medium-high heat and (b) NON-dry popcorn. the moisture in the popcorn is what causes the explosion. buy the freshest corn you can and keep it in a sealed jar. I also use a brown sugar thingie but I'm obsessed. links here:

http://www.amazon.com/Wabash-Valley-Farms-25008-Whirley-Pop/dp/B00004SU35

http://www.amazon.com/Harold-Import-Brown-Sugar-Bear/dp/B000MT65BC/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1324705866&sr=1-1

I have an Air Popper so I just pop it myself. I have this one. It's only $20. You can get a big box of kernels for like $5 at a grocery store and you really only need 1 or 2 tablespoons of kernels to make a nice big batch of popcorn.

Get a Whirley Pop. I love mine. Use it every night, or at least every other night.

Got one of these for Christmas years ago. I love it.

https://www.amazon.com/Nordic-Ware-Microwave-Popcorn-Popper/dp/B00004W4UP

Your best bet is probably to do it yourself. Get a popcorn popper like this one if you don't plan to do more in the future. And then check out this guide.

You buy the bags of dry kernels, pour into the air popper. A few minutes later, every single kernel is perfectly popped.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00006IUWA/ref=mp_s_a_1?qid=1342491961&sr=8-1

I grew up on popcorn made in this. Absolutely loved every second of it.

Get one of these, makes great popcorn - Whirley-Pop Stovetop Popcorn Popper. The secret to movie theatre taste is using coconut oil to pop the corn in.

Whirlypop is great for the stove https://www.amazon.com/Wabash-Valley-Farms-Stovetop-Popcorn/dp/B00004SU35. I just use vegetable oil with some flavacol. I should probably try a healthier oil though..

Buy a whirley pop, cheap and works great.
http://www.amazon.com/Wabash-Valley-Farms-25008-Whirley-Pop/dp/B00004SU35

Check out these. They work great.

I have a special bowl for microwaved popcorn. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00004W4UP/

Creates no garbage by using it. (Not sure about any packaging it comes in. Sorry.) Then you can use just plain popcorn seeds in it.

That flavoured salt is flavacol.

I've seen it sold locally under a generic name in bulk food stores. You can also probably buy it at any party supply store that rents popcorn makers. And of course it's available wherever fine internet is present.

The consensus seems to be that flavacol, coconut oil, and a premium popcorn kernel (eg. Orville Redenbacher), cooked in a whirley pop or similar, will get you as close as possible to theatre popcorn at home.

I've started using a specific popcorn container for the microwave. It doesn't use any oil, and it tastes the same as air popped to me. I use this one. I'm in Canada, so you might have to look around a bit, but I find the container a good alternative to an airpopper.

Stop with the amature shit. Get a Stir Crazy, get some quality popcorn and some good oil. Then after you pop it but some real butter on it.

You'll find that good popcorn has almost no hulls and you almost never get popcorn stuck in your teeth.

You'll also find microwave popcorn and popcorn from movie theaters almost inedible in comparison once you become accustomed to the good stuff.

I got a HotPop for work and it is brilliant

Here's your starter kit:

>https://www.amazon.com/Wabash-Valley-Farms-Whirley-Pop-Stovetop/dp/B00004SU35/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1495559034&sr=8-1&keywords=popcorn+popper+stove

>https://www.amazon.com/Gold-Medal-Products-Flavacol-Seasoning/dp/B007HN5KNA/ref=sr_1_2_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1495559045&sr=8-2&keywords=popcorn+flavor+salt

>https://www.amazon.com/Natures-Way-Organic-Virgin-Coconut/dp/B00J51RB3E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1495559064&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=coconut+oil&psc=1

>https://www.amazon.com/Snappy-Yellow-Popcorn-4-Pounds/dp/B003832GRQ/ref=sr_1_10_s_it?s=grocery&ie=UTF8&qid=1495559074&sr=1-10&keywords=popcorn

>https://www.amazon.com/Amish-Country-Buttery-Popcorn-Topping/dp/B00AX6JGI8/ref=sr_1_4_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1495559107&sr=8-4&keywords=popcorn+topping+butter

You only need a little bit of salt at a time, so that'll last you years. I like the Orville popcorn topping, but couldn't find it cheap on Amazon. Anyways, this is a good set so you don't have gallons of stuff in your house, but still get authentic movie theater taste.

Easily done. Coconut oil, quality corn, and a decent popcorn maker is all it takes.

Fresh and hot beats sitting under a heat lamp for hours, in popcorn as in all things.

If you eat popcorn even just once a week get this: Presto 04820 PopLite Hot Air Popper. Had one for a while and it works wonders. Tastes better than the microwaved stuff. Get some butter to put on top and let it melt as your popcorn pops or just get some of the flavored popcorn salt or oil at the store to put on it.

If you make much popcorn at all get a popcorn machine. They are small, you save money as popcorn kernels are ridiculously cheap, and it tastes way better.

http://www.amazon.com/Presto-04820-PopLite-Popper-White/dp/B00006IUWA/ref=lp_1090764_1_1?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1406771454&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.com/Presto-04820-PopLite-Popper-White/dp/B00006IUWA

I'm a big cast iron cooker, and I still screw up popping kernels. This $20 air popper is a great timesaver.

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Hope those help!

My family had this or something like it, and it worked well for quite some time (until it had some small malfunction or other, so it doesn't work for whatever reason).

The good model is still avaliable on amazon for $15.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0036WS1GY

In it using something like one of these. https://www.amazon.com/Great-Northern-Popcorn-Original-Popper/dp/B005T3P6PM?ref_=fsclp_pl_dp_1 you add some oil to the bottom usually, just replace that oil with some bacon grease for some god tier popcorn.

i like the whirley-pop it is quick and simple. no nonstick anything, and the popcorn tastes much better than air pop or microwave. and its cheap!

For popcorn, do yourself a favour with the trip-down-memory-lane-and-yet-still-is-pulling-in-amazing-reviews purchase of this popper. Bought the exact model and it's superb.

I don't use butter, but squirt grapeseed oil on the popcorn as it flows out, while crushing fresh salt on it. Movie time, baby. Movie time!

size of cast iron and whirley-pop? I see a 6 qt size whirley on amazon, not sure if it's too big/small.

Last time I made popcorn it was in a hot air popper. That dish on top of the spout is where you put butter, and by the time the popcorn is ready so is the butter.

I use a "air crazy" model by west bend. I'm happy with it's roasting abilities, however the thermostat needs to be bypassed in order to get it up to a proper temperature.

It's true! I do air popped popcorn because you get SO much more! Everyone gets the skinny pop stuff but don't realize how much more you can get if you pop your own and season yourself. BUT you have to get a good air poppee cause some seriously suck! I recommend this one
microwave air popper
Seriously changed my life!

The Stir Crazy pops some pretty tasty corn.

I got an this air popper from amazon. Its $20, doesn't need any oil and is idiot-proof. Literally just put in the kernels, plug it in and you'll get perfect popcorn (no burning, virtually no kernels un-popped)

Popcorn Popper.

http://www.amazon.com/Presto-04820-PopLite-Popper-White/dp/B00006IUWA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1369064655&sr=8-1&keywords=popcorn+popper

Roasts by the 1/2-cup and great for learning. Run it with beans for about 5-8 minutes at a time, and make sure you listen for the cracks.

It's not as large or fancy as the other suggestions in the thread, but it's also not $300.

EDIT: It's also really simple to repair and modify. I've taken out the temperature governor and installed a thermometer.

If you're going to make popcorn, do it right.

• Wabash Valley Farms Whirley-Pop Stovetop Popcorn Popper
  
• Savannah Gold Popcorn
  
• Wabash Valley Farms Real Theatre Popcorn Popping Oil
  
• Gold Medal Flavacol Seasoning Popcorn Salt

If you want to make everyone envious get one of these babies! Fun for the whole family!

There are 3 things you need to make popcorn at home that is just as good as movie theatre popcorn. First, a good popper. Second, pop it in coconut oil. Third, and this is the real secret, fake butter seasoning. So, so good.

http://www.amazon.com/Wabash-Valley-Farms-Whirley-Pop-Stovetop/dp/B00004SU35

You're welcome.

Air-popper. This brand: http://www.amazon.com/Presto-114316-04820-PopLite-Popper/dp/B00006IUWA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1311275338&sr=8-1

Seriously makes delicious popcorn, pays itself off over time, and is faster than the microwave.

Get one of these and ensure you use this with it and it's exactly the same and much cheaper.

It takes about 5 minutes to make a large popcorn that's movie theater quality.

I loooove this thing. You do have to stop it when it's done or it eventually burns (after 30 seconds or a minute), but because you can SEE THE POPCORN POPPING that's not a big deal.


Seriously, it's like a UFO that makes popcorn for you.

I use on of these: Wabash Valley Farms Whirley-Pop Stovetop Popcorn Popper https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00004SU35/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_ydfIub0D5EE8Q

Turn handle and it rotates two arms along the bottom of the pan to keep corn from burning.

Also, tastes way better if you use coconut oil.

I'm a microwave butter junkie and my husband tried just popping on the stove with a small amount of oil. We switched to this to cut calories and it folds up nicely in the cabinet.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01CMT8DFU/ref=s9_acsd_top_hd_bw_b4Zky_c_x_3_w?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=merchandised-search-4&pf_rd_r=TT8SXW3C75AXTD6V91XM&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=95daf077-c732-5649-9eec-3d77faa04f20&pf_rd_i=1090764

It looks like you want model 82306... I've started seeing more of model 82505 which is NOT the correct one.

I'm personally a fan of the Whirley Pop since it goes right on the stove, and you can control the heat more directly. I've never tried this one though, so it might work too. Only thing I would be concerned about would be if you wanted to make kettle corn. Not sure how well this would work with that. Maybe some other people can share their experience

I know this is getting to you a few days late, I make cheese popcorn all the time. Really you need the cheddar powder and something for it to bind together (popcorn topping, butter, etc.)

My method, with links to things I use:

• To one of these I add 1/3 cup of popcorn, just enough coconut oil to coat the bottom, and a shake or two of this popcorn salt. I use the stir crank occasionally until popping stops.
  
  
• I dump the popcorn into a bowl with extra room so that I can shake it to mix. If it is stainless, it makes things very easy to clean up afterward.
  
  
• I then add about a tablespoon of this popcorn topping oil, distributed across as much as possible. Other oils work here, butter as well. You just need a very light coat, it helps the cheese powder bind to the popcorn (and adds flavor.)
  
  
• I sprinkle some of this cheddar cheese powder across the popcorn.
  
  
• I then shake the bowl, tossing the popcorn to distribute. Then repeat the oil/butter and cheddar powder.
  
  
• If needed I add extra salt.
  
  You don't have to use most of these things, but I've made popcorn that has gotten a ton of rave reviews with either that method, or minor changes to it. Get some of the cheddar powder and go from there. It can also be used to make mac and cheese, au gratin, or any dish that could use a little cheese flavor if you don't want to just use grated cheese. The powder also sticks on the popcorn crevices, making it amazingly tasty.
  

Here is a cheap option for small-scale roasting. Using a popcorn popper for roasting coffee will help familiarize you with the roasting process.

The popcorn one can be done slightly better if you get a popcorn maker. That way you don't have to buy paper bags or anything, you just put the bowl under the machine and the popcorn flies out when finished.

I bought one of these back in 2015: https://www.amazon.com/Nordic-Ware-Microwave-Popcorn-Popper/dp/B00004W4UP/ref=pd_lpo_vtph_79_lp_t_3?_encoding=UTF8&refRID=034JDF1DJ8EV58Z5HHW9&th=1

And I use the bulk popcorn in a bag from Trader Joe's and it cooks amazing, no oil or butter or fat needed.

Butter microwave popcorn smells like sweatsocks/gymlocker to me for some reason.

​

I can make real popcorn with a WhirlyPop just as fast as microwave.

it looks like this

I cannot say enough for this machine: Whirley Pop Once you get the hang of it you'll make popcorn that will make all other popcorn you've ever had taste like poo. I use unrefined coconut oil, salt and sometimes a tablespoon of sugar for a kettle corn taste.

Use an air popper, like this. http://www.amazon.com/Presto-04820-PopLite-Popper-White/dp/B00006IUWA

They make electric popcorn poppers, called air poppers. Like this one

I do air-popped popcorn (in a silicon bowl like this one)

You might like this: https://www.amazon.com/Original-HOTPOP-Microwave-Collapsible-Dishwasher/dp/B01M1CJNXH

I use an air popper similar to this one. You can dress up the popcorn however you like afterwards or eat it plain. I use flavoring salts and you can make them yourself if you want, this site has some recipes.

The only issue that I have is getting the salts to stick well to the popcorn, but I hardly use any oil/butter. I usually spray some oil on the popcorn and then dust the seasonings on.

I use a really basic off-the-shelf electric popcorn maker, similar to this one, for example: https://smile.amazon.com/Hamilton-Beach-73400-Popcorn-Popper/dp/B00JR5ADG0/ (sorry, it's a bit more than $15 - I'm from Israel, and was just estimating the price of a similar equipment in the US). If you google home roasting coffee beans, you'll see a lot of information, including recommendations on specific popcorn makers that are better suited for the task (I didn't have the luxury of choosing one of those, and it worked out fine). You will also find information about using stove-top roasters - they should work as well, if not better, than the electric ones, but require you to stir the beans constantly yourself.

BUY AN AIR POPPER!!!

I can't recommend this highly enough. It's nothing short of amazing. Fast, easy, no clean-up, no oil, no un-popped kernels, and so so cheap. I bought like 5 pounds of kernels for about $3. That will make like 50 big bowls of popcorn.

http://smile.amazon.com/Presto-04820-PopLite-Hot-Popper/dp/B00006IUWA

that's the one I got

Yeah, I don't use the microwave stuff at home either, I use a Stir Crazy, it drips a little butter on gradually through out the process so no popcorn is sitting in a pool of goo.

The "theater style" microwave popcorn is just a regular bag of corn with 500% more butter-flavored oil added.

LPT: Buy a Whirly Pop, buy kernels, most importantly, cook in coconut oil, smuggle in gallon sized ziplock bag or two in purse or backpack. Season with theater style popcorn saltMany monies saved while maintaining popcorn quality.

/u/infinity526 is right, you shouldn't make popcorn on a glass top stove. But if you had a whirly pop you could do it!

I got it at Bed Bath and Beyond, but they have them on Amazon, too. There's a few different brands, I think this is the one I used.

Here you go. EDIT: Since I explained it wrong, here's my original source: https://www.reddit.com/r/Cooking/comments/27tygi/whats_the_closest_i_can_get_to_cinemastyle/ci4cldp/

Found a previous comment about this and used the guy's amazon links and replicated movie popcorn at home...

Popcorn Maker
https://www.amazon.com/Great-Northern-Popcorn-Original-Popper/dp/B005T3P6PM/

Popcorn Oil - Coconut variety (don't worry it doesn't taste coconutty)
https://www.amazon.com/Paragon-Coconut-Popcorn-Popping-Gallon/dp/B002YLI9E2

Popcorn Salt
https://www.amazon.com/Gold-Medal-Prod-Flavacol-Seasoning/dp/B004W8LT10

This setup will last you forever, you'll get sick of popcorn before you get through any of these. You do need to season the popper, just follow the directions. Its a metal pot after all.

My personal was to store the oil in my pantry so it was cool and dark. I had to icecream scoop a giant dollop of it into a cup and microwaved it to be liquid. Then you pop the popcorn like usual.

Then I would empty the popcorn into a giant bowl. I would stir it around and use the popcorn salt for about half the time, and then used finely ground Walmart type popcorn table salt.

It's my gf's, and she's at college right now, so I'm not sure of the exact model or brand. But it looks like this. Yellow rim, clearish plastic lid with a tray for heating up butter or oil while the popcorn pops. I'll ask her tomorrow for a specific brand.

That seems like it might be a pain to wash out, since there are so many moving parts. Constantly juggling a lidded pot on the stove works fine, or if you want an oil-free method, microwave air poppers aren't bad either.

Don't use a microwave!

Get a WhirlyPop and do it on the stove

http://www.amazon.com/Wabash-Valley-Farms-25008-Whirley-Pop/dp/B00004SU35

It's faster and better with no "mystery chemicals"

I know how to make movie theater popcorn....

Edit: $170 buck for unlimited blow jobs is a bargain. https://www.amazon.com/Great-Northern-Popcorn-6010-Roosevelt/dp/B000QWE6S4/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?qid=1551018226&refinements=p_n_feature_keywords_browse-bin%3A5024581011&s=kitchen&sr=1-4

May I introduce you to the silicone microwave popcorn bowl. No oil required. Use a little water spritzer after it cooks and your favorite seasoning.

Try it.

http://www.amazon.com/Presto-04820-PopLite-Hot-Popper/dp/B00006IUWA


They're great! And alarmingly unheard of, apparently.

If you're looking to re-create theatre-style popcorn, then a spice/salt you're looking for Flavacol! My go-to recipe is a heaping tablespoon of coconut oil, a half-cup of popcorn kernels, and a teaspoon of Flavacol, all put in a Whirley Pop over medium-high heat. Three minutes later, you've got a pot full of popcorn!

Presto on Amazon $23 prime eligible

I recently got a fold up silicon popper that lets me air pop popcorn. It works extremely well. This is the specific one I got but there are lots of options.

I use a "stir crazy" style oil popper, like this one: https://www.amazon.ca/West-Bend-82505-Popcorn-6-Quart/dp/B00KL8SM92/

This one in particular, but they don't sell it anymore: https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B003UV8L5C/

You don't need something like this, though, you'll get similar results by using a covered frying pan or a stainless steel mixing bowl such a described here: https://altonbrown.com/perfect-popcorn-recipe-2/

1/4 cup of kernels, 1/4 teaspoon of Flavacol, 2 teaspoons of refined coconut oil.

$20

http://www.amazon.com/Presto-04820-PopLite-Popper-White/dp/B00006IUWA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1395009059&sr=8-1&keywords=air+popper

Don't cut open a can. That shit's sharp.

One of these bad boys

https://www.amazon.com/West-Bend-82306-6-Quart-Electric/dp/B00004RC6R

I just shake the whole thing every minute or so to get the beans out from under the rotating rod. It gives me a pretty consistent roast, and i can watch for desired color and listen for cracks.

And for those that think that would be too hard, get a whirley popper. Crazy easy and almost as quick as mircowave popcorn (at least on my gas range).

Obviously you have never made popcorn the right way: http://www.amazon.com/West-Bend-82306-6-Quart-Electric/dp/B00004RC6R/ref=zg_bs_1090764_4

cheapest


something i really want

Absolutely