West Bend Stir Crazy

The flavour pick — a classic electric oil popper with a motorised stirring rod for even popping and a lid that flips into a serving bowl, producing the rich, authentic movie-theatre taste hot-air poppers can't match, in large batches. The trade-off is added oil, calories, and more cleanup.

The West Bend Stir Crazy is the oil-popping pick for that rich, movie-theatre flavour rather than healthy plainness. It's a classic electric oil popper with a built-in motorised stirring rod that keeps kernels moving in a small amount of oil so they pop evenly without scorching, and a large clear lid that doubles as a serving bowl — you flip the whole thing over to serve. Oil popping is the key: the kernels cook in oil, which carries flavour and seasoning, producing the fuller, richer, authentic 'movie popcorn' taste air poppers can't match, and seasonings stick far better to oil-coated kernels. It makes large, crowd-pleasing batches and is a nostalgic machine. The trade-off is added oil (and calories) and more cleanup than an air popper, but for genuine popcorn flavour, it's the standout.

▶ Video review

Stir Crazy: The Perfect Popcorn Popper?