Before our family of six switched to popcorn poppers, the microwave popcorn bag was an easy family night ritual. Rip open a box, tear the cellophane, unfold and toss in the microwave for three minutes or until the sound of popping slowed. Carefully rip open the steaming bag, pour in bowl and we’re done.

Sure, the microwave provided us convenience (or so we thought), but at what cost?

Certainly, not at the cost of calories. Microwave popcorn bags can contain enormous amount of calories per serving. According to the Calorie Count website, Orville Redenbacher’s Movie Theater Butter Mini Bags (yes, mini bags) contains 213 calories per serving. Their Smart Pop Butter Mini Bags  contain 110 calories per serving.

Air popped popcorn contains about 30 calories per serving (about a cup). Oil popped popcorn contains 55 calories and lightly buttered 90 to 120 calories per serving. Yes, adding flavor to popcorn does increase calories; however, by popping the corn yourself, you gain control on the amount and type of popcorn seasoning you use. With microwave popcorn, you’re eating what the manufacturer chose to put in them.

And really, we weren’t saving much time with the microwave popcorn bags. Typically, our popcorn poppers will pop corn within five minutes.

After switching away from microwave popcorn bags, we gained another unexpected benefit. The magic of popping popcorn. Quite honestly, there’s enchantment watching that first popcorn pop in a popper, followed by another, then another until finally an eruption of all the corn bursting into fluffy crispy white. This is a performance we miss when the corn pops anonymously in the microwave bag.

You'll find these terms: popcorn poppers, popcorn machines, and popcorn makers often used interchangeably. Sometimes you'll find them combined, like popcorn popper machines or popcorn popper makers, and popcorn maker machines.

Is there a difference?

Well, basically, they all perform the same function: heat the popcorn kernel until the moisture within reaches the boiling point...then pop!

In general, the difference is in size and use:

Popcorn Poppers: These are the guys that sit on your counter, stove top or in your microwave when you want to pop popcorn and then get returned to your kitchen cabinet when not in use. Their use is pretty straight forward: heat and pop. They come in a variety of styles - bubble shapes (retro 70s), cones, bright colors, stylish black, etc. You'll find four different popping methods:

• Oil popcorn poppers: A popular brand is the Cuisinart Easy Pop Popcorn Maker
• Hot air popcorn poppers: Presto PopLite Hot Air Corn Popper and Presto Orville Redenbacher Hot Air Corn Popper are popular products.
• Stove top popcorn poppers: Whirley Pop Stovetop Popcorn Popper is a popular and simple popcorn popper that uses a hand crank to prevent sticking and burning of the popcorn.

Microwave popcorn poppers: Healthy alternative to microwave popcorn bags.

Popcorn Machines: When you walk into the movie theater, these are the machines you see popping the popcorn. In recent years, bar style (table top) popcorn machines and popcorn machines with carts have become popular decorative and fun additions to home theaters and game rooms. Popcorn machines can range in the following sizes:

• 4 oz. popcorn machines: These make four 1oz. servings every 3 minutes and are appropriate for small home theaters and game rooms
• 6 oz. popcorn machines: Makes six 1oz. servings every 3 minutes and are appropriate with home theaters and game rooms and for mid-sized gatherings.
• 8oz. popcorn machines: Makes eight 1 oz. servings every 3 minutes (seeing a pattern?) and are appropriate for large home theaters and game rooms, large gatherings, smaller break rooms, restaurants, bars and waiting rooms. These can also be appropriate popcorn machines for fundraisers that attract small crowds.
• 12 oz. popcorn machines: Makes twelve 1oz. servings every 3 minutes and are designed for concession stands, snack bars, schools, and large fundraising events.
• 14 oz. popcorn machines: Of course, these guys produce a lot of popcorn and are appropriate for larger concession stands and theaters.

Popcorn Makers: You'll find all of the above called popcorn makers at times. Though in the past, popcorn maker was the popular term for popcorn popper, the term is not used as much today.