I would say it is easy to define a popcorn maker -- any machine that makes popcorn. The fact is, there are a ton of available models. There are certainly more than the average person might guess.

Why are there so many popcorn makers out on the market? Probably because the popcorn segment of the snack industry is large. And where there is a large consumer sector there will always be people looking to capitalize and take a bite out of that market for themselves.

Lucky for those people that there is more than one way to skin a cat and more than one way to pop a popcorn kernel.

Indeed, it is lucky for you and me, too.

Why do I say it is lucky for us? Because the variety of ways to pop a kernel means you and I have an array of popcorn makers from which to choose. Pick a popcorn-related need or want -- if you will -- and there is a popcorn maker for it. Pick a popcorn popping method (that does not involve a cell phone) and someone surely makes a popcorn maker based on that method.

Whether you want your popcorn stove-top popped, air-popped, electric-popped, microwave-popped, or even popped over an open fire, there is a popcorn maker for everyone.

The way stove-top popcorn makers work is pretty basic -- and fast. You pour in a little oil, add your popcorn, turn on the heat, and crank the handle on the popper. In under five minutes, what do you have?

You got it -- popcorn!

Everyone -- or at least everyone I know -- is familiar with the Whirley Pop stove-top popcorn maker. This is not the only stove-top popper on the market, but it is by far the most popular -- and a solid piece of equipment indeed. With Whirley Pop, you can get the popcorn whirling for under thirty bucks.

Air poppers are electric -- oh, and a little noisy. The cool thing about these dealies is you can pop corn with one sans oil -- that is correct! No added fat from cooking oil!

With no added fat from oil or butter, and seasoned to taste with a little salt, a big -- very big -- bowl of popcorn is just a couple hundred calories. Popcorn is a snack that is high in fiber, and with air poppers, you can eat it -- as they say -- guilt-free.

Of course, air poppers use electricity, but those machines are not the only electricity-driven popcorn makers. You can also find available online, electric poppers with a built-in heating pan and stirring arms for popping your kernels and keeping them from getting scorched. The key with this sort of electric-powered popper is to remember that, unlike the air poppers, cooking oil (and the fat within) is involved.

Think of the electric popper concept as the Whirley Pop with electricity added to the equation for your convenience. One highly-rated model on Amazon is from Salton.  (Good name, no?)

You do not have to buy those specially-packed bags of microwave popcorn to enjoy microwaved popcorn convenience. There is an alternative. It involves regular popcorn kernels like you would use with the other methods shown in this hub, plus cooking oil (and optional seasoning), a microwave popcorn popper -- like the one shown in the picture to the right -- and of course, a microwave oven.

The model shown is from Back To Basics, and is very highly regarded by Amazon customers who have submitted a review. A breeze through the reviews there shows that a number of customers were skeptical the product would work and produce tasty popcorn. Most say their skepticism went up in fact, in hot air. (Please forgive the pun.)

Do you like your popcorn with a heightened element of danger? Then open fire popping is for you!

Seriously, open fire popping would likely not be most people's primary popping method, but it is a must-have for camping trips and holiday gatherings. There are a number of available popcorn makers for open flames. My pick is by Wabash Valley Farms -- the same folks who make the Whirley Pop.

Seen in the photo to the right, the Open Fire Pop is essentially a deep, covered pan with an extensible arm for popping corn over a campfire or fireplace. It looks akin to the Whirley Pop, but there is of course, no "whirley" part. When you use this popcorn maker, you will be creating a rustic treat for you and your guests, for sure.

Just be certain to employ the proper flame safety. Popcorn should be fun and yummy, not injurious.