What is the Best Oil to Use in a Popcorn Popper?

For most oil-based popcorn poppers, refined coconut oil is my first choice. It handles popping heat well and gives popcorn that familiar movie-theater-style taste.

If you don't want that flavor, canola or sunflower oil makes more sense. The best choice depends on your popper and how you want the popcorn to taste.

Why Refined Coconut Oil Is the Best Oil for Theater-Style Popcorn

When I'm after theater-style popcorn, refined coconut oil is where I'd start.

Once the kettle heats, solid coconut oil melts quickly and coats the kernels.

The word refined matters here.

Refined coconut oil handles higher popping temperatures better than unrefined coconut oil. Unrefined coconut oil also carries more coconut flavor, which you may notice in the finished popcorn.

You can also buy butter-flavored coconut popping oil when you want more of that concession-stand taste.

That oil isn't the same as melted butter.

Regular butter contains water and milk solids. When you put it under strong popping heat, those milk solids can brown or burn before the batch finishes. I prefer adding regular melted butter after popping when I want real butter flavor.

Canola Oil Is a Good Popcorn Popper Oil for a Neutral Taste

Canola oil works well when you want the popcorn and seasonings to carry most of the flavor. It coats the kernels without adding much flavor of its own.

That's useful when you're adding butter afterward.

Canola oil doesn't make popcorn automatically less crisp, either. When popcorn comes out soft, I look beyond the oil bottle.

• If steam stays trapped around freshly popped corn, the popcorn can soften.

• If you pour in too much oil, the pieces can feel greasy.

• Changing from canola to coconut oil won't necessarily fix either problem.

Sunflower Oil Is Another Good Oil for a Popcorn Popper

Sunflower oil can handle the heat used for popping, while its mild flavor stays in the background.

If you already have an appropriate canola or sunflower oil, I'd try that before buying another oil just for popcorn.

Choosing the Best Oil for Your Popcorn Popper

The best oil to use in a popcorn popper machine comes down to your machine and the flavor you want.

Refined coconut oil is my pick for theater-style popcorn, while canola or sunflower oil works better when you want a neutral taste.

Once you know which direction fits your popcorn, choosing an oil gets much easier.

If you're still choosing a machine, you can browse our popcorn poppers to see which style fits how you like to make popcorn.