Joseph and Joseph Popcorn Maker – Which One Will Pop Your Curiosity?
You buy a bag of microwave popcorn, throw it in, and three minutes later you're eating something that tastes faintly of cardboard and butter-flavored oil. Or you pull out the heavy stovetop pot, heat oil, shake constantly, and pray you don't burn the bottom layer. Both options work. Neither is great.
That's where the Joseph Joseph popcorn maker comes in. It's a silicone bowl you microwave with kernels and nothing else. No oil, no paper bag, no pot to scrub. You'll walk away knowing exactly how this thing performs, where it falls short, and whether it belongs in your kitchen.
Joseph Joseph
Joseph Joseph 45018 M-Cuisine Microwave Popcorn Popper…
Set of 2 single portion popcorn makers. Each popcorn maker cooks about 1 oz of Uncooked kernels.
See on AmazonThe model that started getting real attention is the Joseph Joseph popcorn popper – specifically the M-Cuisine Microwave Popcorn Popper (ASIN B01N2Y8UFB). It's a set of two single-portion cups made from heat-resistant silicone. Each cup holds about one ounce of raw kernels, and there's a built-in measuring guide right in the base. No oil or butter required. Just kernels, microwave, and a folding lid that keeps everything inside.
Why the Joseph Joseph Popcorn Maker is Different
Most microwave popcorn gadgets are plastic bowls with a vented lid. The Joseph Joseph version uses silicone. That matters for two reasons. First, silicone flexes. When the kernels pop, the bowl can expand slightly rather than crack or warp. Second, silicone is non-stick by nature. Cleanup is a rinse under hot water or a trip through the dishwasher.
The bowl is also small. Each cup makes about four cups of popped corn. That's a single serving. If you're feeding a family of four, you'll run it four times. That's the trade-off for convenience: you're not making a giant batch all at once.
The measuring guide is molded into the silicone at the bottom. Fill to the line, and you've got exactly one ounce. No scooping, no guessing. That kind of detail is what Joseph Joseph does well across their kitchen tools – they think about the friction points in everyday tasks. Their Joseph and Joseph chopping board set follows the same philosophy with color-coded boards for different foods.
How to Use It: Kernel Amounts and Microwave Math
Fill the base to the measured line. That's roughly 1 ounce (28 grams) of unpopped kernels. Do not overfill – the kernels need room to expand. If you pack more in, you get a mix of popped corn and unpopped kernels, plus a mess when the lid pops open.
Microwave time depends on wattage. In a 1200-watt oven, start at 2 minutes 30 seconds. Listen. When the pops slow to about 2 seconds between pops, stop. In a 1000-watt oven, try 3 minutes. In a 700-watt oven, you might need 3 minutes 30 seconds. The silicone gets hot. Use a potholder. Lift the lid carefully – steam escapes fast.
No oil needed. The kernels pop with just the moisture inside them. The result is dry popcorn. If you want buttery corn, melt butter separately and drizzle after. Adding butter before popping just makes soggy, greasy popcorn.
The folded lid collapses flat for storage. The whole thing is about the size of a coffee mug when flattened. It's not a bulky gadget you have to dedicate a drawer to.
The Trade-Offs: What You Give Up vs. What You Gain
You give up volume. A stovetop pot can make a huge bowl in one go. The Joseph Joseph maker maxes out at about four cups per cycle. If you're the only one eating popcorn, that's fine. If you're hosting a movie night, you'll be running the microwave repeatedly.
You also give up texture variety. Stovetop popcorn with oil gets a crispier, more substantial bite. The microwave method produces airy, light popcorn that's almost delicate. Some people prefer that. Others miss the crunch.
What you gain is speed and cleanup. Total time from drawer to bowl is under 4 minutes. No oil to heat, no pan to shake, no burned bits stuck to the bottom. Just kernels in, popcorn out, rinse the bowl, done.
You also gain control. Store-bought microwave bags have added salt, preservatives, and often diacetyl (the chemical linked to lung issues in microwave popcorn factory workers). With the Joseph Joseph maker, you control what goes on the corn. Air-popped or microwave-popped from raw kernels is about as clean as popcorn gets.
If you own other Joseph Joseph items like their collapsible colander, the silicone bowl fits the same nesting aesthetic. It's not a critical feature, but it makes the drawer look tidy.
Joseph Joseph vs. Stovetop vs. Air Popper vs. Microwave Bags
| Method | Oil Needed | Batch Size | Cleanup Time | Texture |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joseph Joseph silicone maker | No (optional after) | ~4 cups per batch | 30 seconds rinse | Light, airy |
| Stovetop pot with oil | Yes | ~12-16 cups | 5 minutes scrubbing | Crisp, rich |
| Electric air popper | No | ~8 cups per batch | 2 minutes wipe-down | Very dry, unevenly salted |
| Microwave bag (store-bought) | Yes (included) | ~8 cups per bag | None (trash) | Greasy, artificial |
The Joseph Joseph maker sits between convenience and control. It's faster than stovetop, cleaner than bags, and less bulky than an air popper. But it's not the fastest for large groups, and the texture won't satisfy everyone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you use butter in the Joseph Joseph popcorn maker?
You can, but it's not recommended. Butter contains water and milk solids that scorch in the microwave. The popcorn comes out greasy, and the bowl gets stained and harder to clean. Melt butter separately and pour it on after popping.
How many kernels fit in the measuring guide?
The built-in line is calibrated for exactly 1 ounce (28 grams) of raw kernels. That's about 2 tablespoons. Do not exceed that line. Overfilling leads to unpopped kernels and can force the lid open during cooking.
Is the silicone safe at microwave temperatures?
Yes. The bowl is made from heat-resistant silicone rated for microwave use. It does not leach chemicals or melt under normal operating conditions. The lid folds but stays loose enough to let steam escape without blowing off.
Does it pop all kernels?
No, and no popcorn method does. Expect a few unpopped kernels at the bottom – typically 5 to 10 per batch depending on kernel quality and microwave wattage. The bowl does not have a built-in sifter. You pour the popcorn out and pick out the duds by hand or leave them.
Can I use this in a convection microwave?
Yes, as long as the microwave mode is used (not the convection oven mode). The silicone cannot withstand the high dry heat of a convection oven. Use standard microwave settings only. Also check that your microwave interior height is greater than 6 inches – the bowl expands upward when popping.
What to Remember Before You Buy
- The Joseph Joseph maker is for single servings. If you usually make popcorn for two or more, expect to run consecutive batches.
- No oil required. That means lower calories and no smoky kitchen.
- Cleanup is trivial. Silicone rinses clean or goes in the dishwasher.
- The measuring guide removes guesswork. One fill line, one batch, consistent results.
- Unpopped kernels are normal. Don't blame the bowl; blame the kernel.
- Butter goes on afterward, not before. Trust that rule.
- If you already own other Joseph Joseph tools, this one matches their space-saving, thoughtful design. The folding lid and flat storage make it a low-commitment gadget.