Abstract: An electric motor drives a cam through one revolution during a corn popping cycle. One end of a pivoted lever bears against the periphery of the cam at its bottom to thereby hold the bottom cover of the popping vessel, secured to the other end of the lever, in place on the bottom of the popping vessel while the corn is being popped and to permit the cover to move away from the bottom of the vessel after it is popped thereby discharging the popped corn. A push rod riding on the top of the cam operates a measuring pocket at the start of the popping cycle to introduce a measured quantity of unpopped corn into the popping vessel at the start of the cycle. An arm extending from a side of the cam moves along a resilient tube filled with popping oil as the cam rotates to pump a measured quantity of oil into the popping vessel. The bottom cover of the popping vessel has a continuously energized heater which maintains the temperature of the cover above ambient but below the normal popping temperature.