A stovetop popcorn cooker (popper) contains a rotating shaft inclined with respect to the vertical axis of its bowl and is connected to and rotates a stirrer parallel to the bottom. The unique connection between the shaft and stirrer allows the stirrer to remain in continuous contact with the bottom while being rotated by the inclined shaft. A hinged lid extends over the majority of the top area of bowl. The bowl (pot), the cross-section of which has a flat bottom, may incorporate a first curved portion tangent to the bottom and second curved portion tangent to a cylindrical portion at the top.