The present invention relates to improved devices and methods for popping popcorn, comprising moving popcorn kernels within a heating chamber with airflow and subjecting the popcorn kernels to focused microwave energy sufficient to cause the popcorn kernels to pop. In some embodiments, the devices and methods utilize a single-mode resonant microwave applicator to generate a standing microwave energy field comprising an array of one or more anti-node high intensity microwave regions and subjecting popcorn kernels to the microwave energy in the one or more high intensity microwave regions.
