Popcorn Poppers: Reviews

Updated March 2010

If you love popcorn but don't like the fat, salt and other stuff you find in microwavable popcorn brands, a popcorn popper may be a good investment. ConsumerSearch consults professional and user reviews to find the best hot-air, stovetop and microwave popcorn poppers.

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Best hot-air popcorn popper

Presto PopLite Hot Air Corn Popper

*Est. $20 Compare Prices

Hot air poppers do not require the use of oil to create popcorn, which may appeal to health-conscious consumers. Instead, hot air is used to quickly churn and pop kernels, outputting puffed pieces into a separate… expandcontainer. Reviewers say one winner, the Presto PopLite, can create 18 cups of satisfying popcorn in about 90 seconds, with very few remaining unpopped kernels. This inexpensive popper doesn't come with a collecting container, so you'll need to supply your own bowl. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Slate.com: Bosch tests six popcorn poppers, rating them on ease of use, taste and the number of unpopped kernels left behind.

Wall Street Journal: Editors evaluate five popcorn poppers for popcorn taste and ease of use.

Amazon.com: More than 365 owners have reviewed the Presto PopLite popcorn popper at Amazon.com, the large majority of which give it perfect scores.

Epinions.com: Top-ranking popcorn poppers at Epinions.com include the Presto PopLite, which earns 4.5 stars (out of 5) in almost 50 reviews.

Viewpoints.com: More than a dozen owners offer feedback on the Presto PopLite Hot Air Corn Popper, which has an average rating of 4.62 stars out of 5.

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Buy from Amazon for $22.70
eBay for $36.95	drugstore.c- om for $27.99	Walmart for $19.88

Best stovetop popcorn popper

Whirley Pop Popcorn Popper

*Est. $25 Compare Prices

Stovetop popper fans say these old-fashioned products produce rich, flavorful popcorn and are fun to use. After pouring oil in the pan and adding kernels, you use a hand crank to churn the kernels while they pop. While… expandmany users say the added oil enhances the popcorn's flavor, it also adds extra calories. Nevertheless, owners praise the Whirley Pop (which turns out 24 cups of popcorn in about four minutes) for leaving few unpopped kernels behind. They also say its stirring mechanism, which prevents kernel scorching, distributes oil and butter evenly, producing a delicious, consistent flavor. Plus, the Whirley Pop can be used on any heat surface, including a campfire. One downside: Professional tests say hand-washing its oil-coated parts after use can be tricky, because its sharp stirring mechanism can pose a cutting risk. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Slate.com: At Slate, six popcorn poppers are tested and rated for ease of use, the taste of the popcorn and the number of unpopped kernels.

The Wall Street Journal: Athavaley reviews four popcorn poppers of various types, including the stovetop Whirley Pop Popcorn Popper.

The Wall Street Journal: Editors evaluate five old-fashioned popcorn poppers.

Cook's Illustrated Magazine: After evaluating four stovetop poppers, editors conclude that all of them work equally well.

Amazon.com: The Whirley Pop Stovetop Popcorn Popper earns an average of 4.5 stars out of five in about 500 reviews at Amazon.com.

Cooking.com: Forty-five owners rate the Whirley Pop Popcorn Popper with an average rating of 4.5 stars out of 5, while 32 actually write reviews.

Chowhound.com: When asked to name the best popcorn popper for preparing low-fat popcorn, contributors name the Whirley Pop, the Presto Power Pop Microwave Popper and the Presto Orville Redenbacher air popper.

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Buy from Amazon for $23.81
Cabela's for $34.99	Amazon for $19.54	Cooking.com for $24.95

Best microwave popcorn popper

Nordic Ware Microwave Popcorn Popper

*Est. $10 Compare Prices

Microwave popcorn poppers are simple to use and easy to clean; just place kernels in the unit's bowl, cover with its lid and cook for a few minutes. Reviewers say the affordable Nordic Ware 12-cup Microwave Popcorn Popper… expandproduces tasty results (and leaves few unpopped kernels behind) in about three minutes. Additionally, unlike other microwave poppers, this versatile product (it can be used with or without oil) doesn't leave a plasticky aftertaste on its popcorn. The entire unit is dishwasher-safe, so cleanup is also a breeze. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Cook's Illustrated Magazine: Four microwave popcorn poppers are evaluated in this head-to-head comparison review.

Amazon.com: About 200 owners have weighed in with feedback on the Nordic Ware Microwave Popcorn Popper, contributing to an overall average rating of 4.5 stars out of 5.

Cooking.com: At the time of our visit, the Nordic Ware Microwave Popcorn Popper had an overall average rating of 4.5 stars out of 5, based on 190 owner-written reviews.

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Buy from
Amazon

for $10.50

Back to Basics Microwave Popcorn Popper *Est. $13

2 picks including: Amazon.com…

West Bend 82306 6 Qt. Stir Crazy Popcorn Popper *Est. $40

2 picks by top review sites.

Presto PowerPop Microwave Multi-Popper *Est. $20

2 picks by top review sites.


	Presto 04830 PowerPop Microwave Multi-Popper In Stock. Average Customer Review: