Whirley Pop Popcorn Popper

Two out of the three expert popcorn popper reviews say that the Whirley Pop Popcorn Popper, an aluminum saucepan with a hinged lid and a wood-and-metal crank, is the best stovetop popcorn popper. The third, Cook's Illustrated, complains that the Whirley Pop is cheaply made, and its stirring rod is dangerously sharp. A minority of owners, too, complain about the Whirley Pop's plastic gears and thin aluminum pan. Tempering these complaints are hundreds of enthusiastic owner-written reviews, which say the Whirley Pop makes great-tasting popcorn quickly and easily. What's more, Wabash Farms, which makes the Whirley Pop, offers a 25-year warranty on all moving parts. If you eat popcorn more than once a week, the sturdy Presto PopLite Hot Air Corn Popper (*est. $20) is easier to use.

We read reviews of the Whirley Pop in Cook's Illustrated, Slate and the Wall Street Journal. To determine how this popcorn popper holds up over time, we read hundreds of candid consumer reviews posted to Amazon.com and Epinions.com. Most owners are very happy with the Whirley Pop, but some wish it were constructed out of heavier materials.