Testing Five Popcorn Poppers!

[@notsojoerogan]

There's something about your videos that's both interesting and soothing at the same time. Please never change

[@JessicaMary0702]

He has a very soothing kind voice 🙂

[@5udimax]

@@JessicaMary0702 it's probably also a lack of background music apart from the transitions. There's no overly fake energy in the videos too. Pretty soothing.

[@myaccount__7269]

It’s Becuase he doesn’t do all the stupid adhd cuts and loud obnoxious music or yelling.

[@JasonL_Hawaii]

Unfortunately, he did mentioned in his previous Q&A that he won't be doing this for no more than ten years, but will stick around no less than five years.

[@jujubee7351]

Agree , his delivery is great! He goes all out on buying the products.

[@helenramsdell1959]

We've bought stir crazy poppers for over 30 years. The two reasons we've bought multiple ones are we use it so often we wear it out or we drop on the floor by mistake. Great machine!

[@NewLifestyleMentor]

I own the Whirly Pop, and have owned a couple of the other brands. My preference is the Whirly Pop, as it pops the most kernels and you can add the butter before you start popping. It also makes the best tasting popcorn.

[@Alpha-Leader]

The whirly pop makes the best at home popcorn I have ever had. You can pop the kernels in coconut oil and flavacol salt. Makes PERFECT movie theater style popcorn.

[@marvnuts]

@@Alpha-Leader Boom! Flavacol!

[@dubmob151]

I've got a Presto electric popper that appears to be essentially the same as the Stir Crazy, and while it works okay, after getting the Whirley Pop, really don't use it any more. The heating element is thermostatically controlled to shut off at a certain temperature, and it seems to take longer to pop, and leaves some old maids lurking about. People probably have a great amount of variability in the results because they shut off at different times. With the WPop, the heat delivery is rapid and fully controllable, so popping is rapid and complete, with nary an unpopped kernel. The way you can remove the heat immediately lets you heat it longer, until the last straggler is popped, and then instantly remove the heat to prevent any chances of burning the already popped corn. Venting is better on the hinged lid also, without the steam buildup seen in the electric popper dome. The ease of cleaning is icing on the cake, because the electric base is not immersible, so you need to use paper towels for a wipe down, while the WPop is basically just a lightweight pot to clean.

[@frank234561]

@@marvnuts Flavacol is nasty shit. Use clarified butter. Much better for you and adds a ton of flavor.

[@fredwiley3731]

@@frank234561 I mix olive oil, butter and salt. Popcorn is evenly coated, ready to eat. Flavocol is not healthy, I use organic , non GMO kernels.

[@Neskicks]

Whirly Pop pro-tip: Add your oil first, and add 3 kernels. Once all three pop, add the rest of your kernels and stir SLOWLY. Once the popping frenzy slows down, remove from heat and pour. You'll always have a good batch. Never fails!

[@ronk9830]

That's how you do it for the best harvest. Every kernel will pop. Learned that as a kid.

[@RobGrognerd]

I LOVE my Whirly Pop, use your method & you're right... never fails! looks like the Stir Crazy is the same thing, but with its own heater & motorized stir. hmmm. I am that lazy, I may just have to get it.

[@Physics072]

why kind of butter do you use. real butter margarine or stick or spread?

[@RobGrognerd]

@@Physics072 we use real butter, but very little of it.

[@lamoe4175]

@@RobGrognerd I would make flavored butter -garlic and also spicy pepper - used powder.

[@mjanovec]

Another advantage of the Whirly Pop and Stir Crazy design over the hot air poppers is that you can add salt into the kettle with the oil and popcorn. That results in popcorn with an even distribution of salt. With the Whirly Pop you can also add a little sugar right before the kernels start to pop and you get a homemade version of kettle corn.

[@lancecoffey9107]

I like to start out on low until the kernels are just about ready to start popping, turn up the temperature, and add butter for Amazing popcorn (for theater taste add flavacol instead of salt to the popper with the oil at the start.)

[@lancecoffey9107]

On the topic of oil, olive oil tends to leave a gummy residue with age, whereas coconut oil doesn’t do this.

[@Scouten819]

@@lancecoffey9107 you also get the flavour from the coconut oil. i like using the costco sized thing of it keeps the cost low, otherwise the cheaper option is walmart brand refined coconut oil

[@myaccount__7269]

@@lancecoffey9107 coconut oil is bad for monkeys trees : (

[@InigoMontoya-]

@@myaccount__7269 who is feeding it to monkeys and trees?

[@rachelwondergem5187]

My dad invented the Stir Crazy back in the early 70's. I asked him today how he came up with the idea, and he said...I wanted to create one that made popcorn as good as the commercial ones. He honestly doesn't even realize how cool it is that his idea is still being made today. Popcorn making tips from the inventor: My dad always threw 3 or 4 kernels in the oil at first, waited till they popped to make sure the oil was hot enough, then threw the rest of the kernels in. For oil he usually went with peanut or olive and always bought better quality popcorn kernels. Enjoy!

[@DavidGeliebter]

Thanks for sharing this cool information, Rachel. Nice to hear from the inventor's daughter and thanks for the tips. I run a youth activities groups in my synagogue and last week, the popcorn leftover from an earlier event went over way better than did my fruit platter, so I'm looking into making popcorn for the kiddos now. Thanks for the encouragement. :)

[@TheVindicitive]

​@DavidGeliebter what's a synagogue

[@OneWildTurkey]

Hi Rachel, it's really neat to have the inventor's daughter here. The instructions on the Stir Crazy now include your dad's tips about the kernels. Please let him know that there are a lot of people that really love his invention and use it a LOT! Some tips that I came up with about the oil - I use a mixture of corn, coconut and palm oil in about equal measures and it does make a big difference in the flavor. And for the salt, I use Flavacol brand popcorn seasoning salt.

[@musicnerd72]

​@@TheVindicitive Are you serious?

[@TheVindicitive]

@musicnerd72 nice answer, thanks for helping your fellow human.

[@drfreud65]

My dad used to swear by the Stir Crazy. When cleaning out my parents' house, I found a Stir Crazy graveyard. He was literally saving them for parts and rebuilding them.

[@cammiemcclure2178]

Lol that's funny!

[@drfreud65]

@@cammiemcclure2178 That's how much my dad loved his popcorn, lol. He bought his first few brand new. When they'd break, he'd buy a Stir Crazy at Goodwill. If it didn't work, he'd fix it from his spares. There was a 30 gallon trash can full of them in the shed!

[@drfreud65]

@@alexiswilson3769 No. The Stir Crazy has been around since at least the 80's. It's changed colors, but the design is the same.

[@Nan-59]

Awww 🥰

[@tarstarkusz]

I have a 50 year old Pop Lite style hot-air popper I bought in a thrift store in the late 90s that works fine. Having a whole boneyard for the stir-crazy is not a good sign.

[@bluescreen243]

I bought the Whirly Popper a couple of years ago and after a lifetime of using different poppers this is hands down the best I've ever seen. It is quick and easy and leaves almost no unpopped kernels. I bought the stainless model and it is easy to clean up too. Using two tablespoons of popping oil and adding a bit of movie popcorn salt directly to the popper produces great popcorn. Last year at Christmas I gave one to each of our families and they all love them too.

[@baldwinmab]

I have the stainless and the aluminum and honestly I use the aluminum more it heats faster and is lighter when pouring. The stainless is heavy and sometimes separates from the lid while pouring.

[@pawpawg7358]

My Gma had a Stir Crazy in the 70's and I loved it, so many memories of Fri nights at her house. Was able to get my own Stir Crazy a couple years ago and pass those memories down to my little granddaughter. Amazon sells bulk movie theater oil and salt for the perfect popcorn experience

[@ZeroBlackfire]

My dad had one of those zenith tv sets that look like furniture, we had it till it crapped out in 06-07. So many movies with whirly popped corn, watched with that set. What I wouldnt give to watch 1 more movie, with that set, and a bowl of popcorn......

[@Sparks3D]

I wanted the Poplite Presto Air Popper because it reminds me of the same popper my Grandma used growing up. Got one from Kohls and have had quite a few bowls already. I really enjoy the popping process, and it is so quick. No mess and I mean 0. The popcorn is super light and fluffy. Barely any kernels left once it's done. Also, the kernels never burn because once it pops they are ejected into the bowl, unlike all of the oil poppers where the finished popcorn just sits in oil and moisture until you turn the machine off creating soggy burnt popcorn. I also use the Orval's kernels and highly recommend using their "Popping and Topping" Oil to drip on top of the popcorn once it is in the bowl. Awesome movie theater popcorn! Really happy with the Presto Poplite! 🍿 🍿 🍿

[@wordkyle]

I bought the Whirly Pop a couple of years ago and I've been very happy with it. I was attracted to its rather lo-tech feel and its relatively low price. The addition of the seasoning salt Flavacol to the oil before cooking is a game changer. It's what gives the popcorn that "movie theater" aroma and flavor.

[@umaiar]

Absolutely awesome popcorn... 3 tbsp of coconut oil and 1 tsp of Flavacol in with the kernels. Or, if you don't care about healthy fats, grab some Snappy Butter Burst Popcorn Oil instead of coconut oil. Not healthy, but you can even sprinkle some more on after popping for true movie theater cardiac arrest.

[@aer7381]

I highly recommend trying avocado oil, a recent discovery that added an extra buttery taste along with butter.

[@jvallas]

I just bought a package of old-timey containers of popcorn, candy corn seasoning, coconut oil and popcorn seasoning that I’m guessing is Flavocol. Hope so, because I definitely want to try that. (Bought a Whirley Pop for the same reason you did.)

[@megflyy]

is this for a cup of popcorn?

[@arctiknitter]

I've tried several of those and the Whirly Pop is my absolute favorite. Grandson loves it, too. We always put butter and Lawrey's Seasoning Salt on our popcorn.

[@arctiknitter]

@@linberi3141 after

[@Totej]

Seems like the last one (Theather) would be a nightmare to clean compared to the other ones?

[@MrBrandinowpg]

My uncle had one and trying to wipe the oil off the side panels is a royal pain. You either have to do it while the oil is still warm which usually ends up burning your knuckles on the kettle or when the oil cools down it requires endless amounts of paper towels.

[@killeridentity]

It is.

[@lotsatrains]

It is a nightmare to clean I actually have one and also the whirley pop which Works just as well and is really easy to wash in the sink

[@lotsatrains]

@@MrBrandinowpg yes it is hard to clean and really more for show I have one and bought a whirley pop also and would rather use the whirley pop because it washes in the sink pretty easily.

[@LatitudeSky]

@@lotsatrains I own a Great Northern cabinet machine and Whirly Pop and agree, the Whirly Pop makes popcorn almost as good but less hassle. That would be my suggestion for most people. It's a great choice.

[@joshuanevermind1530]

I was born in 73 and used the equivalent of all of these. But in 2017 I came across my first Whirley Pop and it changed the game. I came to the method of putting about 1 tablespoon of oil (I've used Coconut and Avocado oils and each gives a different flavor). Heat on medium and let it heat up. Then you add about a tablespoon of butter or 2 for extra butter and salt (I use about half a tsp because salt really doesn't burn), about 1/3 of a cup of popcorn. Stir it to get the kernels coated. Then cover and let it sit on the heat until it starts to pop. Then keep turning the handle constantly. It takes about 3 mins. When the popping slows you take it off the heat but turn that handle about 30 more seconds. It is beyond better than theater.

[@OneWildTurkey]

I noticed that there is now a wire in the spinner instead of an aluminum bar. Do you notice any aluminum dust from the bottom when you clean it? We had the model that had the stirring bar in the bottom and it always scraped the aluminum and we noticed the dust when we cleaned it up, so we stopped using it. I agree about it making the best.

[@BillyAltDel]

Theatre popper looks like it would be a huge PITA to clean up tbh

[@dawnstorm9768]

That it does.

[@levigato125]

We bought one for our break room and it was disgusting after a week. The oil splatters everywhere. You have to deep clean it after every use or it becomes impossible to maintain

[@thompuckett9547]

There are much better quality home theater poppers. I have a 4 ounce version from Paramount and it is fantastic. I have had the other over the decades and they all work but the theater style I found is best.

[@PongoXBongo]

@@thompuckett9547 The theater style is what I've seen in bars and convenience stores. The fact that the popcorn spends more time in the kettle seems to yield fewer unpopped kernels.

[@dawnstorm9768]

@@PongoXBongo 😮

[@stephenmcconnell2223]

I’ve had the Presto Poplite for about 5 years now and I still love it. I also prefer the ones that don’t require oil simply for ease of cleaning and I can control how healthy or unhealthy I want to make the batch of popcorn, I melt the butter in a cup in the microwave. Also, I highly recommend using white corn as it’s husk less as opposed to yellow corn. No matter what though, all these choices are all much better than microwave popcorn.

[@heyimgeorgeuk]

Hey wdym white corn its healthier?

[@SanchoPanza-wg5xf]

Makes sense. White is superior to all other colours, but only because it contains a little bit of each of them.

[@MarkP]

I use an older version of the first air popper every Sunday night for our family movie night. I've had it for at least 10 years now and it's still works great. What I like about it is that it is compact and easy to store and the clean-up is a breeze. I put butter and salt on my popcorn anyway so not having to clean up any extra oil from the machine makes the process go a lot faster.

[@domqtyy]

PLS lmaooo 😭🤠🥵😎😋😋😋😡💩💩💩💩💩👺👺👺👺👺🤡🤡🤡

[@Ingu.z]

I've been using the first one quite a bit at work. I got to say, it's incredibly convenient as it's small and that it throws the popcorn out of it means that you can let it do its own thing while you do other stuff (but I don't think you should leave the room.) For an air popper it's very nice.

[@matthewbragg9463]

I'd be interested for a follow up with "Ease of clean up". Wirleypop looks easiest to clean in the sink, but stir crazy looks more dish washer friendly for the bowl/lid, but base would have to get a paper towel wipe down.

[@astroworfcraig9164]

The Whirley Pop doesn't have to be washed. If you just wipe it out with a paper towel, the aluminum becomes seasoned and some contend it makes for better flavor. (kinda like a cast iron skillet)

[@popenieafantome9527]

@@astroworfcraig9164 typically washing is not just for cleanliness but also to avoid having flavor of food transferring over from prior dish. This being entirely for popcorn, a simple wipe down probably suffice.

[@starman6280]

The Stir Crazy is very simple to clean if it is done while still kinda hot. A wipe down with a paper towel is all that is needed. They will accumulate some acrylamide if not cleaned while hot. If allowed to cool without a wipe down they become a bit more difficult to clean.

[@kaf5714]

I actually watched this video because I can't wait to get rid of the WhirlyPop! I hate cleaning that thing, though I never thought of NOT cleaning it like another person commented. I do clean it in the sink. I grew up with the StirCrazy and never used it to melt butter on the top cuz it was a mess. Seems weird to only ever wipe down the base, never be able to go with a thorough cleaning. I'm just gonna go with the classic air-popper.

[@rebeccapresti9650]

I've broken bowl/lids in dishwasher, the rigid plastic doesn't maintain tensile strength and becomes brittle. Hand wash only. I have both stir crazy and whirly pop. Always just wipe out aluminum when still very warm.

[@richardp5920]

“Let me try one” _grabs entire handful_ We are kindred spirits, my friend.

[@PridePinball]

One of my favorite memories happened in Kindergarten when the teacher spread out a sheet on the floor, put a Stir Crazy in the middle, filled it with colored popcorn and let it pop without the lid on while we sat in a circle around it trying to catch the popcorn as it popped out.

[@aisforannihilation1662]

Cool teacher!

[@yetinother]

That must have been great

[@shannondore]

What a nice memory and a fun teacher.😊

[@InigoMontoya-]

Hot oil, flying hot projectiles, and kindergartners scrambling to catch food; I can’t imagine how that might go wrong.

[@PridePinball]

@@InigoMontoya- hahaha There was no scrambling. The popcorn had to come to us. We behaved. I doubt such a thing would be allowed today, though. BTW, I only have ten fingers.

[@timetraveler2518]

I had Presto Poplite hot air popper. I used it all the time when I was hungry for popcorn. It was awesome, speedy, and economical. It does not require cooking oil and less maintenance requirement. I love it! It is well worth purchasing and invests for your popcorn lovers! 😍

[@powell4661]

I had one as teenager, 1973 model I think.

[@garethbaus5471]

My mother bought one at a garage sale when I was a kid. She said it looked like the version she used as a kid in the 70's. It lasted for quite a while despite already being pretty old.

[@todd-makes-videos]

You deserve more likes for all the work you do. Keep it up!

[@brt5273]

WhirleyPop for me. When I was a little kid we got one for my grandad. After he passed away I inherited it. My favorite thing is that it also works on a campfire. The little kids also like turning the crank while I hold the handle, and the older kids like doing it on their own. Would never trust them shaking a pot of hot oil. I do have a Poplight too which we like to use for making caramel corn around Christmastime.The drier kernels do not go stale so quick and they tend to get a better coating without the oil on them. It's great because you just have to pull the scoop out and refill and your already going on your next batch. This is another one that the kids can operate with minimal supervision.

[@elizabethreed6086]

I absolutely love how you actually read instructions and are well informed unlike some other well known reviewers. Like the Lazy Russian Slacker.... Keep up the wonderful work. Bravo!!!

[@jencrochetingradtech5913]

I love how excited you are over the popcorn bursting through the top of the poppers😊

[@ydmf2]

The silicone microwave ones are the best. So easy, no mess. Make sure they have little side grab handles like the Salbree.

[@Danimall1143]

YES! The best and collapsible so it's a small size. I wont buy another popcorn popper other than the Salbree

[@Yafama]

For me I just prefer a pot some pop corn and some oil, I don’t really get the stir crazy’s purpose if you can just do what it does with a pot

[@jvallas]

I was surprised not to see one microwave version tested.

[@ThunderTHR]

Your video encouraged me to buy that Stir Crazy as I've always wanted to move away from the bagged microwave popcorn. One of the best purchases I've ever made. Its a fantastic popping machine. Pair it up with coconut oil (with beta carotene!) and some Flavacol and you got movie theatre grade popcorn at home. Its amazing. :)

[@AburridoDeTodo]

i totally agree with you my cousin has one and the butter feature is amazing with some herb infused butter, also it's funny to use due to the evil nature it has (but i think his is extra evil because he dropped it at some point and has kinda whistle sound) only "bad side" is that you better don't try to flip it over with 1 hand

[@bland9876]

That comment about the stir crazy graveyard is really hilarious

[@jaycie2213]

So you use coconut oil instead of vegetable oil for cooking? That is a very good idea... Apparently, vegetable oil is not very healthy.

[@Steezicus]

@@jaycie2213 coconut oil is even worse for you. Do your research.

[@charlsalash]

@@Steezicus Yes, 92% saturated fat.

[@azurekuzma3598]

Used to have the cheapest one when I was younger! They were really popular where I was, a lot of people I knew had them. They worked well, but it was a setback to not have the taste of the oil/butter.

[@SmallSpoonBrigade]

Yep, back in the '80s those air poppers were quite popular and in basically the same formulation. They did a good job, but most of the people I knew at the time ultimately got rid of them in favor of microwavable bags. I've got a whirly-pop, the main advantage of it over some of the others is that you're not stuck with straight oil, you can mix in flavors as well. So, a bit of sugar or flavor and you get something else entirely.

[@VeeTwoPointOh]

We would put butter in that scooper and it would melt as the popcorn popped.

[@azurekuzma3598]

@@VeeTwoPointOh ours didn't have a scoop, but that's a good idea!

[@homeboi808]

@@VeeTwoPointOh but you have to manually pour that in, and if you use a lot of cold butter then it may kit all melt. Also, my scooper got melted after some usage.

[@rpurdy4821]

My father had one of those in the 80s. My sister has it now and it still works. Personally I dont like air popped popcorn. My sister likes it the way I make it. She always wants me to make a batch before we go to the movies and smuggle it in.

[@PeterSFam]

for the whirly pop turning the stove to high it will start popping rather quickly. Both the stir Crazy and Whirly pop can be used to make kettle corn, too.

[@BryanI00]

I have a much older stir crazy that I've had for about 23 years. It's still going strong!

[@TwattWaffleWhitney]

I love your avatar

[@BryanI00]

@@TwattWaffleWhitney Thank you! Old TNG fan.

[@samuelkrinninger3060]

Same here! Those things never die

[@MatthewBalloon]

Same!! And it has a on off switch

[@keisreeman]

Stir Crazy(s) rock!

[@tomj528]

Thanks to Alton Brown, I didn't buy any of these and I just use my largest stainless steel mixing bowl and aluminum foil with a few holes poked in it for ventilation. It works beautifully every time with a little peanut oil and popcorn salt that I make myself from Kosher salt and a food processor or blender. Best of all, it's super easy to clean and I always make a second batch to stash in Ziploc bags as a great snack for the next day. BTW, air popped corn tastes like Styrofoam.

[@tomj528]

@The Omniverse If you think that's funny, I've seen people use air popped popcorn as packing material! LOL!

[@judsonkr]

Give coconut oil a try. Seriously.

[@tomj528]

@@judsonkr We really enjoy the peanut oil but I've been thinking about grabbing a jar of coconut oil for a few other things so when I do, I'll be sure to try it with the popcorn. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to make some popcorn!

[@judsonkr]

@@tomj528 Def give it a try.

[@tracycameron2580]

Agreed on the air pop...use Gee...it's the secret to the best popcorn. Butter flavor comes through and no need to add extra.

[@rugan0723]

I been using the Whirley Pop for years. Popcorn, Flavacol, and virgin coconut oil is all you need. Makes amazing popcorn. It can also be used to make kettle corn if you don't mind the cleaning.

[@LatitudeSky]

If you have not already tried it, Sam's Club has organic coconut oil in a jug for about $6. It's really, really good. Flawless flavor and performance and totally affordable. I run that in my Whirly Pop and a Great Northern theater popper. Other oils work, sure. But nothing beats organic coconut oil. And it smells so good.

[@brendakrieger7000]

I also use flavocol

[@geeky12ful]

I love using the Whirly Pop!!

[@onecalladay]

The Whirley-pop should take about three minutes on high heat. Especially with the Reddenbacher, it will push up the top. I've been using one for over 20 years.

[@Rick-wn5oh]

I tend to pop on medium heat. That way there is never any burnt popcorn plus it practically pops 100%

[@hoangling4344]

You are exactly right, Michael. That's how I do it too. Whirley Pop, high heat, slow stir, done in three minutes and only use Orville. Sometimes I use coconut oil, sometimes butter coconut oil. I also have Flavacol if I have people over who want the movie popcorn taste. I can tell by the comments that most people don't know how to make popcorn or much about flavoring it. I grew up making popcorn because my dad loved it. Almost every night. I've been making popcorn for 60 years.

[@budpool4835]

Me too, get the Orviles from Amazon in a large container for cheap compared to the grocery stores.

[@toddmulligan2609]

i turn my whirley pop real slow at first.... like 1/4 his speed in the video. (more like the stir crazy!) then maybe 1/2 his speed at the end... medium high to start then down to medium low to low as soon as it starts popping and it is FAST

[@cmichael442]

I've had most of these to try and the whirly pop has the best results. Fresh and easy. Throw some snappy coconut oil and Flavacol add oil topping, lil butter powder flavor Perfection 🥰

[@thelonestranger777]

Butter flavored coconut oil has been the best oil for me to use along with some flavocol. Gives me the same theater taste and style of popcorn. For seasoning I use Winona butter spray and kernel season's seasoning (nacho cheese, white cheddar and ranch are the best). The spray is mainly to help the seasoning stick but also adds more flavor for the popcorn.

[@lawrence6622]

I use ghee in my Stir Crazy out of a concern for the consumption of processed oils. Not as buttery as butter but excellent high heat properties.

[@celluloidtherapy5003]

Flavacol is a MUST if you want “theater style” popcorn. ALL theaters use Flavacol.

[@tonivanderpool1934]

Where did you get the flavored coconut oil.??

[@tonivanderpool1934]

Where is the flavorcol ? Thanks for any info..😊

[@celluloidtherapy5003]

@@tonivanderpool1934 I buy mine from Amazon. They sell them in 1-quart containers, so will last you for a LONG time!

[@ava_2930]

the air poppers ive had in the past gave me chewy popcorn. I'm digging the oil cooking in the Stir crazy! That seems like a keeper!

[@frank234561]

Use clarified butter instead of oil. It doesn't burn like regular butter does and adds a ton of butter flavor as it pops.

[@Cthulhu013]

Had a poplite. It shot out a stray kernal which sort of fell down my leg and ended up in my shoe wedged against my ankle. Never thought such a little thing could be so painful. Gave me a pretty nasty burn.

[@jujubee7351]

Omg that’s horrible

[@coolstamper]

I recently bought the BEST popcorn maker I’ve EVER had. I have the Colonel Popper microwave popcorn popper. You can use it with or without oil…I use it without as it is healthier. It’s light weight, and compacts down into itself for storage. Its made of food grade silicone and I LOVE IT!!! 💕

[@user-vm5ud4xw6n]

I had 2 of them. I loved the first one but the lid got misplaced and I forget who made it. The second one I donated! Really disappointed because the first worked so well.

[@coolstamper]

@@user-vm5ud4xw6n Well they still sell them and they’re not expensive.

[@SanchoPanza-wg5xf]

There's nothing necessarily unhealthy about oil, depending on the type. Perhaps you're speaking of the calorie count.

[@coolstamper]

@@SanchoPanza-wg5xf Why would you want to add oil to popcorn when it’s not necessary?

[@SanchoPanza-wg5xf]

@@coolstamper I didn't say that I want to add oil to my popcorn. I said that there's nothing necessarily unhealthy about oil, period. Most obese people are obese because of excessive carbohydrates, not fats. Also fats don't cause diabetes. But back to the subject of popcorn, I prefer air-popped popcorn with melted salted butter drizzle, tossed in Kernel's white cheddar powder, with a dash of Tajin seasoning.

[@c1a2t3a4p5i6l7l8a9r]

The number of unpopped kernels you have have more to do with the age of a popcorn than any of the methods you use to cook it as they dry out through age they're less likely to pop

[@KailuaDoug]

Nearly 50 years ago now I bought a Presto Poplite (not sure if that was the name at that time) for our family. It was the exact same design as yours, except it didn't have that butter melting tray on top. I can tell you this: (a) it works every time, (b) you can pop bowl after bowl without cleaning it out (unlike the Theater one you tested), (c) it lasted MANY years with frequent use, (d) clean up was easy, (e) operation is as simple as it gets, and (f) until those that require oil, this doesn't use oil, so it's fewer calories for those who are counting them. That stove-top manual Whirly Pop looks like it would soon lose it's luster. Who wants to literally stand there at the stove-top actively stirring popcorn for 4 or 5 minutes. Fuggedaboudit. The others seemed okay, but with the ease of use and simple clean up of the Presto Poplite, why even consider them? They are larger, more expensive and more clean up is required. Plus, you can't use the lid as a bowl if you are popping multiple batches back-to-back.

[@Diviance]

I have a decade+ old poplite style popper, myself. The plastic has yellowed due to heat and time, but it still works like new. I put a bit of "Popcorn Oil" (the orange-ish yellow stuff you see in theaters) and some "flavacol" salt and it is popcorn that tastes better than the theater with less calories and dirt cheap.

[@MrBrandinowpg]

We bought the fountain air popper after watching another youtuber doing a comparison. 3 years later it's rock solid and does a great job of popping 99% of the kernels and the clean up process is very quick and easy. Highly recommended for anyone who is on the fence.

[@ToniHinton]

That's the one we have, after having a Popcorn Pumper (like the Pop Lite) for decades. My grandson loves watching it pop, and the feature where the few dead kernels drop into the bottom of the lid is a nice touch. Clean up is just a wipe with a damp paper towel or two.

[@MrBrandinowpg]

@@ToniHinton the first air popper that he showed is the one I grew up with and those types always riccochet hot kernels across the room and make a bigger mess.

[@ToniHinton]

@@MrBrandinowpg That was always my experience, too. We used to drape a kitchen towel over the spout to keep the kernels from flying all over.

[@boboblueblue2]

I have a Nostalgia brand version of the Stir Crazy that I picked up from a thrift store and I really love it! I’m glad that it also came out on top in this review! It makes me feel better about my purchase lol

[@kpmac2971]

Stir Crazy is the best one I’ve ever had-and I’ve used many over the years. I’ve had my original model of the Stir Crazy for 10+ years.

[@InformationIsTheEdge]

The hot air popper all day every day! Mine is from Proctor Silex and it's 30 years old! It has funky 90s confetti graphics and everything! The popcorn that comes out of the hot air popcorn is a blank canvas, ready for whatever flavor you think will go well with popcorn. Sweet, savory, spicy or traditional, it can do it all!

[@dawnstorm9768]

I've had a Stir Crazy popper for years-I highly recommend it!

[@jenniferkaplan1956]

The whirlypop can also make kettle corn, caramel corn, and a bunch of others. (I have one.) I do find that the lid is a pain to clean and the vents on the lid can sometimes spit out tiny oil drops. Not big enough to leave a burn, but big enough to not be comfortable when they land on your hand. Since you need the ventilation open, I usually just wrap my hand in a kitchen towel. (Specifically, the hand that is stabilizing the popper.) That said, I really love the silly thing. :)

[@cynthiasealy573]

I’ve had my Whirly Pop for a couple of years now and I LOVE it! I use coconut oil and butter salt in it, and it works great. The coconut oil is healthy , the butter salt is what the theatres use and I add melted butter onto the popped corn as well. It’s great!

[@cammiemcclure2178]

How much butter salt do you add and is that before or after popping?

[@amberlopez7477]

@@cammiemcclure2178 I love my Whirley Pop! I highly recommend using the Wabash Valley Farms Popping Oil with it - it makes it taste just like theatre popcorn! 🍿

[@hanonondricek411]

Coconut oil is the best for popcorn - especially non-refined virgin coconut oil which has a bit of coconut flavor. Coconut oil makes *everything* better.

[@cynthiasealy573]

cammie mcclure I use maybe around 1/4 tsp of butter salt (Flavocol - the stuff the theatres use) in the popper. I put the coconut oil in, let it start to melt, add in the butter salt, rotate a few times to let it mix, then add in the popcorn and stir periodically. I keep the heat a bit lower than medium. It works quite well. You would need to adjust the butter salt depending on how salty you like your popcorn and how many kernels you use.

[@cynthiasealy573]

Amber Lopez butter salt is a powder. It’s the orange coloured powder that the movie theatres use. I got mine on Amazon. It lasts a long time!

[@LymanPhillips]

I had a "vintage" Stir Crazy for years. It was built much sturdier than the current one. Lasted decades. Now I use one of this hand cranked ones - it's a little sturdier than the aluminum one you have, plus it has a glass lid. Makes great popcorn. Add salt and butter and it's popcorn heaven.

[@lilmisssinz]

I was in the kitchen looking for a snack and I couldn’t find anything I was craving but I found it fitting to make a bowl of popcorn so here I am, laying down watching a video about popcorn whilst eating popcorn. Another great video James lol

[@jackjfb8439]

Great reviews! I’m a Whirly Pop fanatic! I’ve been using mine for over 10 years now and I have given them as gifts several times.

[@erwinvb70]

Based on this review I would choose the first one, it’s compact, no mess and no burnt popcorn.

[@junosmith7668]

I grew up in the day of jiffy pop, pot with oil on the stove. I have the first one (the presto air popper) and it's fast, needs very little cleaning and basically awesome. Great for last minute snacking wants. I'll never try another kind.

[@saysoun752]

It'll be the stir crazy for me as the oil will add flavor and the added butter feature just means I'm not adding them later. To top it of, the top acts as a bowl when done popping.

[@ToniHinton]

My experience with it over many years says otherwise. You have to have a pretty big bowl -- much bigger than the actual amount of the output -- to catch the kernels, and a lot of them still shoot out onto the floor. And a lot of them stay in the bottom of the heating chamber and burn.

[@timmyburden5701]

When I was a teen we tried the hot air popper. It was loud and it was messy. The kernels would sometimes miss the bowl. The stir crazy popper works much better. The only bad part is the size. It's big. Makes good popcorn.

[@alingram5541]

@@ToniHinton Our family had one when I was young, use a paper bag instead of a bowl, works great!

[@timothyvela9969]

I'm a HUGE popcorn fan, and have a 1989 Poplite Hot Air popcorn maker that's been in my family since 1989! I use it all the time and still running strong! Easy to use, melt butter in the top cup and throw it on with some salt on it when it's done. It's the best popcorn maker for movie night and cleanup is easy!

[@theronshadowstorm]

The Salbree popper or those like it is still better imo. I've has similar poppers to the poplite and it blows the kernals out without popping. I'm also a fan of "hulless" popcorn which tends to be smaller kernals (amish country popcorn is my goto brand). The Salbree can be used with or without oil, is not limited on kernal size. I sometimes throw a scoop of coconut oil or ghee (butter without the water/milk solids), microwave it for a little to get it warm, throw in kernals, popcorn salt and let it pop. Salbree takes up less space and the lid you can use as a cooking cover for other things you microwave. In short, Salbree (or poppers like it) are multi functional while taking up less space.

[@BellaDonna49]

Whirley pop is what I own and I love it !!!!!! We used to shake the pan so the popcorn wouldn't burn. Not because it was Jiffy pop. The whirley pop doesn't need to be shaken bc you are moving the pop corn with the spinner.👍 The Stir crazy was fun to watch, bet any small child would love to watch this. When cooking any pop corn in oil, keep the pop corn in the fridge, as soon as the oil is hot, pour in the pop corn and it will pop really fast. The West bend popper looks like quite a big mess to clean. So we purchased an air popper and WOW! Hot kernels spilling onto the floor and into the bowl and exploding in it. It gets very hot to the touch, can't touch the machine until it cools down. Very hot becareful.

[@cyberi4a]

Before I'd stand at the stove turning a crank, I'd just go to the old fashion way and use a sauce pan, oil, corn kernels and shack the pan over the flame. Simple and didn't have to buy something extra you won't use that often.

[@garydavis6724]

I still remember making popcorn in a large stockpot then filling up paper grocery sacks. Just to go to the drive in theater. I still make popcorn the same way just minus the paper grocery sacks.

[@monicahoger]

My parents still have theirs, and I got mine second-hand. Swear by it! Sadly, I had to give away the popcorn popper after I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis :( popcorn and a bad gut are NOT a good combination!

[@LouieLouie505]

The pot and lid work-- but all that shaking to avoid burning is annoying to me (I have my own reasons….). Whirlypop never burns for me and is done is three minutes with almost no movement to speak of.

[@BMoney77]

That’s the way I do it. Add salt and butter after. Nothing beats it in my opinion.

[@johnp139]

Exactly!!!

[@GeckoHiker]

We love the Whirly Pop. It is easy to clean and doesn't need electricity, so it comes with us for camping trips. And, coconut oil is the way to go. I also spray with butter and add homemade seasonings occasionally. It has saved us a lot of money over the decades.

[@bradasstv]

Yeah, my Yabano one is basically like the Stir Crazy. We really like it over our Nostalgia stand popper. Much easier to clean. You will notice with the last one, popcorn gets down in the nooks and crannies, oil gets on the "glass" and get impossible to keep clean. Way too much work for the price. I paid quite a bit for our stand one, and now it's basically decoration that's in my way when cleaning the kitchen lol

[@frankhooper7871]

I've got a popper similar to the Whirley-Pop which I've had for over 50 years - still feel it makes the best popcorn.

[@SanchoPanza-wg5xf]

I've got one like that too. A Proctor-Silex that was bought from the Goodwill store 25 years ago, so Lord only knows how old it actually is. It makes great popcorn but creates a terrible mess unless it's carefully supervised. It ejects too many unpopped kernels and doesn't even do a good job of directing popped kernels into the bowl. Watching this video has made me realize that I ought to upgrade to a better unit.

[@LarcR]

I've used a Stir Crazy for years and never had a failure. In addition to oil, I add about 1/2 teaspoon of Flavacol before popping that provides all the salt needed.

[@johnp139]

GROSS: salt, artificial butter flavor, FD&C Yellow #5 Lake (E102) and Yellow #6 Lake (E110). DISGUSTING!!!! Just use regular salt and REAL BUTTER! WHY???!?!!?

[@Shahrdad]

I've used a lot of these, and nothing beats the Stir-Crazy. It's the most fluffy and delicious popcorn. Air popped corn always tastes like straw.

[@BlueNeonLites]

I purchased a Poplite type of popper at Walmart for $20. Works fantastically. I rarely have more than a few unpopped corn. The product I purchased allows you to put butter in the scoop at the top to melt while you are popping the corn. :)

[@TheOtherBill]

The older Prestos have that feature but the one he purchased didn't.

[@rosecrow810]

Thank You for taking the time to create and share this wonderfully informational and helpful video with us all ❤️

[@rantsandreviews]

These all seemed to work quite well. But...I will be sticking to my Salbree. It is super simple, takes up very little space, and works perfectly every time.

[@dawng.8836]

I love mine also, especially that you can keep popping the unpopped kernels. Easy to clean & store.

[@meaganfrench2424]

This is one of my favorite reviews.❤ I also inherited my grandmothers love for burnt popcorn.

[@highnoon9333]

I had the presto air popper for a while and although I liked how quickly it worked, I felt that because of the lack of oil/butter, it made it very hard for any kind of dry seasoning to stick onto the popcorn - it would just all slide to the bottom of the bowl.

[@Realistum]

You have to put oil on the popcorn after and salt it

[@NancyGooGoo]

I've had the Stir Crazy for about 5 years now and have never been disappointed! It's fast, easy to clean and store away! Love it!!

[@cammiemcclure2178]

I'm happy you did this review. I've always wanted to know how the theater style worked. I'm glad I never bought it. We have the stir crazy and we are very happy with it. The popcorn it makes is very tasty! Good review!

[@willcool713]

The theater style poppers actually work great, especially for continuously making large quantities. But they only work at full scale. The smaller, home versions are a mess and require way too much clean up and are finicky to keep running. My old roommate had one that we struggled with. But I loved the concession stand at neighborhood baseball games during the summers. I really loved the smell of the palm/coconut oil butter substitute they popped in. And the kettle was old and burnt and perfect. Nothing else tastes like those theater-style poppers, but it's gotta be the big, full-sized kind or nothing.

[@LatitudeSky]

That isn't a GOOD theater-style popper, unfortunately. It is probably the cheapest of that type. But it's just not a good one. Good theater poppers for home use DO exist. I own one. But they start at more than twice the cost. You really get what you pay for with that kind of machine.

[@matthewlunsford4351]

@@willcool713 Agreed! I worked for approximately 15 years in a movie theater and the popcorn is probably the thing I miss the most!

[@ghw7192]

A friend gave me a Whirly Pop several years ago and I love it! For some reason, I always find myself humming "Pop Goes the Weasel" when I make popcorn. LOL!

[@spydermag5644]

I was just thinking about popcorn makers. Bingo a video about it.

[@Freakinreviews]

Perfect timing!

[@cammiemcclure2178]

Or maybe great minds think alike 🤔

[@farmerboybill]

Whirly Pop FTW! I've popped many, many bowls of popcorn thru a Whirly Pop. I like to add the butter just before the kernals start popping. I slows down the process, but the butter gets evenly distributed thru the popcorn.

[@criptin4075]

Stir Crazy FTW =p

[@jpolar394]

I'll stick to the old fashion way, a 4 quart stainless steel pot, some oil and a cover. It's much easier to clean, saves space in the cabinet and I can save on the electric cost.

[@nicknumber1512]

A cast iron dutch oven works fine as well.

[@willcool713]

Yep. I agree. Big pan, grocery bag turned down for a bowl, sharing with friends.

[@linda-moonlight]

Not really the point... 🙄

[@therealstaticthreat]

I have been using a Whirley Pop for over 10 years, I have two! I have had the Stir Crazy and mini theater style poppers and I choose to use my Whirley or Air Popper the most. While popping with the Whirley I like to use two fingers with my palm resting above the gears to let steam out slightly as I pop for a better end result. Also, once done popping I love to toss Ghee or Butter into the hot Whirley and place back on the still warm burner to slightly melt the butter and then tilt the pot sideways while holding the lid handle closed with my thumb and drizzle the topping over my corn in a circular motion, tossing the popcorn each time for even coverage. If you don't have it already, some nice butter salt like Flavacol or something similar that you can toss into the pot before popping works wonders! I would also like to mention that however unhealthy it might be compared to just kernels and oil, you can also pop the contents of microwaveable popcorn packets with great results! Enjoy and welcome to the Whirley Club!

[@davidcovington901]

Good reviews - Jiffy-Pop is too much fun to quit entirely, with children and me around. I've seen a size difference in popped product in oil vs dry. I couldn't for sure tell that here. Orville's does pop the biggest of the many brands I've tried. Is food out of Freakin's line? Don't understand when you would have smelled a hairdryer last. 🙃

[@maryriley6163]

I love this show. It really gets down to the nitty gritty demonstration. I bought a Whirly Pop popcorn maker through Amazon. Also a jar of coconut oil, and some Redenbacher popcorn. I have a glass top stove and this popper makes the best popcorn I have had since 30 years ago when theaters made actually good popcorn. The Whirly Pop makes even better popcorn than that. Just follow the directions, it’s easy to use but should only be used by an adult or under adult supervision. Remember to keep stirring till the stirrer stops turning easily.

[@Belifranko]

Don't think I've ever been this early on a video, but I love your channel and the way your review things. Much love from Germany!

[@Freakinreviews]

Welcome to the early show!

[@MM-Iconoclast]

@@Freakinreviews Ola - thanks for the great vid! I made a request/suggestion in another comment but don't know if you will see it. When you go over the products at the very end, can you show a clip of each product as you mention it? This way we don't have to replay the beginning to remind ourselves which was which... That would make your already awesome vids even more awesome!

[@tlpricescope7772]

We’ve have the cheapie presto air popper, the first one you showed, for years. I like that you can use your own bowl, and we add extra virgin olive oil and Himalayan pink salt to it. It’s the most delicious healthy snack. It’s so simplistic and pops quickly. We rarely clean it too. It’s one of the cases where simple is better. Try gourmet breeds of popcorn, which can be naturally sweeter too. This lets you try them without impeding the flavor with tons of fat.

[@jamiescott5461]

They make movie theater butter oil for the oil poppers. Tastes amazing, just add salt!❤️❤️

[@umaiar]

Try Flavacol, available on Amazon. Butter flavored fine popcorn salt. So good.

[@NJBrand]

@@umaiar Do you use the Flavacol in place of using oil?

[@umaiar]

@@NJBrand No, definitely not. The oil is a requirement for popping. The Flavacol just replaces the plain table salt, which is more coarsely ground. Just put 1 tsp of Flavacol into the oil before popping. And the butter flavoring means you can switch oils if you want. The butter burst oil is our favorite for theater flavor, and you can even drizzle a little more on after popping. But I generally try to use a healthier oil (coconut oil, avacado oil, etc). And the Flavacol makes that possible without losing too much. Edit: Flavacol is basically powdered salt with butter flavoring

[@rachaelholden327]

Stir crazy was so nostalgic! My grandparents would always make popcorn at home with one and I remember loving to watch it pop!

[@PWL1371]

I had the Stir Crazy back when it was yellow and black ( late 70s early 80s ). loved it. Was the latest craze! Years later I just use a pot most of the time . When my grandson comes over we will use a red popcorn " cart " kind of like the last one. Fun but clean up is tiresome!

[@gustavobrehm9234]

I worked at a theater for a while and the wirley pop is by far my favorite home popcorn maker I love that it's stove top so I can adjust the heat level and it's cheap and well made, some tips for making popcorn at home is use coconut oil for popping butter flavored if you can find it and add popcorn salt to the kettle while it's cooking for best flavor that's how we did it at my theater

[@SethPinnock]

Let me just say that I appreciate your reviews I live outside of the USA and can't afford to have to return a product that does not perform as advertised. please continue doing so and I will continue supporting your channel with likes and comments

[@joanbradley8042]

I'm a first time viewer, and I must say I've been binge watching your channel all day. Love how honest you are in rating the products you show.

[@IsomerMashups]

To anyone who doesn't know, the trick to movie theatre flavour popcorn is a special salt called Flavocol. It's fairly cheap and you absolutely should use it.

[@Flamingtaint]

Also, you can buy one carton of it, and it will last you FOREVER.

[@aemxo]

your excitement over these popcorn poppers is ADORABLE :) i love your videos

[@Apocalypz]

100% going for the microwave salbree (or similar) option as 1) it's inexpensive & 2) one can purchase a 50$ microwave and have 100x use other than these items

[@jvallas]

It won’t wow the kids at a birthday party the way my movie theater popper did, though 🥴. (Full disclosure: used it once, and now it’s on a shelf.)

[@carol65classic]

I have the Whirlypop. It is a very good popper. It has two unique advantages over other poppers. 1st, you don’t *have* to wash the pot part. Instead, you can season the pan and just wipe it out after use. See the instructions for that. 2nd, because you *can* actually wash the pot, it makes Kettle Corn (essentially a street fair snack), which is a really nice treat. Great reviews. Subscribed!

[@cynthialopez4485]

How do you make the kettle popcorn? My husband loves it.

[@tomjanowski8584]

I've had a Presto PopLite since 1990. I use it about once or twice a week. It's been excellent. But the best popcorn I ever had was made by my grandfather is a mesh basket over a coal fire in our barn. There were always some slightly burned popcorn and I love that flavor.

[@trublgrl]

I have had a few popcorn machines, but my favorite is now the kind that is just a folding silicone bowl with a lid on it, that makes popcorn in the microwave in two and a half minutes. The box it comes in is smaller than a cereal box, for easy storage, and you don't need to keep another appliance around. The popcorn comes out great, zero compromise, and you can get them for ten dollars. I don't think the brand matters at all.

[@laurahertzman943]

I have a Presto popcorn maker. Bought it at Wal-Mart year ago and it still works. EDIT: The Fountain Air looks like they took Tom Servo's head and turned into a popcorn maker!

[@Markus0021]

Actually, I think it is the other way around - when they built Tom Servo, they made his head out of a popcorn maker bowl like the Fountain Air which they happened to have sitting around.

[@judsonkr]

@@Markus0021 I always thought Tom Servo was made out of a gumball machine.

[@judsonkr]

OMG! An MST3K reference! One of my all time favorite shows. You like MST3K you might have the sense of humor to appreciate MXC as well.

[@robertbanach2881]

The Stir Crazy works great - I discovered it last year, very few unpopped kernels and it is easy to clean up after. Previously used oil in a pot which always worked okay but was hard to regulate the heat and had to stand over it. The hot air machines are not efficient many uppopped kernels and kernels and popped corn flying out onto the counter and floor. I am always skeptical of kitchen gadgets but the Stir Crazy is great.

[@tackleresponse8183]

I think it would be helpful to test every feature of each product like the butter function because that may influence whether its better vs the competition.

[@tr_vmi4844]

Had the Whirly for 20+ years with no fails...love it, and about ready to buy a newer one after all these years.

[@WayneCAlderman]

Bayley was in the show at the beginning walking around in the dark, she was getting hungry

[@john2001plus]

For decades I have been using the Nordicware Microwave Popcorn bowl. I fill it with four ounces of popcorn, two ounces of oil, and a generous amount of Lite Salt. It produces perfect popcorn. Lately, I have been using Olive Oil.

[@jokerproduction]

Good analysis overall, but should have used clarified butter and salt or just buy flavocal. The popcorn seasoning used for nearly 100 years.

[@irishpixierose]

My parents had an air popper in the 70s or 80s and I now have it. It's good especially if you don't want the added oil. Of course if you add butter it soaks it up like a sponge. My brother in law's Dad had a Whirly pop type popper. His seemed a lot sturdier and it made great popcorn. I usually make it on the stove top in a heavy bottom pan.

[@Ahglock]

Air Poppers with butter always amuse me as likely the reason you got a air popper is to avoid fats. For the last one, I think that style is great if you go all in and get a larger, sturdier model. They will cost $200+ but they do a great job are a lot of fun and can easily make enough for parties etc. That being said its only worth it if you really love popcorn, which I do.

[@PongoXBongo]

Agreed on the theater-style poppers. The one in the video had too small of a cabinet for the pot. Ideally, the pot should be able to swing a full 90 degrees down (or more) to shake the last kernels out. If the pot has a beefy handle for shaking, you're looking at a proper machine.

[@Ahglock]

@@PongoXBongo Yup. For popcorn lovers I think they are well worth the expense. I have never regretted getting one.

[@PongoXBongo]

@@Ahglock One of the perks of clerking at gas station in high school was having essentially unlimited access to fountain soda and popcorn. I closed the store and got to take home whatever popcorn was left over (for the small price of cleaning the machine, of course).

[@peggy5990]

I have the Whitley Pop and love it. There’s just something about popcorn made on the stove. I also a little weird and love the burnt pieces. I always make sure there are a few burnt ones in the bottom of the pan.