Slightly pricier than some of the other popcorn machines out there but great results & very quick to cook with only a few unpop...  Read More

Slightly pricier than some of the other popcorn machines out there but great results & very quick to cook with only a few unpopped kernels  Read Less

We're getting increasingly picky about what gadgets we have in our kitchen, and it's safe to say that a popcorn maker was far d...  Read More

We're getting increasingly picky about what gadgets we have in our kitchen, and it's safe to say that a popcorn maker was far down that list, but when this came up in a deal we thought it was worth a try, and sounded a healthier option than putting popcorn in a lightly oiled (coconut oil, just a trace) covered paella pan and waiting until the popping stopped. We thought that if it didn't work out , it would be no great loss and someone else could always adopt it. Now we're looking for somewhere to store it, because it is staying!Out of the box, I was struck by the poor finishing along the edges of the red and black plastic parts of the casing; it really is a bit rough, and exudes a sense of economies having been made. It is also offered in several branded versions (e.g. Giles and Posner, as in the images on Amazon) but they are all essentially the same machine.There is an absolute minimum of setting up needed to get popping some corn. It comes in three sections, the popcorn maker and a 2-part lid, which assembles into a dome covering the machine's top opening, into which a smaller pivoting lid sits. With the lid pivoted so that it becomes a kind of cup, you can fill this with popcorn kernels and then just pivot it around to drop the kernels into the machine and fire it up. We just tip in what we feel is appropriate, the old-fashioned way. The lid has an arched opening in it which we assumed was to pour out the corn when it was done. Oh, how innocent we were!After that, the old procedure we did - firing up a gas ring, oiling the pan etc - seems cumbersome. We just powered it up and with an almighty whoosh off it goes, heating the kernels and operating a whirlwind kind of blower. This is where the bowl I didn't mention earlier comes in handy, because you can't trust the images on the Amazon listing that show a machine holding popped corn. That blower is to loft the corn out of the machine after it pops and can be carried on the breeze, and you need a bowl there to catch the friendly fire of manic popcorn that is now blowing all over your worktop. Oh, how we laughed (as we quickly grabbed a bowl, and then a larger one, and then an even larger one). We did get one warning shot as an uncooked kernel flew out and ricocheted around the kitchen playing a tune on the pans as it went.When you are properly prepared by having a bowl ready, it will be a lot less fun, I can assure you.But the joy is that within 2 or 3 minutes you have a bowl of fresh popcorn either waiting for a topping or to be eaten sin free having been air cooked. It really is quick enough to pause a movie and make some without really spoiling the flow.Cleaning hasn't been necessary for us so far, since we add nothing but the kernels themselves and, the moment they pop, they are out of the machine. Even so we followed the advice about wiping the innards over with a damp cloth before first use, and also after each use, which was easy since it is a seamless metal bowl.If this machine (or any of its clones) appears at a deal kind of price (anything from £13 down, in my opinion), it's worth a pop.Okay, I'll get my coat.  Read Less