Silver Whirley Pop Stovetop Popcorn Popper - Stainless Steel Popper Makes Up to 6 Quarts of Popcorn in 3 Minutes, Includes Ready To Make Popcorn Pouch - Perfect for Movie Nights and More

Love this stovetop popper!!! Granted, this is my first one (nothing to really compare it to) but I extensively read the reviews of all the different popcorn poppers (including the electric plug in ones) and decided the stainless steel Whirley Pop was the right one for my family.It was on the higher end price wise but it seems there were a lot of complaints about the cheaper version's plastic gear always breaking. I liked that it wasn't aluminum too (I don't totally buy into the hype of aluminum and health problems but why chance it?).The stainless steel pot heats very evenly and this definitely does a great job of popping almost all of the kernels without burning them. It is very easy to clean (just wipe out if making a basic batch without sugar/salt). But also hand washes easily too.I've made the standard batch (popcorn and oil - both canola and olive) and also my version of healthy kettle corn (1/2 c. popcorn, 3 T. canola oil, 10 packets of Truvia, 1/4 t. salt). So yummy!!!The kettle corn has become our favorite snack!!! I make a couple batches (cool then store in airtight containers). And it's healthy and guilt free!!!I have not tried to pour the popcorn out of the popper with the lid on. I've just put on a couple oven mitts, remove the cover, grab the pot and just pour it out into a bowl.Tips.... Stir slowly when starting out but pick up the pace when the kernels start popping.... Do NOT force the crank when the resistance increases at the end of the popping due to the full pot.... Immediately turn off the heat/remove from heat when the crank's resistance increases and/or the popping slows.... Do NOT use nonstick spray. It doesn't need it and it will leave a coating that is very difficult to remove.... Do NOT let anyone borrow it.... You'll never get it back. ;)Enjoy!!!

I had a generic stovetop popcorn popper and i loved it, but it was old, so i decided to splurge and get the name brand. I have never been so disappointed in a product in my life. it doesn't even deserve 1 star. The pot is nice and heavy, but it appears too heavy for the handle and lid. Overtime we make popcorn, as you are rotating the handle, it is simi easy until the popcorn that is popping is filling the pot about 1/4 full, then the handle crank starts to stick, jam, and slip, Making it very hard to keep it spinning to keep the popcorn from burning. then wen you lift one side and tip it for the popcorn to fall into the bowl, nothing comes out, then EVERYTIME the whole lid falls off, sending the pot crashing and pop corn spilling everywhere. i have tried to wiggle the lid off but popcorn still spills all over the place. We love popcorn, make it all the time. I am just done with this one, i finally hit my limit with it and had to write a review.Now i just need to figure how to return it.

Now for 5400 and 1 review. What can I offer ? Well, I am 72 and consider myself a self-pro-claimed expert on eating it.I use the West Bend Stir Crazy and really enjoy the crispy, non-chewy popcorn it makes. No hassle, just add oil, popcornand click on button. But I wanted the stainless. To the point, the WP gears would catch. I could see no way to adjust, but I do have high temp grease that I put a small amount on the gears and perfect. Problem fixed. I checked the stirring rod and it was adjusted to the depth needed to stir but not drag on the bottom. And the rod is thinner than the Sir Crazy so the kernels could ride over the top and get a good flip (that's good). Pot was heavy duty with a thick heavy bottom probably a stainless/aluminum sandwich build as it heated up very quickly. I have an electric Whirlpool stove and put it on 8 of the 10. The first batch was horrible, chewy and small. Second batch I turned the heat to 7 ( forgot my wiring is bumped up so the stove runs hot). This batch was really crunchy, not chewy, large and really really good. Curious, next I ran a batch using the same everything in the Stir Crazy and to my surprise when tasted side by side, the WP was a tad crunchier!! And it was puffed a little bigger?? WOW cant explain that, but that's what I experienced. Tonight I will run my Tiny But Mighty Heirloom corn and update. So far though, I will be defaulting to the WP and hopefully it can do the same. Will update later. Just so we are honest, I AM NOT A PROFESSIONAL PAID REVIEWER. Retired and don't care one way or the other.