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The best 'fast and easy' popcorn maker is down to $14: 'Perfect for movie night'
It's a marvel of modern silicone, producing affordable, healthy goodness every time. So say 25,000+ fans (and this Yahoo editor).
Got a loved one who'd list popcorn as their go-to snack? Or maybe it's your favorite munchie? We've found something that'll delight everyone's palates while lowering 'corn costs and making the 'pop'ular treat healthier: the Popco Hotpop Silicone Popcorn Popper. Over 25,000 Amazon shoppers adore this gizmo for making tasty, perfectly popped popcorn in a healthier, more eco-friendly way than the microwaveable bags. Plus, it's on sale, so why not grab one for yourself and a few for friends and family?
Made of heat-resistant silicone, it comes with a lid and built-in handles. You just pour kernels in, add oil, salt and whatever else, and put it in the microwave. Done!
Why is it a good deal? 💰
The popper is currently marked down to $14, which is as low as we've seen it in months. Prices vary between colors, but you can snag most for around $15 or $16; still a bargain in the long run, as buying your own kernels is typically far less expensive — and healthier — than purchasing the microwaveable popcorn bags.
Why do I need this? 🤔
Microwave popcorn is convenient, no question, so why not just grab a box of it at the store? For starters, there's all that packaging: The outside box, the plastic wrap around each bag and the bag itself — all destined for landfills. Plus, the store-bought stuff usually contains various additives and preservatives, to say nothing of enough oil, salt and/or butter to destroy any health benefits.
Meanwhile, the Popco is fairly ingenious: Just pour in some kernels, add a bit of oil and salt (or not, if you're trying to keep it super-healthy), then zap it in the microwave for a few minutes. The popper is also the bowl you eat from, so you're not dirtying multiple items. It's dishwasher-safe and collapses down for easier storage. (Like I said: ingenious.)
I've owned one of these for a couple of years; it produces flawless popcorn every time and ranks high on my list of must-have kitchen gadgets.
What reviewers say 💬
Amazon customers praise the Popco for its ease of use, affordability and health factor.
Pros 👍
"Perfect for movie night!" raved one buyer. "Right out [of] the box, it is the perfect popcorn maker. Instructions are simple. ... The bowl and lid are made of silicone, which kind of feels flimsy, but it works perfectly. Collapses nicely for storage or for a lunch box."
Said another satisfied shopper, "So pleased with this simple popper. Air-popped popcorn has always tasted like styrofoam. For some reason, this popper creates tasty, healthy popcorn fast and easy. Not a drop of oil. Just add popcorn to one of the lines on the bottom. In 2 1/2 minutes or less, we have excellent popcorn. Almost zero cleanup and [it's] easy to store. We love it and are eating more of this healthy popcorn and other less-junky snacks."
"My household has been trying to switch out some of our routines for more eco-friendly alternatives, one of which is popcorn," explained a third. "We probably eat popcorn 3-4 times a week, so this comes in handy! ... Also, long-term, so much cheaper than buying all that bagged popcorn!"
Cons 👎
"I love this popcorn popper," shared a generally pleased reviewer. "Keeps it low-cal, though I do add melted butter and seasoning after it’s popped. My only complaint is the popper does get hot, so removing it from the microwave is a bit of a challenge. However, it pops almost every kernel perfectly! Love it!"
"We are movie night people in our house, so finding a product we could use to make our own movie theater popcorn at home is great!" exclaimed a final fan. "This bowl is super easy to use and clean without a hassle. My only complaint is if you are going to use butter and seasoning, the lid will stain. After three uses, our lid went from clear to a yellow-orange tint from the butter and seasoning. However, it still gets the job done and serves its purpose, so I am giving it five full stars!"
Now the only question is, which of the 14 colors will you choose?
Once you've got your hands on the Popco, it's just BYO kernels — which are incredibly cheap by any standard. For example, here's a 6-pound (!) bag of Amish Country Popcorn for $18. That's probably enough to accommodate a year's worth of weekend movie nights.
Once you try these gourmet baby white kernels, you'll say, 'Orville who?'
"Outstanding popcorn!" raved an impressed reviewer. "This corn popped up quickly and completely — light, tender and fluffy with hardly any un-popped kernels to be found at the bottom of the bowl. A half cup of this stuff produced as much popcorn as I had been getting using three-quarters of a cup of the 'old' corn. Great value for [the] money — less waste — and delicious, too! Glad I tried this."
If you have Amazon Prime, you’ll get free shipping, of course. Not yet a member? No problem. You can sign up for your free 30-day trial here. (And by the way, those without Prime still get free shipping on orders of $35 or more.)
The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
