Air Poppers for popcorn

[rainsmom]

Ive been thinking about getting one so I can phase out my microwave use. But have heard mixed reviews on the taste of the popcorn, that it tastes like cardboard.

Is this true? Is it the popper itself that makes a difference?

[melamama]

I don't know that it tastes like cardboard, but it certainly is a change from microwave popcorn (unless you've been doing just kernels in a paper bag).

Since it pops it with air, the popcorn will just taste like that. I know my memory is of popcorn popped in oil so air popped is different.

Mostly I've found that it matters what kind of corn kernels I buy--fresh high quality popping corn. We usually just sprinkle tamari on the popcorn and it tastes great.

It is definitely a great thing--my kids love to measure the corn and catch all the kernels that go everywhere.

[Babytime]

I prefer airpopped popcorn and think it tastes better. I do add a dash of melted butter and a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese ... yum!

[mousemadeslings]

Air popped popcorn tastes like the corn rather than like the butter-like substances and salt and flavorings found in most commercial microwave popcorn. We use to have one when I was a kid, and we would melt and pour a small amount of butter over the popped corn and salt it, and I always thought it was great! My sister actually asked for one of those for her birthday this year because she missed that type of popcorn! It's much lighter and doesn't leave you feeling like you ate a ton of grease.

Personally I prefer the stove-top poppers that use very little oil, and then I just salt it - the salt doesn't stick as well to the air popped without adding some kind of butter or something to it first. Although I bet the Parm. cheese sprinkled on as it was coming out hot would be really good....

[Twocoolboys]

We have an air popper and love it. The boys love to make popcorn and watch it all pop out of the machine. I think it tastes fantastic - not like cardboard at all. If you were used to the super processed microwave popcorn that has tons of flavored garbage on it, then maybe it would taste like cardboard - lol. But, once you get used to the air popped, it is great. We generally don't put anything on ours, but we do sometimes make popcorn balls with corn syrup and jello - lol.

[MilkyMcGee]

I loved air popped popcorn as a child, and my kids do too. We have a really cool "old fashioned" air popper that my ds loves putting the popcorn into and watching it come out. It looks like a carnival popcorn stand with wheels and everything, only countertop sized. The only problem is, I think I bought crappy corn, because it doesn't quite taste right. It's stale-ish.

[melissel]

Another vote for air popping here. I've always hated microwave popcorn, but ended up getting hooked on the kind that tastes "homestyle," with real butter and salt. It finally occurred to me, after spending all this money on the "homestyle" kind, that I should just ACTUALLY MAKE IT AT HOME.

The best $20 I ever spent

[oneotamama]

I'm definitely going to have to try the air popper again. We did that when I was a kid. Microwave popcorn is so easy though, but ick! I had some last night and it makes the roof of my mouth feel coated w/icky gunk. Anyone else get that feeling?

Actually, does a hot air popper cost about the same as a stove top popper? What kind of oil do you use on the stove top one?

[CarrieMF]

You can get cheap air poppers for $10, or go for more expensive/fancy ones. They do the same thing though, use hot air to pop it.

I prefer air popped, we've used one since before my youngest brother was not old enough to know that putting jam & money inside makes them not work.lol

The type of popcorn can make a huge difference. I prefer the Orville Reddenbacher Air Pop in a container with a lid. The lid makes a huge difference over the stuff that comes in a bag. You can tell when popcorn becomes old(which it does quickly when in a bag), the popped corn is small and thick tasting. Fresh corn is very light, fluffy and big.

[oneotamama]

Thanks for the info Carrie. I never thought about popcorn going stale in an open bag. Makes sense though.

[BeagleMommy]

I just pop mine in my big pot with the see through lid. I use a bit of coconut oil to cook it with and then butter and salt and/ or parmesean cheese on it. That way I'm getting plenty of good fats. (I have trouble eating enough good fats.)
I thought about getting a Whirley Pop or whatever the stovetop device is called, but it was aluminum. And made in China. Talk about icing on the cake. I think I'll stick with my SS pot.

I've never had an air popper, but wouldn't the corn come in contact with a lot of hot plastic?

[CarrieMF]

Most of the plastic is at the top before it falls out. It doesn't get that hot and spends the least amount of time in the plastic section.

the only problem with my popper is that I have to put a tea towel overtop when it's popping or I play the dodge the flying popcorn game.lol It only started doing this a year or so ago and most of it is the unpopped kernals in the bowl that heat up and pop in the bowl flying out.

[rainsmom]

Just wondering what brand names your poppers are. Ive seen a couple almost new ones at the goodwill and was thinking for 3bucks, its worth trying out to see if I like it...........

thanks for the responses!

[CarrieMF]

proctor-silex

[quantumleap]

I grew up on the air-popped stuff, and liked it just fine. Still do. Actually, we used to melt peanut butter with a little butter and pour that over top when we were little for a "treat". Sometimes, my mom would let us make all sorts of different kinds, parmesan and chili, and the peanut butter are the main ones I remember. Then she'd cut up some fruit and veggies, and that would be lunch. We thought it was the best thing EVER! Whew.
Anyway, my current kitchen is the size of a tin can (seriously, I have two normal sized cupboards and one small one, and that's IT!), so no room for an air popper. But, I make it in a soup pot on the stove all the time. I use a little bit of olive oil and put some salt in at the begining so it sticks better. Stove top pop corn is waaaaay better than microwave and air popped, in my opinion. The pot is a pain to wash, and you do have to stand there and shake it while it pops so it doesn't burn, so I guess for convenience, the air popper wins, but for taste, definitely the pot on the stove. Yep.

[UlrikeDG]

My son got an air popper for his 5th birthday. He's a popcorn fiend.

No, air popped popcorn doesn't taste like the stuff that comes on microwave popcorn, unless you add that stuff to it. It does have a nice texture, and is much healthier, unless you add crap to it.

[Fiestabeth]

Air popped is so much better! We love it around here. Get good quality popcorn, and use coconut oil and sea salt.

[Mallori]

We are on our 2nd stove-top popper. I love, love, love it! We use margarine to pop ours, 1/2 cup WHITE popcorn to about 2 TB margarine. Then we use a little salt, it's Yum!!

I wanted an air popper too, but someone suggested this. I was REALLY hesitant, but did. I'm so glad, not because it's necessarily better, but I hate having to plug in the air popper, and having more small appliances in the kitchen.

Another benefit to the stove-top, is that you can do a variety of recipes. You can do spiced popcorn, kettle corn, buttered corn, oil, etc. It comes with a recipe book, and you can definitely lower the amounts in the recipe if it's too sugary, oily, etc. I also only buy white popcorn, the yellow is too cardboard-y for me. I get it in bulk at a local amish grocery. Our popper is a "Whirley-Pop".

Calorie wise, air popper takes top prize.