Nordic Ware 60120 Microwaver Popcorn Popper 12 Cup
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Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of Nordic Ware 60120 Microwaver Popcorn Popper 12 Cup
Customer Review: My microwave is too weak for the popper
Summary: 3 Stars
I read the 230+ reviews that were here before I bought this (and many of the other reviews for other poppers), so I had an idea of how this would go. It depends on how strong your microwave is. I knew my old m-w had grown a little weak, but I just turn it up some or run it longer, and it is fine for what I normally do.
If your m-w is very strong, you run it for less time. It will be prone to scorching the bowl and corn. If it is weak, you can run it longer to compensate, and you won't run into scorching. For long times, the popcorn will end up on the crunchy side and possibly a little roasted-tasting. The amount of time the corn is cooked makes a huge difference if you're looking for the best taste result, although some people may prefer a toasty taste I suppose.
In my case, this is what it took to get thorough popping (5 minutes left 1 1/2 tablespoon out 5 of un-popped): Preheat the oil for two minutes without the kernels. Then 7 minutes to get all but maybe a dozen kernels popped (out of 5 level tablespoons). The popcorn comes out about like the taste of microwave bag popcorn. Unfortunately, the salt and oil would hardly stick to the popped corn. Not by just popping with oil and salt in the bottom, and not by thorough shaking afterward. Loads of salt and oil on the bowl though.
It loses quite a bit of the good taste with that seven minutes of microwave cooking. The popcorn is a little too crisp and bland compared to the best popcorn I can make in a pot on the stove. The salt and oil does stick nicely to the stove-popped corn (but keep the cover on and do NOT let all the steam escape.) The only thing I have to watch is to not get the pot too hot; then the result is not as tasty. Since the pot-popped corn has been much tastier, I'm going back to it. The Nordic bowl is just the right size for the pot-popped corn. I've got bowls but they aren't in the right size range.
I think the reason salt does not stick to the popcorn is that the moisture (steam) is vented out by the cover's built in "safety" slots. That may also be a mode by which much of the cooking heat is lost, which makes the popping take longer. I think the oil does not stick because it isn't soaking in; the surface of the popcorn is hardened, and the pores closed, by cooking so long.
In my case, there was not a trace of scorching, or even yellowing of the oil. The bowl is as pristine after popping and wiping as before the corn was popped in oil and salt. No cracks. No chips. No doubt because the bowl does not get as hot due to the weak m-w.
From the other reviews, I am pretty sure the popcorn would be very good if I had a microwave that could pop it in the 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 minute range, and there was possible one tiny vent, so the steam would not all escape. It is possible the popper with the "concentrator" would get the time down to the right range. Who knows?
Added because a commenter asked: The m-w is rated at 700 watts in the instruction book, which I recently rediscovered. But it is perhaps 20 years old and definitely has gotten weaker.
Customer Review: Best I've used to date
Summary: 4 Stars
The popcorn popper bowl is "granite ware"(like their bacon rack) and serves well. it heats up so be careful of your fingers when you take it out. It works very well in my opinion. It will leave unpopped kernals, but this is more related to the age, humidity etc of the popcorn than the bowl.. (Wikipedia has a decent article on popcorn). I used to use a fair amount of "microwave popcorn" but it is probably not very healthy and very expensive.. about 25-60 cents an ounce (and that's total oil, salt and all not just popcorn) while one can easily buy bulk popcorn for 1.5-3 cents an ounce.. so who cares if a few don't pop! The top (made of the same material as the spattershield) indeed "fits poorly". Truth is its not fitted at all! It simply sits in a groove.. all it does basically is keep popcorn in the bowl while letting steam out. The popcorn made this way IS dry (though not as bad as "air popped" corn)
After popping, I add olive oil (or one could use "butter oil" instead. [I recommend Misto Gourmet Brushed Aluminum Olive Oil Sprayer as it gives a very fine mist and you can use as little as you like.. and add salt of course if you like.] It's GREAT for HEALTHY SNACKS. This item is clearly the best microwave unit on the market I believe.. The bowl will discolor a bit over time, expecially if you decide to pop in oil. This is more akin to "seasoning" similar to a caste-iron skillet.. not "dirt".
If you want OIL IN THE CORN while popping I strongly recommend you use a stovetop Whirley-Pop Stovetop Popcorn Popper or electric popper type unit Back to Basics PC17589 Electric Stir-Crazy Popcorn Popper instead of microwave.
All in all, a perfectly functional unit.. I bought this as part of the set Nordic Ware Microwave 6 Piece Essentials Cook Set rather than by itself as I wanted this and the bacon rack.. the set was basically the same total price.
I'll add another point.. this is a GREAT kitchen bowl! I find myself using it often.. it is sturdy, holds a fair amount and POURS GREAT with NO DRIPS.. :) .. just thought I'd mention it.. :)
Customer Review: Just what I wanted
Summary: 5 Stars
I make popcorn almost every night. I usually use an air popper, because I don't want to add lots of oil (and calories). But some popcorn is too lightweight, and when one kernel pops, a number of unpopped kernels jump out of the popper and into the bowl with it. No good. I looked into all the types of microwave poppers, and liked this one because it was the simplest: no parts to buy separately and add, or to go wrong.
And I'm happy to say that it actually is very simple, and very effective. You do need to figure out how long it takes to pop in your microwave. Just like when making microwave bag popcorn, listen for when the pops become less frequent. And just like microwave bag popcorn, it's a trade-off: if you leave it in longer, you get some burnt bits and they smell bad, but if you take it out earlier, you have unpopped kernels left. The good thing about this popper (compared to the bags) is that you can eat what popped and then put it back in the microwave to finish off the last few that didn't pop the first time.
Once you figure out the timing, it's easy. For example, with my microwave it usually takes 2 minutes 40 seconds, although I listen for the pops in the last five seconds, in case that batch finishes early.
The popper definitely does get hot on the bottom. And it's hot on the sides right after cooking too. Take it out of the microwave carefully, holding just the edges. However, I've found that it cools down enough to put it in my lap after a few minutes, at least if I'm wearing jeans.
I've had this popper for over 6 months and estimate that I've used it about 70 times or so. There is some very slight discoloration on the bottom when I burned the popcorn once, but other than that, it's basically as good as new. (I don't put it in the dishwasher though, so I can't vouch for that.)
Overall, this is a great alternative to microwave popcorn bags, especially for people like me who want to put on their own toppings. It's better than air poppers for lightweight popcorn (like the regular kind I get at the supermarket). But I still use my air popper for my gourmet corn, so I can use a larger bowl that makes it easier to toss on the toppings.
Customer Review: Read the directions and it will work!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm doing this whole healthy thing, and wanted more snacking alternatives. I had been reading about how good popcorn is for you if it's not swimming in butter and oil or whatever else they put in those microwave popcorn bags. So i bought this after i tried the whole paper bag trick, which didn't work; i just ended up with a bunch of scorched paper bags. Anyways, i was reading about these popcorn popper bowls and decided to buy this one. I tried putting a little bit of popcorn in to try it out. i put like a tablespoon in. I let it pop for like 5 minutes and got barely any popcorn out of it. Reading the reviews i was baffled about how this could not work. I thought maybe it was the popcorn i had bought, since it was just generic Safeway popcorn, no fancy name brand, either way i was totally bummed.
I was bored and started reading the cardboard wrapper it came in and realized it said "1/3 to 1/2 cup" ohhhh i exclaimed. Maybe i wasn't putting enough in, after all it's a pretty big bowl. So i decided to put 1/3 cup in. At first it popped meekly and then it started going crazy. "It's WORKING!j" i shouted (at no one, haha) I can't imagine putting a half cup in, unless you wanted a microwave full of popcorn. Anyways, I just got done popping some delicious and healthy kettle corn in this popper. I didn't use any oil, just sweet-n-low and salt, i think it would be better coated with seasoning if i dumped it out on a tray and sprayed with some Pam, that wouldn't add very many calories and would make the popcorn more delicious.
I put the bowl in for like 5 minutes and took it out when the popping slowed down. Out of the 1/3 cup i originally put in only 50 didn't pop, that's including the half popped ones that didn't come out of the shell, i think that's pretty good. I'll probably reuse the unpopped ones when i make the next batch, since as i mentioned earlier a small batch won't pop properly. I guess if you don't want to have to make giant batches at time you might want to look for a smaller bowl or just make a lot and then put it in a big ziploc bag.
Customer Review: Perfect Popcorn, everytime!
Summary: 5 Stars
FIVE STARS!! This is by far the best popper we've ever used.
We've owned one of these popcorn poppers for YEARS. My husband had diverticulitis, then later a heart attack, so we're very careful about what he eats. We love this popcorn popper since we can control the ingredients vs bagged popcorn and use "normal" ingredients for a healthier snack. We simply add the popcorn kernels, cover with olive oil (or whatever favorite healthy oil you prefer to use) and add a bit of sea salt. Perfect Popcorn, everytime! You'll need to experiment with your particular microwave for the exact time that works best - but after a few experiments, you should also be able to enjoy perfect popcorn, everytime! (Note: You can add other ingredients or seasoning to your particular taste. When I make popcorn for me, I add a tad bit of REAL butter and fresh garlic powder ([...]) to the ingredients before popping for a very tasty snack on Movie Nights.)
Our first popper (this model) has been used at least a hundred times, if not a couple hundred times, at least. Our "old" popper's lid finally warped after too many uses or too many times through the dishwasher but it was still usable. One day this fall when my stepdaughter was visiting she commented that she was looking for the same popcorn popper since she missed her father's popcorn. Since it's older and I had already been contemplating buying my husband a new one, I gave her the "old" popper. Ut oh - when my husband found out, he was not at all happy, but when I later told him I couldn't find another at [...] nor Target, I was in the dog house...
... until I stumbled upon our favorite popper here on Amazon! I ordered it immediately (QUICK SHIPPING! Thanks Amazon!!) and now I have a happy husband again :-)
BTW: Gourmet popcorn is even better!! If you are lucky and can find a local gourmet popcorn I highly recommend you give it a try. We use Kernal Hagenbauker's popcorn for a very tasty snack! ([...])