Wabash Valley Farms 25008 Whirley-Pop Stovetop Popcorn Popper
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Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of Wabash Valley Farms 25008 Whirley-Pop Stovetop Popcorn Popper
Customer Review: Spontaneous popping
Summary: 5 Stars
I was given a great recipe for kettle corn from a friend, and no matter how diligent I was, I'd always burn it using my usual, heavy-bottom pots. Frustrated, I decided to give a Whirley Pop a try...it was that, or purchase a giant kettle for the backyard at this pont! It heated up instantly, and after a short wait time, the popcorn kernels popped almost simultaneously, resulting in only one or two slightly singed kernels...as opposed to a good couple of handfuls with my old shaking pot method.
I too was initially concerned with the aluminum exposure and its health risks. However, the popcorn pops so quickly, the amount of aluminum leeched would be very minimal (as opposed to stewing tomomato sauce in an aluminum pot for a few hours). In fact, the amount of aluminum present (and more biologically available to your body) in tea is much more abundant. Weighing risks vs. benefits, I'd say I could use the fiber in the popcorn more than I'd be harmed by the aluminum in popcorn. :) Just keep the pot in good condition and free from pits, and I think it'll be fine.
Customer Review: Well-meaning adults buying for kids: beware!
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm a bonified theater popcorn fiend, and Whirley-Pop is a dream come true. I actually scoffed at microwave popcorn offered me the other day. (It hurt my mom's feelings, sure, but I don't eat popcorn to make friends.)
However, I find that the vents and the lid don't seal too tightly (I guess they can't since there's EXPLODING CORN in there) and my hands are consequently speckled with searing-hot oil every time I use my popper. I don't mind, being an adult (and a rugged manly man, at that), and I figure it's probably poetic justice for my days as an omnivore that I get a little cooked myself now and then. But if I was a kid and I got liquid hot magma-butter (or, if you're doing kettle corn, napalm) on me, I'd probably freak out. And if I was the adult providing the adult supervision, I'd probably freak out too.
So parents and gift-givers, just take this into consideration. I often see it recommended as a "cool" thing for kids to do (or a "novelty"), which might give some buyers the wrong impression as far as flying hot oil is concerned.
Customer Review: Lots of fun - and popcorn tastes GREAT.
Summary: 5 Stars
I've had one of these for about 5 years and love it. It eat a lot of popcorn. I'm dieting so I use an airpopper a lot. Low-cal but also very bland. Convenience likes the microwave popping bags - easy but not the tastiest. The stovetop popper gives popcorn with the very best texture and flavor in just a few minutes. The biggest hassle is washing it afterwards. The hand-crank agitator does a great job of pushing the popped corn up out of the way and agitating the unpopped kernels back down into the oil. Turn on the heat. Pour in a thin layer of oil. Add the corn. Close the lid and shake until the popping starts then crank happily for about 90 seconds until the popping dies down. Be careful of steam when opening it up. Enjoy!
Caveats - use an oil that is high-heat tolerant. Peanut oil is perfect and tastes great. Use good (and fresh) corn. Have a big bowl handy!
Be creative with toppings. Butter and salt are fine but try parmesan cheese, cajun spice powder, sriracha hot sauce, "Brady Street Sprinkle" from Penzeys, etc...
Customer Review: Using my Whirley-Pop Popcorn Popper
Summary: 5 Stars
I purchased this popper because my father had one and raved on the ease of popping and the taste of the popcorn and was excited about his popper. After a visit he sent me home with an ice cream bucket full of popcorn popped in his Whirley-Pop. I was sold and wanted one. I viewed several on the web and finally found one at a reasonable price with no shipping cost at Christmas time. So...I purchased one for myself and my mother. I now pop corn at least every other day. Mom turned me onto Act II Buttery Popping and Topping Oil and ACT II popcorn salt flavoring. Right away I tried using 1 teaspoon of oil and it was not enough plus I left the popper on the burner too long. My father said to use more oil, constantly stir and take it off the burner to dump in the bowl before the last kernel pops. I have the hang of it now. Popping popcorn is a breeze! It takes so little time. Used regularly all I need to do is wipe the pan out and it is ready to use again. I love to share with my father how much I love having popcorn from my popper! One more thing to draw us close.Customer Review: The was to Pop
Summary: 5 Stars
So not only is the Whirley-Pop Popper the perfect popcorn popper -- we are all pretty much agreed on that -- the Whirley Pop popcorn kits make great popcorn. In our family, we're lazy. We get the low-salt, low-oil Movie Theater kits. They make very tasty popcorn. Still a bit salty for our taste, but we like things very low salt.
In response to the people who have said the Whirley-Pop popper is a bit flimsy -- the aluminum is a bit thin. And you do need to take special care of the top. But it is guaranteed for 25 years. If ours breaks before then, we'll send it back for a replacement.
Also, something we missed on the instructions at the beginning -- you don't have to wash it between uses. Just wipe it out with paper towels. I suppose if you weren't going to use it for a month, it would pay to wash it, but if you use it regularly, wiping is all it needs. That's a good thing, because washing the lid is something of a challenge.
Our four-year-old grandson loves popcorn and loves making it in the Whirley-Pop even more.