Microwave Popcorn Maker by Thomas Rush (Orange)

First a little background. I had two Catamount Glassware CG4526 Classic Design Microwave Corn Popper, 2.5-Quart, Red before this and both of them broke off at the handle. One of them I was just cleaning and using the handle to turn the glass around with the sponge inside. The second broke when a light plastic dish fell on the handle from less than 6 inches above it.So it was time to look on Amazon for a new microwave popcorn popper since I do not want any PFOA and I hate the time it takes to use an air popper. After looking at all the positive reviews for these silicon poppers I decided on the Thomas Rush version. I took it home, gave it a quick wash and threw a 1/4 cup of popcorn in it. In less than 3 minutes, about 2:30, the amount of popping slowed down enough that I stopped the popping. The results were a really great fully popped bowl of popcorn. My wife and I both loved it and there were less than 20 orphaned kernels left. With the Catamount popper I would have over 40 kernels using the same batch of popcorn.The only drawback for the popper is do not leave the popcorn in the popper because it builds up a nice static electric charge. I took it to work. After popping a batch and snacking on it for the next two hours there was a snow storm of little popcorn shards sticking to everything every time I took a few kernels to nibble on. So dump it into another bowl as soon as it gets down, or down it as soon as possible.

I wanted to make low cal snack and this popcorn maker seemed ideal so I ordered it. I had some corn kernels on hand when the popper arrived. I put 2 Tablespoons in the bowl, spritzed it with Pam butter flavored spray, added some salt and then put on the kid at a sharp angle so as not to create a vacuum when things got hot. I used the popcorn setting on our built in microwave and it shut off automatically at just the right time! I only had one or two old maids. That recipe made a generous portion for only 100 calories and it is so easy. I love that the bowl collapses for storage, too. Popcorn kernels explode due to a build up of steam from a tiny amount is moisture in the corn, so if you are getting a lot of old maids, your corn is too old and dehydrated. It is not the fault of the popper. I now keep my corn in a Lock and Lock container to keep It at the perfect moisture level, with an old tablespoon coffee scoop in the container for convenient snack making. Careful, the bottom of the bowl does get hot, but you can easily lift it out of the microwave by the tabs to rest on a potholder for resting on your lap or table. I'm giving away our air popper that throws popcorn all over the counter and doesn't let me use the butter spray until the corn is popped ( which is messy and can get some popcorn soggy. Spraying before cooking is great!)

OK, the first thing you need to do is throw away the instruction sheet. Then throw away the plastic cover. Both are useless. I experimented with this thing about a month before I wrote this review. First, I followed the instructions to the letter. Popcorn was tough, not much of it popped and the lid never rose up like it's supposed to. I used 3 Tablespoons (T) of popcorn, and had almost 2 T unpopped at the end. Next I tried varying amounts of popcorn, still using the lid. I tired tilting it, but no matter what I did it settled into the middle of the popper and created a vacuum seal, and left a LOT of unpopped corn. So, I then tried just using a cheap, thin, paper plate over the top to keep the steam in but allow the popcorn to expand to its true potential. Bingo! That did the trick. I'm now using 3T of popcorn and it works every time. With my microwave (GE Advantium, 1200 watts) it takes just a little over 3 minutes, but I watch it every time. Don't leave it unattended! Good popcorn is worth 3 minutes of vigilance. I'm getting about one teaspoon of unpopped kernels and I can live with that. I must say I use about 1T of coconut oil (I don't measure, I eyeball it) with each batch. I have not tried it without oil, as I hate dry popcorn. I add my salt or that cheese powder stuff (don't judge me!) after its popped. The other thing I do is I use expensive popcorn. Batch by batch its cheap. I use Orville Reddenbacher's yellow kernels, and around my house they don't get old and stale because they're not around that long. Someone told me they keep theirs in the freezer to keep fresher longer, but I don't need to. I cannot vouch for white corn, or lesser brands. But hey, popcorn is my guilty pleasure, and I decided I'm worth it. This will NOT render a huge batch, but its enough for one or two, and it cleans so easily that you can easily make multiple batches. All in all, I'm happy with the popcorn I'm getting out of it, and may give it as Christmas presents this year. I used to make it on the stove, shaking it in a large pot, but that had lots more cleanup. This is a better alternative.

I always told my kids that hate and love were strong emotions to waste on inanimate objects,but I think I just might have to say that I really love this popcorn maker. I didn't understand the hoopla when I could use a brown paper bag and make really tasty popcorn in my microwave. And I honestly have to say that popcorn cooked that way might be just a little better. BUT this is proving to be foolproof and produces good popcorn easily. I put a generous teaspoon of coconut oil in the bottom, some salt, 1/4 generous cup of popcorn kernels in it, set my microwave for two minutes, and I can walk away if needed with no fear of burned popcorn. Yes, there some unpopped kernels, but they are in the very bottom and easy to ignore. One reviewer said not to eat out of the bowl as it gets nasty. For a while, I poured my popcorn -- and yes, it is all mine -- into a bowl. The last couple of times I decided to wash one less dish and use this bowl. It is a little floppy, but it works just fine for me. It washes easily either by hand or in the dishwasher. I do wipe it down with a paper tower first, and that seems to get rid of the oily residue. I would recommend this with no reservations at all.