Presto 04820 PopLite Hot Air Corn Popper Review.
"Orville Redenbacher's Twin" 2004-01-16
By Brian Mulcahy (Boston)
The Presto Poplite Popper is the same as the (more expensive)Presto Orville Redenbacher's Popper. I emailed Presto. They said "Functionally there is no difference between the two corn poppers". So save some money and get the Poplite. This popper works awsome. It blows away my old air-popper. It pumps out the popcorn super fast, with very few unpopped kernals.
"Presto PopLite Hot Air Corn Popper! SOLUTIONS...!" 2005-08-21
By scottls1 (Kalispell, MT USA)
At first- I experienced ALL of the cons that some of the other reviewers listed with the Presto Popper.
After lots of experimenting- I found solutions for all of them, and often enjoy a "full flavor" HEALTHY buttered/salted bowl of popcorn (inexpensive too!)!
This is how I now make "YUMMY" popcorn!
This takes a little extra effort, but the rewards are well worth it!
For this to work, you MUST NOT LEAVE UNNATTENDED, "for any reason"!
1. Instead of pouring the popcorn in a cold machine- I first preheat it by plugging it in for at least "3" minutes, with the top "completely off" (pour out any old unpopped kernels, before plugging it in!)!
While waiting- I put kernels the measuring cup, microwave my "good tasting" butter substitute (see #2), and fix drinks...
a. I now pour the kernels in, and place the top on, BUT DO NOT PUT THE MEASURING CUP ON TOP YET! This way the kernels, don't BLOW into the bowl..., they just circulate and stay inside & bowl stays cool!
b. As soon as you hear the first small pop (about 1 minute), QUICKLY! Place the measuring cup on top. The popping will soon be VERY rapid!
c. If the popcorn builds up, and does not blow into the bowl, it will burn. I hold onto the still cool top, tilt and firmly shake/tap/tilt... the machine until kernels fall into the bowl, and start blowing in on their own. Leave a few extra seconds for all kernels to pop.
2. Now for the "good tasting!" butter substitute-
Update#1!- I now prefer organic butter, and finely ground (coffee Grinder...Tnx!)Natural/Healthier (processed salt is bad for you, and so is ANY margerine Google... it!) "Himalayan" mined Sea Salt from Swanson... is GREAT (dry/pink)!
Update#2!- If you melt butter... in the cup on top, with ANY air popper! It WILL eventually crack & split!
a. If you must use margerine- I place 1/4 cup of "Country Crock Light" brand margarine (#1 in taste tests, NO trans fat, no cholesterol, cooks/melts... just like butter in ALL recipes/frying..., about $2.50 for a 3 lb tub) in a microwave safe ceramic/glass cup (no plastic EVER in microwave/BAD for you!).
I heat it on 5 for 10 seconds. Then stir well, and microwave for another 5 seconds, and stir well one last time. I then stir in a teaspoon of "Butter Buds" seasoning (for butter flavor)
Ready to pour on top of popcorn, and "quickly" stir in thoroughly with a coffee spoon.
3. For people on low-sodium!- Shake on some "AlsoSalt"- Excellent tasting "sodium free" Salt Substitute, that tastes MUCH like salt (no aftertaste...!)!
Not in most stores yet, but you can find/buy it online with a Google... search.
Comes in three flavors- Regular, butter, and Garlic (all are "EXCELLENT" for ALL cooking...).
4. Shake on some Parmesan Cheese/or Garlic..., for a GREAT taste treat!
ENJOY!
"Best I've used" 2004-12-22
By TauDe (San Diego, CA USA)
Trust a guy who eats popcorn every day - this is the one. Yes, you may get a stray kernel or two at the beginning and a few more at the end. This popper is much better than the others I've tried (3 other models).
This one also creates fluffier popped corn than average which is nice.
It's available for even cheaper at a certain retail behemoth that starts with Wa.
"Astonishingly, It Performs as Advertised." 2005-09-07
By B. Glassman (Chapel Hill, NC United States)
Perhaps even better. Not only does it pop nearly every kernel of at least one brand (I do believe some brands of popcorn perform better than others, but that's for another review) but it is remarkably easy to clean. I have not even been tempted, much less succumbed, to use butter.
As others have pointed out, you will need to unplug it rather than have it turn off when it is done. I view this as a safety feature. If it had an auto-off, the opportunity to just leave it popping while you popped into another room to pop in a DVD would be too great. If the auto-off failed, it would have to be designed to call the fire department. All in all, I prefer the former to the ladders.
BG
"Short and to the point ..... WOW !!!!!" 2006-03-23
By F. Perez (Brooklyn, New York United States)
Received my popcorn machine. Used slightly less than half a cup. Made more popcorn than two bags of the microwaved bagged popcorn I was previously using. Took two and a half minutes like the instructions said. Two ... TWO kernels didn't pop. THAT'S IT !!! No flying hot kernels came flying out. After it was done, I let it sit for a few minutes to cool down and put it away. One word came from the two of us ... WOW !!!
By Brian Mulcahy (Boston)
The Presto Poplite Popper is the same as the (more expensive)Presto Orville Redenbacher's Popper. I emailed Presto. They said "Functionally there is no difference between the two corn poppers". So save some money and get the Poplite. This popper works awsome. It blows away my old air-popper. It pumps out the popcorn super fast, with very few unpopped kernals.
By scottls1 (Kalispell, MT USA)
At first- I experienced ALL of the cons that some of the other reviewers listed with the Presto Popper.
After lots of experimenting- I found solutions for all of them, and often enjoy a "full flavor" HEALTHY buttered/salted bowl of popcorn (inexpensive too!)!
This is how I now make "YUMMY" popcorn!
This takes a little extra effort, but the rewards are well worth it!
For this to work, you MUST NOT LEAVE UNNATTENDED, "for any reason"!
1. Instead of pouring the popcorn in a cold machine- I first preheat it by plugging it in for at least "3" minutes, with the top "completely off" (pour out any old unpopped kernels, before plugging it in!)!
While waiting- I put kernels the measuring cup, microwave my "good tasting" butter substitute (see #2), and fix drinks...
a. I now pour the kernels in, and place the top on, BUT DO NOT PUT THE MEASURING CUP ON TOP YET! This way the kernels, don't BLOW into the bowl..., they just circulate and stay inside & bowl stays cool!
b. As soon as you hear the first small pop (about 1 minute), QUICKLY! Place the measuring cup on top. The popping will soon be VERY rapid!
c. If the popcorn builds up, and does not blow into the bowl, it will burn. I hold onto the still cool top, tilt and firmly shake/tap/tilt... the machine until kernels fall into the bowl, and start blowing in on their own. Leave a few extra seconds for all kernels to pop.
2. Now for the "good tasting!" butter substitute-
Update#1!- I now prefer organic butter, and finely ground (coffee Grinder...Tnx!)Natural/Healthier (processed salt is bad for you, and so is ANY margerine Google... it!) "Himalayan" mined Sea Salt from Swanson... is GREAT (dry/pink)!
Update#2!- If you melt butter... in the cup on top, with ANY air popper! It WILL eventually crack & split!
a. If you must use margerine- I place 1/4 cup of "Country Crock Light" brand margarine (#1 in taste tests, NO trans fat, no cholesterol, cooks/melts... just like butter in ALL recipes/frying..., about $2.50 for a 3 lb tub) in a microwave safe ceramic/glass cup (no plastic EVER in microwave/BAD for you!).
I heat it on 5 for 10 seconds. Then stir well, and microwave for another 5 seconds, and stir well one last time. I then stir in a teaspoon of "Butter Buds" seasoning (for butter flavor)
Ready to pour on top of popcorn, and "quickly" stir in thoroughly with a coffee spoon.
3. For people on low-sodium!- Shake on some "AlsoSalt"- Excellent tasting "sodium free" Salt Substitute, that tastes MUCH like salt (no aftertaste...!)!
Not in most stores yet, but you can find/buy it online with a Google... search.
Comes in three flavors- Regular, butter, and Garlic (all are "EXCELLENT" for ALL cooking...).
4. Shake on some Parmesan Cheese/or Garlic..., for a GREAT taste treat!
ENJOY!
By TauDe (San Diego, CA USA)
Trust a guy who eats popcorn every day - this is the one. Yes, you may get a stray kernel or two at the beginning and a few more at the end. This popper is much better than the others I've tried (3 other models).
This one also creates fluffier popped corn than average which is nice.
It's available for even cheaper at a certain retail behemoth that starts with Wa.
By B. Glassman (Chapel Hill, NC United States)
Perhaps even better. Not only does it pop nearly every kernel of at least one brand (I do believe some brands of popcorn perform better than others, but that's for another review) but it is remarkably easy to clean. I have not even been tempted, much less succumbed, to use butter.
As others have pointed out, you will need to unplug it rather than have it turn off when it is done. I view this as a safety feature. If it had an auto-off, the opportunity to just leave it popping while you popped into another room to pop in a DVD would be too great. If the auto-off failed, it would have to be designed to call the fire department. All in all, I prefer the former to the ladders.
BG
By F. Perez (Brooklyn, New York United States)
Received my popcorn machine. Used slightly less than half a cup. Made more popcorn than two bags of the microwaved bagged popcorn I was previously using. Took two and a half minutes like the instructions said. Two ... TWO kernels didn't pop. THAT'S IT !!! No flying hot kernels came flying out. After it was done, I let it sit for a few minutes to cool down and put it away. One word came from the two of us ... WOW !!!
