Presto 04821 Orville Redenbacher's Popcorn Maker

Who doesn't like popcorn? I would venture a guess that there wouldn't be too many hands going up on that one. The smell of popcorn is perhaps one of the most intoxicating aromas I can think of, and certainly one that has had the same effect ever since I was a kid.

Over the years there have been many attempts to perfect the process of making perfect popcorn including dropping kernels into a pot of peanut oil, the Jiffy Pop stovetop tin, Orville Redenbacher's microwave popcorn as well as all the kettle and small appliance popcorn poppers that have tried to emulate the popcorn that you enjoyed at Saturday matinees, remember them; it was way before we learned that we couldn't let our kids go to a movie with their friends safely? I have purchased two machines in the past year, giving my Salton model away in my quest.

Social commentary aside, the making of great popcorn is one of the secrets that I have tried to pursue for years. To date the Orville Redenbacher's microwave popcorn has been the champ but it's not the same as popping it out of a machine, until the Presto/Orville Redenbacher Popcorn Maker!

Measuring 14" high with a 6 ¾" diameter, the Presto/Orville Redenbacher Popcorn Maker is a hot air driven appliance that rivals most machines in that it can produce the healthiest popcorn I have yet to see, of course, you also have the capability to make that popcorn as unhealthy as you want afterward. Buttered popcorn is facilitated by ½ cup reservoir that tops the top chute.

The process is as simple as placing your raw kernels into the 3" round and 3 ¾" deep aluminum reservoir located in the base. Once plugged in, the hot air is propelled into the popcorn reservoir through a 1" round grid, that rapidly generates air so hot that you start to see the popped corn start to rise and spill over into the 14.5 square inch chute which is designed to drop the pushed corn into your bowl. Occasionally you will have a kernel sneak through and pop on the counter or in the air which is a wonder to small kids, provided you don't pop their eyes out!

The one caveat is to be prepared to get a second bowl out if you fill the reservoir and cannot accommodate 18 cups of popped corn in 2 ½  minutes!

The great thing about the Presto/Orville Redenbacher Popcorn Maker is that there are few, if any, full kernels left after the popping cycle ceases! Once your corn is popped, you now can take the plastic butter reservoir from the top of the chute, which utilizes the machines hot air to melt the butter. This is perhaps the only wart in the process, as there isn't enough pop time to melt all the butter for those aficionados that may like extra butter. This, of course is no deal breaker, as the Presto/Orville Redenbacher Popcorn Maker more than shines enough to make this purchase a high priority!

Cleanup is yet another of the reasons to buy this machine. A simple wipe down of the base and chute is sufficient, but I generally wipe it with a damp cloth utilizing dish soap for the butter reservoir alone! Cleanup is really an exaggeration of the process.

Okay, a great argument can be made for the microwave alternative, but there is something really organic about utilizing this machine and being able to gather around and watch the corn come out of the chute! Kids absolutely love being involved in the process and whenever you can be involved with a child in any process, it certainly is worth a second look!

The real challenge here is just how to butter and salt your corn to really get that matinee popcorn and here is where the challenge lies. This may be the forum to share your secrets so we can all retreat to a weekend with our families, an old film and make a few memories; I'll be making mine with the Presto/Orville Redenbacher Popcorn Maker!

This one is a winner!