Side by Side Comparison of: Wabash Valley Farms vs Nostalgia Electrics
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Rating info | ||
eComparisons Score | ||
eComparisons ScoreThe "Comparison Score" Is calculated based on the average number of times this item was compared with other items in this category by our users | 8.8 | 7.4 |
User Rating (Amazon) | ||
User Rating (Amazon) | ||
Five Star Reviews: | 73% I like it..!!!!!! September 25, 2017 I have made a couple of batches of popcorn with this popper....one with regular popcorn and oil, the other with the Wabash Vally Farms popcorn and Wabash Valley Farms oil....I will say their popcorn and their oil was EXCELLENT....I have ordered some more of their popcorn and their oil. I was worried about the plastic gear, but so far no problem. Oh yeah...don't forget to read directions on popping the corn and season your popper before use, and wipe out with a paper towel....well worth it, 1000 percent better than microwave popcorn and takes about just as much time as a microwave if you follow directions. Great for kettle corn February 23, 2017 We absolutely love this popper. We use it only for making kettle corn as it can produce a large bowl fairly quickly and makes perfect kettle corn every time. It never burns like some other poppers do when you use oil and sugar.We use coconut oil which works great (although some people don't like the smell as it cooks). It tastes good and much healthier than other oils.I've heard you can also use Splenda instead of regular white sugar if you prefer, although we haven't tried that yet.The popper is well made and large enough to make popcorn for several people. It cranks smoothly unlike another one we had which scraped hard against the bottom. The red finish is more matte looking than the photo shows (it isn't shiny). Fun to use and does a great job January 17, 2017 At first, upon my initial inspection, the popcorn popper seemed a little flimsy. I expected the materials to be thicker and heavier. However, it is actually perfect. The construction is very sound. The wooden handle and knobs are very well-made. When washing the entire popper after use, I recommend handling with care and drying all parts right away. As far as for how the popcorn popper pops corn, well it does the job very, very well and in 3 minutes or less we have a big, big tub of great-tasting popcorn, every single kernel having been popped. It's fun to use and it does a great job. Best Popcorn Ever!! October 18, 2016 We are so in love with the popcorn this makes!! This is our second purchase, I don't remember how old our first one was, but it looked like it had been through a war. I replaced it for aesthetic reasons only. It was still working like a champ even though it never gets cleaned out and we use it at least twice a week. Just sits on the stove-top waiting for the next batch to be made. Cannot recommend this highly enough!We buy grocery store popcorn, canola oil and use "popcorn salt" which we purchase at Uncle Bob's here in Tucson, AZ. That's it. Soooo good. I seriously LOVE popcorn. Over the years I have purchased just ... September 10, 2014 I seriously LOVE popcorn. Over the years I have purchased just about every corn popper there is available in the home use category. I even bought one small commercial grade popper. The trouble with most poppers is the cleanup. A lot of good poppers are just not worth the fuss. The electric "spinning" models are only fair in my opinion because of the sogginess inside due to poor steam release. They are also a lot of trouble to clean.I wrote off Whirly Pop as a possibility for me mainly because my cooking surface is induction and it simply would not work. Also, I thought the plastic gears and function SEEMED a little on the cheap/poor quality side WITH THE AMOUNT I use it. The Whirley Pop is a great popper and is perfect for most home users. I do not insinuate the plastic mechanism does not function well.I just came back in the market for a new popper since my small commercial popper died. My research for a new popper revealed the Stainless Steal model of Whirley Pop. I had no idea they made one. This is THE BEST of THE BEST - even if you do not have an induction cooktop. It will work with any method and I imagine is pretty awesome on gas. The quality is top notch and the look and feel are great - but do those extra perks really matter? Not at the end of the day. They are just great perks and well loved ones at that.What really matters is the popcorn. I have never had a popper that I love as much as this one. It's use is just as customizable as the connoisseurs that use it. It is awesome!The bottom line is that it is the BEST corn popper on the market for home use (and even for commercial use I imagine if you have an available heat source). The clean up is so easy and the popcorn is perfection. Thank You Wabash Valley Farms for upgrading your amazing corn popper. Makes the best popcorn I've had since I was a kid July 12, 2014 We have used this for a couple of months, a minimum of twice a week. Makes the best popcorn I've had since I was a kid. No more microwave popcorn for me! | 44% Like going back in time September 18, 2016 This thing is awesome. It pops just like the real thing. Takes awhile to clean up but it works well. Couple this with Plastic Popcorn Containers - Set of 4 ,Nostalgia KPK400 Theater Hot Air & Kettle Popcorn Kit, and Adcraft ALS-5 5 oz Capacity, 5" Length x 2-3/8" Width, Mirror Finish, Heavy Duty Cast Aluminum Scoop with Contoured Handle to make a while nostalgic set. Perfect if you love popcorn August 25, 2016 I love making popcorn in this, I can use salt and flavours if i choose, unlike oither poppers or the stove. Movie theatre secret: use coconut oil, they would never tell you but that's what gives it the move theatre flavour is coconut oil Awesome machine, great size, great price, delicious popcorn! February 12, 2015 We got this for our office and it has been a huge hit. The biggest drawback, as mentioned in other reviews, is it isn't the easiest thing to clean, but I don't think it's something that needs to be 100% spotless all the time. Kind of like a grill - it's better when it's a little broken in. The size of this machine is great, would work for a movie room or just as an entertainment piece in a home bar. We love it in our office. We use it daily - generally we make two batches at once because the kettle is small, but it takes all of 3 minutes to pop something. Quality of popcorn is excellent - just like at the movies but at a fraction of the cost.We are very pleased with this purchase and anyone considering getting a small machine, could not recommend more! super duper cool January 7, 2015 Everything worked well the plug on the inside can become loose so if you are experiencing a heating problem like some say try pushing it back in real good. Ive made lots of popcorn . I used the basic .99 cent bag at the store nothing fancy and works well. And to clean up I boil water in the tin can just only half cause it will boil over if put to much in and since there is that plug in there I would be careful with that . I put a bowl that fits inside to dump it out. When the water boils it steams up inside thus making it even easier to wipe down the inside. I use foil to line every batch so I don't have to clean the bottom just window parts. The only problem I had is that the light on the inside of mine went out as soon as I turned it on but could just easily replace it. All in all I like it its fun for the kids and adults. I have also made kettle corn in it which is scary at first because no one wants to mess up the machine right away. But I did get it down and it is possible. Make sure you do got a metal fork on hand cause it does get sticky clogged so you have to help it along just listen for when it stop popping and turn off machine. Great Purchase! November 3, 2013 It's just what I wanted. It works great and is very easy to clean. If you're on the fence about it, go ahead and buy it! It's good for just a small batch of popcorn for yourself or to make a more when you have guests over.I have had no issues with it at all and hope to have many more nights of kettle popped popcorn with this machine! Even Better Than Expected! January 2, 2012 After reading some of the reviews here for this popcorn maker I was a bit hesitant but went ahead and purchased this as a Christmas gift for my husband - he's always wanted one. We have used it several times already and have never had any problems that were described here, such as un-popped kernels "flying" out of the machine - honestly I don't even see how that would be possible if the directions are followed properly.Some of the advice suggested the use of Pop Secret kernels - so we have only used this product. For the "movie theater butter" flavor we used Kernel Seasons oil/topping. The first time we made it we forgot the salt, but it still tasted great. Once we realized our mistake we had REAL movie theater quality popcorn on our hands!We have since ordered the 100-ct popcorn tubs from Amazon and can't wait for them to get here. This unit has really enhanced our family movie nights. We love the light/warming feature that allows us to pop all we want, watch the movie and go back for more popcorn during intermission.I would recommend this popper HIGHLY to anyone that wants a great home experience without the high cost associated with some other models. My only advice is to follow the directions (allow it to heat up sufficiently, measure popcorn/oil carefully, watch hot kettle, etc.) and the suggestions of other users carefully! |
Four Star Reviews: | 11% Great popper, perhaps a few small tweak for a five star rating July 19, 2017 This is a great, reasonably priced stove-top popper. It's simple and functional. My only complaint is that (at least with the one I received) the arms don't sit quite close enough to the bottom of the popper to effectively agitate small kernel popcorn. I usually buy specialized kernels that have a thin husk (to reduce the kernels stuck in my mouth) that are of a smaller size. I find that the popper doesn't move them as much as it does normal siezed kernels. The smaller kernels pop more efficiently so it's not too big of an issue, but I think it's a small area for improvement. Must read! November 5, 2016 Clean it very good first. Put some oil in it, et it warm, wipe it out after it cools. Repeat 5-6 times. The one I bought still had BLACK residue come off after about 5-6 uses. No idea what that was.Only buy the version with the METAL GEARS. It costs a little more, but won't break as the plastic gear version does. Super happy with my purchase November 4, 2016 Super happy with my purchase, only issue is that we love to use baby white popcorn, and more than once a kernel or two has popped so it was stuck on the stirring mechanism and burned. Other than that, we love the product. Works well December 27, 2015 Fun popcorn maker that works well. I would rather not buy microwave popcorn but prefer to make my own fresh popcorn. However, I tend to burn it or have kernels that don't pop. The idea behind this is great and it works fine but it is a bit lower quality than I hoped for. The crank mechanism is fine and works okay but the wire on the bottom that mixes the popcorn could be a bit heavier as it is hard to crank once the pan gets about 3/4 full and that's when it needs to mix things to prevent burning, although I have yet to burn any. The aluminum pan itself is also very light duty. It does work fine and is worth 4 stars in my mind but with just a bit more quality it would be worthy of five stars. Bottom line is that it works well and I like it. Ya have to work but hey the popcorn is great and clean up is a lot easier + update May 26, 2015 Hey, we have owned a upright real popcorn maker for years. It still works ok but the periodic clean up is a CHORE. If we don't intensely clean it then the poopcorn tastes rank. We got this just for simplicity. Yeah it's old fashioned. Ya have to work but hey the popcorn is great and clean up is a lot easier. The only draw back is a small one, sometimes while popping the popped corn get hung under the rotating arm. I just jiggle the pot a bit and keep on crank'n. The real secret to great tasting popcorn is in the kind of popcorn and the kind of oil you cook it in. UPDATE: 07/2016, We really like this item. - STILL!!! It gets hot very quickly. So, it doesn't take long to get a batch. If you have any doubts about IF you should or shouldn't buy it...... Take the plunge - give it a try. These are my honest opinions and I was absolutely NOT paid for giving them. AK Perfect for 'movie theater' style popcorn! February 16, 2015 Super easy to clean (just run a paper towel along the inside), great price, and works every time! I only wish the steam vents were facing away from the handle, because I always get oil splashing out once the kernels start popping. So I'm standing there trying to crank the handle while also trying to hold it as far away as possible to avoid getting burned. Recently, I've resorted to making a little shield out of tin foil and attaching it to the handle to block the oil and that's seemed to work.The red color is gorgeous. I love the 'move theater' style popcorn that I get from this popper. Much tastier than air-popped and healthier than microwavable popcorns. I don't use anything else but this for my movie nights! | 19% Good little popper September 13, 2015 Ordered this as a present for my husband; it does not work. The unit will not heat up. Since I had it for over a month, Amazon is making me return to manufacturer.Update:After working with Nostalgia (their customer service people were very nice) - they sent us a new kettle which was the problem. Our kettle would not heat up (must be a common problem with these because she suggested it right away). It took a couple weeks to get the new kettle (but they didn't even make us return the broken one) Popper now works and is a great little unit. worth the popping. March 27, 2015 This served its purpose and the kids love it so I am ranking it higher then I personally feel. It is more of a chore, I feel, because you can only do about enough to fill two popcorn servings (see the popcorn plastic containers I purchased here http://www.amazon.com/Plastic-Popcorn-Containers-Set-4/dp/B001O2DZ8C/ref=cm_rdp_product) at a time. The cord is maybe 2 feet long (and I think I'm being generous on that length) so you would definitely need an extension cord no matter where you ran it. But the bottom does indeed have plenty of room for a lot more popcorn. And it was easy to assemble and use. And the kids love it, it gives the feel of movie popcorn without the high dollar price! Plus the purchase of this was cheaper then renting a movie popcorn machine and I know we will use it again for other occasions. Now I just have to find a good place to store it until then! This thing was probably my 11-yr-old stepson's favorite Christmas gift this year January 1, 2015 This thing was probably my 11-yr-old stepson's favorite Christmas gift this year. While it is not as easy as microwavable popcorn, it is still pretty easy to operate. Plus it's more fun and healthier. He enjoys making his own popcorn. He even cleaned it afterward all by himself, so although it takes work to clean, it must not be that bad. The only bummer for me is that it does not make the quantity of popcorn shown. We have popped like 4 batches according to the instructions and it still doesn't really look like that. We lose a lot of unpopped kernels. Maybe with practice we will get better results? Works... Kind Of Well, (updated) October 2, 2014 This original product arrived on time, but extremely damaged (large hole in the box and interior foam holding product). Sadly, we have received multiple purchases from Amazon in the last year where the deliver box housing the items is fine, but the product's box within is badly damaged. However, after contacting Amazon, they gave us a free return shipping label and sent out a new one which arrived in two business days. This time, it was undamaged.My wife and I decided to do a few trials and it has a few pros and cons.Pros:1) This product was priced right for the home consumer.2) It heats quickly and allows popped kernels ready for consumption within a few minutes.3) It is also quite compact and fits perfectly on our counter.Cons:1) This items seems to waste quite a bit of kernels. During the popping process, we figure that there is an average of 1/4 of the kernels that shoots out of the kettle not popped. True, you can always re-scoop them later and re-pop them, but that is very annoying. We feel it might be that the kettle's lids are too light and allow the kernels to launch out under the explosive pressure of kernels popping near them.2) Also, the first two times we made batches of pop corn it worked well. However, the third time we noticed the cord going to the kettle continued to looses This resulted in kernels heating, then cooling, heating, then cooling...and so on. Finally we pressed the cord in more firmly (once we realized something was wrong) and the kernels heated up and popped as they should've. This is not a terrible issue, you just need to check the power cord from time to time.3) Another thing we found a bit annoying was how popped and non-popped kernels repeatedly lodged in the internal spinning compartment. It was not enough to jam the motor completely, but it would momentarily stop it and then click hard while dislodging the kernel. Such coarse dislodging may prove to shorten its lifespan overtime.4) Finally, there is a heat warning sticker on the front glass that was quite bubbled which was really an eyesore. As a result, we removed it and rinsed the entire machine with a none abrasive sponge as the instructions suggest. Well, even a sponge proved abrasive somehow over the region of the removed sticker. So abrasive that it was enough to leave many scratches all over the front glass panel that is even more of an eyesore than the sticker. We ended up finishing the cleaning with clean automotive detailing clothes which worked well...sadly, the front glass looks pretty bad now. We feel a sponge would have worked well, but something in the adhesive remnants of the sticker resulted in an abrasive texture somehow. Our suggestion is leave the sticker on since the glue residue left behind turns out enough to make the item you are cleaning it with quite abrasive.Overall, honestly speaking, there are more cons than pros for this popcorn maker. However, the price is right for what you get, so we are happy with the product as of now. Besides, who doesn't enjoy fresh popcorn on a home movie night? In terms of utilization, we are hoping for the best, but understand that price merits disfunction down the line. We are holding a large gathering mid-Oct, so we are very interested to see how it performs throughout the night with repetitive utilization.We hope this review helps.Update: 11-03-14As an update to our previous comments, we experienced two new aspects we feel a potential buyer might wish to know.1) When considering the un-popped kernel(s) issue we experienced prior, we decided to split the package amounts (containing the oil, kernels, and seasonings) in half and attempted two separate runs. As expected, we experienced a significant reduction in un-popped kernels escaping; however, the issue was still present. Finally, we went to HomeDepot and purchased a thin commercial grade mesh that was just big enough for kernels to fall through (yep, we actually brought a kernel to test it). After a bit of measuring, cutting and bending, we constructed a small mess false bottom that does a great job at sifting the un-popped kernels from the popcorn (post a light sifting motion of course). In addition, we formed it into a slight funnel shape where the un-popped kernels can easily be collected and reutilized (popped) later. This makes the machine much more of a please to utilize and clean. Plus, it only cost about $8 in material and a bit of time. However, it doesn't affect the appearance of the machine and therefore was a great addition we would completely suggest. Perhaps future models of this machine should also take that into consideration since it was so easy to do.2) Nostalgia Electronics has great costumer service. In consideration to the foggy door surface (where the sticker) discussed previously, we decided to do a quick search of the company and emailed them the problem hoping to buy a replacement door/part since we saw no need to replace the entire maker for such an insignificant issue. That very day we received an email asking us to call a specific number with the Make and ID number of the machine (located at the bottom of the maker). We did and that very day they shipped out a replacement door... free of charge. Two days later we received it (ironically packaged better than when we received the actually maker from Amazon) and the sticker was already removed to avoid such issues again. For screws later and we now have a beautiful maker. This attention to service was our reasoning for increase the star rating from a 3 to 4.In conclusion:This machine isn't perfect, but you can make it function much better with a bit of work. Also, in a world where most companies forget the true value of consumer service, Nostalgia Electrics doesn't and is a complete pleasure to work with. It is nice to know they stand by their products. Good performance, great popcorn January 21, 2014 My husband hates microwave popcorn so he wanted a popcorn maker that would give movie theater popcorn a run for its money. I surprised him with this gift and he's been very pleased with its performance. He recommends that you get a good brand of popping corn as it makes all the difference. Good little workhorse August 10, 2008 Generally I'd say this is a good popper. I admit it took several batches (about 10) to find the 'right' popcorn and the right oil. I bought some specialized popping oil that is a blend including several different oils, including Coconut oil and betacarotine (which gives it that distinctive color) that finally made the cut. As others have said, smaller kernels tend to just get pushed out and wasted, so get a larger-kernel corn. Specialized popcorn topping also helps....combine all the factors and the well popped corn and it's as good as the movie theatre...but in smaller batches. Overall I'd recommend this but personally wonder if a larger version might not have been better (despite the counter space such a unit would make). |
Three Star Reviews: | 5% Did Not Last September 22, 2017 I purchased this item when it was offered with plastic drive gears in 2015; I used it about two dozen times since then, always being gentle with it and washing everything by hand. When the product worked, it was incredible; perfect popcorn when used with coconut oil. The gears broke last year after very light use.It looks like the product now has metal gears, so that is likely a great improvement, but it never should have been offered with plastic gears to begin with. I am probably done with this product line. Its effective. But its cheap, cheap, cheaply made. June 12, 2017 I was really surprised at how cheaply made it is. It is so cheap that the company itself warns that you could melt the pot if you weren't careful! We made a couple batches and it seems to work well. But its pretty obvious that if you don't treat it with kid gloves, it won't last long. Too heavy! August 28, 2016 I wanted to love this because it is a sturdier version of an old stove top popper I wore out. It is actually so heavy I can barely pour the corn out with one hand and the lid tends to slide up making the back half pop open when I do pour it. It just difficult to use and seems like a poor design. This is actually my second one because I had to return my first due to a manufacturing defect. It does make great popcorn though! Good Method For Making Popcorn, But Low Quality Product May 25, 2016 I'm of two minds about this product. On the one hand, it is very cleverly designed, and is now my favorite way to make popcorn in a fairly easy and foolproof way, and with minimal mess. On the other hand, the quality of the device itself is very low, with plastic gears, and paper thin aluminum that seems unlikely to hold up, and is not at all what would be considered nice cooking equipment. I paid 25% extra for this product over the cheapest one hoping that it would be better quality, but I don't think I got anything for that extra money. In hindsight, I am sorry that I didn't purchase a stainless steel model.Incidentally, the instructions tell you never to use butter in the pan, which I really can't understand. I have actually been using ghee, which has a higher smoke point, but still has a nice natural butter flavor, and it tastes excellent. Problems with the Lid August 18, 2015 This thing makes great popcorn, and is easy to use. I use it often, and I think it's a good product. However, I gave it three stars because the are a couple of problems. First of all, the lid that it comes with has a flimsy plastic gear that is very easy to break. Mine broke when the bottom part got caught on a piece of burnt popcorn stuck to the bottom of the pan. That's all it takes to render the lid useless! I had to go to another website and buy a lid with a metal gear, which is far more durable. I have not had any problems with the new one, but I'm annoyed that I had to spend money on a whole new lid! The lid with the metal gear should be included with the product when you buy it.There is also another problem, again with the lid. There are small holes and open spaces in it, so that when the corn is popping, hot oil spurts out! You can get burned while you're turning the handle, or just standing nearby. I have not been seriously burned, but it is painful. If it weren't for all the problems with the design of the lid, I would have rated this product five stars. Good popcorn maker but some things to watch out for. March 14, 2013 The Whirley-Pop does pop popcorn very well with just about every kernel being popped. I usually use half a cup of popcorn, 1 tablespoon of coconut oil, a bit less than half a teaspoon of flavacol and sometimes a couple tablespoons of butter all in the whirley-pop together. Once the popcorn starts popping the rest pop very quickly. When I pour the popcorn, I don't bother lifting the side of the lid without the latch, I just pour it on that side and gravity just pulls the lid open. I found this method safer so the steam doesn't burn you.The couple things I mentioned that you have to watch out for is: first when the popcorn starts popping like crazy, you may feel a splash of oil here and there on your hand as you stir, somehow a little bit escapes the vent which is why you need to be careful. For me, I can stand it, but for a small child, they could get hurt since a child's shorter height could mean a splatter of oil could potentially go in their eye.The second thing is, when you wipe down the pot with paper towels, you will notice a slight gray residue. According to Wabash, it is oxidation of the aluminum which is normal. They say it is harmless but I don't know, popcorn itself is very light so it does not brush against the aluminum with the same force as when I wipe it down with paper towels but still it is a little disconcerting that this residue wipes off this easily. My macbook's body is made from solid aluminum and I never noticed any gray coming off of that with the number of times I've wiped it down. Well maybe it is a different aluminum. In any case, the popcorn itself does not seem to have any gray particles on it and there is no weird taste.Some people have mentioned problems with the plastic gears. Plastic definitely has a lower melting point than metal but like others have mentioned as long as your heat level is what it should be, hopefully the gears will last. I put my gas stovetop right at the middle mark between the highest and lowest setting. So far I've only gone as far as making 2 consecutive batches with maybe a few minutes break in between and the gears seem fine. | 10% and looks great in the man cave September 12, 2016 I bought this as a gift. My boyfriend has always wanted one, and was thrilled when he received it. We tried it a few times, and have had ok results. It only pops a very small amount of popcorn at a time. Kernels frequently get stuck under the kettle sweeper arm, and cause other popcorn to burn because it can't spin properly. I find it helpful to add extra oil and use less popcorn, maybe 2/3 of the scoop provided. It is also difficult to clean the kettle. But it's a cute machine, and looks great in the man cave, it's just not very functional. Good taste but a hassle to use September 9, 2016 Don't let the picture fool you, you will be lucky to get one quarter of the popcorn from a single batch and the lid allows a lot of unpopped kernels to jump out of the popper. The popping vessel is difficult to remove and insert which you will want to do after each use for cleaning. The door design makes it difficult to transfer the popcorn to a bowl.The popcorn it produces is very tasty. my kids love our movie nights with popcorns August 29, 2016 It came with bent leg but i didnt have time to return before the movie night so i had no choice but to use it. it pops the corns very well! It does have a light but it will not keep popcorns warm. it is very hard to clean but i'm sure its worth the trouble for some popcorn lovers. After all, my kids love our movie nights with popcorns :) Hard to clean; Doesn't make much popcorn January 31, 2016 This is a great conversation and decor piece and YES it really makes popcorn. Those are the PROS of this item.Now onto the CONS:It doesn't make much at a time so I do wish I'd bought the larger version of this. The bucket is hard to get clean and if kernels get stuck in it you will smell burnt popcorn ALL the time until you fish them out. If you want a large amount of popcorn you have to let the bucket cool then reheat it between "batches" which is a pain if you want to feed a crowd - plan to make it a bit ahead so you have time to make enough.We have other items from this brand and love them, so it's not the brand, it's this particular model of popcorn machine. Form Over Function December 1, 2015 It is very cool aesthetically speaking but definitely a case of form over function. You would have to make a half dozen batches of popcorn to fill the machine up this much since one batch barely makes one bowl of popcorn and it is a huge pain to clean. If you want this as a decorative item fine but if you're looking for something to make popcorn with buy something more functional. So I'm not to happy with the popcorn popper April 6, 2015 So I'm not to happy with the popcorn popper. the first time i used it, it was very hot with in 3 minutes and popped all the popcorn in 5 minutes. I was very happy. 30 after the first pop i try to pop another batch i waited for it to get hot this time it took 20 minutes to get hot. So i added my oil and seeds and this time it took another 40 minutes to pop. the next day It was the same thing. So if you love popcorn as much as i do don't buy this product it's only good for that one pop and that's it |
Two Star Reviews: | 4% Makes great popcorn for a short amount of time. September 29, 2016 I had this for a month and loved it! Unfortunately, a piece in the top that allows it to spin broke and after only a month I a no longer able to return it. I am extremely disappointed that amazon will not allow a return after only a month. I purchase a lot from amazon but will now be thinking twice about what I purchase. Disappointed with Arrival of Damaged Dirty Product June 8, 2015 I hoped it would work, but arrived securely packed inside one box inside another with a huge dent in the side and bent rim. The lid wouldn't fit well enough to utilize if I wanted to keep it. The metal was too sturdy for me to bend it the dent back out. It also came with the popping oil smashed around the outside and on part of the lid, which was strange because there was nothing loose in it other than a free packet of popcorn with the oil, but that package was not compromised or broken. Again this was in a sturdy separate box, so this item was packaged at the factory like this. I think their quality control is off based on some of the other reviews. I just didn't want to take another chance on the replacement being damaged as well, so simply returned. I have had these in the past and they worked okay, I decided to find something more sturdy. Wish I didn't have to return it and it had worked out, but glad it does for others. I hope the company pays better attention to their quality control in the future. NOT LIKE THE OLD ONES February 7, 2015 I have owned at least 4 Wabash Valley Farms Whirley-Pop Popcorn makers over a period of 20 years (this doesn't include the many boxes I have given as gifts to friends). I have placed a poor rating because the last 2 that I bought have broken easily. It is always in the same spot where the crank meets the thing that looks like a turret and makes the bar inside sweep around. Let me clarify that the last 2 were bought within a year and a half of each other. The one I currently own - that broke today - was purchased in October of 2014. This shouldn't happen. I think they should switch back to using metal and NOT PLASTIC! Not sure if there is even a substitute popper on the market that I can buy. I love the whirley pop but the gears use to be ... November 28, 2014 Felt I was mislead with the top. I would of just bought the regular whirley pop for a lesser price if I known it was the same top. I bought this one because in the photo it showed metal gears, when it came it was not the same top as shown. I love the whirley pop but the gears use to be metal and since they have switch it to plastic they wear out really fast. Only reason for the 2 stars is because it was not as advertised. Gears are not strong enough for kettle corn November 6, 2014 Bought this in November 2012 and used it for about 15-20 batches before the gears disintegrated. They actually started breaking down after about 6 uses. For those who are wondering how this could happen, the answer is simple: we used it make make kettle corn, which has sugar and is sticky. We were very careful with our popper - we wanted it to last! Even with babying this thing and only hand washing it, the gears just are not built to make sticky recipes. In my opinion, that's the main reason to have a popper like this. We use an air popper when we just want plain popcorn, as that is much easier to use and clean.Wabash Family Farms has essentially admitted that this popper is not strong enough to make kettle corn. They sell a stronger lid with metal gears on their site, but you have to pay for shipping. The total cost for the replacement lid alone (with shipping) is as much as a new unit. That being said, I have not found a better product from a competitor. If someone else made a better one I would definitely buy it. Until then I will probably buy the replacement lid with metal gears. I am copying in the link because it is not sold on Amazon (I wish it was!) http://www.whirleypopshop.com/40052.html?productid=40052 Don't waste your money... Update to Update... November 9, 2012 Bought this for my husband who has always been a big popcorn far. We were going between this and one of the move expensive theater style poppers. My husband loves how easy it is to use and how great the popcorn turns out. As the one who ends up having to clean it it is pretty easy to clean which is a plus in my opinion. For the price it is a very durable and dependable buy.Updated 20 Nov: My husband has used the heck out of this thing since I bought it. The only problem we have had which is the reason I am going down to 4 stars is that one of the wooden "knobs" on the top came off and ended up going into the popcorn while using it. He can't seem to get it to stay screwed on now and will most likely have to glue it back on. Now sure how that is going to hold up with the extreme heat. Guess we will see. Still a good product for the price.Update 10 Dec: After the initial problem we had we have been very careful with the popper. Unfortunatley last night when I went to wash it by hand the long metal "stirrer" came out. Once that happened not matter how hard we tried we couldnt get it to go back in.. Kinda discouraging since my husband really did like the popper. I know it was on the cheaper side but it is discouraging for it to have only lasted for a couple of months.. | 7% A bit cheap in the construction dept. the gears ... May 8, 2016 A bit cheap in the construction dept. the gears slip and we needed to add plain magnets to the top of the pot flaps to add weight, preventing too many kernels from flying out as it starts to pop. It's more of a decoration for a room than a usable product. design flaws January 29, 2016 It makes decent popcorn, it's cheap, and it looks cool.The issues:- The wheels are decorative (don't turn).- The bottom tray and hot plate agitator have spaces where popcorn gets stuck, making it difficult to clean.- After 6 months of ownership it has needed two repairs. Both repairs were issues with the metal hanger studs they RIVETED to the heater plate handles. The kernel agitator does not make contact with the gear box when that occurs (ie... no popcorn). Not worth it May 20, 2015 Takes forever for the kettle to heat up. Manual states 3-5 minutes....more like 10 and that is being kind. I only bought this because I could not get a another one of this same type repaired...it just died. Not sure that I will purchase from this company again...two strikes! popper took way too long to heat up March 3, 2015 Loved the size and look of this popcorn machine but unfortunately it took much longer than 3-5 minutes for the machine to warm up. I used it 3 times, timing it each time and it took 25 min minimum to pop a small amount of popcorn. My family has popcorn regularly (and I own a couple popcorn machines already) so having a machine pop the kernels quickly is super important, especially when I usually have to pop a couple batches. Another family member also bought this same machine just before me and confirmed they have similar issues with it taking a long time to pop. I think I'll be getting a popcorn maker of better quality. September 21, 2014 We purchased this item and immediately returned it, as the top part of the hinge to the plastic door was broken before it was packaged. I am certain it was broken before packaging because we looked through the packaging to see if the piece was even with the unit, which we could not find the piece. The product seems to be of cheap production and would be better suited for display purposes only, but considering the price, I guess that's a fair enough use for it. |
One Star Reviews: | 7% Mine was Defective. Bent Turn Rod. Gears Jammed. October 19, 2017 I purchased the stainless steel/ metal gear model specifically to roast coffee at home. Other home roasters rave about the Whirley Pop so I was excited to try one too. I received the kit fast but upon inspection I noticed the rod that goes through the handle was bent inside the handle. This caused the rod and handle to wobble excessively. Plus the wobble actually caused the metal gear to slip and jam up every couple of revolutions. Not good! You can’t repair or remove the handle rod since the metal gear is riveted in place. No hex key is used. Pretty cheap.I immediately returned this defective popper for a replacement. I’m hoping I just got a lemon. Your experience may differ. This product did not work. May 29, 2017 This product did not work. I have owned a Whirley Pop for three years, and recently purchased one to give to someone as a gift. When we pulled it out of the package to use, the handle had difficulty turning as the gears kept disengaging. We made one batch of popcorn with it, which was a disaster as the handle kept getting stuck and required one person to hold the kettle and the other to press the handle into the center of the popper to get it to engage. The result was a ruined batch of popcorn with only half of the kernels popped and half of those burnt. I am very disappointed in the quality of this product, especially because I purchased this to be a gift. I am not sure if this was just one defective part or if the quality of these poppers has decreased that much in three years. Either way, I boxed it back up and will be returning tomorrow. it worked great, I just decided to get a new one ... July 20, 2016 We make a lot of popcorn in my family so I've had a few of these pans in the past. The first one I had lasted for about 5 years, it worked great, I just decided to get a new one because the old one had taken such a beating. Big mistake!The plastic gear mechanism on the new one broke after a few months. I then received another one as a gift & it broke after only a month. I won't purchase this pan (with the plastic gears) again. I am currently using a 4 qt stock pot which works fine. BEWARE...bad, rude Customer Service and Aluminum is unsafe for human consumption, according to studies. August 21, 2015 I will miss my Popper and the great popcorn it made and will have to buy from another company.. another brand, unfortunately, due to poor customer service.I found out Aluminum is not safe to ingest and even with my 25 year warranty, the company refused to allow me the purchase price, toward a replacement stainless steel one. The employee told me that the studies on Aluminum, were all dis-proven! I have developed an autoimmune disease and have been "cleaning up" my house, spending thousands of dollars and their Customer Service Rep, tells me Aluminum is safe and my doctor and i are wrong!!! I gotta say, i was very upset.Although it makes great Popcorn, it is just not worth the health risks and the poor customer service..and the terrible upset, it can cause. The customer service is no good. Might as well forget about the warranty. I thought it would be better, since we have an old Whirley Pop that ... April 26, 2015 My kids bought a popper from a competitor for their mom for Christmas and it broke after a few uses. I bought another one, this time an original Whirley Pop shown here. I thought it would be better, since we have an old Whirley Pop that worked for years with no problems- other than it was made of aluminum. I was mistaken. It appears the Whirley Pop is identical to the previous inferior unit which has metal gears that do not turn smoothly and eventually break. After less than a month this Whirley Pop is almost broke. Very disappointing. The old aluminum one we have has nylon gears that work very well. We have put the top from the old one onto the new one, which fits.OK. Whirley Pop Garbage December 29, 2014 The Whirley Pop is garbage. The plastic gear on top broke after a few uses. My Back to Basics popper has lasted 7 years and still works great. I've heard West Bend is the same as the Back to Basics. | 20% I requested. Return shortly after I received this product ... June 27, 2017 I requested. Return shortly after I received this product. It burns the popcorn. The pan is very small and very thin. It should not ever be sold. It is a fire hazard. Look elsewhere this is a waste of money. April 26, 2017 It's mostly plastic and very unstable. I was expecting better. The photos are very decieving. The more I use it the more problems I seem to stumble upon. Slow and doesn't pop well August 2, 2015 i have quite a bit of experience with home popcorn machines and feel like I have a good idea of what a good one should do. This one is good for small spaces and households of 2 or less. It takes too long to make popcorn. It only holds 1/4 cup of kernels at a time and worse, less than 25 % of them pop. So by the time you are done making your first batch, you only end up with about 1-2 cups of popped corn at best. If it's just for 1 person, that is fine. But if you have friends or kids, it takes too long to make multiple batches. Also, there isn't a kernel drain for the unpopped kernels to fall through. So clean up is quite inconvenient. Other brands have a kernel drain so all you have to do is pull out the drawer on the bottom and empty it out. Also the spinning mechanism is loose and often falls off the cog that spins the kernels. You have to watch it and keep pushing the lever back on to the spinning cog. BROKEN out of the BOX July 21, 2015 I wish I could give this ZERO stars. I purchased this for an event the Non-Profit Organization I volunteer with was hosting, didn't take it out of the box before the event - mistake number one. Once we opened it and started setting it up the handle was missing, the door was broken and wouldn't stay on and one of the wheels was crooked. I was going to donate this to the organization, but was too embarrassed to even tell them that. I will look for one that has better quality - but what a disappointment! Totally cute but cute and DOES NOT WORK is NOT cute! CHEAP PLASTIC BROKEN DISAPPOINTING 8-( December 15, 2013 Oct. 30th, 2013 DONT BE FOOLED.....THIS POPCORN MAKER DOES NOT FILL UP WITH DELICIOUS POPCORN. IT MAKES tiny batches enough to fill a sandwich bag. I took 45 minutes to give 27 3rd graders a handle full of popcorn each.....I was sweating...believe me...Here is the beginning of the story IF you care to read....I bought this and did not look at it and until I took until 27 expectant 3rd graders were surrounding me waiting for their popcorn party!!! ( I knowI know) anyways the cheap plastic container was broken on one side and the door had to be forced open because the little PLASTIC crappy part was missing the spring. Well you know I taped up the side and taped the door and made that popcorn anyways--- this has caused a problembecause it was broken and now I USED it messing up the return policy. So I still have it 8-(Its not worth your money. I know its totally cute but cute and dosen't work is NOT CUTE.Try an air popper or something else. Must have got a bad one November 7, 2013 We were anticipating some great popcorn with the Nostalgia Electrics KPM508 Vintage Collection Kettle Popcorn Maker. After cleaning it up and assembling it, we preheated it 5 min and added the corn and oil. Waited, waited, waited for 2 hours and got nothing but brown kernels. I could smell the oil heating, so I checked the kettle temp with n infrared thermometer and it was little over 200 degrees, not hot enough to pop corn (400-450 degrees) We cleaned it up, boxed it up, and shipped it back. I checked the Amazon page for the item the next day and they had added an "Item under review, not available" note and had nearly doubled the price. Haven't decided what to do about getting a good one when I get the refund. It would have been great if it had gotten hot enough to pop! I still want popcorn!!! |
Vote for Me | Vote for Me | |
Pricing info | ||
Old Price | ||
Old Price | - | - |
Price | ||
Price | $29.99updated: Mar 18, 2020 | $59.99updated: Mar 19, 2020 |
Features | ||
Answered Questions | ||
Answered Questions | ||
Article Number | ||
Article Number | 0019669000269 | 0885107391394 |
Binding | ||
Binding | Kitchen | Kitchen |
Brand | ||
Brand | Wabash Valley Farms | Nostalgia Electrics |
Color | ||
Color | Silver | Red |
Currency | ||
Currency | USD | USD |
Formatted Price | ||
Formatted Price | $24.95 | $99.95 |
Height | ||
Height | 315.0 in | 492.1 in |
Length | ||
Length | 669.3 in | 748.0 in |
Manufacturer | ||
Manufacturer | Wabash Valley Farms | Emgee |
Model | ||
Model | 24001 | KPM-508 |
MPN | ||
MPN | 25008A | KPM-508 |
Number of Parts | ||
Number of Parts | 25008A | KPM-508 |
Product Group | ||
Product Group | Kitchen | Kitchen |
Product Type | ||
Product Type | HOME | KITCHEN |
Publisher | ||
Publisher | Wabash Valley Farms | Emgee |
Quantity | ||
Quantity | 1 | 1 |
Reviews | ||
Reviews | ||
Score | ||
Score | 8.6 | 7 |
Studio | ||
Studio | Wabash Valley Farms | Emgee |
Warranty | ||
Warranty | 25 year warranty on all moving parts | 90 days limited parts and labor |
Weight | ||
Weight | 7.1 oz | 35.3 oz |
Width | ||
Width | 393.7 in | 413.4 in |
Feature | ||
Feature | Makes 6 quarts of theater style popcorn in just three minutes All Inclusive Real Theater Popping Kit Patented stirring mechanism prevents sticking and burning by stirring every kernel until it pops Easy Clean Up: Just wipe with a paper towel and store for later use; 25 Year warranty on all moving parts The sturdy aluminum pan has a clip-on lid with a stay-cool wooden handle and a stainless steel stirring system | Stainless steel kettle with built-in stirring system, Minimum 2-Ounce Pops up to 8 cups of popcorn per batch Bin capacity of up to 30 cups of popped popcorn Tilt out popcorn door for easy serving Tempered plastic windows Recipes included in manual . Please refer the product video under the images for a Use and Care instruction. |