Product Description

Endorsed and signed by Orville Redenbacher! Pops with or without oil for delicious popcorn just the way you like it! Concentrates microwaves for virtually every kernel pops. Just pop it in your microwave for hot, fresh popcorn. Add salt or other seasonings before you pop for easy, even distribution. Clean-up is easy too - everything is fully submersible and dishwasher safe with base removed.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #652 in Kitchen & Housewares
• Brand: Presto
• Model: 04830
• Dimensions: 5.20" h x 10.20" w x 10.30" l, 1.00 pounds

Features

• Endorsed and signed by Orville Redenbacher!
• Pops with or without oil for delicious popcorn just the way you like it!
• Concentrates microwaves for virtually every kernel pops.
• Just pop it in your microwave for hot, fresh popcorn.
• 6.50x10.0x10.0 weight 1.228

Amazon.com Review
Sized to fit most microwave ovens, including compacts, this popcorn maker pops virtually every kernel of 3 quarts of popcorn in about 2-1/2 minutes. And it works with or without oil and/or salt. That means no more of the unpopped, scorched kernels typically left behind when popping bagged corn.

The popcorn maker uses two innovations that concentrate microwave radiation onto the popcorn. First is a removable base that locks onto the transparent bowl. Second is a disposable paper cup that fits into the bowl's bottom. A package of eight cups accompanies the unit, and others can be purchased separately--each is good for about 12 batches when used with oil or 24 without oil. Both bowl and lid are dishwasher-safe. The popcorn maker is 9-3/4 inches in diameter and 6 inches high and carries a two-year warranty against defects. --Fred Brack

Customer Reviews

Transforms popcorn
This gadget has really hooked us on popcorn as a snack. We had been getting wonderful microwave popcorn from Yoder Popcorn (on the Web), but it got expensive. Then I noticed that they said that the Presto popper could be used with any of their bulk popcorn -- at much lower cost. What amazed us was how much better their already outstanding popcorn tasted with the Presto! And the ability to make it with the oil of our choice (we like olive oil) or no oil at all is a great bonus. Entering "presto powercup concentrator" in Google turned up a number of sources (including Amazon) for this essential insert -- we ordered ten packs to save on shipping and are sure we will use them in a reasonable time.

The size is great for us -- just about as much as a standard microwave pack per popperful. I do not see it as very feasible for more than four or maybe six people at a time, however.

While the Powercups do add to the cost, it still is cheaper than the microwave packs. Using the Yoder popcorn as an example (since the same popcorn is available either in bulk or microwave packs) and assuming that one gets 3 pops per Powercup (half of what Presto says is feasible) the cost comes out about as follows:

Premium white or yellow popcorn, 3.5 oz = $0.13
Olive oil, 0.5 oz = 0.10
Powercup = 0.08
Amoritization of popper = 0.02
Total = $0.33

By contrast, a 3.5 oz microwave pouch of the same popcorn costs $0.65 in bulk.

Actual final costs will be greater for both due to shipping charges, of course, but these do not favor one over the other.

Will O'Neil

Extremely convenient, works great!
I *love* this device! I experimented with it in my particular microwave and learned that the standard load of 1/3 cup of popcorn (you can use *any* kind) cooks perfectly at 3 minutes, 12 seconds. Any less than that, and some of the kernels don't pop. Any more than that and some kernels begin to burn. The directions say you can use oil inside it, but I don't, because I want the little cardboard inserts to last a long time. I empty the popcorn into a different bowl, then I melt butter in the microwave (3 tbsp. is about right), pour it over the popcorn, add salt and stir well. You can also pour anything else you want over the popcorn, like parmesan or other dried, grated cheese, or herbs and spices. The popcorn this device produces is really, really tasty. Far better than that from microwave popcorn packets, and without the horribly unhealthy trans fats they add to them, too.

Best microwave popping device and best air popper on the mkt
I love popcorn and have about 4 or 5 different poppers of various types. I've also tried various homemade methods of popping corn in the microwave. None compares to this simple appliance. It's just a bowl, in which you place a special cardboard cup to hold the kernels. That all sits on a special base and you put the whole thing in the m'wave. You can use oil or not, up to you.

If you want light popcorn, especially if you want air-popped popcorn, there is no better method out there. I had a batch the other night using Jolly Time kernels and I only had 7 duds. The texture is excellent too.

The only drawback is that it's sometimes hard to find the special cups you have to use but luckily they have them here on amazon.