Product Description

Best hot air popper! Convenient, natural and light! Pops regular or gourmet popping corn with hot air, not oil, for a healthy, low calorie treat ! Fast! Pops up to 18 cups of gourmet corn in less than 2 1/2 minutes. Leaves virtually no un-popped kernels.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #56 in Kitchen & Housewares
• Brand: Presto
• Model: 114316
• Dimensions: 7.00" h x 10.00" w x 11.60" l, 3.50 pounds

Features

• Electric popper uses hot air, not oil, for a healthy, low-calorie treat
• Faster and more economical than microwave-bag popcorn
• Produces virtually no unpopped kernels with either regular or gourmet popcorn
• Makes up to 18 cups in less than 2-1/2 minutes
• Handy measuring cup doubles as a butter melter;14 by 9 by 6-1/2 inches

Amazon.com Review
Plug in Presto’s PopLite and the party begins. In less than 2-1/2 minutes you’ll have up to 18 cups--two large bowlfuls--of fluffy popcorn with virtually no unpopped kernels. And because the machine uses hot air instead of oil, the resulting snack is healthier and lower in calories. That’s not to say you can’t add butter; in fact, the 1/2-cup measuring cup on top of the popper doubles as a butter melter. Simply put in the desired amount of margarine or butter (room temperature is best), and it melts from the heat produced during the popping process. The clear plastic cover and cup, which must stay on during popping so the popped corn doesn’t fly all over the room, easily remove for hand cleaning with warm, soapy water. No other clean-up is required. While a few unpopped kernels spring out the chute as the machine begins to heats up, the chute does a good job of directing the popped corn into a bowl. The popper measures 14 by 9 by 6-1/2 inches, and is identical to Presto’s Orville Redenbacher Hot Air Corn Popper except for color and logo. Presto covers the PopLite with a two-year warranty. --Ann Bieri

Amazon.com Product Description
This popular corn popper pops with hot air, not oil, for a healthy, low- calorie treat. It offers a faster, healthier, and more economical choice than microwave bag popcorn. Use regular or gourmet popcorn with terrific results with virtually no unpopped kernels. Up to 18 cups of gourmet popcorn are popped in less than 2-1/2 minutes, up to 40 percent faster than other leading hot air poppers. Butter melter doubles as a handy measuring cup. 120 volts AC, 1440 watts

From the Manufacturer
This popular corn popper pops with hot air, not oil, for a healthy, low-calorie treat. It offers a faster, healthier, and more economical choice than microwave-bag popcorn. Use regular or gourmet popcorn with terrific results--virtually no unpopped kernels. Up to 18 cups of gourmet popcorn are popped in less than 2-1/2 minutes, up to 40 percent faster than other leading hot air poppers. Butter melter doubles as a handy measuring cup. One-year limited warranty. 120 Volts AC, 1440 Watts.

Customer Reviews

Presto PopLite Hot Air Corn Popper! SOLUTIONS...!
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!)!

Problems-Hot bowl, & will only pop a full 1/2 cup (I do 1/3 cup) , blows kernels all over, not firm, flavorless...

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" healthy 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/healthy!" butter substitute-
a. 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 cup.
I heat it on high 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. Shake on some "AlsoSalt"- Excellent tasting "sodium free" Salt Substitute, that tastes JUST 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, for a GREAT treat!
ENJOY!

Good 'ol popper
I've had one of these for more than 10 years and am ordering a new one because the yellow plastic air guide has just disintegrated from age and heating. The motor and element are still working.

Yes: if you leave it alone it does throw out a few blistering-hot kernels. But if during the first 30 seconds of running you hold it and tilt it back about 30 degrees, it doesn't. As soon as any kernels have popped you can set it down again.

Lowest-calorie popcorn? At the supermarket, buy an aerosol can of cooking oil spray. Face the popcorn bowl, spray in right hand and salt-shaker in left. As the popcorn tumbles out, alternately spritz with cooking oil and sprinkle with salt. The oil spray has basically zero calories (a teaspoon per batch?) but it makes the salt stick to the popcorn!

Fun with your popper, impress the kids. There are always a few kernels that don't pop left in the bottom. And every time, one or 2 will go off a couple seconds AFTER you pull the plug. So: pull out the plug, slowly raise your index finger and point, magically, at the popper. Bang! Blow smoke off imaginery gun barrel.

Watch out at the end
The PopLite does a good job of turning out a full four quart yield of popped corn (and then some) from the half cup measurement. However towards the end of the popping cycle, things start to get out of hand. Burning hot kernels and popped corn come flying out of the chute and richochet around the room. Keep kids and pets AWAY towards the end. Also when your bowl is filled with popcorn, the remaining kernels eject into them with such force that the top of your just-popped batch flies out everywhere.

The only halfway decent way around this is to make a tent around the sides of the chute with a dishtowel while the last kernels are popping out and be sure to stand close to the plug so you can yank it out when it reaches this frenzied stage. Don't attempt to pick up unpopped kernels from the floor as I did (and there will be quite a few, no matter how careful you are) as they're burning hot. If you can live with all of this, it does make decent popcorn.