Whirly-Pop popcorn maker

[jasonl]

Brianne's grandmother gave me one of those Whirly-pop popcorn makers for christmas. It's a 6-quart aluminum pot with a lid that has a crank handle which drives a stirrer to stir the corns.

It is totally the BEST popper I've ever used. I have a Presto Power Pop which does it in the microwave but it's just not as fun as stove top.

There is a trade off. The power pop is see through so you can watch. The Whirly pop is aluminum so not a chance . I normally don't like things that don't let you watch but this works so good, I'll overlook it.

And the popcorn? Well, it's perfect, 99% of it pops and it doesn't burn because of the constant moving. Also it's fast so you won't stand there for long turning the handle.

http://crfrankpopcorn.com/whirly.htm

 

[tolivac]

Whirly-Pop Popper

The Proffits store near me has these.-and the "gift" pack.Was a surprize-haven't seen or used one sice I was a kid.Whirly-Pop also made the large popcorn poppers used at some movie theaters.

 

[kenmore1978]

popcorn popper

The best popcorn popper I have ever used is the West Bend Stir Crazy. Put in a little oil, add popcorn, plug it in, and walk away. Virtually every kernal pops, uses much less oil than normal oil-type poppers, but enough so you don't get that "dry" popcorn the hot air poppers make. Popcorn never burns, as a thermostat shuts off heat when done, though rod keeps stirring until unplugged.

 

[tolivac]

while reading thentries in this site-I looked down at the magazine I was reading --and they show a "Quincy" popper that you held over the fire in your fireplace.A crank on the handle was turned to "shake" the popcorn container to keep it from burning or sticking.The utensil was made in Quincy Ill in 1892.Predeseser to the "Whirly-Pop?Its shown in the Jan 2005 issue of "Progressive Farmer" Like the magazine because they show LOTS of early gadgets.

 

[Bass2dark]

We had an automatic popcorn popper when I was a kid that had a yellow see through dome on top. After the corn was popped, you flipped it upside down and the dome became a popcorn bowl. It was much later that I found out you could actually pop popcorn in a pot on the stove top. My friend's dad had an extra pressure cooker without the gasket and that worked great!

 

[kenmore1978]

corn popping

And, Jiffy Pop is still made

 

[gansky1]

From the Midwest Popcorn Bowl...

As some of the people can tell you that have visited my house before, I make popcorn nearly every night. Orville Redenbacher's premium (in the jar) it's the very best of the lot, never a disappointment and a little butter (real butter) and a dash of salt...heaven in a dish! My grandfather's favorite food was popcorn, he grew it in his garden and we used to twist it off the cob and into the pan. I have a Whirlypop, I usually have to replace it about every 9-12 months! Not far from here is Schaller, Iowa, the "Popcorn Capital of the World" and celebrates the name with 'Popcorn Days' in July every year.

Making popcorn is a very "fine art" around here, no electric popper will ever do for me - scorches the hulls, they should be the same color when the kernel is popped as when they were dropped into the pan. Correct, consistent, high temperature is crucial, as is measuring a scant less than two tbsp of vegetable oil combined with that wonderful Whirlypop stirring action - about 35 rpm is perfect. Butter cannot be just "melted" but must be cooked to remove most of the moisture so as not to end up with soggy, limp popcorn. The second batch of popcorn is always better than the first - preheating is absolutely a must for good results.

I guess we'll have to make a few bowls at the convention in June, happy popping everyone!

 

[rickr]

Popcorn!

I can close my eyes and smell it Greg!!
Rick

 

[tlee618]

I can attest to the fact that Greg does make the very best popcorn that I have ever tasted!! The taste is out of this world. Terry

 

[tolivac]

Greg's popcorn:

Sounds like Greg is definitely a popcorn expert-maybe he could consult to some of the theater chains and improve their corn they serve!After reading his entry-I am going to get rid of my electric popper and get the Whirly-Pop one from Proffits.The popcorn popped in one of those air poppers tastes like the plastic "popcorn" for packing!-has no taste.I stopped eating popcorn at the theater because most of it is too oily.They must be using too much oil in their Whirly-Pop style machine.The theater concessionists should read his entry.

 

[gansky1]

Popping around the world

Thanks Terry - It will be my pleasure to make popcorn when everyone is here, it's such a fun food - and good for you too.

Theatre popcorn makes me crazy. There is a Douglas theatre close to us that has OK quality but still nothing like home popped. You'd think that of all placed that should have the very best popcorn, it would be a movie theatre!

 

[kenmore1978]

best popcorn maker

I stand by my rating of the West Bend Stir Crazy. Seems to make excellent popcorn with no attention and no chance for error, turns off the heat at just the right time and pops virtually every kernel. It's the ONLY electric one I will consider.

 

[retromom]

Yummmmmmmmmmmmmmy!

Y'all are making me hungry for a nice buttery bowl of popped corn, and it's only 6 am! Do coffee and popcorn go together?

We never had a fancy popcorn maker, just an old iron skillet on a GE electric stove. I always thought it was so cool when the corn would start to pop. Sometimes mom would forget to put the lid on and ......you know the rest.

Will there be a "popcorn showdown" between Greg's Whirlypop and Kenmore1978's Westbend Stir Crazy? Hope to see you in Omaha for the delicious results!

 

[jasonl]

Stir Crazy!

THAT'S IT!

I thought I remembered an automatic one long time ago that stireed the popcorn. Didn't that have a butter dispenser in the top of the dome that showered melted butter on the popcorn as it popped?

My grandparents had the non-stirring version in the 70s and I did search for it in their house but all I found was a hot air popper :-( .

 

[kenmore1978]

butter showerer

Yes, it did, but it didn't work all that well, I butter the finished popcorn the old-fashioned way. The comment about butter from Greg has me intrigued, I'm going to try that.

I didn't mention the Non-stirring version because without the stirring rod all the advantage was gone, except that it probably still had the thermostat that would cut-off, that a lot of electric poppers didn't have back in the day

Hot Air poppers, yeech.

The thing I really liked about the Stir Crazy is that you could set it up, plug it in, and walk away with no worries (just like my Hamilton Beach "Baconer" bacon cooker)

I'll be the first to admit I'm a nut for kitchen gadgets. I like "electrocuting" my hot dogs in my Presto Hot Dogger

Aynone have a Farberware "Open Hearth" rotisserie? My paternal Granny had one of these.

For that matter, how about the enclosed rotisserie-broilers with the motor driven spit? Maternal Grannny used one regularly for YEARS

 

[retromom]

Whirlypop or bust

Hope you guys are happy! I just ordered a Whirlypop. It can't get here soon enough. I can taste the yummy results now.

That Whirlypop would sure look great doing its thing on the Frigidaire Custom Imperial........hmmmmm

 

[jasonl]

Gadgets and the noise they made.

YOu and me both. I love the vintage kitchen stuff. I remember my grandpa having a Rotisserie/Oven in his kitchen. That thing made a heck of noise while it's rotating, "ack-ack-ack-ack-ack-ack", the sound of the gearbox. Thankfully the newer ones make no noise.

OMG, The Hot Dogger! Boy did I have fun electrocuting those weiners. sheesh. Childhood.

Speaking of noise, nothing like the screech of a vintage blender making a delicous malt, or the laboring groan of an ice cream freezer as the ice cream reaches the correct hardness.

The kitchen was a noisy place back then.

 

[tolivac]

Kitchen sounds

Yes:-I too like the kitchen sounds-the most interesting in the house-means good food!!Anyone else here notice the odor as well as you run an Ostereizer blender?Hard to describe the odor-run one and you will see!I used to have a Farberware "Open Hearth" Grill-mine didn't have the rotisseri attachment.Are these still around?Used them when I lived in an apartment.How does the Hamiton Beach "Baconer" cooker work-never seen one-sounds good though-even though the Health nuts say bacon is bad for you-but it sure tastes good and the smell of it cooking is nice as well.Anmd I do miss the sound of the ice cream freezer motor stalling out when the ice cream was done-When I was little-we would all sit around the machine and when it made the stallout-we all ran to unplug it!Peach and Vanilla Ice cream was our favorites-was so good,cool and creamy.Store bought just can't match it.Was a favorite summer thing in those days at our house.

 

[retromom]

Whirlypop excitement.....

Am I excited, or what? Went grocery shopping today and bought a jar of Orville Redenbacher popcorn and some extra-fine popcorn salt in anticipation of the arrival of our Whirlypop.

Hubby is trying to lose a few pounds, and this will be so much healthier (and tastier) than that microwave junk.

Can't wait until the box is on the porch! :0)

 

[jasonl]

no comparison

There's no other way than stove-top popcorn. Micro and hot air poppers just ain't the same. You'll enjoy it.

My recipe is 2tbsp of oil, and 1/2 cup popcorn. It fills the pot when it's done. That's ALOT of popcorn.

 

[retromom]

How much?

Jason, there's no such thing as too much popcorn!

 

[DADoES]

Popcorn Seasoning

Check out these seasonings. I believe HEB is now carrying it, at least in some locations.

Kernel Season's

 

[retromom]

popcorn seasonings

Glenn:

Saw them today at my HEB. They retail for $2.99. There were none of the "sweet" seasonings on the shelf.

I thought I would start out with a little melted butter and some extra-fine popcorn salt, then graduate to flavours. Just wanted to savor the taste of plain, buttered (no coconut oil, yuk) popcorn first. I will pick up some seasonings after the Whirlypop arrives.

If they are any good, I may bring some up to Omaha for the big popcorn party

 

[DADoES]

The local movie theater has a selection of Kernel Season's. As I recall, the entire choice of selections was initially stocked, but some weren't popular (Chocolate Marshmallow and Apple Cinnamon, for example). I like the spicy/cheesy selections, such as Southwest Cheddar (which I think is now Nacho Cheddar).

I ordered several online some months ago before HEB was carrying it, for watching movies @ home or in the theater room, but oddly-enough we don't do popcorn very often.

There are recipies and suggestions for other uses on Kernel Season's web.

 

[kenmore1978]

2 Tbsp oil and 1/2 cup popcorn

The exact recipe I use in my Stir Crazy. Fills the dome/bowl exactly.

 

[kenmore1978]

Hamilton Beach Baconer

"How does the Hamiton Beach "Baconer" cooker work-never seen one-sounds good though-even though the Health nuts say bacon is bad for you-but it sure tastes good and the smell of it cooking is nice as well"

I haven't learned how to "stitch" pictures here, so here goes the first of 3

 

[kenmore1978]

HB Baconer part 2

inside of instruction book

 

[kenmore1978]

HB Baconer part 3

rear cover

 

[tolivac]

Bacon machine

Kenmore1978-Thanx saw your picturs of the HB bacon machine-sort of resembles a toaster-like the design-sounds like it would be easy to use as well.Sounds like they should still make those.Pretty neat!

 

[kenmore1978]

HB Baconer

The picture shows "noram" looking wrinkled bacon but in reality bacon comes out virtually totally flat, like it's been "ironed". Like the West Bend Stir Crazy popper, I like the ability to set it up and walk away. Really helps when some of the recipes I make call for cooked bacon, I can continue preparing the rest of the recipe while the bacon cooks with no attention on my part.