Lois, I just use a pan on my stove. No popper. I really don't like one use items.

Moni

Yep. Saucepan with oil then melted butter and salt and pepper. Only popcorn worth eating, IMO!

Glass bowl in micro with a glass plate on the top. popcorn and a tiny bit of oil, popcorn button on micro, sometimes I have to hit it twice.

rgreen 48-

I guess I would say something simple to use. I checked out a stovetop metal Whirly Popper today and it looks simple to use but when I looked at the bottom I notice it was made in China so I have mixed feeling about it.

Lois

I bought an air popper but I don't like the way popcorn tastes in them. What I've found to be very simple is just using a paper bag with popcorn and oil with some popcorn salt in the microwave. Done in 2 minutes. Investment is a few dollars.

Lois, I tried that kind, had one made in the US of A, but it was a mess to clean, and again, a one job item.

Went back to just pan on stove again... works like a charm.

Moni

we have an old (very old) alum pan (like a chef quality, heavy) that we use. dh has tried our revere stainless and ends up burning it...

I agree susan, my husband used to make huge pots of popcorn and his favorite pot was this ancient hideous old aluminum pot, it wasn't that heavy cast aluminum, it was the light weight stuff. He didn't even wash it after using it, it developed a seasoned bottom. Just wiped it out with a paper towel.

I have one of the old original catamount glass microwave poppers, works great and you can put butter in the lid and it melts onto the popcorn. Google it for the best price.

Like this.

Glass popcorn popper

The popcorn popper I use is Trader Joes - we get the Reduced Guilt Air Popped popcorn in the purple bag. No added fat, much lower in sodium. I sometimes sprinkle a little salt on it but it's ready to go from the bag.

They have other more common varieties too. I prefer stove popped popcorn with oil (but not with butter) but my waistline and arteries prefer the healthier alternative.

We don't make popcorn very often but I just use one I found at target or walmart for 10-15 bucks. Not the best, but it's air popped with no oil and that makes it worth it to me.

We used to do it on the stove, then I was Freecycled an electric one with an arm that goes around to stir the popcorn. Stir-Crazy. It works great, we love it!

I like that we're not standing over a hot stove shaking the pan.

I was also considering the pot on the stove with a crank that you turn to stir the popcorn. I hear it makes great popcorn, too.

I might have to try that glass one, that's real neat!

The best popper I have used is a pot on a gas stove. And it must have a lid!

We air pop ours and then season it with popcorn salt and lots of butter.

I use an air popper then add melted butter, paprika, garlic powder, salt, cayenne, and sometimes herbs like parsley and thyme. I have also added black or white pepper, and even dill.

I think the reason I like the air popper is that it doesn't really need cleaning, and it's fast and easy.

I bought some sour cream flavoring powder at out local Amish store... it's good too.

I use a Westbend Stir Crazy.

I use a small sauce pan with lid on the stove top. A heaping teaspoon of butter flavored shortening melted and 3 kernels added. When those 3 pop I cover the bottom of the pan with kernels, put the lid on and wait for it to stop, or almost stop popping. Melt butter to pour over the top and add a little salt. No special purchase necessary.

For many years I used a heavy aluminum dutch oven. It was Mom's and older than I am (I'm 59). Always wanted a Whirly Pop and got one about 5 years ago. Meh. Went back to the dutch oven. This year I bought a "Great Northern Popcorn Original Stainless Steel Stove Top 6-1/2-Quart Popcorn Popper". Best ever popcorn maker I have owned. It has a nice heavy bottom. I use coconut oil to pop the corn and Flavacol powder and clarified butter to top it with. I know, maybe not the healthiest, but some things I just gotta have my way.

We have not one, but 2 Whirley pops!! They are as fast as a microwave. Add oil and 2-3 kernels of popcorn. When they pop, add the rest. Like someone above had said- no need to wash them, just wipe them out with a paper towel. Visiting relatives look. Forward to our popcorn as well as my teens friends. We use ours about 4-5 nights a week.

DS uses an old Presto Pressure Cooker, without the rubber seal or top thingy for the pan, does the oil +3 kernels, then puts lots of kernels in and lets it pop, pouring out some as it fills up the cooker. Works for him....(I think it is messy, but he does the stove cleaning).

Fountain air popper. The grandchildren like the show.

I have an old popper and can't even tell you the name of it offhand. It looks like a small hotplate with an aluminum bowl fastened to it and a heavy glass lid. I've seen some with aluminum lids but I like the glass to see what's going on. A little oil, some popcorn and it's done rather quickly. But in the later years with health issues and stuff I've gone to the microwave and yes the packages. I like Pop Weavers. Best tasting and cheaper to boot. I do miss the old popper so I'll probably get it out one of these days. I also like a bag of Old Dutch White Cheddar popcorn. But can't handle a whole bag. My sister has (or had) a Stir-Crazy and it worked about as well as my popper. You flip it over and use the lid for a serving bowl. As I recall you can add butter to the top and it'd melt it. Never liked air-popped. Salt won't stick to it.

I'm with Moni - don't care for the one trick pony, so I use a pot on top of the stove too.

Thanks for all the comments and suggestions . I did try using a pan on the stove a couple times and that did work ok except that I did not let it pop long enough. Am going to check on the stainless steel popper that someone suggested.

Lois