My first popcorn popper survived over ten years of twice-a-week popping until my 10-yr-old dropped the lid and broke it.  When I first read about the Stir Crazy, I thought it was a gimmick.  One more thing to break - but I ordered one anyway because there wasn't much selection.  What a great move!  Microwave popcorn is convenient, but it has a tendency to burn if you don't watch it.  The Stir Crazy is great.  Dribble some oil in, add my favorite "premium" popcorn, plug it in, and pretty much every kernel pops every time.  Like others, I leave the top open to let the steam escape so that the popcorn is more tender - I flip and empty the popper as soon as the popping stops for the same reason - and the results are reliably great.  Use that idle microwave to melt the butter.  A quick swirl with the OXO Nylon Palm Soap Brush, and the parts are clean.  By the way, the revolving arm does wear off a circle of the non-stick stuff, but that's what the raised ring is supposed to do (it sacrifices itself to protect the main popping surface)!
So, I started skeptical, sad to have lost my reliable popper, but there's no looking back for me.
My first popcorn popper survived over ten years of twice-a-week popping until my 10-yr-old dropped the lid and broke it. When I first read about the Stir Crazy, I thought it was a gimmick. One more thing to break - but I ordered one anyway because there wasn't much selection. What a great move! Microwave popcorn is convenient, but it has a tendency to burn if you don't watch it. The Stir Crazy is great. Dribble some oil in, add my favorite "premium" popcorn, plug it in, and pretty much every kernel pops every time. Like others, I leave the top open to let the steam escape so that the popcorn is more tender - I flip and empty the popper as soon as the popping stops for the same reason - and the results are reliably great. Use that idle microwave to melt the butter. A quick swirl with the OXO Nylon Palm Soap Brush, and the parts are clean. By the way, the revolving arm does wear off a circle of the non-stick stuff, but that's what the raised ring is supposed to do (it sacrifices itself to protect the main popping surface)! So, I started skeptical, sad to have lost my reliable popper, but there's no looking back for me.