Review: West Bend 6-Quart Stir Crazy Popcorn Popper from CSN Store

After looking through the 200+ stores that CSN has to offer, we came to the conclusion that our household needs a way to make popcorn healthier for our family movie nights. We choose to review the West Bend 6-Quart Stir Crazy Popcorn Popper as it seemed from the picture to be family friendly and just the right size for our needs. As quoted from the website "This West Bend 6-quart Stir Crazy corn popper makes 25% more popcorn than other poppers using the same amount of popcorn and less oil. Featuring a large capacity and a cover that flips to become serving bowl with built-in butter well, the Stir Crazy popper will become a staple in any family movie night."

The first thing we noticed about the West Bend 6-Quart Stir Crazy Popcorn Popper was that our daughters love it. It's a simple little appliance that even they (a 5-year-old and a 2-year-old) can use and enjoy. They feel like they're really cooking something, and the large dome allows them to see the storm of popcorn as the entire unit fills up to the top. The construction is basic and the operation is simple. After all, it's just a popcorn maker, what do you expect?

Features:

• Makes 25% more popcorn than other poppers
• Large capacity
• Exclusive motorized stirring rod
• Cover flips to become serving bowl with built-in butter well
• Non-stick coated popping surface
• Heat-resistant handles and base
• 800 Watts, 120 volts, AC only
• UL,cUL listed
• 12"h x 8.5"w x 10"d
  

The added convenience of the dome design doubling as a serving bowl is so simple, yet undeniably useful. Just flip the unit upside down (the flat top of the dome, or flat base of the bowl if you will, makes this easy) and dessert is served. No serving bowls means no extra dishes to clean. And with the dome removed, the unit itself is also very easy to clean. It has only a single broad surface and a few parts to wipe down. If I were to suggest any improvement, it would be to try and reduce the seams and have a more uni-body design for even easier cleaning, but that may be the trade-off in keeping the heating surface separate from the rest of the unit.

The best kitchen small appliances aren't the fancy ones, they're the ones you actually use. And this simple appliance is convenient to use. It's as easy as microwaving pre-packaged popcorn, but the savings here are clear. Why spend more for the pre-packaged stuff when it's just as easy to pop it manually, not to mention that this allows you more control over flavorings and styles.