Cuisinart CPM-700P1 EasyPop Popcorn Maker, Red

Yes, this is the best way to get a light healthy snack anytime, but especially at bedtime. Don't use olive oil - I just learned that from reading the enclosed manual, so I use avocado oil. Please be careful the first time using and you go to flip the bucket of popcorn onto the red top... make sure you have gripped the two bucket handles and the hot plate handles together - hot plate is hot ! Please practice on cold device BEFORE your first pop. Don't forget to remove red top before popping or it prevents the steam from rising. Amazing how much steam comes off - the water in each kernel gets super-heated and explodes - it gets noisy. The value in this product: quality construction & functional design that produces crunchy popcorn in 7-8 minutes; there are only a few unpopped kernels in the bottom.I get a big of container of popcorn from Costco. Salt on top works its way thru the tub as consumed and the oil - Or parmesan cheese, or Brewer's Yeast. It's and inexpensive way to get a healthy snack without the preservatives, hardened oils, sugar, and heavy salt of commercial chips and snacks.

This popcorn maker is amazing!! My other ones, in the past, were such an absolutely ridiculous pain to clean--and you could not immerse them to wash them, and you could never get all of the oil and glitch off of them. I would dread cleaning them--so, after making popcorn, they would sit on the counter for over a week sometimes. And I would balk when anyone would want popcorn--like, "Oh no!! Then I will have to clean the thing..." Well, NOT ANY MORE!! This things is so wonderful. You unclip the cooking surface part and put it in the dishwasher--and all of the other parts used are dishwasher safe. It makes absolutely incredible popcorn--and the popcorn doesn't burn as easily as the other poppers and all of the kernels pop (it kind of moves back and forth). I don't like air poppers--or the taste of air-popped popcorn--so this is just perfect. I use a little olive oil--you don't need to use much at all--and I buy lots of different seasonings (by the way, just the recipes that Cuisinart includes are worth the cost of the unit). I bought another one in case this one ever breaks--but the first one is going strong even though it gets used all of the time. All of the Cuisinart products are extremely wonderful--every one that I have bought (I love my toaster and my coffee maker, too!! And I have others). I must sound like I am someone who works for Cuisinart/being paid--or like I am a "Stepford Wife"--however, I am neither. I am merely overworked and want easy-to-use, high-quality, long-lasting appliances. In a world full of junky things which don't last very long, Cuisinart products (at least at this time in history) are like unicorns. Don't even look at any other brands--buy this!! Keep Cuisinart in business forever!! P.S.--I noticed a complaint about the release clips--I don't notice this being an issue at all. Perhaps the people with this issue got a defective one or did not know how to unclip and clip it--you do have to line it up just so. But that is a small price to pay for such wonderfulness!! Thank you, Cuisinart--truly.

I was looking for a popcorn popper that would work well for two people. There are some features that I consider to be mandatory for a small appliance. One of these is that it have an on-off switch. Some manufacturers have cheaped out to the point where they consider they can do away with an on-switch. I disagree and eliminate as a purchase option any small appliance that does not have an on-off switch that I might otherwise consider. There are a number of popcorn poppers that don't have an on-off switch, so I eliminated them from consideration when choosing a popper.From the available poppers that I looked at, I feel that this Cuisinart popper comes closest to checking off all of my boxes. First, it has an on-off switch. I also find that it is the perfect size for two people, not too large and not too small. It doesn't take up too much room on my kitchen counter and it is nice looking. I also like that the non-stick plate with the stirrer is able to be separated from the base unit. This makes cleaning much easier to do. Even though the manufacturer says that this part is dishwasher safe, I prefer to hand-wash all of the components that can be washed. Some people have had issues with the clips that hold this part in place on the base unit breaking off. It makes me wonder if the high heat of a dishwasher might contribute to these parts becoming more brittle, so I just prefer to wash by hand which is quite easy to do.The one thing I don't like is how the top cover piece connects to the popping bowl. It is just a press fit and it's not the best fit. This piece needs to be removed while popping to provide the needed ventilation and needs to be pressed back on if you want to use the popping bowl as a serving bowl. I don't do this either, and just prefer to use a separate bowl for serving and eating out of. This way, I put less stress on the parts needed for popping and minimize the possibility of breaking this bowl.Of course, one of the most important considerations is how good of a job the popper does at making popcorn, and this popper does an excellent job. Like all poppers of this type, it is very easy to use. Just turn on the popper (with my mandatory on-off switch) and add oil along with the proper amount of kernels and wait for the magic to happen. Within a few minutes, you'll have the soothing aroma of freshly popped popcorn. Then I put on the press on lid, depress the two side handles to release the stirrer plate and flip the whole thing over, minus the base unit. The popping bowl has ears on each side that you hold onto while doing this. This seems a lot more convenient to me than having to flip the entire machine over, as you have to do with most poppers of this type. Then I transfer the popcorn to one or two serving bowls and season as desired, depending on which popcorn I used. Sometimes I will use proportioned packets that include both the popping oil and seasoning.Overall, I think this is a great popper. I will continue to monitor how it holds up, especially the clips that hold the stirrer plate to the base unit. If I have any issues, I will update my review. For me, this popper comes closest to providing the best functionality and ease of use that I was looking for. Notably, it has an on-off switch, is easiest to clean, and makes great popcorn.