Presto Poplite Hot Air Popcorn Popper Restores Popcorn's Image One Kernel at a Time

Popcorn gets a bad rap as a greasy, salty, buttery snack. This need not be the case. The Presto Poplite Hot Air Popcorn Popper - yes, that's a long name - restores an image that has long been victimized by movie theatres, where striped tubs are shoveled full of kernels emblazoned with bright yellow "butter," all for just half your paycheck. Then you sit down in a sticky red seat, reach into the tub, and feel your blood pressure spike with each gritty bite. And that intense aroma of artificial butter? You'll be wearing it for the rest of the day. Enter the Presto Poplite.

For roughly twenty dollars, the Presto Poplite allows you to have a healthier, fresher snack. All you need are some kernels and seasonings, both of which are cheap and widely available at supermarkets, and you can concoct your own perfect tub of popcorn. The Poplite looks like a blender gone wrong: a clear, sheath-like container mounted on a sturdy base, with a small cup/lid into which you measure the kernels. Then simply pour the kernels into the container, listen to the machine's motor stir up the hot air, and watch the kernels vibrate and swirl like some mad science experiment. Have your basket(s) ready, as kernels spill out of the shoot quite quickly.

It's that easy. And the flavors are up to you. For a more sinful experience, add melted butter. For a less caloric butter simulation, try one of the many butter spray products. True, there's something odd about misting butter with a spray bottle, but the flavor is respectably "buttery" and the caloric addition is negligible. Douse the kernels with some seasonings or chili powder, and you have a fresh, delicious snack. Best of all, the popcorn's taste is far lighter and cleaner than the chewier product found in microwavable varieties.

Like so many others, I've relied on microwavable popcorn for years. It's fast and convenient. First it was Orville Redenbacher, then Redenbutter, then Pop Secret, then the generic brands, and now there are too many options to count. It is easy to unfold a bag and stick it in a microwave, but opening that bag is always a crapshoot. What percentage has been charred this time? Why is there more bright yellow butter on the sides of the bag than on the kernels? Why does the house smell so stale, twenty-four hours later? With just a little more effort, the Presto Poplite vanquishes those concerns. Pick one up at Target, Walmart, or other comparable stores for around $20.