Is there a HEAT adjuster somewhere on this? As this machine does NOT pop our corn very well. Popped corn is small, NOT fluffy-like our Presto air pop
253040
I don't believe that there is any heat adjuster. I've experienced similar problems with the machine leaving a lot of un-popped kernels in the popper.
1419837
I have never had any problem with ours, it gets hot and pops popcorn all the time. Great Grandchildren pop popcorn when they come. We love ours. If yours don't get hot then you need to get you another one and send that one back.
630603
You're probably cooking it too long. Watch and listen as the corn pops. When the rate of popping slows down [see directions on bag], stop the microwave and note the time used to get to that point. Check your popcorn to see how much is still unpopped and whether it is burnt. With a little experimentation you can get a nice result. I've never been able to pop all the kernels without burning, but you can remove the popped corn and then tape up the bag and return the unpopped kernels for more heating.
1647486
Any similar design hot air popcorn popper like this is not compatible with seasoned corn; you have to add your seasoning/butter after it pops. Some better machines may have a small tray that sits on top that uses the heat to pop the corn to also melt the butter. I had one of those when I was a kid but the butter tray was too small for a large popcorn bowl. If you have a microwave oven, melt the butter in there. It's extremely fast and if you do it in a Pyrex measuring cup, the pour spout makes it easy to drizzle the butter where you want.
874889
I do not care for this popper the pop corn is tough and will burn. I have quit using it and instead use the microwave -- use a pyrex bowl with a microwave proof plate on top and cook for 2.5 minutes popcorn much better and no oil.
2099041
On the older models I used oil with no problem. On the newer models I have not used oil and they still burn. Used two inserts last night. They have changed something with the popcorn maker. I have time to return one, and will. Now I have to find a new one. I had really liked this one for years, but there is something wrong. I even reduced the time of cooking to under 2 minutes to 1 minute 38 seconds, Still had a burned cup and popcorn. Also I take the tab and pull the cup out to cool and it is melted into the plastic on the bottom.
1302797
YES! The best way I have found is to put a small wire mesh strainer in the airpopper hole over the kernels until they start popping, then remove the strainer to let the corn pop into the bowl. According to the Tiny But Might site, a potholder can also be used to weigh down the kernels until they start popping, just maintain airflow around the potholder or the popper will shut off for a bit to cool down. Tilting the popper back til the corn starts popping also works, as another person answered.
1244335
I've only used pepper corns and haven't tried to adjust it ... sorry, I don't know the answer.
146997
I turned on my T-fal air popper (without popcorn) to answer your question and found that the hot air blows from the vents encircling the top [black] portion of the popper [see close-up of picture] and, of course, from the large front shute from which the popped corn ejects (i.e., blowing down from the front of the top [black] section of the popper). The only purpose for the "ring of metal chambers on the sides down by the bottom" (that another responder mentions) that i can discern is to keep the unpopped corn in motion [by spinning] until popped. Hope this helps. I love mine.
1419836
I put in the oil with three kernels , turn on the heater, and as soon as I hear a pop, I add the rest of the corn. Put a wooden clothes pin on the lid tab to add a little weight to the lid to keep un-popped kernels from escaping with the popped.
1759730
Yes it does a great job because it gets so hot. That is a cautionary note too cuz I have been burner moving it while its on. This factor is also important because it can start to burn the popped corn if you are not watching it.
839593
Sorry, I don't know but I didn't like this product at all and returned it. It doesn't pop well and leaves a lot of u popped kernels. I read that they used to be hotter but that burned the corn, so they made it less hot. Good luck.
380801
I use a silular model on my gas cooktop all the time.. I find that a higher heat setting works better.. The more heat, there is, the quicker the corn pops and less time for the time there is for first corns poped to get burned. I use it to make kettle corn, I just use 2 teasoons of oil, 1/2cup of suger, a little salt, heat that up and put in a 1/2cup of corn.
1355084
I have ground popcorn many times as slow as possible, on the finest settings possible. Sadly, I can't get it as fine as I would like. It's always what I would consider a coarse cornbread grind. Sure if I sifted it with various sizes of mesh screens, some of the milled product would be fine, just not enough. I'm thinking I might have to break it up first in a food processor to have more luck.
1583539
I had one of these as well.Mine did the same thing, finally though it away.Bought a stir crazy popper, no problems......
730545
I found that if you start with more popcorn this is not such a problem. There has to be enough in the bowl to keep the machine from spitting it out early. I found if I used Orville's and filled up the top to the line it works fairly well, though it does shoot the popped corn all over the place. In general I am very disappointed in this product.
1833325
We have used a bunch of different kinds of popcorn seeds and never had such a problem. Try a few different types and see if it is your machine generally.