West Bend 82306X Stir Crazy 6-Quart Popcorn Popper

I've had a number of popcorn poppers 'cause I'm a true fan, whether unadorned popcorn or 'fancied up'. When the hot air poppers came out about 20 years ago I bought a couple of them, but they always seem to make chewy popcorn that'll stick in the back of your throat. I've got a mint-condition Mirro aluminum electric popper from the sixties and it'll burn corn in the bottom before you can turn around.

West Bend used to make this same type popper but without the stirrer. I had that one also, and it still left a fair number of kernels at the bottom.

The stirring rod is what makes the difference with this popper. Not only will it pop more kernels in ANY brand of popcorn, but it will pop far more with the less expensive brands like Jolly Time. It's typical to get no more than a tablespoon or less of unpopped kernels. The popcorn turns out perfectly done, from the earliest to the last popped. If you look at the photo, the disc on the top is a removable cover; under there is an indention with multiple holes. You can take butter or margarine and spread it around when you set the machine up. Then, as the machine starts popping, the steam melts the butter and it goes on the corn! Or, if you prefer buttering later, just leave the lid on. When the corn is popped, you simply flip the appliance over and the large dome becomes the serving bowl.

The dome and the disc on top have been through my dishwasher dozens of times without any problem. If I hand-wash it, it always feels a little greasy. The bottom, heating part of the appliance is nonstick; you simply wipe it out with a soapy dishrag or paper towel. Couldn't be easier.

This appliance is light in weight and fits fine in one of my overhead cabinets. For only a small amount of oil, it'll make six quarts of the best popcorn you can find! Plus, its tolerance to less-expensive non-gourmet corns means you'll spend less money. Highly recommended!


Worth the Hype!   May 9, 2006
T. Veith (Toronto, Canada)
236 out of 237 found this review helpful

May 9 2006 - Finally took a big step away from microwave popcorn due to health concerns (cancerous chemicals, dangerous chemicals used to coat the inside of the bag) and began looking for an alternative as I am an avid popcorn lover. I was walking through Walmart a week ago and saw this item on the shelves but decided to read up on it before spending $40.

So I came to Amazon and read over 300 reviews (I am a glutton for punishment) and it was so interesting reading what everybody said about this popper. First, 80% of the reviews are extremely positive, which was a good sign. Second, those who were not positive generally had the same complaints: turning arm grinds against the non-stick ridge and chips off the non-stick coating.

Today I bought one of these devices and must say I am very impressed, and I also learned a few things after reading 300 reviews that saved me lots of wasted time and gave me terrific results. If you decide to buy one of these for the EXCELLENT tasting popcorn, here are a few tips. 1) plug in the popper before first use to see if the rotating arm grinds against the edges. If it does, as mine did, do two things. First, loosen the centre bold holding down the arm, it is on too tight. Second, bend the arms until they no longer rub/grind the surface. Problem solved. Once I bent the arms, the popper worked terrific, and never once did it get stuck and need to turn the opposite way while cooking the popcorn. 2) Reduce the amount of oil used; I found that 2 tablespoons was more than sufficient for 4 quarts...three tablespoons is overkill. 3) Do not put butter in the top of the lid to melt on the popcorn while it is cooking; it creates WAY TOO MUCH moisture inside the cooker and ruins the popcorn by making it soggy. Instead, melt a few tablespoons of butter on the hot surface with the oil. The butter flavour will cook directly into the popcorn and you then only need to add salt, or a salt substitute. 3) Don't leave the cooker unattended; the moment the last kernel pops, unplug the popper and flip the popcorn into the lid or you will burn/scorch your popcorn.

If the three steps above are followed, you will have terrific results and this popper will last you for a long time.

I must say, I had one of these years ago and owning one again brings back terrific memories. It is fun to watch the popcorn pop! I plan to try the kettle corn recipe left by another reviewer on my next batch - looking forward to that!

Hope this review helps - this is a terrific product, and although the non-stick coating looks fairly cheap, it should last just fine if you take good care of the cooker. This product is nowhere near as flimsy or cheap as I had expected it to be based upon some other reviewers.

Buy one now! Happy Popping!


A classic design that makes top quality popcorn   February 21, 2001
Joanna Daneman (Middletown, DE USA)
213 out of 217 found this review helpful

Tried air poppers; blech, styrofoam pellets would taste about as good. Microwave corn; too much salt and "butter" in the packets, plus they cost a lot. Popping in a saucepan on the stove; horrible to clean afterwards and it burns. Microwave poppers; don't get me started.

THIS is the one. The first one I had was in the dorm in college (one with the yellow bowl.) I think we bought it together for the whole floor. And this is still the best popper on the market, decades later.

The only feature I don't like is the "melt the butter in the well" feature. It's probably less messy to melt the butter in the microwave (although I admit using the heat of the popper makes ecological sense.) The constant stirring makes sure all kernels get popped.

It does make a difference if you use GOOD popcorn (you know the one I mean, Mr. R's best) and at least FRESH popcorn. And the touch of oil used in the popping makes the popcorn taste wonderful. We sometimes use olive oil for a special taste treat. Anyway you pop it, this is a great device.


BEWARE!!   August 1, 2005
inframan (the lower depths)
322 out of 347 found this review helpful

At first, this is a good machine & makes decent popcorn. Over time, however, the teflon begins to wear off & the popcorn develops a strange taste. We've gone through 3 West Bend Stir Crazies in 4 years. No more. Yuck.

I can't believe the number of people raving about this unit with no mention of this phenomenon. Well, I notice one doesn't get as many "helpful" votes for negative reviews as for positive ones.


WARNING: READ BEFORE YOU BUY!   April 30, 2006
BOB (LOS ANGELES, CA)
56 out of 57 found this review helpful


A decade ago, I purchased one of these poppers. The combination of the machine, Orville popcorn & oil made for the best popcorn I have ever tasted. People came over for surround movies and raved. People at work raved. Everybody raved. A great product, right?

Two years ago, we bought a second unit. We discovered that in the interim of the two purchases, the bean-counters had gnawed away like termites at this formerly-fabulous product, cost-cutting it into something that might actually be dangerous. Let's step thru the changes:

It used to come in a sturdy box; now it comes in a flimsy card board shell. Not a big deal.

It originally came with a three-foot electrical cord, but that has been reduced to a 12" one. This is annoying, because (as a custom cabinet maker friend of mine pointed out) you don't want the oil-laden steam emanating from the top of the popper to coat the varnish on your overhead kitchen cabinet doors. It will eat the varnish and ruin your cabinet doors. Not good.

However, here is the real show-stopper: Within a year of purchasing the new unit, the Teflon coating on the cooking surface of the popper began to FLAKE OFF.

Oil & popcorn go into popper, Teflon flakes off, flakes stick to oil and popcorn, which you then consume. I don't know about you, but digesting Teflon particles ain't on my agenda.

The 10-year old popper? No flaking. Which means that whatever Chinese manufacturing plant churning these out either started coating the cooking surface with less Teflon, started using an inferior grade of Teflon, or substituted something cheaper than real Teflon. All, of course, to squeeze a few extra pennies profit per popper.

Needless to say, new popper went into the trash. The old one is still working like a charm.

BEWARE.