Popcorn remains a favorite snack for many. One type of popcorn machines that helps the user make healthier popcorn is the hot air popcorn popper. You will be able to satisfy your popcorn craving with popcorn that is delicious, crunchy, high in fiber and healthier. Oil popcorn poppers are known to produce calorie laden popcorn due to the high amount of oil used when popping the kernels. This is not so with the hot air popper. A better option for consumers who are conscious of their health is microwave popcorn. But this too has a high calorie count and tends to produce bland tasting popcorn. You have to add toppings to enhance the flavor. A greater disadvantage of using microwave popcorn as documented recently, is that the resulting popcorn contains diacetyl, a chemical which causes bronchiolitis obliterans or popcorn lung which is a serious health condition. Hot air poppers remain the only healthy alternative for anyone who wants to enjoy popcorn that is free of chemicals and unwanted calories. It is also cheaper than most oil poppers. Here are some factors that will influence your choice of hot air popcorn popper:
Quality of popcorn
Get to know the quality of popcorn the machine produces. Is it fluffy and crunchy or does it come out all flat? Is it burned or just well-made? Does it pop all the kernels or skip some?
Functionality
How many accessories does the popper have? A good hot air popcorn popper should include attachments such as a bowl (for catching the popcorn as it pops), a scoop and a melting feature for those who love to have some butter in their popcorn. Even if you do not personally like it, you may get a visitor who loves it. Is it easy to use? Is it easy to assemble and take apart (very important for cleaning purposes)? What sort of maintenance does it require and is it easy to clean? Consider all these before buying any hot air popcorn popper model.
Pricing
Will the service the machine gives you be worth what you are paying to get it? It should produce high quality popcorn that matches its price. Also if it is going for a high rate, it should be made from durable materials, to last you many years.
Flavor
Oil poppers produce better tasting popcorn, but it is not as dry as that produced by hot air poppers and may even be soggy. Hot air poppers on the other hand, will not produce popcorn that is as tasty but it will be healthier. You can use toppings to enhance its flavor.