Presto 04821 Orville Redenbacher's Hot Air Popper

Curated from 173 real Reddit conversations

Refreshed on: April 21, 2025

Presto 04821 Orville Redenbacher's Hot Air Popper

Brand: Presto
Price: $29
Snoop Score:
6.2
Sentiment
6.6
Popularity
6.5
Technical
5.8

Snoop's Take

The Presto 04821 Orville Redenbacher's Hot Air Popper is a convenient kitchen appliance designed to make popcorn quickly and healthily. It can pop up to 18 cups of popcorn in less than 2.5 minutes without the use of oil, resulting in a low-calorie snack option that is easy to clean and maintain. Consumer sentiment surrounding this popcorn maker is predominantly positive. Users appreciate its speed and efficiency, with one stating, "it works like a charm" after using it regularly for years. Many also cherish the nostalgia associated with making popcorn, recalling fond memories from their college days. However, some users noted that without oil, the popcorn can taste bland, and there are occasional issues with unpopped kernels flying out during the popping process. Overall, the Presto Hot Air Popper is highly recommended for those seeking a quick and healthier way to enjoy popcorn at home, though users may want to consider flavor enhancements if they prefer a richer taste.

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It’s been going strong ever since and pops all but one or two kernels every time.

Positive Feedback

Absolutely the best way to make popcorn at home.

Negative Feedback
Product
6.2
Presto 04821 Orville Redenbacher's Hot Air Popper
Movie Night at Home
7 / 10
Healthier Snacking
7 / 10
Small Kitchens & Dorm Rooms
6 / 10
Gifts & Entertaining
5 / 10
See how this compares to all Popcorn Poppers

What it does well!

Key strengths users can’t stop talking about.
Pops quickly with few unpopped kernels
It’s been going strong ever since and pops all but one or two kernels every time.
Had one and still wish I did. They worked great.
Mine shoots hot unpopped kernels out of it. Like you can’t even touch them they will burn you.
60% unpopped kernels with Salbree silicone microwave popper. What am I doing wrong?
Still makes excellent popcorn
I have mine too and use it regularly.
Works great.
Great memories associated with using it
Brings back memories from college - we lived on popcorn and bagels and Diet Coke and I remember us constantly having one of those poppers going.
Easy to use and maintain
I’ve been using it almost every night.
100% best popcorn I've had and super easy to use and maintain.
Useful for melting butter directly while popping
Put the butter in the top of the lid to melt
That was its best feature. The popcorn was dry.
I want a one and done. So these two seem to be the best rated so far.
Works reliably over many years
it works like a charm. I have been using it regularly for 6 years or so.
Pops great popcorn consistently
I have a Presto Poplíte and it has made tons of great popcorn for me.
Reliable performance over many years
It still works great.
Creates great nostalgia and memories
Made yummy popcorn to have when we watched The Wonderful World of Disney on the TV on Sunday nights.

Where it needs some work!

Areas to watch—feedback on possible improvements.
Popcorn can taste bland without oil
Absolutely the best way to make popcorn at home.
Some kernels pop out of the machine
the damn kernels fly out unpopped a lot easier than they did when I was a kid.
Popcorn tastes different, described as bland or diet-like
Had one as a kid. But somehow, the popcorn tasted different.
New models blow unpopped kernels out with popped ones
New ones are too short , blow the unpopped kernels out with the popped ones. Back to the stove top.
Does not pop all kernels consistently
The plug-in one does not always pop all of it.
Unpopped kernels can fly out and cause injury
when those unpopped kernals fly out they are hot and fast.
Popcorn tastes bland without oil
Presto's hot air popper instructions specifically states oil, butter, shortening or margarine should NOT be placed in the popping chamber as it will "cause hazards" and damage the unit.
Oil should not be used in the popping chamber
The hot air popper is pretty much a glorified hair dryer.

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Core Power Plays

The specs and strengths that make it shine.
Nostalgia for past experiences with popcorn poppers
Presto - still a great privately held Wisconsin company
My best friend growing up had one of these Presto popcorn poppers, and cable TV- I loved spending the night over there! (1979)
Presto Popcorn Popper 1980s
Personal experiences with different types of popcorn makers
Works fantastic!
Nearly all the good air poppers have been snapped up by home coffee roasters.
Discussion about the effectiveness of air-popped popcorn
Air-popped popcorn tastes so much better.
Nostalgia for older popcorn popper designs
Lol, that's like the original hot air popcorn popper design from the 70's.
Discussion about using oil after popping
let me tell you how tasty it is! And, it help the salt/seasonings stick (if that's your jam).

Hidden Hero Hacks

Unexpected tricks and side‑door uses you’ll love.
Discussion about different uses of the butter melter
There’s a little tray somewhere you can put in butter and it will melt.
The tray is that triangular divot at the top, it melts and drips it over the popcorn as it gets pushed out.
Discussion about alternative uses for the popcorn maker
some girls figured out they could take the top off that popcorn maker and use the Teflon base to make pancakes.
Discussion about alternative popcorn popping methods
You don't need any oil - just put kernels in the bag and set the timer, and then you can conveniently eat them out of the bag when it's ready.
I go to a general store that sells a variety of popcorn from Amish folks and the difference from store brand jiffy pop is vast.
Discussion about other popcorn makers
what is a decent one that i can get for her that has good results?
I find the quality is a lot better than an air popper, and doesn’t take up much room in the kitchen cabinets!
No regrets.
Woot!! Heading to Amazon now…
Chatter about other popping methods and gadgets
Doesn't need oil and pops most kernels and clean up is a breeze.
Suggestions for enhancing popcorn flavor
I have a lot of kernels that I don’t want to toss , how can I make it taste better?
The absolute best thing I've found recently is using salt that you've ground into a powder. It coats popcorn so well with SO little oil and really tastes like movie popcorn.
You mean popcorn salt? Pickling salt is much finer too.
Sure, or just regular salt you've ground into a powder, so you don't have to buy a whole separate kind of salt.

Buyer’s Cheat Sheet

What to check before you click ‘Add to Cart.’
Comparisons to other popping methods
The beauty of adding coconut oil to like a Whirly pop is that the oil gets very evenly distributed on all the popped popcorn.
It absolutely was the Popcorn Pumper!
Nostalgia for using the popcorn popper as a child
My best friend growing up had one of these Presto popcorn poppers, and cable TV- I loved spending the night over there! (1979)
College popcorn in the early 80s
Comparisons to stovetop popcorn making
how do the air poppers compare to stovetop?
Comparison of Presto with Dash air poppers
Presto has more and better reviews, but the Dash has an on/off switch.
Presto has more and better reviews, but the Dash has an on/off switch. I’d go by the reviews, but th
I do have to tip it backwards a little bit when the kernels are warming up so they don’t come flying out of the front of it, but overall it does a great job.
Discussion on various popcorn makers
Any air-popper recommendations? When we moved, we got rid of our old air-popper and I don't remember anything about it.
[https://www.whirleypopshop.com/](https://www.whirleypopshop.com/) not an air popper, but it's solid metal and very durable.
The only air popper that can be recommended, as far as I saw when I was looking for poppers, was the presto poplite.
Frustration over forgotten old air popper details
Ohhhh. Ok. It just popped your popcorn for years.
Discussion about personal preferences in popcorn making
I didn’t like my air popper as much as my oil popper but it was still better than the microwave.
For me it’s ALL about making the best popcorn not the highest percentage of popped corn.
Comparison of popping performance with different microwaves
I suspect this might be the problem. I had an 1100-watt countertop microwave that popped great.
I've had a Salbree for several years. I do use oil even though it says not to. I get about 5%. no pops.
Maybe the kernels are too close to the bottom of the microwave and the waves can't reach them to heat them up.

Cautionary Callouts

Know the pitfalls before they catch you off guard.
Discussion about different popcorn types and preferences
Better than air-popped, crispier, never look back.
We have tried most every popcorn ever made and keep coming back to Snappy white kernels.
they work great.
Discussion about personal experiences with air poppers
No oil. No hassle. Just put in the popcorn and you're good to go in maybe a few minutes.
They work like a champ
Presto Popcorn Maker, 1980
Much prefer it to microwave popcorn.
Discussion about longevity of the product
What? Seriously?! That’s amazing that the popcorn maker has lasted 50 years!
Oh nice! How's it holding up?
Comparison of past and present models
I have one, but don’t use it very often.
Personal experiences with air poppers and their reliability
We use it all the time
Personal experiences with different popping methods
Put oil in and cernals. Cover and let pop it was the best.
Discussion about the longevity and continued use of similar products
i still have something similar to this and use it reularly.
Discussion about the longevity of air poppers
The price, it surprisingly held up longer than expected, but I'm willing to pay more for a new one.
I've used a Presto Power pop that has been in my family since the 90s.
Discussion about the butter tray and its absence
Presto Popcorn Popper 1980s
Do you still have the butter tray? Every single one of these I saw as a kid was missing the butter tray, and everyone would have some other thing they stuck in the hole like a mashed up aluminum 1/4c.
Mine is the type that didn’t have the butter tray, I have to melt it on the stove. The butter trays made a mess too.

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