West Bend Stir Crazy Popcorn maker Review

In 1990 I bought my first West Bend stir crazy popcorn maker for five dollars at a garage sale. It was only a 4 quart and the cover/bowl was a transulent yellow (our current one is a six quart, and the lid is clear), and worked great until around 1998 when the plate just wouldn't heat anymore. After that I couldn't find one until 2007! Boy was I happy when I saw it in the Christmas isle, and even more pleased when Santa left it for me under the tree! I like to watch the popcorn pop through the cover (which becomes the serving bowl when turned upside down by clasping the heat resistant handles). It reminds me of when I was a kid and the day care I attended would pop popcorn in a large popper minus the lid and each of us kids would run around the kitchen with our own small Styrofoam cup to catch the popcorn in. I prefer my popcorn crisp and unbuttered so I do not melt butter through the butter well. Because the stir crazy has a non-stick heating surface I wipe it clean with a paper towel after each use (I have burned myself before by not letting the unit cool down first). I hand wash the cover/bowl with a dishcloth and dish soap with a degreaser and dry with a dishtowel, put back together and store the unit in the cupboard.