Opopop Silicone Popcorn Popper Review

Intro

The Opopop Silicone Popcorn Popper is a collapsible microwave bowl that promises easy, nearly oil-free popcorn and minimal kitchen storage footprint. The listing describes it as designed by microwave engineers, collapsible for storage, BPA‑Free and dishwasher safe, with a removable handling ring that stays cool to the touch. Owners tend to agree that it makes fast, fluffy popcorn when used the way the instructions advise — but buyer feedback also highlights a few recurring pain points: cleaning difficulty, confusing or disappointing pre-flavored "pop cups," and burned kernels if the popper is used incorrectly.

What it is / first look

At its most basic, this is a silicone microwave popcorn bowl that collapses for storage. The product dimensions listed are 9 x 8 x 2 inches and it weighs 12.63 ounces. The manufacturer and brand are both OPOPOP, and the listing frames the item as part of a broader product line that includes single poppers and starter kits containing Pop Cups in assorted flavors.

The listing calls out several headline features: that the popper is collapsible, dishwasher safe, BPA‑Free (listed), and includes a removable handling ring described as cool to the touch after popping. The description also says the bowl can hold up to 10 cups of freshly made popcorn when fully popped and that the product was "designed by microwave engineers." The brand notes that Opopop flavors and kits are available alongside the popper itself.

What you get (packaging options and colors)

According to the listing, the popper is sold as a "Popper Only" unit or in starter kit bundles with Pop Cups (options include 4-pack and 12-pack variety kits). The images and model labeling suggest a yellow model; the listing explicitly lists a "Yellow" model number. Owners report receiving either just the silicone bowl or a kit that includes the single-use Pop Cups, depending on the purchase choice.

In daily use

Owner feedback is where this product’s real behavior comes into focus. Across dozens of reports there are clear, repeatable patterns for how to get good results and what to watch for.

How to get a predictable pop

Owners emphasize a consistent routine: extend the bowl to its full height before heating, measure kernels carefully (owners report about 1/3 cup for a full bowl and about 1/4 cup for a half bowl), put the lid on, and set the microwave by time rather than using the microwave's "popcorn" setting. Multiple owners note typical popping sessions run around three minutes but advise watching and listening — stop when popping slows to a few seconds between pops. The listing itself and owner notes both warn not to use the microwave popcorn setting.

People who followed that routine report fast, fluffy results with few unpopped kernels; several owners say the popper outperformed previous approaches like using glass bowls or old-style whirly poppers. The removable handling ring is repeatedly mentioned as helpful for extracting the bowl; owners say the ring stays cool while the body of the bowl can be hot immediately after popping.

Small microwaves & compact kitchens

Several owners with compact, low-clearance microwaves (one specifically mentions a 700-watt unit) recommended this popper because it's shorter than many store-bag popcorn packages and fits without the bag needing to rotate. Owners with small kitchens praise the collapsible design: it stores flat and takes up less cabinet space than a fixed air popper or bulky hardware.

Cleanup and multi-use

The listing calls the popper dishwasher safe and several owners report easy cleanup when they add toppings after dumping the popped corn into another bowl. That said, mixed feedback exists: some owners say the bowl can be harder to thoroughly clean if oils or seasoning are popped inside it. Owners who avoid adding oil during popping — and instead flavor in a separate bowl afterward — report much easier rinsing and dishwashing.

Using Pop Cups and flavored pucks

The brand sells single-use Pop Cups in various flavors as companion products. Some buyers liked the convenience; others strongly disliked the experience. The repeated complaint is that the flavor puck inside the Pop Cup can taste "chemical" to some users and is sold in portions smaller than a normal popcorn bag, which some consider poor value. If you buy a starter kit, expect to handle the tiny flavor puck when you empty the Pop Cup into the bowl, and be prepared for some users to find the flavor profile off-putting.

Materials & build quality

The listing describes the popper as a "meticulously crafted silicone microwavable popcorn popper" and explicitly calls it "BPA‑Free" and dishwasher safe. The removable handling ring is described as cool-to-the-touch. The listing also claims the bowl was designed by microwave engineers to maximize pop rate and references media coverage.

Owner reports back up several of those claims: many note the bowl feels lightweight and flexible (consistent with silicone), that the handles remain usable without oven mitts, and that the collapsible mechanism is effective for storage. A common note is that the bowl takes a bit of firm manipulation the first few times to lock into the fully extended position.

Where owners are critical, the most common build complaints are not structural breakage but usability issues: soap scum or seasoning residue can be fiddly to remove, and some people find the inner creases of the collapsible design trap oil or bits of popcorn if greasy seasonings were used during popping. A smaller number of owners reported poor pop results, which in several cases they attributed to using the popper while still collapsed or to using the microwave popcorn setting; others blamed the performance on their particular brand or age/freshness of kernels.

Safety considerations

Safety concerns for microwave poppers are mainly about heat, user technique, and avoiding burned popcorn. The listing highlights a cool-to-the-touch removable handling ring, and multiple owners verify that the ring is handy for removing the popper after a run. Owners consistently warn to let the bowl sit briefly after popping and to remove the lid carefully to avoid steaming fingers.

Three safety-related red flags emerge from owner feedback and the listing's instructions:

• Don't use the microwave popcorn setting: This is repeated across the listing and many owner notes. The popcorn setting assumes factory-sealed bags with reflectors and different oil content; using it with a silicone popper can overcook or burn kernels.
• Fully extend the bowl: Multiple owners reported burning or under-popped kernels when the popper was left in its collapsed storage position during popping. The repeated advice is to push the bowl to full extension before heating.
• Stay nearby and monitor the pop: Owners recommend timing around three minutes but monitoring by sound — stop when there are 2–3 seconds between pops. Do not walk away during a popping cycle.

There are no owner reports of the handles or the silicone failing catastrophically, and no recall information is present in the listing or owner notes. The handful of complaints about "chemical" taste are associated with the pre-flavored Pop Cup pucks rather than the silicone bowl itself, but multiple buyers found those flavors unpleasant and messy.

Who this is for / who should skip

Who this is for:

• People with compact kitchens or small microwaves who need a low-profile, storable popper. Owners with 700-watt microwaves call out the popper's short height as a practical reason to buy it.
• Households that prefer oil-free or low-oil microwave popcorn and want to control toppings separately. Owners who skip oil during popping report easier cleaning.
• Buyers who want a quick route to a fresh bowl of popcorn without dedicating counter space to an air popper; the collapsible design is the main storage advantage.

Who should skip or be cautious:

• Buyers who want the absolute easiest, no-mess flavored popcorn and expect Pop Cups to taste like the most common pre-bagged brands — several owners disliked the flavor pucks and considered them overpriced gimmicks.
• People who will use the microwave's automatic popcorn setting or who are likely to leave the microwave unattended during popping; owner feedback ties many bad outcomes to those behaviors.
• Anyone who wants zero-fuss cleanup regardless of how they flavor their popcorn — a number of owners call out tricky residue in the fold lines if popping with oil or dense seasonings.

Verdict

The Opopop Silicone Popcorn Popper is a well-targeted product: compact, clearly designed for microwave convenience, and sold with the option to add branded Pop Cups. For users who will stick to the simple method owners recommend — fully extend the bowl, use roughly 1/3 cup of kernels for a full bowl, set the microwave by time, and stop when popping slows — it delivers fast, oil-free popcorn and frees up kitchen storage. The removable cool-touch ring is a practical small feature that owners appreciate.

However, buyer expectations matter. If you buy the Pop Cups expecting a bag-of-the-theater mimic, some owners warn you'll be disappointed by flavor pucks and per-serving value. If you like heavily seasoned or oily popcorn straight in the popper, expect some extra cleanup work because the collapsible creases can trap residue. And if you use the microwave popcorn setting or leave the microwave unattended while popping, owner reports show you risk burned kernels.

Check before you buy

• Confirm whether you’re buying the Popper Only or a Starter Kit (4-pack or 12-pack Pop Cups), since buyer experiences differ between plain kernels and flavored Pop Cups.
• Verify the listing's material claims — the product is listed as BPA‑Free and dishwasher safe; check the current listing/manufacturer documentation to confirm those claims for your purchase.
• Make sure your microwave has the clearance for the extended popper (images and owner notes indicate the popper is short, but model dimensions are 9 x 8 x 2 inches).
• Plan to monitor popping by sound and time — owners stress not using the microwave popcorn setting and not walking away while popping.
• Decide whether you’ll flavor afterward in a separate bowl (recommended by many owners) to keep cleanup simple.

FAQ

• Q: How much popcorn does this popper hold?

  A: The listing states the silicone bowl can hold up to 10 cups of freshly made popcorn when fully popped.

• Q: Can I use the microwave "popcorn" setting?

  A: Both the listing and multiple owner reports advise against using the microwave popcorn setting. Owners recommend setting the microwave by time and listening for the pop rate to slow to 2–3 seconds between pops.

• Q: Is the popper dishwasher safe and BPA‑Free?

  A: The listing describes the popper as dishwasher safe and lists it as "BPA‑Free." Verify the current listing/manufacturer documentation if those points are important to you.

• Q: What kernel amount should I use?

  A: Owner guidance included in the product information suggests about 1/3 cup of kernels for a full bowl and about 1/4 cup for a half bowl. Owners say trial and error between brands is normal because yield varies by kernel and freshness.

• Q: Are the Pop Cups worth it?

  A: Owner feedback is mixed. Some buyers like the convenience, but several owners call the flavored pucks "gimmicky" and complain of chemical-tasting flavors and small portion sizes. If you buy a kit, expect to handle the small flavor puck when emptying the Pop Cup into the bowl.

• Q: Does the popper collapse for storage easily?

  A: The design is collapsible and intended to save space; owners highlight that the bowl collapses for storage but warn you must fully extend it before popping. Some found the first-time extension a little stiff but said it loosens with use.

• Q: Is cleanup easy?

  A: The listing says dishwasher safe and many owners report easy washing when they avoid popping with oil or heavy seasonings inside the bowl. However, several buyers mention that the collapsible creases can trap oil or seasoning residue and make thorough cleaning more fiddly.