This is our 3rd Stir Crazy  over the years ( we pop a LOT of corn - multiple batches every week.). WE have had more expensive poppers from other brands, but they just couldn't produce the same popping action. We don't  have many unpopped kernels with the Stir Crazy - the heating element gets very hot so I suspect this is whey. We pop back - to -back batches and it works like a champ.