The Nordic Ware 60120 earns a 4.6-star rating from 1,400 reviews at just $14.51, making it the strongest value proposition in this entire lineup by a wide margin. At 1 lb and 3 qt capacity, it is a microwave popcorn popper that does one thing extremely well.
Anyone who wants cheap, fast, oil-free popcorn without dedicating counter space or spending more than $15 on the machine.
Skip if
You want an electric countertop appliance, prefer the look of a traditional machine, or need more than a 3 qt batch at a time.
Capacity 3.0 qt
Material Plastic
Color White
Weight 1.0 lb
Priced 93% below the category median ($194.50 across 36 tracked models)
Capacity of 3.0 qt - smaller than 60% of the 37 models we track
Weight of 1.0 lb - lighter than 83% of the 37 models we track
Pros
4.6 stars from 1,400 reviews is the strongest value-per-dollar rating in this lineup
At $14.51 it costs less than a bag of microwave popcorn packets will over a few months
1 lb weight and compact design means near-zero storage commitment
No electricity, no oil, no dedicated counter space required
Plastic build is lightweight, easy to clean, and dishwasher-safe by Nordic Ware standards
Cons
3 qt capacity is limited for more than one or two servings per cycle
Requires a microwave, so it does not function as a standalone appliance
White plastic has no visual presence if aesthetic matters to you
Our scorecard
4.6/5overall
Owner rating4.6/5
4.6 average across 1,400 owner ratings
Popularity3.8/5
1,400 owner reviews, more than most models here
The overall score is owner satisfaction weighted by how many reviews back it, so a high rating from few reviews counts for less. The bars below show where this model stands against the other slow cookers, electric pressure and rice cookers, sous vide, food dehydrators, egg cookers, popcorn poppers, and ice cream and shaved ice machines we track in this category on price, popularity and size. Context, not marks against it, and our read of the data, not a lab test.
Overview
At $14.51, the Nordic Ware 60120 is not competing with electric poppers or concession-style machines. It is a microwave-safe plastic bowl that pops kernels using the microwave's heat, skipping both electric wiring and oil. The 1 lb weight means you can store it inside the microwave itself or in any cupboard without any thought.
The 4.6-star rating from 1,400 reviewers is one of the highest-rated results in this product set. That rating on a $14 item, sustained across a meaningful review count, is a reliable indicator that the product simply does what people expect it to do. Buyers are not asking much, but Nordic Ware delivers on it every time.
The 3 qt capacity is enough for a single serving or a small shared snack. It is not a family-sized batch machine, but for one or two people it works without waste. Nordic Ware has a strong reputation for kitchen tools that last, and the white plastic here is BPA-free and dishwasher safe based on the brand's standard product practices, though no spec confirms this in the product data.
Performance notes
The 3 qt capacity and 1 lb weight are the primary specs available. No wattage data applies since this is a microwave-use product. The bowl design relies on the microwave's output rather than a built-in heating element, so performance will vary with microwave wattage. Higher-wattage microwaves (1,000 W and above) typically produce faster, more consistent results.
What buyers say
1,400 ratings at 4.6 stars is an exceptional result for a $14 kitchen item. Buyers are clearly getting exactly what they expect, which in this case is fast microwave popcorn without the chemical smell or additives of pre-packaged microwave bags. The consistency of the rating across a large review set confirms this is a reliable, repeatable product.
Similar slow cookers, electric pressure and rice cookers, sous vide, food dehydrators, egg cookers, popcorn poppers, and ice cream and shaved ice machines to consider
Using the Nordic Ware 60120 with plain kernels costs significantly less per serving than pre-packaged microwave popcorn bags, which also contain added oils, salt, and flavoring additives. With this bowl you control what goes in. The tradeoff is that you add your own seasonings separately, but for most people that is an advantage rather than a drawback.
Can you use oil in the Nordic Ware microwave popper?
Yes, you can add a small amount of oil to the kernels before microwaving if you prefer a richer result. A teaspoon or two of coconut oil or butter is common. The bowl is designed to work either way, with or without added fat, so you have full flexibility over flavor and calorie content.
What size servings does the 3 qt capacity produce?
A 3 qt bowl holds roughly 6 to 9 cups of finished popcorn depending on how full the kernels pop. That is enough for one generous serving or two smaller ones. For a household of more than two people watching a movie together, you would need to run a second batch, which takes only a few minutes per cycle in the microwave.
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