9/22/05 | Jiffy Pop Mallow Magic
[ Currently Eating: Wonderful Coffee ]
(ed. note: TEE HEE I WUZ CHECKING TO SEE IF YOUS ARE AWAKE, I ARE NOT VERY BRIGHT AT GETTING NAME RIGHT: JIFFY POP EQUALS JOLLY TIME IN ALL SENTENCE BELOW, THANKS U KISS KISS)
Popcorn. I hadn’t had it in awhile, so this was perhaps good timing to try this Jiffy Pop Mallow Magic in that “Mystery Box” I won off of The Impulsive Buy. Indeed, this seems to be the item that most readers wanted to hear about so let’s get to it.
This is a sort of interesting idea, though in no way original. It’s basically like that flavored popcorn that you can buy in specialty stores, except that this one you pop yourself and then add the flavor. And the flavor that they’re going for here is “Yummy Marshmallow”. Very interesting choice.
Here is what the back of the box says:
“Ready for a little pop corn hocus pocus? Start with flavorful, crunchy pop corn kernels, charmed with a hint of sweetness. You add the magic by pouring on the luscious, creamy marshmallow topping. Ta Dah - there’s nothing to it! You’ll be enchanted by each crispy kernel’s delectable, mallow-y melt-in-your-mouth flavor. So magically scrumptious, before you know it … poof … your Mallow Magic Microwave Pop Corn has disappeared!”
I wonder who has the job to write the copy for the boxes of these products, because I want that job. A great opportunity to use words those words you studied for on the SAT, like “mallow-y“, “poof” and “Ta Dah“. Also, the illustrations on the box show some kids eating corn with eyes the size of anime characters. But they don’t look cute, they look mighty scary… like some zombification has taken place from eating the popcorn.
Before I get to how it tastes and stuff, here is a warning for all potential Jiffy Poppers. I’ve had this happen before, but I must have forgot. The “flavoring” for flavored microwave popcorn contains oils and that directly contacts the bag. Now, when you heat oil in the microwave for a long time on high, it no doubt starts to get a little hot. So it was an extremely stupid of me to put the Popcorn Bag on top of a microwave plastic container. I usually put it straight on the glass bottom, but I just was lazy to take it out. The picture at right shows the wonderful results.
Anyhow, the melted plastic aside, I had my doubts about the combination of popcorn and marshmallow. The bag of corn itself seems to require your standard 2-5 minutes of popping time. It always puzzled me how this time length is so arbitrary, but I guess that has to do with microwaves. I almost invariably either burn a couple popcorn or have a handful of unpopped ones.
My own popping time was about 3 and a half minutes. Now, here is the funny thing. Either I was distracted by the microwave cover melting or the buttery smell of the popcorn itself, but I actually forgot about the included “marshmallow flavor” foil pouch, which is the ingredient that actually makes this popcorn different. So I was sitting there eating the popcorn, and thinking “I guess this is pretty good, but no big deal”. Even without the marshmallow topping, it tasted pretty good… it had more than just straight buttery flavor, but a sort of sweet taste not unlike marshmallows.
Then I took a gander at the instructions and realized I was supposed to pour the contents of the marshmallow packet onto the popcorn. Duh. Interestingly, they say to “knead the foil pouch” before squeezing it on. I guess this is if it’s been sitting on the shelf for awhile and hardens.
I have to say I had my doubts about the topping going with the popcorn but I was surprised. It was a bit difficult to actually mix it together without a really large bowl. I ended up trying to mix it with my hands which means much of the icing ended up going down the drain. I say “icing” because the flavor of this mix tasted exactly like the flavor of icing on doughnuts or cinnamon rolls. It actually was quite addicting, though it’s sort of a weird combo. But nothing really “magical” about it.
I don’t like sweet things as much so this was a surprise that it tasted so good. Since I got this for free, I’d have to up the score by at least a point. But I’m not sure if I would buy this on a normal day.
Cheap Eats Score: 6/10
September 22nd, 2005 at 9:16 pm
This is actually pretty good if you squirt the marshmallow on, and then shake it up in a tupperware bowl with the lid on. Better choice though? The Cinnabon popcorn. SO good.
September 24th, 2005 at 6:49 pm
I liked the Cinnabon popcorn as well. Feisty Girl is correct about the best way to evenly spread the frosting. Get a huge frickin’ bowl. Add popcorn. Add frosting. Shake it like a Polaroid picture. Oh wait. Shakin’ it like a Polaroid picture is a passe phrase. I’ve got nothing to replace it.
September 24th, 2005 at 9:31 pm
feisty girl - The Cinnabon popcorn sounds interesting…I’ll have to check it out.
marvo - ah yes, I put it in a bowl that was too small and then didn’t have a lid to mix it. So I did it with my hands, duh. I won’t begin to talk about what the frosting on my hands looked like, haha…
November 2nd, 2005 at 11:27 am
i live in New York…Nassau County Long Island to be exact and i just can’t find this darn Mallo Magic Popcorn ANYWHERE!!! can you help a girl out? by the way, i was laughing so hard when i read the reply from the cheap eats editor that i almost fell off my chair. you ass ! and i do mean that in the friendliest of ways. thanks for the chuckle.
November 2nd, 2005 at 11:44 am
ruby - alas, I received it in the prize pack from Impulsive Buy so I don’t know much about the regional distribution on it. I don’t know if it’s a trial thing or what.
And yes, the frosting did look er, suspicious… =)
November 8th, 2005 at 5:36 pm
Sounds ok to me.
Wouldn’t it be better top just pop some popcorn and melt some marshmellow topping and do it yourself? Sounds like you’re spending money for something you could make yourself…
November 8th, 2005 at 5:46 pm
Noah - Probably. Hence, the reason I didn’t buy this. I got it for free. One thing though, wouldn’t the marshmallow topping cost money? =)
March 3rd, 2006 at 5:50 pm
MALLOW MAGIC OWNS.
I LOVE THIS STUFF.
BEST INVENTION EVER.
LOVE LOVE LOVE.
March 22nd, 2006 at 3:37 pm
where did you get it??
August 22nd, 2006 at 12:46 pm
MY HUSBAND AND I WERE QUITE CURIOUS BUT NOT SURE WHAT THIS WOULD TASTE LIKE. WELL, LET ME TELL YOU IT WAS SO ADDICTIVE! WHAT WE DO IS POUR THE ICING INTO THE STILL WARM POPCORN BAG, ROLL THE TOP EDGE OVER AND JUST SHAKE THE BAG! THIS ENSURES EVERY SINGLE KERNEL GETS ICING ON IT! ITS GREAT!! MY HUSBAND WENT RIGHT BACK OUT THE NEXT NIGHT AND BOUGHT EVERY SINGLE BOX THE GROCERY STORE HAD LEFT! FOR SOME REASON THEY WERE IN THE SECTION OF ITEMS THAT ARE “REDUCED FOR QUICK SALE”. MAYBE NOT MANY PEOPLE BUY IT. ANYWAY ITS TOOO GOOOOD!
September 5th, 2006 at 7:48 pm
Umm…did you notice the box says “Jolly Time” and not “Jiffy Pop”? They are two different brands.
August 20th, 2007 at 5:22 pm
This product is made by Jolly Time not Jiffy Pop as stated in this article. It’s easier to find if you look for the right name
The kids in my house love it! The popcorn has a sweet flavor even without the topping.
August 20th, 2007 at 6:47 pm
merrisa and dj - hm… so it is. Well, this isn’t the first time I’ve blundered and surely won’t be the last. Must be the “magic” mallow spell cast by the popcorn.
January 30th, 2008 at 3:07 pm
Where can I buy this…a guy i’m dating mentioned it’s his favorite…Please help!
March 15th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
Sirs,
Love the popcorn! Great taste!
Where can I purchase the “marshmallow” popcorn? My grandkids love it!
Thanks
From Grandma that wants to spoil the grandkids(6)!
April 7th, 2008 at 6:37 pm
I recently tried this when I saw our local Stop & Shop had it as a discontinued item for 50% so I bought 1 box hesistantly…actually grabbed a second box before approaching for check out.
Later that night a friend and I indulged…lets just say I ended up going back there the next day and buying whatever boxes they had left - all 8 for less than $10.
I LOVE this stuff!
September 14th, 2008 at 7:16 pm
Love this stuff and the stores that used to carry it aren’t anymore. Help! I have looked everywhere to find out how to make the marshmallow goo, but no luck. Anybody have an idea? It isn’t just melting marshmallows~ I tried that. Looking forward to any and all responses!