Last Updated: .
FYI: We've been reviewing and rating products for the home and families since 1994. To keep things independent, we don't take money or freebies from brands we review! Our work is 100% reader-supported!
The Secrets To Great Popcorn
Here at the home office, we take our popcorn seriously.
We’ve tried all the standard ways of making popcorn—stovetop, air-popped, microwave and more.
Along the way, we’ve learned these key secrets to amazing popcorn:
• Toppings are essential. The butter toppings reviewed below are essential for great air-popcorn . . . that’s because salt won’t stick as well.
• Not any salt will do. The best popcorn salt is FINELY ground. Forget Kosher salt or other coarsely ground salt—it won’t stick. Later in this article, we’ll recommend a salt plus topping combo that is a fave.
• Topping or popping? All the top popcorn butters in this article can either be used topping or popping—that is, oil to pop kernels!
Here are our top popcorn butter options:
Best Soft Silk Pillowcase
Check on Amazon
Best Color Variety
Check on Amazon
Best Budget-Friendly
Check on Amazon
Best Splurge
Check on Amazon
Finding the Best Silk Pillowcase: Our Advice & Tips
Let’s talk silk pillowcases!
Silk pillowcases have become all the rage—and for good reason.
Silk fabric helps regulate temperature better than synthetic fabrics, according to tests by Good Housekeeping. That’s because silk pillowcases wicks away moisture instead of absorbing it, as some cotton fabric can do. The result: more cooling effect.
Silk pillowcases also help prevent frizzy or tangled hair. And there is science behind the claim that silk can help keep your skin hydrated—that is, silk doesn’t absorb moisture like other fabrics.
Before you spend money on silk pillowcases, consider these tips:
• The thickness of silk fabric is measured in mommes—the thicker the silk, the higher the momme. You’ll note the silk pillowcases recommended in this article vary between 18 and 30 mommes. Generally, the thicker the silk, the higher the price.
• Does thickness matter? It’s a matter personal preference. Thicker silk fabric doesn’t feel softer, in our opinion (based on our hands-on sample of silk pillowcases). You could argue that thicker silk pillowcases might last longer or be more durable.
• The best pillowcases feature 6A fiber. Without getting too technical, this number refers to the length of the silk fiber. Longer is better. All the silk pillowcases recommended in this article feature 6A length silk.
• Handwashing is best for silk pillowcases. Wash with a PH neutral soap like dish soap or Woolite. You can also add a small amount of vinegar to bring back the sheen, if your silk pillowcase has dulled over dime. Most silk pillowcases should only be line dried.
In our tests of silk pillowcases, we preferred those that came in a nice gift-ready box—like this one from Jimoo. It came shrink-wrapped:
Inside the box, the case is nicely wrapped in paper:
We saw a few consumer complaints about sheets arriving overly wrinkled. We didn’t find that in our tests (we pay for all the products we test, so there is no cheating by the makers). Here’s what the Jimoo silk pillowcase looks like in the real world on a pillowcase:
So as you can see, a few wrinkles . . . but it looked good to us.
Here are the silk pillowcases we’d recommend:
Why Trust Us
We’ve been rating and reviewing products for the home and families since 1994. We do hands-on testing—we buy the products with our own money and evaluate with an eye toward quality, ease of use and affordability.
Here’s another key point: we don’t take money from the brands we review. No free samples, no sponsors, no “partnerships.” Our work is 100% reader-supported!
BabyBargains.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com and its related sites. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.