Thursday, January 3, 2008

How to operate a commercial popcorn machine

When you think about commercial popcorn poppers, what do you think of first? Which aspects of commercial popcorn poppers are important, which are essential, and which ones can you take or leave? You be the judge.



Hopefully the information presented so far has been applicable. You might also want to consider the following:

Popcorn is very healthy and easy to make and fun to eat! And today more people than ever own a commercial popcorn machine. Commercial style popcorn machines make popping theater style popcorn a breeze...popcorn that is tender, fluffy and very delicious. For home use, you will find commercial popcorn machines in home theaters rooms, game rooms, and home entertainment areas. For commercial use, you will find many commercial vendors who own their own popcorn machine, and they generate some nice profits, as well as, some happy faces!

With the variety of popcorn machines available on the market, popcorn has become one of the most popular foods consumed today. During the fall time of the year, more popcorn is consumed than any other time of the year. Besides the cooler temperatures to cause people to want to eat more popcorn, there are many fall events like fall festivals, church events, NFL and College Football games, Halloween festivities, and more...all these events can generate very high levels of popcorn consumption.

Looking for some tips and secrets on how to use a commercial popcorn machine and to how keep it running great for years to come, and without constant maintenance and repairs? Then read below for some advice on how to operate a commercial popcorn machine. Whether you are using your commercial popcorn machine for fun or for profit, you will find tips here that you will not find anywhere else.

Commercial Popcorn Machines normally feature three operating controls or buttons. Normally you will find three switches at or near the top front of the popcorn machine. The front meaning the side with the two plexus-glass doors that pull open. The first button normally is the heat switch, or sometimes referred to as the kettle heat switch. This button is your most important button. Once you activate this button, it allows the kettle to heat up quickly up to 350 to 400 degrees F.

The most important thing to remember with this switch is to turn the heat switch to the off position when your popcorn popping is nearing completion. In other words, when you decide you have popped enough popcorn for the moment, and as you hear the kernels winding down in popping intensity, turn off the heat kettle switch.

This action prevents your popcorn from burning and keeps the internal parts of the kettle called the heating elements and thermostats from burning out. And don't worry whether you will have enough heat to complete your popping; at this point the kettle is very hot and has sufficient heat to complete the process.

The second button is normally the motor button. This button activates the motor that turns the agitator to keep your popcorn, oil, and salt in constant motion in the kettle so your popcorn does not burn. Activate the motor button after activating your heat switch.

The third button controls the heat lamp. It is the heat lamp bulb in the upper right or upper left rear corner in your popcorn machine. You can activate the heat lamp after you activate the kettle heat and motor switch. The lamp will help keep your popcorn warm and fresh after you have popped your popcorn.

How long do you wait before you add your popcorn, oil, and salt to the kettle? General rule is about 30 seconds before you add your oil, but not more that one minute.

You NEVER want to have an empty popcorn kettle on for too long once you have activated the heat switch. As we discussed earlier, you will quickly burn out the internal parts in your popcorn kettle if you activate the heat switch without the oil and popcorn.

What ingredient do I put in first? You always want to put in the oil first. Especially if you are using coconut oil, wait about 10 seconds after putting the oil in, this will give the coconut oil a few seconds to melt. If you are using portion pack popcorn paks, cut off the top part of the package with the oil side first. It's important to always having a scissors around for this assignment. Once you have the top open on the coconut or canola oil side, slowly squeeze the oil up like you would be squeezing toothpaste. Then cut the top off the rest of the package that includes the popcorn and salt, and carefully proceed to pour the rest of the packet into the kettle. One special note: in order to prevent the burning and scalding of your hands, always try to place a part of the plastic package on the kettle and not your hand.

What do I do when the popcorn has finished popping? Don't turn off the motor yet, only the heat button if you are not planning to make another batch of popcorn. You dump the popcorn out using the popcorn kettle handle. Read your operating instruction manual for this operation. Each manufacturer has designed the kettle handle and kettle uniquely. The important thing to remember is to dump out the popcorn gently from the kettle. DO NOT Bang the kettle or swing the kettle hard trying to get out that last kernel. Use your popcorn scoop while your kettle is in the open and in the down position to clean out the last of the popcorn kernels or seeds. There are wires inside the kettle and in the neck of the kettle, and they can break with excessive force or swinging. Then it is off to the repair shop if they break.

One final note on how much popcorn and oil you need to add to your popcorn kettle..... The quantity of popcorn you can put in the kettle is measured by the size of the kettles. For 4 oz kettles, you can put 4 oz. of raw popcorn seed. For small families or groups, a four once (110 grams) should work out fine. For six ounce kettles, you can put in 6 Oz. of popcorn seed and so on.

If you are entertaining or serving commercially a larger group, then a six ounce(180 gram) or eight ounce(220 gram) kettle is necessary. Most commercial popcorn machine kettles allow you to put in up to two extra ounces of popcorn. What is the amount of oil necessary to create great tasting theater popcorn. If you add the popcorn to the kettle manually, the general rule is two thirds popcorn and one third oil.

If you follow these guidelines when operating your commercial popcorn machine, your popcorn machine will serve you well with fewer break downs, and fewer trips to the repair shop.

When word gets around about your command of commercial popcorn poppers facts, others who need to know about commercial popcorn poppers will start to actively seek you out.

A Look at Commercial Popcorn Machines (commercial popcorn poppers)

A Look at Commercial Popcorn Machines

Imagine the next time you join a discussion about commercial popcorn poppers. When you start sharing the fascinating commercial popcorn poppers facts below, your friends will be absolutely amazed.



If you find yourself confused by what you've read to this point, don't despair. Everything should be crystal clear by the time you finish.

Most people have loved popcorn their entire lives. Young children not only ate it as a healthy snack but also made popcorn ropes and hung them around their Christmas trees and for arts and craft projects.

Adults love the taste of popcorn but also enjoy it even more because it is a high fiber, low calorie snack. Popcorn is easy to make but easy to find already popped and ready to take anywhere. With society being so health conscious today, popcorn is fast becoming the number one snack food. Schools have put in popcorn vending machines to encourage children to snack healthier.

Popcorn tastes and smells wonderful, it is inexpensive, satisfies the munchies without being too filling, has no cholesterol and is low in calories. No many snack foods can claim this.

Popcorn Machines for Homes

There was no such thing as a popcorn machine until the late nineteenth century even though popcorn was around for thousands of years. The first mobile popcorn machine appeared at the World's Columbian Exposition in 1893. The inventor was Charles Cretors. Now, you can find commercial popcorn machines everywhere, including theatres, department stores, carnivals and food shows across the country. With the development of smaller and less expensive popcorn machines, many people now have them in their homes. People choose home popcorn machines usually by brand and model but should also consider safety, durability and size of each batch. If you have a large family then you will require a popcorn machine that makes larger batches.

Commercial Popcorn Machine Shopping

When it comes to commercial popcorn machines for a business, then shopping for them will take more time and consideration. You need to determine the correct size of commercial machine your business needs to fit the demand. During your busiest time of day, try to estimate approximately how many one-ounce servings of popcorn you would sell in one hour. Divide this figure by sixteen and this will give you the size of the commercial popcorn machine you need.

When shopping for a commercial machine, find out how easy it is to clean the machine. There is nothing worse than buying anything that requires hours of work to clean as people will not use it after a while. Popcorn machines with aluminum or stainless steel kettles are very easy to clean, durable and the best when it comes to heat transfer and durability. The kettle heats up faster so there is less time spent waiting for it to pop. Tempered glass and stainless steel clean-out trays make cleaning easier. A heated popcorn deck is necessary to keep the popcorn hot.

No matter what commercial popcorn machine you choose, make sure there is a booklet with the safety and operating instructions. Always keep it handy so if a problem comes up, you can fix it.

Knowing enough about commercial popcorn poppers to make solid, informed choices cuts down on the fear factor. If you apply what you've just learned about commercial popcorn poppers, you should have nothing to worry about.

Use a Popcorn Machine to Make Perfect Popcorns

Use a Popcorn Machine to Make Perfect Popcorns

The following paragraphs summarize the work of commercial popcorn poppers experts who are completely familiar with all the aspects of commercial popcorn poppers. Heed their advice to avoid any commercial popcorn poppers surprises.



The information about commercial popcorn poppers presented here will do one of two things: either it will reinforce what you know about commercial popcorn poppers or it will teach you something new. Both are good outcomes.

Also known as popcorn poppers, popcorn machines are able to heat sweetcorn kernels until they expand to form popcorn. They are made up of large sealed chutes that serve as room for the popping kernels. They may also have accessories like serving bowls, measuring cups, etc. Some models also allow you to mix in flavors, and can also be used for making puffed rice and roasting coffee.

Pop with air or oil?

Popcorn machines are available either in hot oil or hot air models.

• Hot oil model: These work by transferring heat from the container to the kernels. Add oil and butter to prevent the kernels from sticking onto the pan and clumping together. However, you need to provide more flavor in them compared to the hot air model.

• Hot air model: It works by creating a bed of hot air in the chute for heating the kernels. They do not need butter or oil to prevent clumping or sticking, which makes this model ideal for health-concerned individuals. However, the popcorn tends to taste bland and you may need to add in more flavoring.

Buying your machine

Make sure to check on the materials and its efficiency when buying a popcorn machine. Those with a nonstick container are ideal for easier cleaning. For safety, pick a popcorn machine with an insulated casing and a stay-cool handle. Furthermore, pick one with a clear plastic lid and chute so you can observe the popcorn while it's popping.

Pop everything!

Efficient popcorn machines should be capable of popping most or every kernel. Small chutes have limited spaces for expansion so there is a possibility for unpopped kernels. Large chutes are ideal for big batches of popcorn.

That's how things stand right now. Keep in mind that any subject can change over time, so be sure you keep up with the latest news. See u next at the articles about commercial popcorn poppers. I recommend you to visit this site too Guide to POPCORN MACHINES