https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/popcorn-machine-who-has-one

Lots of information in this thread

The Whirly Pop makes about the best damn popcorn I have every had. Plus it’s cheap and easy to clean

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When I was in college l we had a full-blown Cretors popcorn popper. That’s the brand the most movie theaters have. It was awesome. No maintenance. We just had to take some basic steps to keep it somewhat clean.

I love my popcorn machine, and got a lot of good recommendations from the earlier mentioned thread. Here is what I use, minimal upkeep, great popcorn everytime:

Machine - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002Z9LHAG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title
Popcorn/oil/salt - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B096438MRN
Extra seasoning - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007HN5KNA/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title
Butter type topping (really makes it taste like the theaters) - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AXK9ROC

I sprinkle a bit of extra seasoning, then use a squirt bottle for the butterish liquid

All those "artificial" butter oils and salts etc have been linked to Alzheimers. Nasty stuff. I suggest olive oil and plain ol salt (finely ground)

I just go to Publix, popcorn there is pretty good! $2.99 last time I bought a bag. One of my cats is a popcorn fanatic and craves it.

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It is our dogs favorite thing... both of them go nuts for popcorn.

Nice looking cat! What kind is that - Abyssinian?

We got this one without the cart about a year ago. We like it without the cart to be able to bring it out and use it and then put it away when we aren't using it. We've been really happy with it. We like their popcorn/oil/salt packs for it too.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002Z9GDYG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title

Make sure you order some Flavacol while you're at it!

That’s him as a kitten. Now he’s an 18 month Abyssinian.

The popcorn machine discussion always makes me think of this hillarious scene from "New Girl" when Jess thinks Cece is into Nick but she's just trying to talk him into one for the bar:

When you guys get serious about some popcorn http://www.dunbarmanufacturing.com/

My family owns the business.

I think I'm gonna remove mine from the cart and bring it upstairs from the game room and see if we use it more.

My secret weapon for great popcorn finishing is using warm clarified butter (ghee) instead of regular butter or the nuclear-orange oil. It coats the popcorn rather than making it soggy like regular melted butter does. You can make it yourself or just buy it in jars at Publix, etc.

I've been using the whirley pop from that popcorn thread, coconut oil, good quality kernels, 1/2 tsp of flavacol when popping, and finishing it with nuclear orange butter flavored oil. Pretty darn close to theater popcorn and not $15 a batch! We would have gotten a popcorn machine but don't have the counterspace and don't want/have the space for a cart.

After seeing this post...I went and bought the whirly Pop along with some buttery coconut oil & Flavorcol.

Are there any pointers for someone who's going to use these products for the 1st time?

It'll take some experimenting with your burner and at what setting to put your stove on. I have an LG gas stove, and on the biggest burner, I have mine set to 4 (which is medium). I use a 1 oz ice cream scoop to measure the coconut oil, 1/2 tsp of Flavacol, and just a smidgen under 1/2 C of kernels.

Everything in the popper, whirl it until you don't hear any popping anymore, then keep cooking for another 30-40 seconds. I found that this helped dry the popcorn more. Then toss it into your bowl and top it with extra seasoning or butter flavoring.

I have a glass top cooking surface. It'll take some experimenting.

Dude that fake butter topping is like liquid death. I'd avoid that shit.

yup. linked to Alzheimer's too
I bought some once, noticed how fake it looked, smelled and tasted. Researched. Tossed in trash

Second this

So I'm enjoying the pop corn machine thread then it turns to Liquid Death! LOL

Diacetyl is an inhalation hazard, mainly to factory workers and vapers of vape containing it. There was one study that extrapolated a link to Alzheimers, and that study has not been backed up. Alzheimers has touched my family too so I'm not insensitive to it.

But let's stop eating everything that includes diacetyl including Popcorn, Potato chips, Crackers, Corn chips, Chocolate, Cookies, Cocoa-flavor products, Gelatin, Candy, Flour mixes, Syrup with flavoring, Frostings, Chewing gum, Ice cream, Soft drinks, Sauces

Along with processed foods, diacetyl occurs naturally in: Dairy products, Beer and wine, Honey and most fruits, Coffee

And while we're at it, Chlorine causes lung problems similar to diacetyl, better stop swimming in pools.

Yep, you'll have to experiment. It took me a handful of batches to get it right. I tried really hot to medium to low. And it always came out a little too chewy. But now I've got it where it's nice and crispy and I can pop nearly 100% of the kernels. My kids always get excited to see how many kernels are left once we finish the bowl. Usually there's only 1 or 2 left.

Man, I'm not one to rag on a great long-standing American business, but dude that website needs an update.

Also, your company name is misspelled in your footer:
Dunbar Manufactuing * 390 N. Gilbert St. * South Elgin, Illinois 60177 * USA *

Honestly he just stuck that up because. It's been proven several times any kind of advertising for us is a waste of money. If your looking for this type of machine you find us one way or another. Think PBR (Steve Young) only around much longer. We've owned the business since 61 when it was moved out of Chicago.

That's pretty cool.

In another life I was a machinist at a shop that made custom piston rings. I was talking to the owner one day about why he didn't advertise, and he said the same thing - if someone is looking for them, they'll find us, there are only a few places that do what we do.

I have a small 4oz movie theater style popper, works good but it has never produced movie theater quality popcorn... until today. I have always wondered why theater popcorn has that perfect cruchiness to it but I couldn't replicate it at home.

Many will say it is about the oil temperature not being hot enough but that is only a very small part of the problem. Theaters actually have "popcorn conditioners"(the display case) that they put their popcorn in. It blows hot air over the popcorn to keep it warm but more importantly to crisp it up perfectly crunchy.

I don't have a "popcorn conditioner" nor do I really want to buy one, but I do have a common alternative though. An air fryer. I put my freshly popped popcorn or even day old popcorn in the air fryer for a few minutes and it gives it that perfect crunch I was desiring.

This is great! Where's the thread on boiled peanuts? I could use some insight on that too.

100% - I pop my popcorn in ghee using this popper
Ghee has a high smoke point and gives it a great taste
top if off with Redmond Real Salt
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This is amazing. i literally bought my commercial popper just to be able to make my popcorn less chewy and while improved it still isn't perfect. I'm totally going to try this.