Just like a grill, you have to "season" the kettle.

After a few batches, all the manufacturing oils will burn away.

Some people do the seasoning outside to avoid the stench

Once seasoned, just wipe occasionally with a paper towel

Sounds like there is oil on the kettle lining to prevent rust during storage. I'd clean it with food grade soapy water (Dish soap), rinse, dry, and the use.

There was definitely some residual oil from the factory. Wiped down the kettle with a little soap water, rinsed, then wiped dry. Then I ran through 2 more batches outside which was a good idea because it still had stink and something was smoking from it. The last batch would have probably been good to eat but trashed it and it is up and running fine now.

If anyone get a new machine try this it worked for me. Thanks for the advice.

Also a founding member of the Detroit Pinball League, still going after 12+ years -

Does the size of the kettle make a different in popcorn quality? I only have a 6 oz Olde Midway popper. I’ve been using the Great Northern 6 oz pre packs. I put the oil in first and let it heat for a minute or so. Then I add the salt which I’ve read is actually Flavacol. Then after another 2 or 3 minutes I add the kernels. I’ve tried different oil heating times but I keep getting a lot of under popped kernels. Small, hard popcorn instead of larger fluffy popcorn. Also getting a lot of old maids. Any ideas or suggestions?

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Put the oil in.

When the oil is smoking HOT, add the corn then the flavicol.

When the corn popping slows down to maybe 1 kernel per second, dump the kettle and turn it off.

Open the door and let the steam out for crispier corn after its dumped from the kettle. Toss it around to evenly cover the flavicol and let more steam out.

Dont wait for all the popping to stop, the corn can get singed or have a roasted burned taste.

Practice makes perfect.

Dont wash the kettle, just wipe it out and let it get seasoned.

Popped corn is good for a long time (2 months) in ziploc bags. Microwave it briefly (30 secs or less) to freshen it up.

I usually make about 10 batches at a time and eat it over a couple weeks.

Thanks for the tips. I will try letting it heat longer. I do just wipe out the kettle. I only have a few bags of the pre measured kits left. I think I’m going to switch to something else. I usually cut each section of the bag and dump it in the kettle but it’s kind of tricky because it’s so small.

The oil has to be screaming hot before adding the corn.

We don't want to slow cook the kernels.

Thanks. I’ll definitely try letting it heat much longer.

Just watch your finger on the edge of the kettle, I tend to singe mine every once in a while.

Interesting.

I’ve tried it both ways and I like mine best when it’s added to oil that has just liquified. I add the oil and as soon as it’s liquid, I add the corn. I also dump mine early compared to when most people probably do.

We like it better that way.

I also tried it both ways and add the popcorn as soon as the oil is melted. It doesn’t take very long if I preheat the kettle as instructed.

I don't have a popper, but I make popcorn in a sauce pan fairly regularly, coconut oil flavacol, sort of the way you guys all do it in the poppers. If I put the corn in right after the oil is liquid, it ends up tasting greasy to me when it's done, I wait till the oil is hot af and drop the corn then. Probably matter of taste I guess.

I scoop the oil into the kettle, then add flavacol, then 2-3 kernels. Once those pop I add the rest of the kernels. Once the popping slows down I dump them out and mix up the batch.

Last night was the best batch of popcorn I’ve made in the 2 years since I’ve had this machine. It was delicious. I used less popcorn and more oil. This is a small 6 oz kettle. I didn’t use the pre packs this time. I used about 4 oz of Great Northern kernels instead of the 6 oz of kernels the 6 oz pre packs come with. I also used about 3 tablespoons of coconut oil. I’m pretty sure that’s more than I was using with the pre packs. I was a little light on the Flavacol but that’s ok. I’ll adjust that. I don’t know what did it. Less kernels giving them more room in the kettle or the more oil. Or maybe it was a little of both. I also gave the oil a good 5 minutes for it to get really hot which I’ve been doing. More experimenting to do.

More coconut oil is the answer.... For so many things.

Good to know, thanks.

Jumped behind the bar to see what ingredients my bar uses to make the best popcorn I've ever had. Has anyone here ever tried Sysco's Creamy Soybean Pan & Grill Shortning or where to even buy it? Also adding just a little salt once finished. Their machine is probably 10+ years old making 4-5 batches per day and looks to be holding up perfectly well.

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Soybean? That’s a big no!

Why do you say that?

Do you say that because of taste or smoke point

Its grilling shortening. It should be fine with the high smoke point.

As long as it doesnt burn up black, it should work.

Tons of popcorn is made on the stove top every day with a little plain vegetable oil in the pan then dusted with salt.

It’s not good for you. We generally avoid it in anything we get. But I’m sure it will be fine for its use.

What makes you say that it’s not good for you? Which oil do you use?

We use coconut oil for popcorn and most of what we do at home. And I use sprouted popcorn. Seasoning I'm still using Flavacol as I have 3 lifetimes worth of it. But I shouldn't really preach. My wife has turned me into a fanatic looking at things we buy to eat and soybean is one we avoid. I have a gene mutation and need to avoid high histamine foods/drinks as well as other things. https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/popcorn-machine-who-has-one/page/24#post-4098904

TL;DR: Soybean oil is probably fine and was just spouting my useless opinions on it!

Well if I can find this somewhere I will try it and report back. The problem buying anything Sysco it's restaurant quantity and you need to buy it by the ton lol.

Ask your bar to sell you some.

Bartender! I'll have a pint of grill shortning please.

https://ezshop.primesxm.com/fsd-shortening-pan-grill-3x1-1-gal-piece.html

Pricey for just soybean oil with artificial flavorings

I wonder if a vegetable oil and shortening batch would be any good. Wouldn’t it be the same thing?

Great Northern Lincoln popper is $129 on woot. Valid for the next 23 days. Free shipping for prime members:

https://home.woot.com/offers/great-northern-lincoln-8-ounce-antique-popcorn-machine-bar-style-2?utm_medium=share&utm_source=app

It’s a great deal if you ask me.

That's a great unit that you see in every mom & pop pub.

Easy to service.

Says Sold Out already RIP

GD I just got back on here to find this. I didn't get a chance to look at it earlier.

F.Y.I. if you do not have a concession supply in a near by city. Check in Rural King if one is close. The local one has a section in snacks for popcorn machines. Looked like 10 pound or so bags of kernels, flavacol, bags, and various supplies. Empty spot on the self for red coconut oil.
We have a Great Northern machine scheduled to deliver Saturday. I had grabbed some refined coconut oil and ghee at the grocery earlier.

Today is National Popcorn Day in the States

https://www.today.com/food/snacks/national-popcorn-day-deals-2024-rcna134383

Yay!

Finally found what to do with old maids!

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Our Grandson is visiting this weekend. Yesterday evening he ate 2 8 ounce batchs of popcorn. 15 yearolds are hollow.

I would have shit like a goose for days

That’s a quick 3400 calories and 56 grams of fiber by my recipe.

I remember being able to eat an entire large pizza as a teenager - in “one sitting”. No way I could do that now without more than “one shitting”.

Yep, today was craptastic for Buddy. Might have broken his record from the time he ate 36 slim jims....

That’s an outrageous amount of fiber for one to consume. It’s like 4x my daily target amount. This too shall pass buddy

Who is ready to stick their body parts into the Dune2 popcorn bucket?
Does this popcorn seem extra salty to you?FoxNews is going to be pissed..

Endless Possibilities

Release date is March 1st.

Im getting it!

So, usually for big gatherings, I like to use popcorn bags (I keep them in the brochure holder on top of the machine, as seen in a prior post) because I can buy them buy the case of 1000 and people can grab them at their leisure.

But the other night I had a smaller gathering, and found that these smaller buckets were perfect, and fit right in the cup holders:

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$7 for 50

https://www.webstaurantstore.com/carnival-king-24-oz-popcorn-cup-pack/999V24.html

My wife snagged a Nostalgia Electrics popper off of our neighborhood 'buy nothing' group a while back. I love it - really thought the kids would be more into it! Been experimenting with flavacol & coconut oil ratios over here as well. We were planning to use it as 'movie night' incentive (kids insist they HATE watching movies, thought popcorn might help them get into the spirit) but hadn't considered them being a good 'game night' ingredient too!

Those Dune worms are everywhere now

Puddles Pity Party - Brain Damage / Eclipse (Pink Floyd Cover)