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Popcorn Buyer's Guide Checklist

Shopping around for a popcorn machine can be overwhelming and confusing, so here are a few things to consider that will allow you to best determine the machine that will be right for you:

What Wattage do I need?

Basically, the higher the wattage of your popcorn machine, the quicker the cooking time. If you're looking for a home theater machine that will allow for quicker popping times, I recommend buying a model with at least 640 watts or more. Models with lower wattages are fine especially if you know you won't need to be making large batches of popcorn. If you want your popcorn quicker or are hosting an event you might want to consider a popcorn machine with 860 watts or more.

See the Popcorn Yields page for more info.

What Size Kettle do I need?

You may be wondering how much popcorn is best suited for your household. The size of the kettle will help you decide which home popcorn machine is right for your needs (it's not the only consideration of course, pay attention to Warranties, manuals, customer service availability, etc.). The larger the kettle the more volume your popcorn machine will produce.

See the Popcorn Yields page for more info.

Top Quality Materials

Make sure that the manufacturer that you choose uses premium grade steel and tempered glass that is scratch resistant and less prone to warping.

One of the most important considerations in my decision to purchase, in addition to warranty, was to make sure that my machine was made with metal gears, NOT PLASTIC, as is the case with some makers. Machines that may look VERY similar (especially online) can have drastically different quality parts that can affect the longevity and durability of your machine.

Price

With money tight these days, surprisingly, owning your own popcorn machine is a lot less expensive than you might think. Why pay up to a thousand dollars or more when you can buy the same quality home popcorn machine for a fraction of the cost.

You know your budget best, to be sure, and there are some phenomenal deals out there...remember to look at consumer reviews, especially when selecting an economy machine...

Warranty

A MAJOR consideration is the manufacturer's warranty. There are companies claiming to provide 5 year warranties on machines but you CANNOT CONTACT THEM...I know this from experience. A 5 year warranty from a company that is impossible to get hold of is obviously worthless...make sure you're dealing with a reputable company and that you can reach them by phone.

Look for manufacturers that offer specific details of their warranty...for instance: "3 years on machine 30 days on kettle and lights".

How important is it to have a built-in warming deck and heat lamp?

Premium machines have warming decks for superior popcorn holding. Having the heating element underneath the deck helps keep the popped corn crisp and reduces the problem of having your popcorn turning out chewy. Combining this feature with the lamp/light provides you with popcorn that remains warm and fresh for hours.

Look for machines with these features to ensure that your popcorn stays fresh and warm...you didn't spend all that money for cold corn!

Premium Packaging and the ease of buying online

Premium popcorn machine companies have products that are professionally packaged in double wall boxed cardboard. I found most popcorn machine companies have shipped thousands of products and also make sure their popcorn machines are delivered to your doorstep safe and sound. Buying my machine online was so much easier than trying to find a way to transport it home on my own. It came right to my front door within a few days.

If you don't live near a retail store that carries the model or style that you're looking for, make sure that it's going to get to you in one piece.

 

Tips for Popcorn Machine Owners

 


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