Essential kit: A real popcorn machine!

OCdude · 16 Jul 2013 at 09:52

I'm thinking of getting a "proper" popcorn maker (around 8oz) for my home cinema and I was just wondering if anyone here can make any recommendations?

I've started looking on various sites and it's become immediately apparent that there are lots of Chinese knock-offs which, while looking good, I'm sure will turn out to be cheap, plasticy rubbish that breaks after a few uses!

To give you an idea of the style/size that I'm after, these are the models I'm currently ogling. However they're American and I can't find shipping that's less than around £200.......! :'(

Budget is between £200-400 but i'd ideally like to be nearer to £200

Here's an example of one of the Chinese knock-offs that I keep seeing:

Maybe i'm wrong and maybe the Chinese ones "are" okay.... so i'd appreciate any suggestions!

Cuchulain · 16 Jul 2013 at 09:56

I'm sure they're fine, if you're happy leaving this earth in a ball of flaming death.

OCdude · 16 Jul 2013 at 10:06

Cuchulain said:
I'm sure they're fine, if you're happy leaving this earth in a ball of flaming death.

Hah, yeah that was one of my concerns! Plus, from the videos i've managed to find on YouTube, the cheaper ones have really annoying loud motors.

the shadow · 16 Jul 2013 at 10:06

covenantuk · 16 Jul 2013 at 10:12

I don't think you really need an 8oz machine. That's about 4 gallons of popcorn at a time.

A 4oz will be cheaper and seem easier to source

But anyway - £199+vat+delivery?

http://www.buzzcateringsupplies.com...ent/fast-food-equipment/popcorn-machines.html

Or try asking here? http://www.tansik.co.uk/NLG-82+Desktop+Popcorn+Machine.html

covenantuk · 16 Jul 2013 at 10:18

Actually - this looks like a great deal for a US manufactured one:

http://www.lmcateringequipment.co.uk/scripts/prodList.asp?idCategory=1276

Psycho Sonny · 16 Jul 2013 at 10:28

my microwave does this already for "free", why not spend the £200 on epic movie posters, memorabilia, etc instead? having a huge popcorn maker for show just seems pointless tbh.

booyaka · 16 Jul 2013 at 10:58

Psycho Sonny said:
my microwave does this already for "free", why not spend the £200 on epic movie posters, memorabilia, etc instead? having a huge popcorn maker for show just seems pointless tbh.

kind of agree with this - stick it in the microwave and spend the £200 on other stuff for the room.

PhillyDee · 16 Jul 2013 at 11:26

Why buy a toaster when you have a grill?

The op wants a popcorn maker.

Find someone with a Costco card, I know I have seen them in there (though they do not appear on the website).

Martynt74 · 16 Jul 2013 at 11:27

My wife bought something very similar to this

http://p.playserver1.com/ProductImages/7/9/6/2/2/5/7/3/37522697_300x300_1.jpg

** No Hotlinking - Please read the Rules on posting images before replacing image tags***

Its alright but its a hassle making sweet popcorn.

Psycho Sonny · 16 Jul 2013 at 11:40

PhillyDee said:
Why buy a toaster when you have a grill?

The op wants a popcorn maker.

Find someone with a Costco card, I know I have seen them in there (though they do not appear on the website).

toaster uses less electricity, is far more efficient and quicker.

the op on the other hand wants a popcorn maker to make his cinema experience more authentic, this could be achieved by having cinema posters or memorabilia, etc.

having a huge popcorn maker is going to look stupid unless it is full of popcorn, which will become stale, etc. unless he eats a hell of a lot on a daily basis, which is stupid because it isnt very nutritional.

buying a smaller model defeats the purpose tbh of what he is trying to achieve, therefore he is better off going down another route as the ones i suggested above.

Wizzfizz · 16 Jul 2013 at 13:11

I can only imagine that having one of those would stink your house out.

covenantuk · 16 Jul 2013 at 13:14

Guys, it's his money, he can buy what he likes.

I'd quite like a full sized pinball table and a Missile Command arcade cabinet, which are equally useless in the scheme of things....

varkanoid · 18 Jul 2013 at 14:08

covenantuk said:
I don't think you really need an 8oz machine. That's about 4 gallons of popcorn at a time.

I could eat that easily watching a film.

If you have the money and want to be a completist then a proper popcorn maker is excellent for a home cinema.

x22dan · 18 Jul 2013 at 14:23

Buy a usb popcorn maker

jakehall109 · 18 Jul 2013 at 14:24

How much do you eat? Will a microwave not do the job?

Raymond Lin · 18 Jul 2013 at 14:42

Exactly - I have a £300 ice cream maker. lol But i use it to make flavours that they never sell - next one on my list is Vanilla with Dime Bar.

Although on the other hand, popcorn is popcorn, you want it fast and instant and microwave is best. If you want to make it from your own corn then there are on stove top ones too. You can play with flavours with those as easy as the machine. If you want the machine as decorations then that's fine too.

As a whole, I think the actual usage of it is very limited. The machine will need clearning, harder to clean than a stove top pan. It takes up a lot of space. There are zeor practical reasons for getting it, only the need to get it.

Perhaps you can find a used one somewhere on eBay cheap, even if it is broken, but authentic one. Then you have the look for your cinema room without the price tag.

PlatinumLiam · 18 Jul 2013 at 15:03

Raymond Lin said:
Exactly - I have a £300 ice cream maker. lol But i use it to make flavours that they never sell - next one on my list is Vanilla with Dime Bar.

Although on the other hand, popcorn is popcorn, you want it fast and instant and microwave is best. If you want to make it from your own corn then there are on stove top ones too. You can play with flavours with those as easy as the machine. If you want the machine as decorations then that's fine too.

As a whole, I think the actual usage of it is very limited. The machine will need clearning, harder to clean than a stove top pan. It takes up a lot of space. There are zeor practical reasons for getting it, only the need to get it.

Perhaps you can find a used one somewhere on eBay cheap, even if it is broken, but authentic one. Then you have the look for your cinema room without the price tag.

Let me know how your vanilla with dime bar tastes as my local italian ice cream shop sells vanilla with dime bar and it tastes great.

Raymond Lin · 18 Jul 2013 at 15:34

I swear they are reading these forums stealing all my ideas !

A couple of years ago I thought of Lemon meringue flavour and then 6 months later I saw it in Sainsbury's !

Then I thought of peanut butter and jam, then I saw it in M&S !

The only one they've not made my Pineapple with roasted cashew & dark chocolate pieces and Vanilla with Jaffa Cake !

Nick1881 · 18 Jul 2013 at 15:56

Ice creams at Raymonds house then?