Popcorn today is not only an indispensable attribute of a film show, but also a great treat for a large company for a friendly conversation. The delicacy on a large scale is traditionally sold at public events (usually it was carnivals) and in cinemas in the United States since the end of the 19th century, and in Russia the first popcorn maker appeared in the 90s of the 20th century. Of course, they were able to fry a special “exploding” variety of corn in a frying pan, receiving surprisingly delicious popped grains, up to this point, but on a real industrial scale, popcorn production began only after the popularization of special machines.
Isn't it easier to make popcorn at home in a pan?
Now for the delicious popcorn you do not need to go to the cinema or the shopping and entertainment center. Popcorn lovers have long been accustomed to cook a treat in the microwave or in an ordinary frying pan. Ready-to-eat popcorn or raw materials for making goodies at home can be purchased at many supermarkets.
But such popcorn usually does not have a “real” taste: popcorn is fresh, there is very little or no caramel or thick syrup, bursting grains are soft and simply “crumple” in the mouth into a homogeneous porridge, and you don’t even have to talk about the pleasant smell of goodies. Cooking popcorn in the microwave or in a pan is very troublesome, and the taste is not the same.
For lovers of sweet or salty popped grains, there is a great way out - buying an apparatus for making popcorn at home.
The principle of operation of the apparatus for making popcorn
The mechanism of action of popcorn has changed little since its invention back in 1885 by Charles Cretor of Ichkago. True, the first car was steam, and today's counterparts operate due to electricity.
To get goodies in the machine for making popcorn, you need to pour a small amount of oil and fill in the required number of corn grains. Salt or sugar, aromatic additives, non-stick agent are also added. Previously, the boiler is heated to a temperature of 200-400 degrees (depending on the model, the temperature can vary significantly).
Under the influence of heat, as in a frying pan or in a microwave oven, the grains burst. Moisture inside the nuclei breaks the shell, turning into steam, and quickly hardens. Some machines for making popcorn are equipped in such a way that the finished treat lifts the boiler lid and pours out into a separate container, while in others popcorn remains in the compartment where the raw material was initially filled.
Popcorn design
The device for making popcorn at home can have different equipment. Most often, a compact machine is a rotating platform with a protective cover, sometimes transparent, which allows you to observe the whole process. In such devices, the finished product remains in the bowl where the grains are poured. You can find various models: the apparatus for making popcorn "ball", machines with a neat and modern design, or devices that look like a double boiler or an ordinary pan.
Larger devices have a one-piece housing, inside of which a boiler is installed. Such machines kind of “spit out” the finished treat in a separate container, which allows you to try refreshments without waiting until all the grains burst. Usually they are made in retro style for home use or for making popcorn outdoors during public events. There are industrial designs - solid ovens without additional decor.
Where to buy a popcorn machine
Popcorn makers are generally hard to find in ordinary household appliance stores. This statement is especially true when it comes to small cities. You can choose a suitable home machine for making popcorn from a variety of models, get manager's advice and pay for the purchase via the Internet. Online stores specializing in the sale of such devices, grains and flavors provide a wide selection of models for home and industrial use.
What to look for when choosing popcronitsa
The device for making popcorn, like any other technique, should be carefully selected. It is necessary to evaluate how the product meets expectations in several ways. First of all, you should pay attention to:
- sizes
- performance;
- functionality;
- appearance;
- cost;
- guarantee.
Dimensions and performance
First of all, you need to start from your own needs: you should not buy a large outdoor popcorn if popcorn is supposed to be prepared occasionally for gatherings with a couple of friends. On the contrary, for a large company, which often gathers together to watch the latest news in a home theater, a compact device is hardly suitable.
Its performance also depends on the size of the machine. The dimensions of the apparatus for making popcorn can vary significantly: in online stores both compact devices and real giants for industrial production are presented. Small models (20x20x20 cm) are able to cook about 1 kg of popcorn per hour, larger devices (50x50x80 cm) produce up to 6-7 kg of popcorn for the same period of time.
Functionality and Appearance
As for functionality, most of the devices differ little among themselves: all of them can cook both sweet and salty popcorn. However, some provide for the preparation of tasty delicacies without the use of oil, which is a definite plus for those who care about their health.
The devices on the market have a different design. Depending on your own preferences, you can purchase an apparatus for making retro-style popcorn or in the form of a soccer ball, an ear of corn or a can of Coca-Cola. There are neat devices reminiscent of a conventional combine that fit perfectly into the interior of any modern kitchen.
Cost and Warranty
Pleased machines for making popcorn and affordable cost. The price of a high-quality device starts from 2 thousand rubles, but for large models you will have to pay up to 15 thousand or more, depending on the performance of the device. You can find popcorn even for 500 rubles, but the quality of such a device is expected to be very low, and the warranty is only two weeks. For other models, warranty service extends from 1 year to 5 years.
Popcorn Makers
The production facilities of the main suppliers of popcorn machines are located in China, but this does not reduce the quality of the equipment. Well-known manufacturers such as Starfood, Gastrorag, Vitek or Gemlux. The Sikom company delivers popcorn to the domestic market.
If you need to choose a good machine for making popcorn, reviews will be important, you should definitely pay attention to them before buying. Finding information about what users think of the competitive model will not be difficult.
Making popcorn in the machine
Cooking popcorn in a special apparatus does not cause difficulties. You just need to fill the corn grains into the compartment, if necessary add a small amount of oil and turn on the device. After 3-5 minutes, the popcorn will be ready. You can pour the finished treat with caramel or fruit syrup.
Or maybe in business?
A popcorn maker is often purchased to sell popcorn in shopping malls or movie theaters. The business does not require large initial investments, quickly pays off and brings good profits, which is why it is popular.
It is worth considering that a compact machine for making popcorn in this case will not work: it just might not have enough power to satisfy demand. The equipment must be purchased full-scale, with good performance and the possibility of working outdoors provided by the manufacturer.
Proper equipment care
Any technique needs proper care. The popcorn maker should be washed after each use and should not be cooked in the same oil more than once. You need to carefully handle the device and operate it in full accordance with the instructions, this will avoid damage and extend the life of the machine for making popcorn.