There really is an abundance of options to choose from when looking for the best commercial popcorn machine. Whether choosing a commercial-grade popcorn popper for business use in a movie theatre or concession stand or for home use, you have several top products to consider.
These reviews can help you find the best fit for a convenience store or simply shopping for the best popcorn machine for home theatre use. So, before you invest in something that is overpriced and won’t do the job you want, here are a few options to consider to find the right fit for business (home theater) or home use.
The 5 Best Commercial Popcorn Machines
| Editor's Pick | Brand | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Top Pick | 6097 Great Northern Popcorn - 8 Ounce | 4.3 |
| Best Budget Pick | Popcorn Popper with 8-Ounce Kettle by Olde Midway | 4.5 |
| Best one | Nostalgia Vintage 10-Oz Professional Popcorn Machine with Cart | 4.6 |
| Recommendation | Popcorn Popper with 8-Ounce Kettle by Olde Midway | 4.5 |
| Average | 8 Ounce Black Bar Style Antique Popcorn Machine by Great Northern | 4.4 |
The market is filled with a variety of styles, sizes, and capacities, so you might be wondering. I have enhanced the list from antique carts and classic theater-design popcorn popper to large-scale stainless-steel poppers to look no further. These commercial poppers can handle large crowds very easily by perfectly popping every kernel. I hope you find this list useful.
Here are the Best Commercial Popcorn Machine Products
1. Top Pick – Old-fashioned Cart: 6097 Popcorn Popper Machine – 8 Ounce
The antique style reminds memories of the earliest days in ball games, carnivals or cinemas! These high-quality machines feature stainless steel food zones, easy-clean stainless steel kettles with water, a separate heating deck, old-maid drawers (for unexploded kernels), tempered safety glass panels and a business leading 8-ounce kettle.
Key Features:
- It is approximately 5 feet tall and 2 feet wide
- It has a warming deck and lamp for warm and fresh popcorn
- Comes with the aluminum scooper
- Large & high-quality storage
- Stainless steel kettle and food surfaces
- Removable kettle and the cord is around 3 feet long
2. Best Pick – Vintage Style Cart: Commercial Popcorn Machine with 8-Ounce Kettle
It is built with very durable materials, including powder coated steel and stainless steel food areas, tempered safety glass walls, vibrant, richly pigmented paint quality, and a powerful, commercial-grade motor.
Key Features:
- 3 switches function includes a spotlight heater, a stirrer, and a pot heater
- 1/2 cup measuring cup, scoop, popcorn spoon, and salt shaker included
- US-standard 120 volt power cord
- Detachable kettle
Note: A minor assembly is required
3. Best Value Popcorn Maker – Vintage Style: 10 oz Professional Popcorn Machine with Cart
The machine is built with heavy duty stainless steel and thick tempered glass walls (not Plexiglas / plastic walls). It has a flexible capacity to use with up to 10 oz of kernels per batch.
Key Features:
- 19-inch wheels
- built-in stirring mode
- 2 removable glass doors
- Removable tilt metal tray door, Unpopped metal kernel filter, metal crumb tray
- It comes with a 1-year limited warranty
4. Great for Large Quantities: Without Cart – Classic Popcorn Machine 8 Ounce
The machine is ideal for large venues including convention centers, arenas, and amusement parks and it offers a larger practical popper at a competitive value position. The unit is very tall, with a compact footprint.
Key Features:
- It pops very quickly
- Cart for 8 oz unit sold separately, click to see
- It comes with an aerated warming deck to prevent heat loss
- Comes with the standard 3-pin plug
- Very efficient machine and easy to clean
- Comes with a one-year warranty
5. Highly Budget Popper: Theater Series Commercial Popcorn Machine – 12 ounces
This popcorn machine works very well. It is well made, and pneumatic tilt is an excellent feature. The light warns it’s hot enough to put in the popcorn is also convenient.
Key Features:
- Takes 3-5 min for theatre-quality popcorn
- 12 oz. machine pops 221 one-ounce servings /hour
- Comes with a large plastic scoop
- Produces large amounts of popcorn
- Well worth of money
- Very easy to clean
6. 16-Ounce Commercial Bar Style Popcorn Popper
With a 16 oz capacity size, this might not work for a small home theater but is a good option for convenience stores, gas stations, or movie theatre. It features a kettle which takes a very short time to heat up with motor spins at 15 RPM.
This guarantees it is always ready when you need to pop up a batch, and can’t wait for the kettle to heat up for fast-paced use. As it starts to pop, the popcorn will fall onto the warming deck, where it can remain for a fairly long period of time without cooling off.
The warming deck works in conjunction with a light system, so the popcorn will remain fresh until it is ordered to be served. It features an easy tilt mechanism, so the popper won’t overfill or topple over in the event you put too many kernels in it.
And, the bright red top not only stands out, but makes it ideal for a movie theatre, or even an at-home movie theatre you want to mimic in your home. It has an extremely quiet operational system and silent motor, so you will barely notice it is on and popping, even if it stays on all day. The kettle can be removed which makes it easier to clean when not in use.
Simple in design, elegant, and reasonably sized popping capacity, make this a great option for a home theatre, or convenience store. It is a good option for commercial and industrial businesses searching for a popper but it probably big enough for a home movie theatre.
7. Majestic 16 oz. Commercial Style Popcorn Popper Machine
If you have ever seen any commercial or industrial popcorn maker at a movie theatre, this is probably one of them. It is not only reputable but can withstand heavy use in even the busiest of commercial settings. A 16oz popper is going to get the job done even in the busiest of locations where you are selling popcorn. It takes up to 4-5 minutes per batch.
It can pop up to 7.5 gallons per batch. It has an aluminum disc at the base to ensure an even cooking/popping distribution. Sleek stainless steel frame, tempered glass design, and easy-open doors/cabinets allow you to move quickly and increase sales in a movie theatre or high volume sales area.
A removable kettle makes clean up a cinch, and the heating disc helps maintain temperatures for several hours, so even if you aren’t in peak sale times, popcorn will not go to waste with this machine.
See also:
- 11 Types of Popcorn Seasoning
- Guide on How to Make Movie Theater Popcorn
- How to Use a Popcorn Machine – a Beginners Guide
- Best Replacement Kettles for Popcorn Machine
- Best Popcorn Maker Carts & Replacement Guide
Other Commercial Popcorn Machine We Reviewed
Theater Pop 8 Oz Popcorn Machine
It’s 1420 watts. Stylish like the poppers you see at the local cinema. Can display up to 147 servings of popcorn per hour (1 ounce of popcorn per serving).
The door made by Plexiglass. Easy to clean. It comes with a yellow plastic scoop. This machine is completely assembled. There is no plastic involved in the components of the kettle.
The kettle itself is made of coated aluminum, and the instructions detail how to clean it properly so that the coating lasts a long time. The only plastic on this complete unit is the plexiglass doors and the drain handle of the kettle.
Paragon also supplies for your restaurant or foodservice business and you may find useful tools from them here.
8 oz. Antique Style Popcorn Machine Black
Great Northern Popcorn Company has an excellent reputation for its quality products. You may find some various models of popcorn machines in the market.
| Brand | Item | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Great Northern 8 oz. | Red Matinee Movie Theater Style 8 oz. | 4.3 |
| 6092 Great Northern 8 Ounce | Black Antique Style Popcorn Machine 8oz | 3.6 |
| 6010 Great Northern 8oz | 8oz 6010 Countertop Style Antique Machine | 4.2 |
Here you can use all types of oils and popcorn. Coconut oil is even good.
The size or dimensions are 14.4″ L x 13.6″ W x 22.8″ H. It works on standard 110v. It has built-in warmer light, tempered glass (all), heavy-duty powder-coated steel and stainless steel construction. It is well packaged and heated by a heat lamp. He keeps it warm and cool for several hours.
The kettle can be removed and easy to clean. You can find popcorn oil in the grocery store.
Carnival King PM850
The “big brother” of Model PM470 is a great option if you have a little more money to spend when investing in a popcorn maker for commercial or industrial use. It features a 120 V, 850 W, 8 oz capacity popping system, allowing you to pop more, in a much shorter period of time.
With double the kettle size, you can pop more popcorn in the same period of time, and it can remain in the warming deck in the same manner, without having to worry about it drying out or getting cold if it isn’t sold immediately.
Carnivals, movie theatres, convenience stores, and nearly anywhere else you want to sell popcorn, this machine is going to do the job quickly and is going to offer a larger capacity kettle popper, so you won’t wait forever for popcorn when your stores are busy.
With a 4-minute heating deck, you can turn on the machine, and it is ready to go in no time at all. It has a very low noise when the motor is running, so you will barely notice it is on in a quiet setting.
A light and warming deck are going to maintain the perfect temperature for your popcorn which isn’t sold, for extended periods of time so it will not dry out. It will keep the popcorn at the perfect room temperature for several hours at a time, so you also eliminate the waste of popcorn when it is not sold immediately after being popped.
It has non slip rubber feet on the base as well. So this is ideal if you are going to set it up on a counter, and do not want to have the worry of scratching or damaging the counter with the stainless steel base of the machine.
It features a safety circuit breaker as well, which is perfect for the commercial setting. It won’t burn out, nor will it cause outages in the event of frequent and heavy use of the machine. A clear plastic window allows customers to see the popcorn being made and helps increase sales as well. A reasonable price point and high-quality material base and finishes make this a great option for commercial businesses looking to sell popcorn.
Professional Series: 6 Ounce Popcorn Machine – Manufactured Fun
If you are looking for an excellent quality popcorn machine in the market, this is the best option.
Key Features:
- SS construction Plus tempered glass panels
- Has a removable cleaning tray for easy cleaning
- Produces 113 oz. of popcorn in every hour
- Comes with 3 years manufacturer’s warranty
You may like these recommended products from China
Automatic Electric Popcorn Maker Machine
When the time comes to choose the best popcorn machine, you have several options from which you can choose as a business owner. So taking the time to read commercial popcorn maker reviews, compare models, and compare the capacities and design, are a few ways to find the right machine for your business or home theatre.
These are a few top models to consider, for high volume use, and for the great features and design, they are going to offer for any commercial setting you are selling popcorn in.
These are the best commercial popcorn machines for heavy use. You can use them from the home theater to any outdoor events. The sturdy wheel provides easy mobility and lasts a long time. Whether it’s movie time or snack time, you are comfortable if you have one of these great home theater popcorn makers. Below are the common questions and answers that can help you to buy the best popcorn popper machine.
FAQs
#1. How many popcorns do I need to put in a popcorn machine?
Use salt to personal taste (or about 1/2 teaspoon per 1/4 cup of popcorn). 4-ounce popcorn machine: use 1/4 cup of oil and 1/2 cup of popcorn. 6-ounce popcorn machine: use 1/4 cup of oil and 3/4 cup of popcorn.
#2. How much oil do I use in a popcorn machine?
Based on Popcorn popper:
Popcorn Popper Size – Oil – Popcorn
4 ounces Popper – 1/4 Cup Oil – 1/2 Cup Corn
6 ounces Popper – 1/4 Cup Oil – 3/4 Cup Corn
8 ounces Popper – 1/3 Cup Oil – 1 Cup Corn
12 ounces Popper – 1/2 Cup Oil – 1 1/2 Cups Corn
#3. Which oil is best for popcorn?
Coconut oil,
Olive oil,
Peanut oil,
Canola oil and Soybean oil. Like canola oil and soybean oil does not have a strong flavour, but it is excellent for popping beans.
#4. What is the ratio of oil to popcorn?
Add two tablespoons of vegetable oil and three popcorn to the pan. Cover and heat the oil covering medium-high temperature. Add a few shakes (about 1/8 teaspoon) of popcorn salt to 1/2 cup of popcorn kernels. The oil is ready when the three seeds in the pop pan.
#5. Can I use olive oil in a popcorn machine?
Whichever popper you use, keep the popcorn uncovered as soon as popping stops. You may want to try olive oil, a nutritional equivalent of canola oil because it is rich in good monosaturated fats and gives popcorn a richer flavour, but olive oil has low smoke and tends to burn quickly.
#6. Is it right to eat on a diet?
A meal plan for a 21-day diet is based on low-calorie standards such as baked fish and fresh vegetables. Served without salt or butter, a cup of fluffy popcorn is plentiful and has high fibre content, but it only has about 30 calories. Addicts can feed popcorn sandwiches and says still lose weight.
