When you think of popcorn, the first thing that probably comes to your mind is a movie theater. After all, popcorn just so happens to be the preferred snack while you’re taking in the latest flick at the local multiplex. And as you’d might imagine, movie theaters are one of the main locales for the larger, industrial popcorn poppers that can make the tasty treat in large amounts.

While movie theaters are most synonymous with popcorn, there are a number of other venues that need the same type of commercial, industrial equipment to mass produce the snack. Think of places like sports arenas, concert venues, high-production food processing facilities and more. But on the note of how the popcorn is actually produced, there’s a variety of different equipment to get the job done. Here’s a closer look at some of these different styles of equipment to better help you get a feel for the type of popcorn poppers that are out there today:

• Giant poppers: These types of machines are generally made of stainless steel, and usually consists of several feet of space. The stainless steel makeup of the machine ensures that the equipment will not rust, which can be a big benefit, especially when oils are brought into the equation. These giant poppers generally have an area for kettle install, as well as a chute that takes processed popcorn to a storage container for packaging and transport. While able to produce a large amount of popcorn, these poppers are generally still compact enough to fit into a backroom.
• Rotary Dry Popcorn Popper: These types of machines are best utilized on trailers, stands and in portable concessions stands, as they are small and compact, yet effective. Available in electric and gas varieties, these types of poppers are normally made of stainless steel and include galvanized sheet metal throughout the interior to maximize heat application. Most rotary dry popcorn units can hold up to 10 gallons of kernels and pop over 30 pounds of popcorn per hour.
• Electric Dry Popcorn Popper: These are similar to the rotary dry popcorn poppers that we mentioned above in that they’re compact (yet probably a better fit for a backroom rather than a trailer or portable stand), made of steel and effective. One neat feature on most of these types of models, however, is that they automatically dispose of unpopped kernels into a waste drawer during the reversal of the cylinder.
• Enclosed Machines: Available from manufacturers such as Coronado, these massive popcorn poppers are ideal for the likes of sports stadiums that must serve a lot of people within a brief window of time. So, as you might imagine, they’re best utilized in the backroom concession areas of such facilities, as they are not the most portable of popcorn poppers currently on the market today. These enclosed units typically include an oil pump, a large cabinet where the popping is actually done, a drive motor, warmer to keep the food hot over long periods of time and a heat diffuser to ensure that there’s even heating – and thereby efficient popping – for kernels no matter where they are located. These machines are typically constructed from stainless steel and come in a range of sizes to suit just about any venue.
• Open Machines: There are enclosed popcorn poppers, and then there are open popcorn poppers. And while we covered the enclosed type in the above section (which are ideal for open venues and sports stadiums), open machines are better utilized in venues and forums where the building is covered. Like enclosed machines, these types of poppers come in a wide variety of different cabinet sizes to meet the needs of any venue. And also like enclosed poppers, these machines aren’t easily moved, which is why they’re best utilized in the back concession areas of sports stadiums, concert halls and other large venues. Finally, like their enclosed counterparts, this type of popcorn popper is among the most expensive that you can buy on the market. Typical price tags for brand new enclosed and open poppers can range up to $10,000 in price.

It’s also worth noting that when it comes to popcorn poppers, let alone any other type of commercial, industrial equipment piece, they’re not inexpensive to come by. You can see that just from the enclosed and open popper sections that we mentioned above, and certainly the same can be said of the other options that are presented on this list. Yes, depending on the size and style of the equipment, new machines can range in price anywhere from a few thousand dollars to well into the tens of thousands of dollars. Needless to say, but for many companies, no matter whether an existing popcorn machine has unexpectedly broken or it be trying to get into the business of popcorn production, this can be a lofty expense.

And that’s why if you’re ever in the market for a popcorn popper and don’t quite have the capital to buy brand new, you should consider going the used route. When doing business with a credible venue, such as Bid on Equipment, you can ensure that you’re getting like-new equipment at a used price. This is a win-win for you, as you don’t have to break the bank getting your operations kick started and can still rest assured that you’re getting a good product.

For more information on popcorn popping equipment, and to browse Bid on Equipment’s selection of used machines in stock, contact the company or visit it online today.