Questions for Evaluating Poppers If you’re thinking about buying a popcorn machine, the amount of options can seem overwhelming. Don’t worry! With six simple questions, we can help point you in the right direction.
- Where will the popper be used? Think about your venue. Is it a small or large venue? For example, is your venue a stadium or restaurant? Will there be a large or small crowd? These factors will determine what type of popper you get.
- Who will be operating the popper? This is important to ask because it will determine what features your popcorn machine will have. If a volunteer is operating the popper, the machine needs to be easy to understand and use. However, if a trained employee is operating the popper, a more advanced popper can be purchased.
- How many servings do you need to make in one hour? Estimate the number of customers you may have at the event. Are the lines constantly long or are there downtime periods? If you expect nonstop customers, your popper needs to be able to make several servings fast. Pick the popper with the correct kettle size to pop what's needed to serve your crowds.
- How much space do you have for the popper? Look at your venue space and determine where you will place your popcorn machine. Whatever area you choose, it needs to be one that the machine can fit in and function properly. Consider if you will have the popper placed on a counter, cart, or floor model.
- How much electric is available? Make sure that your venue has enough electric to power your popcorn machine as well as everything else. Find out how much electric is available for the popcorn machine. Check out how much electric will be needed to use the popper. This will be a deciding factor when picking a popcorn machine.
- Who will be responsible for cleaning and maintaining the popper? Cleaning your popcorn machine is a big part of keeping it operational. Make sure whoever is operating the machine knows and understands the daily unit and kettle cleaning procedures. The cleaning process for the machine may direct you to choose one popper over another.