Trying to decide how many ounces of popcorn you need at a time? Measure by the moment your business is the busiest. Each ounce is equal to one serving. You know those little bags of popcorn you can get at a kid’s sport event? That’s about one ounce. Each machine can make about 17 cycles of popcorn an hour, so take the number of people you’ll serve at your busiest hour and divide it by 17 and you’ll get how many ounces of popcorn you need to make at a time. So if you serve 100 people an hour at your peak, divide 100 by 17 = 5.9: you’d need a six-ounce machine. Our buyer’s guide can help you determine the appropriate size.

Have the part in your hand but do not know the part number. Take a look at the Owner’s Manuals online under Tech Support. These Owner Manuals have exploded views of your machine with clickable part numbers that will link you directly to the part on our website for ordering information. Once you have the correct part you can either order online or call 1-800-433-0333 for a customer service representative whom will gladly help you place your order.

When you are cooking popcorn there are two key elements, heat transfer and ease of cleaning. Aluminum provides the best heat transfer of any approved cooking material which means that the heat from the elements transfer completely to the food resulting in much better performance. When you anodize aluminum you are changing the molecular surface of the aluminum and filling in the pores of the material. This makes a very smooth and slippery surface which can be cleaned very easily and is extremely durable.

A popcorn kernal actually has approximately 12% moisture inside of it. As you heat up the kernel the moisture turns into steam and expands. Once the kernel reaches 475 degrees Fahrenheit the expanding steam forces the hull to explode (or pop).

All Paragon poppers are design to cook a kettle of kernels in approximately 3-1/2 minutes. The cycle time is based on having the kettle heated to cooking temperature before loading the kettle.

The type of oil that you use will effect the taste of the popcorn. The most common type that is used is coconut oil. It normally is regarded as the best tasting and has long been a staple at movie theaters. However, many health conscious people prefer canola oil due to its lower fat and cholesterol content Other types that are often used are sunflower, peanut and soy.

Paragon sells popcorn machines in over 40 countries world-wide. Different countries have voltages on their electricity ranging from 100-240 volts. You should always order the popper that most closely matches the voltage of your electrical service. In the United States you should always use 120 volt poppers.

All Paragon poppers utilize tempered glass panels, stainless steel cleanout trays, aluminum corner posts which can be cleaned with vinegar and water. The plated or anodized kettles are designed to be wiped out with a clean cloth after each use. You will want to note that you should never submerge a kettle in any type of liquid because it has electrical components inside of it that can short out. Should you have a kettle that gets burned on oil stains you can order Paragon’s kettle cleaning kit (part# 1075) which will allow you to clean it to near new conditions.

Expansion ratio refers to the increase in volume that occurs as popcorn pops. It is determined by measuring the volume of popcorn prior to and after popping. An expansion ratio between 40 and 44 is usually considered ideal. If the expansion is less than 40 the popped corn can be a little chewy and if the expansion ratio is over 44 the popcorn becomes very brittle and tends to break apart into small pieces.

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