Whirley stovetop popcorn popper

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[jukingeo]

I came across something called a "Whirley" popcorn popper. It is basically a kettle that sits on a stove, but looks like the business end of a popcorn machine.  I am wondering if this might be a cheaper/less power hungry way of creating popcorn and then I just put the popcorn in a 'warmer/keeper'.  Popcorn warmers are much cheaper than their full machine counterparts (I can get a warmer for around $100).   The Whirley stovetop popper can be had for around $20.  I already have an LP stove burner for my gas grill.  It detaches so I can put it on a counter and people can watch the popcorn being made.

I am wondering if this might be a good low cost alternative to buying a full machine.   Anyone use this method of making popcorn for an outdoor event?

Edit: Oh! Almost forgot!  What size Whirley Popper you have and how many guest you have for an event?

Thanx,

Geo

[bmac]

Geo,

Making corn pop is a relatively low-tech process.  When I was growing up, my mom just put the oil and corn in a kettle on the stove and shook the bejeezus out of the kettle until the popping was complete.  Then came Jiffy Pop.  The point is, you do not have to have an expensive popper to make popcorn.  But you do need sufficient heat. 

I don't know how to convert BTUs into anything meaningful with regards to popping corn in an efficient manner.  My experience with side burners is that the heat output is rather limited.  Had a hard time deep-frying on mine.

I would try your burner using a kettle you have and see how it works.  If you can pop enough corn in a reasonable period of time with the kettle you have, then you might want to try the popper in question.  Then again, for $20, you may just want to take the gamble and buy it.  But, my guess is that if it doesn't work, it won't be the kettle's fault.  Rather lack of heat output from the side burner.  Hopefully, yours will generate more heat than mine did.

[jukingeo]

Geo,

Making corn pop is a relatively low-tech process.  When I was growing up, my mom just put the oil and corn in a kettle on the stove and shook the bejeezus out of the kettle until the popping was complete.  Then came Jiffy Pop.  The point is, you do not have to have an expensive popper to make popcorn.

I didn't think so.  I know of the dangers of getting a cheap machine for a commercial application. In that regard almost everyone in the movie theatre industry exclaims "Gold Medal".  Clearly they are the best machine by a long shot.   However, this is not a commercial endeavor and I am trying my best to stick with a budget.  

Power is of an issue as well and something I need to keep in mind.   Considering that I have plenty of 'fuel' power in terms of LP gas, it does kind of make sense to go with a kettle process for popping corn and store the popcorn in a heated cabinet.  The power needed to keep the popcorn warm is certainly less than needed for the actual popping.  Plus I still get a nice glass cabinet for keeping things warm for when I DO get a better machine.  The cost though is considerably less than a full machine.



 

But you do need sufficient heat. 

I don't know how to convert BTUs into anything meaningful with regards to popping corn in an efficient manner.  My experience with side burners is that the heat output is rather limited.  Had a hard time deep-frying on mine.

I guess I can see that with most grills.  I have a double burner grill PLUS the side burner.  I probably would get more heat if I used on burner and the side burner.  Likewise even more so if the side burner is the only thing that would be running (rather unlikely scenario though).

I would try your burner using a kettle you have and see how it works.

What kind of kettle?

If you can pop enough corn in a reasonable period of time with the kettle you have, then you might want to try the popper in question.  Then again, for $20, you may just want to take the gamble and buy it.  But, my guess is that if it doesn't work, it won't be the kettle's fault.  Rather lack of heat output from the side burner.  Hopefully, yours will generate more heat than mine did.

Well, that is a good point and thanx for the tip.  I have to keep that in mind.  But now the question does  come up in regards to a quantitative figure.  How many BTU's AM I looking at.  I know the grill does have this information somewhere, so if I have a match or better, then I should be good.   The good thing is that if it works, I can have a full popcorn making system for around $130.  Can't really beat that for starting out.

Geo

[WaterOnlyDries]

Hey Geo,
We use a Whirly Pop all the time. I think it is easier than even a hot air popper amd even microwave. As for heat needed we have the best luck at Medium on our gas range. Too much heat is not better with a whirly pop. The only drawback would be you have to let it cool for just a minute or the next batch isn't quite as fluffy. Not a big deal though. We have used ours for several years and it still works great. We found a bunch at Williams Sonoma on special years ago. Our favorite recipe is actually a little bit of olive oil, 1/2 C corn. Add real butter and salt after and bingo. The kids act like they've never eaten in their life. Savages!

If you can get ahead a batch or two you should be able to keep up. It only take 2-3 minutes for a batch.

[jukingeo]

Hey Geo,
We use a Whirly Pop all the time. I think it is easier than even a hot air popper amd even microwave.

I don't think I would use either for a hosted event.  One of the things that made drive-in movies special was the food.  Better popcorn, hot dogs, hamburgers.  Years ago you couldn't get burgers and hot dogs at an indoor theater, but I digress.  Bottom line is that the popcorn 'should' be made and in close to a traditional manner as possible.   The Whirley stovetop popper looks almost exactly like the kettle in your typical popcorn machine and when I first saw it, it's low price gave me the idea to perhaps go that route with a warming cabinet.  Warming cabinets are selling for half the price of a full machine.  Later on when I do go full swing with this and I have a larger budget, THEN I can get a full fleged machine.

 <<As for heat needed we have the best luck at Medium on our gas range. Too much heat is not better with a whirly pop. The only drawback would be you have to let it cool for just a minute or the next batch isn't quite as fluffy. Not a big deal though.>>

Ok, that sounds good.  So then it may not require that much heat after all.  But I do understand what bmac was saying about some side burners not being sufficient.  I guess you cannot compare them to a full natural gas kitchen range, which WOULD have way more power.  At any rate for $20 a pop then I would get two and cycle them out (let one cool while the other pops).

 

We have used ours for several years and it still works great. We found a bunch at Williams Sonoma on special years ago. Our favorite recipe is actually a little bit of olive oil, 1/2 C corn. Add real butter and salt after and bingo. The kids act like they've never eaten in their life. Savages!

Real butter is a must.  That is my main complaint about theatres today.  They use all this by product crap and the popcorn isn't good.  Worse, I have seen some theatres actually used BAGGED popcorn.  That's correct, you heard right, BAGGED popcorn...not even popped right on the spot!

If you can get ahead a batch or two you should be able to keep up. It only take 2-3 minutes for a batch.

What does a batch yield in terms of # of servings?

This is still another area I have to do a bit of research on.  Sam's club does sell the popcorn containers like you would get at a theater and I am definitely going to go that route.  I am only going to go with one size container though considering that everything is obviously "free" for the event.  I am assuming you are serving in standard theater popcorn containers too, right?  If so, what size are you using per person?

Thank you for the info.  I am happy to hear a success story with using the Whirley pop method of making popcorn.  I think I will come out ahead going this route for now:

1) Lower initial cost
2) I already have a burner
3) Less taxing on my home's electrical system.

Once I do get a full popcorn machine, I always can delegate the warmer to another task...such as keeping hot pretzels or nachos warm.  So the purchase of a warmer will not go to waste.

I think this IS the best bet for me now.

Thanx again!

Geo