Popcorn maker
Encyclopedia
A popcorn maker is a device used to pop popcorn
. Commercial popcorn machines are usually found in movie theaters and carnivals, producing popcorn of the oil-popped type, which has approximately 45% of its calories derived from fat. Hot air popcorn poppers appeared for home use in the late 1970s, which produced popcorn with only 5% of its calories derived from fat.
Charles Cretors
originated from Lebanon, Ohio. He traveled the Midwest and settled in Fort Scott, Kansas for a few years, and then Decatur, Illinois. He spent his time working in the painting and contracting business, opened a bakery, and eventually a confectionary shop. As each venture led to the next, Cretors discovered he had a passion for how things worked. As an addition to the confectionary shop, Cretors purchased a peanut roaster to broaden his offerings to include fresh roasted peanuts. Not satisfied with how the machine worked, he redesigned it to work better. It was at this time that Cretors moved his wife and family to Chicago where he felt he could become a commercial success by selling his new machine. It was 1885.
Cretors wanted to test his new roaster under everyday conditions, and he also needed money. So, he purchased a vendor's license and put his machine on the sidewalk in front of his shop to test it and sell product at the same time. The date on the vendor's license is December 2, 1885, which marks the inception of C. Cretors & Company
. The new roaster was driven by a small steam engine
, which automated the roasting process, which was a new concept. A chance meeting happened between Cretors and a traveling salesman who purchased a bag of roasted peanuts. The salesman, J.M Savage, was very intrigued with the new peanut roaster, and offered to sell it in his territory. Cretors agreed to the proposal, and hired his first salesman.
By 1893, Cretors had created a steam powered machine that could roast 12 pounds of peanuts, 20 pounds of coffee, pop corn, and bake chestnut
s as well. Popcorn was becoming the next popular choice for snackfood. Cretors redesigned his automated roasting machine so it would roast peanuts and pop popcorn at the same time. Cretors' machine design offered several advantages over the hand-operated process. First as a machine, it made operation more predictable and it provided an attraction for both the retailer and the customer. There was the novelty of the steam engine, and the Tosty Rosty Man, a small mechanical clown that acted as a merchandiser for the machine. Cretors' machine became the first automated machine that could pop popcorn uniformly in its own seasonings. As a result, the product came out the same way every time. Cretors applied for a patent on his new automated peanut roaster and popcorn popper machine on August 10, 1891. A patent was granted on October 10, 1893.
Charles Cretors took his new popcorn wagon and peanut roaster to the Midway of Chicago's Columbian Exposition in 1893
and introduced the new corn product to the public in a newly designed machine that included a popcorn wagon. After a trial period where Cretors gave away samples of his new popcorn product, people began to line up to purchase bags of the hot, buttered popcorn.
In 1978 Presto
introduced the Popcorn Pumper, a popper for consumer use in the home, which used hot air blown up through the kernals. By cooking without oil, it reduced the calories and fat in the finished product. It was also faster and easier than pan-fry popping.
Home popcorn makers are also available which consist of a heated circular tray with a powered stirring arm, into which corn and oil can be placed, with a dome-shaped cover which often doubles as a serving bowl.
In the mid-1970s Pillsbury made microwave
popcorn for sale in vending machines (and later to wide distribution in supermarkets, as microwave oven sales increased), thus reducing the need for a separate appliance in some homes; however up to 60% of the calories of this type of popcorn are derived from fat (lower fat versions are available). Many people today choose to microwave popcorn using their own bags. Popcorn can be placed in any paper bag, which is then folded and put in a microwave for several minutes depending on the wattage power of the microwave.
Popcorn
Popcorn, or popping corn, is corn which expands from the kernel and puffs up when heated. Corn is able to pop because, like sorghum, quinoa and millet, its kernels have a hard moisture-sealed hull and a dense starchy interior. This allows pressure to build inside the kernel until an explosive...
. Commercial popcorn machines are usually found in movie theaters and carnivals, producing popcorn of the oil-popped type, which has approximately 45% of its calories derived from fat. Hot air popcorn poppers appeared for home use in the late 1970s, which produced popcorn with only 5% of its calories derived from fat.
History
The original method used to pop corn was to hold and shake a wire basket filled with raw corn kernels over an open flame or fire. The result was a hot, dry, unevenly cooked and often burned snack. The Cretors machine automatically popped corn in a mixture of lard, oil, and salt. The result was a machine that popped corn in its own seasoning – uniformly for the first time ever.Charles Cretors
Cretors
C. Cretors & Company was established in 1885 with the invention of the first popcorn machine to pop corn in oil. 126 years later they are still manufacturing popcorn machines and other concessions equipment. C. Cretors & Co. is still owned by the Cretors family in Chicago, which is in its fifth...
originated from Lebanon, Ohio. He traveled the Midwest and settled in Fort Scott, Kansas for a few years, and then Decatur, Illinois. He spent his time working in the painting and contracting business, opened a bakery, and eventually a confectionary shop. As each venture led to the next, Cretors discovered he had a passion for how things worked. As an addition to the confectionary shop, Cretors purchased a peanut roaster to broaden his offerings to include fresh roasted peanuts. Not satisfied with how the machine worked, he redesigned it to work better. It was at this time that Cretors moved his wife and family to Chicago where he felt he could become a commercial success by selling his new machine. It was 1885.
Cretors wanted to test his new roaster under everyday conditions, and he also needed money. So, he purchased a vendor's license and put his machine on the sidewalk in front of his shop to test it and sell product at the same time. The date on the vendor's license is December 2, 1885, which marks the inception of C. Cretors & Company
Cretors
C. Cretors & Company was established in 1885 with the invention of the first popcorn machine to pop corn in oil. 126 years later they are still manufacturing popcorn machines and other concessions equipment. C. Cretors & Co. is still owned by the Cretors family in Chicago, which is in its fifth...
. The new roaster was driven by a small steam engine
Steam engine
A steam engine is a heat engine that performs mechanical work using steam as its working fluid.Steam engines are external combustion engines, where the working fluid is separate from the combustion products. Non-combustion heat sources such as solar power, nuclear power or geothermal energy may be...
, which automated the roasting process, which was a new concept. A chance meeting happened between Cretors and a traveling salesman who purchased a bag of roasted peanuts. The salesman, J.M Savage, was very intrigued with the new peanut roaster, and offered to sell it in his territory. Cretors agreed to the proposal, and hired his first salesman.
By 1893, Cretors had created a steam powered machine that could roast 12 pounds of peanuts, 20 pounds of coffee, pop corn, and bake chestnut
Chestnut
Chestnut , some species called chinkapin or chinquapin, is a genus of eight or nine species of deciduous trees and shrubs in the beech family Fagaceae, native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. The name also refers to the edible nuts they produce.-Species:The chestnut belongs to the...
s as well. Popcorn was becoming the next popular choice for snackfood. Cretors redesigned his automated roasting machine so it would roast peanuts and pop popcorn at the same time. Cretors' machine design offered several advantages over the hand-operated process. First as a machine, it made operation more predictable and it provided an attraction for both the retailer and the customer. There was the novelty of the steam engine, and the Tosty Rosty Man, a small mechanical clown that acted as a merchandiser for the machine. Cretors' machine became the first automated machine that could pop popcorn uniformly in its own seasonings. As a result, the product came out the same way every time. Cretors applied for a patent on his new automated peanut roaster and popcorn popper machine on August 10, 1891. A patent was granted on October 10, 1893.
Charles Cretors took his new popcorn wagon and peanut roaster to the Midway of Chicago's Columbian Exposition in 1893
World's Columbian Exposition
The World's Columbian Exposition was a World's Fair held in Chicago in 1893 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the New World in 1492. Chicago bested New York City; Washington, D.C.; and St...
and introduced the new corn product to the public in a newly designed machine that included a popcorn wagon. After a trial period where Cretors gave away samples of his new popcorn product, people began to line up to purchase bags of the hot, buttered popcorn.
Variants
Specialised popcorn pots have been marketed under various brand names, including Whirley Pop, Theater II and Sweet & Easy; all of them are basically a pot that has an integrated stirring blade operated by turning a crank. This is to prevent burning of the kernels on the bottom.In 1978 Presto
National Presto Industries
National Presto Industries is a company founded in 1905 in Eau Claire, Wisconsin in the "appliances" industry. Originally called the "Northwestern Steel and Iron Works" and then becoming the "National Pressure Cooker Company" in 1917, the company produced pressure canners. Beginning in 1939,...
introduced the Popcorn Pumper, a popper for consumer use in the home, which used hot air blown up through the kernals. By cooking without oil, it reduced the calories and fat in the finished product. It was also faster and easier than pan-fry popping.
Home popcorn makers are also available which consist of a heated circular tray with a powered stirring arm, into which corn and oil can be placed, with a dome-shaped cover which often doubles as a serving bowl.
In the mid-1970s Pillsbury made microwave
Microwave oven
A microwave oven is a kitchen appliance that heats food by dielectric heating, using microwave radiation to heat polarized molecules within the food...
popcorn for sale in vending machines (and later to wide distribution in supermarkets, as microwave oven sales increased), thus reducing the need for a separate appliance in some homes; however up to 60% of the calories of this type of popcorn are derived from fat (lower fat versions are available). Many people today choose to microwave popcorn using their own bags. Popcorn can be placed in any paper bag, which is then folded and put in a microwave for several minutes depending on the wattage power of the microwave.
See also
- National Presto IndustriesNational Presto IndustriesNational Presto Industries is a company founded in 1905 in Eau Claire, Wisconsin in the "appliances" industry. Originally called the "Northwestern Steel and Iron Works" and then becoming the "National Pressure Cooker Company" in 1917, the company produced pressure canners. Beginning in 1939,...
- Jiffy PopJiffy PopJiffy Pop is a popcorn brand of ConAgra Foods. The product combines unpopped popcorn kernels and oil with an aluminum pan and folded aluminum foil lid. As the pan is heated, the popping corn causes the foil to unfold and puff up. Jiffy in the name references the short cooking...
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Recall Alert Popcorn machine manufactured in China and sold through Discount Tommy (discounttommy.com) and Great American Popcorn Company (greatamericanpopcorn.com) have been recalled due to burn hazards.