When HN users recommended it
3 HN users recommended this between 2023 and 2026, in 3 comments.
20072026
Each tall tick is one HN user's first recommendation. A short tick is the same user again. Click a tick to jump to the comment.
3 HN users recommended this between 2023 and 2026, in 3 comments.
Each tall tick is one HN user's first recommendation. A short tick is the same user again. Click a tick to jump to the comment.
If you want movie theater popcorn you make it the same way they do with the same ingredients.
Stir popcorn maker something like this https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00004RC6R
flavacol salt (optional if you use flour salt) https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004W8LT10 or flour salt https://www.amazon.com/Morton-Popcorn-Salt-Green-French/dp/B... or both 1/2-1 tea spoons at most.
'butter' oil https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000UZLQG2 1/4 cup after cooking (warm it in a microwave)
The butter oil is a bit of a pain as there is so much of it and you can not really buy in small quantities, and it will go rancid before you use it all. It is meant for movie theaters to use. I have not found any supermarket versions that are correct. Usually they are kinda gross.
You can use a coconut oil for cooking with. Most theaters do not do this at all. The butter oil is closest to the same as movie theater as that is what they use during cooking and topping at the end. I personally use the coconut oil when cooking as it imparts a nice texture and flavor to the popcorn. 1-2 tsps for cooking with for either. Then top with the butter oil.
The flavacol and butter oil are the key ingredients.
For the popcorn I just buy orville redenbacher popcorn. They have a decent process of removing the duds before they get into the container. You can buy generic just expect a few duds.
OT, but for those still in the market, I absolutely love this one:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002Z9LHAG
Along with the right proportions of Snappy popcorn oil (butter burst tastes slightly more movie-ish but coconut is obv better for you and almost as movie-theater-like) and Flavocol, my popcorn is now way better than the theater popcorn, and I didn't even think that was really possible after years of terrible microwave popcorn.
oils: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003C4UDEY and https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AXK9ROC (we've switched entirely to coconut oil)
salt: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004W8LT10
you can probably get these last two things at commercial supply companies as well (buy local where you can)
Yeah, I have decent speakers too. Should have clarified, the speakers on the TV are generally dogshit. Still, a decent soundbar can be had for less than $200 [1], and a very good sound system can be had for less than $500, especially if you're ok with something used.
After I made the mistake of reading the nutrition label on the back of Takis and potato chips, I bought a Stir Crazy popcorn maker [2] started making popcorn at home very regularly. Popcorn isn't exactly "good" for you, but it's not nearly as bad for you as basically chips. I buy the kernels in bulk on Amazon, and I have no idea how much I spend on popcorn but I don't think it could be more than $20 a year, even with three people living in my house.
If you want to real movie theater taste, there is also Flavacol [3]. This is what a lot of theaters will actually use to get the distinctive "movie theater popcorn" taste.
[1] https://en.creative.com/p/speakers/creative-stage Yes! Creative is still around and this sound bar actually sounds great if you plug in the subwoofer.
[2] https://www.amazon.com/82505-Electric-Popcorn-Stirring-Conve...
[3] https://www.amazon.com/Gold-Medal-Prod-Flavacol-Seasoning/dp...