Is the popcorn at the movie theater much better than home popped or microwave po

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   ComfortBposted 11 years ago

   Is the popcorn at the movie theater much better than home popped or microwave popcorn?
   
   We can talk about this in terms of health, or maybe even, based on taste preference. For some, the more butter and cheese, the better. What say ye?
   
   

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   lburmasterposted 11 years ago

   It tastes more addictive, definately. I love movie popcorn and wish it could follow me home. Tons of butter, salty goodness, please never leave!

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      ComfortBposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Those are some strong feelings you have there for movie popcorn!

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   robhamptonposted 11 years ago

   Ya, I think the movie popcorn is more buttery as lburmaster said. If you buy a popcorn machine you could probably make popcorn close to the same as movie popcorn.

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      ComfortBposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      You think. There's a lot more to those movie popcorn than just the kernel and the popcorn machine! According to brainrock.

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      robhamptonposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      well according to insane Mundane it sounds like you really could do well with a popcorn machine if you buy all the right stuff lol

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      Insane Mundaneposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Yeah, the extra fat/salt/butter version works the best, by what I've noticed from past popcorn experiments in the kitchen...

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      ComfortBposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Sure could!

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   brianrockposted 11 years ago

   I used to work at a movie theater. I _loved_ freshly popped popcorn, and the kind of stuff you pop in a bag invariably pales in comparison.
   
   The popping process is fairly simple, and the key is in the ingredients. Corn, popcorn salt, and oil, stirred around in a heated kettle till it's done. The oil is nothing special (canola oil, I think we used), but the popcorn salt was. It was superfine and an orange-ish color. Very different from regular salt.
   
   And the more butter, definitely the better popcorn. Butterless popcorn is bland and basic. Healthy, yes. Tasty, no.

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      ComfortBposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Interesting! The more butter, the better the popcorn. Sound like my daughter.

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5. 59

   Insane Mundaneposted 11 years ago

   The closest to movie theater popcorn that I have tried, is from: http://www.whirleypopshop.com
   
   They have all the oils (coconut oil is the best), toppings, popcorn salt, whirley poppers, and the works!

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      Insane Mundaneposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      To the guy with the movie theater (StoneCircle):  You can't compare real "movie theater" popcorn to the generic crap your theater originally sold.

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   taanirudhposted 11 years ago

   it is not the popcorn that's better,it's the environment in the movie theater that's better and therefore most of the people think it's the 1st option

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      ComfortBposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      You're on to something there. Hmmn.

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      taanirudhposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      don't you agree with it?

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      Insane Mundaneposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I don't care if I'm at a movie theater or trapped in a Zoo with a deranged monkey, I could still tell bad popcorn from good.

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      ComfortBposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      @taanirudh - I'm not sure I agree, but It might hold true for some.

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   StoneCircleposted 11 years ago

   Ok. I will answer this as best as I can. I owned and operated a movie theatre for a few years. I actually changed out the machine to a fresh popped popcorn machine for the following reasons.
   Movie theater popcorn that is sold in any chain movie house, is pre-popped and heated in the case you see it in.
   The butter is not butter but a mix of chemicals that have longer names than what I have already typed. I cringed every time people would say, "Extra butter,please."
   The oil used is a mix of oils that is purposely dyed so you can have yellow popcorn and think it is fresh. Yes, that is how they advertise it to the manager.
   Popcorn made in your home that has been either machine popped or cooked in a  pan on the stove is great popcorn. To that I add sea salt and unsalted butter that has been just heated enough to melt but not separate the cream from the butter itself. Put that in a bowl and bring on the movie!
   My niece has taught me that adding a handful of m&ms  towards the middle of the bowl is very good. Changes up the flavor just enough to keep on munching.
   I can not answer on microwaved popcorn due to I have never tried it.

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      ComfortBposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I'm so glad you responded to this question because your answer is a real eye-opener. Hopefully all our theater-popcorn loving fans will take note.

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      Insane Mundaneposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Your movie theater was not only cheap, it sucked!  Why didn't ya fix the machine, it is not like you couldn't control the ingredients!

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   Efficient Adminposted 11 years ago

   I have not been in a movie theatre since I don't know when and cannot remember what their popcorn tastes like -- however, StoneCircle's answer is a real eye opener. Whenever I want some popcorn I will heat up some popcorn oil in a soup pot, and measure out 1/2 cup of raw kernels, add to the oil, cover and shake the pot until the popping stops.  Then dump into a bowl and spray with "I Can't Believe It's Not Butter" spray and use popcorn salt.  I like the idea of using real melted butter, but I am trying to eliminate calories.  The ICBINB is tasty enough for me, with the salt.

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9. 0

   lisasuniquevoiceposted 11 years ago

   ComfortB,
   I have just heard that there is something in microwave popcorn that's really bad for you. I'm not sure what it is, but I'm not eating anymore microwave popcorn.
   Lisa

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      Insane Mundaneposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      A while back, there was a big scare about a chemical found in artificial butter that could cause a certain type of lung disease, but mainly in the people that worked at the factories.  I thought a lot of 'em recently removed this chemical...

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