GUIDE TO POPCORN MACHINES

Nostalgia CCP-510 Circus-Cart Popcorn Maker, Red

Manufacturer : The Helman Group
In Stock : 5

List Price:	$249.99
Price:	$205.34
You Save:	$44.65 (18%)

Features

Circus-style popcorn cart pops up to 1-1/2 gallons at a time
Large 4-ounce stainless-steel kettle with built-in stirring system
Kernel catcher; tempered glass window; warming light
Storage compartment in the base; easy-to-clean design
Measures 21 by 16-1/2 by 53 inches; 90-day warranty

Product Description

At just under 5 feet, this tall, circus-style popcorn cart will be the hit of every party. This full-sized cart pops up to 1.5 gallons of movie-house quality popcorn per batch. Despite its old-fashioned, street-corner look, the Circus Cart Popcorn Maker is designed for use in your home so you can prepare hot, fresh popcorn anytime. It features a large, stainless steel kettle with a built in stirring system and kernel catcher to keep out the unpopped kernels. There is a compartment in the base of the unit for storage of supplies to help keep your cart well stocked and looking tidy. This popcorn cart offers an easy-to-clean design and is approved for commercial use.

Customer Reviews

Average Rating of 3.50 out of 9 reviews

Rating :
popcorn value - Patricia Long, Oct 18, 2009

this is a great little machine cooks about a half a cup at a time but cooks quick for the money this is a great buy and a great addition to your media or family room

Rating :
Arrives Damaged EVERY TIME!! Don't waste your time - N. Fanell, Aug 28, 2009

This machine would be great if it would arrive in decent condition. I have ordered 2 and both arrived skinned or dented. The Mfg. sends this item in its store shelf box- no additional packaging for some reason. The replacement machine I ordered sounded like a box of junk when the delivery guy set it on my porch. And it was- back to the company it went the next day. I will NEVER order another "Nostalgia" product again!!!
Very sad- this item was to be dedicated to a local hospital in 5 days- not going to happen.

Do not waste your time ordering this junk.

Rating :
Nostalgia Popcorn Maker: Tasty Popcorn in Minutes - NewsView, Dec 28, 2008

Most popcorn makers of the 4 oz. kettle size and up are much more expensive than this model manufactured for the Helman Group (aka Nostalgia Electrics). Consequently, I would say that it is a good value ---- but that's not to say it doesn't have its flaws. Unlike many of its more expensive competitors, this model carries a commercial rating, but that doesn't translate into a bulletproof appliance that your kids can knock around without denting or damaging it (or worse, burning themselves on the hot kettle). The storage shelf built into the stand is covered by a metal door with rather fragile looking hinges, and the plexiglass panel that provides access to the hopper ought to be framed in metal to keep it from flexing flimsily. Fortunately, though the metal housing is rather thin, we noticed no major dents or flaws in the paint job. Nevertheless, even with gentle use the wheel cover nut came off after one week and we can't get Helman Group to return phone calls. Their customer service line is either busy or routes to an answering machine. This lends a very unprofessional impression, to say the least. In this respect, I have to dock it a star. There's only a 90-day warranty and no real support to back it. The manufacturer had better hope that nobody calls their state attorney general's office. In any event, when paying more than $200, an extended warranty isn't a bad idea whether it's a piece of fitness equipment or a novelty appliance.

The key to using this popper with success is to use FRESH POPCORN KERNELS in combination with the CORRECT MEASUREMENTS. Fresh doesn't necessarily mean the kernels at your grocery store that you purchased last week. Who knows how long they sat there while the average customer bypassed them for the microwave variety? Case-in-point: We had some gourmet popcorn left over from a gift set a year or so back and it popped great, whereas the "new" bag of popcorn kernels didn't pop well at all. So when there are complaints on Internet reviews about too many kernels left unpopped, it could be a bad heating element but more likely stale popcorn kernels are to blame. I have no idea if this explains it, but most corn is genetically modified by splicing genes of unrelated plants and animals to create disease resistant, higher yield crops (aka "frankenfood"). It could be that much of the so-called popcorn kernels sold today are inferior for popping because they are no longer natural. Try switching to organic, non-GMO and/or another brand and you will be pleased with the results.

Commercial popcorn rental units have a technique not mentioned in the user manual that ships with the CPP510. After pre-heating the kettle by flipping on the switch for 3 minutes add in the oil and THREE kernels. If all three pop, add the remainder to the kettle. Secondly, when popping, never use more than a half cup (level, not heaping). This is key if you don't want the mechanism that stirs the corn to jam. Same goes for oil and seasoning. For this reason there are tools included for accurate measurements. And lastly, that handy light bulb in the top looks cool but unless you pop multiple back-to-back batches to fill the hopper, it's just too far removed from the bottom of the hopper to keep the popcorn piping hot (a batch, incidentally, is about 8-10 cups of popped corn). The warming light is better than nothing, though. (And since it is an ordinary light bulb, no costly or exotic lighting replacements are in store.)

As stated before, this unit is not a toy. It looks nice but the sheet metal is very sharp inside and it is easy to cut yourself while cleaning the unit ---- speaking from firsthand experience, I might add. In addition, it is up to the user to time the popping. Once the corn pops more slowly it is vitally important to shut off the heat to the kettle so that the warming element will not burn out prematurely. Generally, it takes only 3-5 minutes to warm the kettle. Once the ingredients are added it generally takes another 3 minutes or so to pop the contents. There is no need to wait for a cool-down time between batches. (Just be careful when refilling the kettle to turn off the heating element first and to wear gloves to prevent burns.)

When turning the handle to dump the popcorn into the hopper be careful not to hit the mechanism too hard. The kettle's motor assembly is held to the underside of the metal roof by a plastic bracket. Moreover, giving it a hard swing from side to side may damage the gear alignment. In fact, the trickiest part about using the popper is getting the kettle seated properly. At a height of 4'11, this task requires either a chair or a lot of awkward bending/reaching. The user manual warns that if the popper jams or doesn't operate correctly, it could be a result of misaligned gears due to failing to seat the kettle properly.

The instructions don't give any advice on seasoning. Because of that, it requires a bit of experimentation to obtain the desired flavor. If you want the artery clogging variety traditionally served in theaters, use coconut oil with butter flavoring. If you prefer your popcorn a bit healthier, the good news is that this is entirely doable because just about any oil can be used to pop corn. We prefer popping oil that is unsaturated, non-hydrogenated and trans-fat free. To that we add 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of Flavacol butter flavored salt manufactured by Gold Medal. The result is popcorn flavor that no microwave or air popper can approach -- and not the least bit greasy, either (thanks to the fact that the popper only requires 1 tablespoon of oil and distributes it evenly). For the latter, our preference is Orville Redenbacher Popping & Topping Oil.

The instructions don't give much advice on cleaning except to say that the kettle is supposed to become "seasoned" as a result of normal use. After reading reviews in which people complain that after a year or so of use their stirring mechanism begins to jam, I can't help but wonder if this is due to an excessive buildup of this so-called seasoning. Since none of the parts are dishwasher safe and cannot be immersed in water, an excessively dirty kettle just might be an explanation. Thankfully, there are concession supply websites that offer popcorn kettle cleaners. Because we haven't been using our popper for long, our approach thus far is to simply to wipe the interior down with a mixture of water and vinegar. (But don't use anything but a damp cloth on the painted surfaces!)

The assembly instructions aren't the best, but our box shipped complete with no missing parts. It took about 40 minutes to assemble using the included diagram/instructions. Assembly tools are included but for a Phillips screwdriver.

Bottom line? This popcorn machine does what it claims to do. It fills the air with the smell of popcorn in a way no microwave popcorn can. It produces tastier results than any other popper we have used. What's not to love?

Rating :
Perfect for my Steeler room! - Timothy Robertson, Dec 23, 2008

I love this popcorn machine! It looks great in my Pittsburgh Steeler Den. Makes great popcorn too. My wife wasn't too pleased when I ordered it, but after the first batch of popcorn, she loves it!

Rating :
If bad quality is what you want - Jonathan L. Fortner, Dec 23, 2008

I bought this Brand and Style of Popcorn maker. In multiple places, the base was dented and the paint chiping - clearly a manufacturing defect and not from shipping. It was clear the paint job was very poorly done and I expect RUST within the first few months of use. The top or maker itself was better but the stand portion gave me great cause for concern about the entire products quality. The instructions need a lot of work and you'll be guessing about which screw and washers to use for assembly. In my opinion, you should keep looking

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