What popcorn do movie theaters use?

Popcorn Isn't Just Popcorn

What people tend to think of as “movie theater popcorn” is actually butterfly popcorn, characterized by “wings” that emerge as the kernel is popped. Go to a movie theater in the Unites States and you're getting medium-sized butterfly popcorn.

Which popcorn kernels do movie theaters use?

Most people and places use the traditional yellow kernel. This is also known as butterfly popcorn because it has “wings” after it pops.

What brand of popcorn do Theatres use?

Popcorn is sent from Weaver Popcorn to the logistics company Vistar, which then delivers 35-pound bags to theaters. Movie-theater popcorn is what is known as “butterfly” variety. The goal is to have many “ears” to a piece of popcorn in order to trap butter and salt in the crevices.

What kind of popcorn seasoning do movie theaters use?

The secret ingredient is Flavacol

Flavacol is a butter-flavored, popcorn seasoning salt made of extra fine salt flakes. The product is made of four ingredients: salt, artificial butter flavor, and Yellow #5 and Yellow #6. The latter are what give movie theater-style popcorn that signature yellow color.

Why does movie theater popcorn taste different?

So if the popcorn is the same, what gives theater popcorn that unique flavor? One of the main differences is the type (and amount) of oil used in movie-theater poppers. They also use a lot more salt (which may contain flavoring agents).

Sneaky Ways Movie Theaters Get You To Spend More Money

What can I use instead of Flavacol?

Flavacol is a super fine, butter-flavored seasoning salt that movie theaters on their popcorn. They usually pop it using a combination of orange-colored coconut oil and Flavacol seasoning, but regular coconut oil will give you the same results without the fake-looking color.

What popcorn does regal use?

It's a personal preference—and there are certainly people who eat both and wouldn't even notice the difference.” AMC, Regal, and Marcus theaters use coconut oil, while Cinemark opts for canola, and other regional chains use a blend.

How do I get my popcorn to taste like movie theater popcorn?

The most authentic way to cook popcorn that tastes like movie theater popcorn is to use Flavacol as a seasoning added to the coconut oil and the kernels. Flavacol gives popcorn a yellow tint. The theaters top the popcorn with butter-flavored oil which has less water so the popcorn is not soggy.

Why is movie Theatre popcorn so good?

In reality, most major theaters pop their kernels in coconut oil (via The New York Times), adding Flavacol as it pops to imbue the fluffy popped kernels with that signature yellow color and salty taste (via Extra Crispy).

Do movie theaters use yellow or white popcorn?

Around 99% of popcorn grown is the yellow variety. Theaters and most commercial users of popcorn use yellow. It pops bigger and looks better in the popping machine. It also pops to a more sturdy flake so it stands up to flavoring better.

What popcorn butter does AMC use?

Like Regal before it, AMC also uses coconut oil in its popcorn. What gives it the nod, however, is customization. AMC customers can pump their own buttery topping (not real butter, but a substance derived from soybean oil) onto their popcorn after grabbing a bag at the counter.

What is Flavacol made of?

Flavacol is composed, after all, of only four ingredients: “salt, artificial butter flavor, FD&C Yellow #5 Lake (E102) and Yellow #6 Lake (E110)”; the latter two “give popcorn a bright, appealing yellow color for maximum sales."

What makes movie theater popcorn yellow?

Flavacol is the yellow powder that gets added during popping to give your popcorn that yellow buttery color. It is essentially just a super-fine salt with some coloring agents, although people swear it has butter flavor, even though there are no extra flavorings in it.

What's the difference between yellow and white popcorn kernels?

Simply put, white popcorn has a more tender texture than yellow. This is because it pops into smaller, more fine bright white shapes. Conversely, yellow popcorn tends to produce a much larger and sturdier form than white corn, and the popped kernels hold a yellowish tint to them.

Why is popcorn so expensive in movie theaters?

The purpose of expensive popcorn is not to extract a lot of money from customers. That purpose would be better served by cheap popcorn and expensive movie tickets. Instead, the purpose of expensive popcorn is to extract different sums from different customers.

How much Flavacol do you put in popcorn?

In the meantime scoop up a cup of medium yellow popcorn kernels (or your choice of kernels) and sprinkle 2 tsp of Flavacol over the kernels. Once the oil is hot carefully lift the “hot” kettle lid, preferably using an oven mitt, and add the kernels Flavacol mix to the kettle. Shut the kettle lid and close the doors.

What is the liquid butter at movie theaters?

Movie theater popcorn butter isn't actually butter, but a combination of chemicals that give off a buttery taste. According to Extra Crispy, that buttery taste is created by Flavacol, “the yellow powder that gets added during popping to give your popcorn that yellow buttery color,” and other chemicals.

How unhealthy is movie theater popcorn?

Movie theater popcorn contains anywhere from 400 to 1,200 calories, not to mention one to three days' worth of artery-clogging saturated fat and a whopping 1,500 milligrams of sodium.

Do movie theaters use coconut oil for popcorn?

What oil is used for movie theater popcorn? Coconut oil or canola oil is what they use for popcorn at movie theaters. Both of these oils give a cleaner taste and are actually a healthier option over other oils so that is good news for sure!

Can you buy Flavacol in Canada?

Flavacol Popcorn Salt Seasonings, Better Buttery, 1 Kg | Walmart Canada.

How do you use Flavacol with an air popper?

How to Use Flavacol. When using Flavacol to make popcorn at home, you will find that a small amount goes a long way. Half a teaspoon added directly to your Whirley Pop stovetop popper or electric popcorn popper before popping is all it takes to give your entire popcorn batch that famous salty and buttery taste.

Is white popcorn or yellow popcorn better for you?

What Is The Nutritional Difference Between White & Yellow Popcorn? Excluding the butter and salt, there is almost no difference in nutritional value between white or yellow kernel popped corn.

What is butterfly popcorn?

Butterfly popcorn has a very irregular shape with large bumps. It has a light crispy texture but can break easily. The mushroom-shaped popcorn is round with a rough surface. This shape makes it sturdy enough to stir and as you add tasty flavorings such as powdered cheese or sugar for sweet-tasting kettle corn.

Is Cinemark movie theater popcorn vegan?

Is Cinemark Popcorn Vegan? Cinemark is the worst of the big theaters for vegans. While the popcorn is vegan, the popcorn salt is not.