Updated for 2020!
If you are making popcorn in a popcorn machine, you will need to use oil. Not all oils are created the same. Some have different tastes and health benefits.
In this article, we are going to go over the most popular and best oils to use for your home theater popcorn machine. This popcorn oil can also be used in any popper that requires oil.
Your theater style popcorn popper should come with manufacturer recommendations, but normally you want around 1 tablespoon of oil to every ¼ cup of popcorn.
We think the best oil for popping corn is coconut oil. This is based on taste, health, and stability. Whatever you have on hand is second best, and we’ll go into some of the pros, cons, and properties of different oils.
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If you haven’t heard of Dutchman’s, it’s a company and general store based in Iowa that features quality farmstead style products. We like this oil because it’s coconut based, no trans-fats, and it’s colored with beta carotene from carrots.
Tips for Making Movie Theater Style Popcorn
Use a coconut based popcorn oil. Yellow popcorn kernels pop larger. The white kernels leave you with less hulls, so smaller but safer. The secret ingredient is popcorn salt, specifically a brand called Flavacol.
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Paragon Popcorn Machine Oil
If you are making large quantities of popcorn this 1 gallon of Paragon coconut popcorn popping oil will work just fine. This is a best seller and has quite a few positive reviews. Paragon is a popcorn machine manufacturer that also sells popcorn supplies.
This is the same type of oil movie theaters use and will give your popcorn that authentic movie theater taste. The good news is that even though movie theater popcorn has been labeled as one of the unhealthiest popcorns in the past, new studies suggest that coconut oil isn’t bad for us, after all.
I’ll let you be the judge of the health benefits of this, but as far as taste this is a winner. This is just pure coconut oil colored with beta carotene. The 1 gallon is large and doesn’t need to be refrigerated.
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Snappy Coconut Popping Oil
Snappy also makes a 1-gallon coconut oil colored with beta carotene. They also have this convenient 15 ounce size, so you can give it a try without breaking the bank. This oil also creates that buttery movie theater taste and color.
This contains saturated fat, but no trans-fats which we know are bad. Snappy has grown and sold popcorn since 1940. It’s a third-generation family company based in Iowa. They take pride in all of their popcorn and popcorn related products.
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More Great Products from Traditional Farms Based in the US
Wabash Valley Farms is based in Monon, Indiana. They began as a popcorn distributor for commercial users like movie theaters and ball parks. They are the original inventors of the Whirley Pop stovetop popcorn popper. A staple for the consumer popcorn market.
What began in 1965 as a small plot of popcorn for Roy Leman’s six year old son, Brian is now Amish Country popcorn. Based in Berne, Indiana Amish Country popcorn has been going strong for the last 50 years.
Based in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Golden Barrel started as a baking product company selling table syrup used in making shoofly pies. They now specialize in family baking, syrups, and coconut oils.
Franklin’s Gourmet Popcorn isn’t a farm. It’s a Seattle based company that began in 2002 as Popcorn Machines Direct. We’ve included them in the roundup, because they offer great products and have a passion for movie theater style popcorn.
| Image | Title | Price | Prime | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Wabash Valley Farms - Real Theater Coconut Popping Oil - 30 oz | Prime | View on Amazon | |
 | Franklin’s Gourmet Popcorn Butter Flavored Coconut Oil - 30 oz. Tub - Top Rated, Delicious, Healthy, Zero Trans Fat - Gluten Free/Vegan & NO Junky Ingredients - Best Movie Theater Taste – Made in USA | PrimeEligible | View on Amazon | |
 | Golden Barrel Butter Flavored Coconut Oil (32 Oz.) | PrimeEligible | View on Amazon | |
 | Amish Country Popcorn | Oil and Seasoning Variety Pack | Coconut Oil - 30 oz and Ballpark ButterSalt Popcorn Salt - 6 oz | Old Fashioned with Recipe Guide | PrimeEligible | View on Amazon |