Paragon 1212110, 1112110, 1116710, 1216710, 1112710 User Manual

OWNER’S MANUAL

FOR PROFESSIONAL POPCORN MACHINE

Model Numbers

THEATER POP 12 THEATER POP 16 PROFESSIONAL SERIES 12 PROFESSIONAL SERIES 16

1112110 (120V) 1116110 (120V) 1112710 (120V) 1116710 (120V)
1212110 (230V) 1216110 (230V) 1212710 (120V) 1216710 (230V)

12 and 16 oz Popcorn Machines

www.ManufacturedFun.com

Paragon International, Inc • 731 W. 18th Street • P.O. Box 560 • Nevada, IA 50201 USA

Phone [phone] • Toll-free [phone] • Fax [phone] • Email: [e-mail]

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SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

Paragon values your continued safety above all else. Please follow these guidelines when using your
equipment to prevent injur y and maximize product perf ormance:

No direct contact to equip me nt by the general public should be a l low ed w hen used in
food service locations. Only trained personnel shou l d oper at e this equipment.
Carefully read any and all instr uctions before beginning operation of the equipme nt.

Always wear safety glasses when servicing equipment .

Kettle reaches extreme h eat during operation. To avoid injury, NEVER touch kettle
while hot.

Any alterations made to e qui pment by anyone other than cer t if ied Paragon personne l
will void warranty and ma y also create unsafe working con dit i ons. NEVER make
alterations to the equip me nt .

Machine must be properly gr ounded to prevent electrica l shock.
Do NOT immerse kettle, warmer, or any other part of this equipment in water. Doing
so may damage equipment and pr event it from working properly.
Always unplug equipment bef or e cleaning or servicing t o pr event electric shock.

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INTRODUCTION

PARAGON IS PROUD TO BE YOUR

PARTNER FOR MANUFACTURED FUN.

Our goal is to provide you with the best solutions to attract customers, expand your business, and im pr ove
your profits. That’s why this product has been specia lly -crafted to meet precise s peci f icat i ons for
performance, efficiency , and out put.

Your Paragon Popper features:

• A high-output, hard-coat a nodized aluminum kettle f or pow er f ul performance and easy c le aning.

• Convenient side-hinge d ket t le t hat ma kes it a snap to operate and to cle an.

• Sturdy cabinet construct ion that withstands heavy commercial use and maintains attractive

appearance.

• Stainless steel food zone and t empered glass panels for sanitary food environment and easy cleaning.

• Built-in warming deck with 50-watt elements k eeps which popcorn hot and fresh thanks to even

heating throughout the bat ch.

• Old maid drawer to catch unpopped kernels that effortlessly sift t hr ough for later disposal.

• Presentation lamp which creates an attractive display setting for increased impulse buying.

Should you have any questions about your equipment, or would like to know more about our ot her
innovative concession eq uipment and supplies, please contact us at 1-800-433-0333 or visit us on the
web at: Manufacturedfun.com

Thank you for your purchase and enjoy!

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ELECTRICAL REQUIREMENTS

The Paragon Theater Pop 12 and t he Pr of ession al Series 12 oz popper require a properly -grounded 120
volt supply with a 15 amp circuit. The Paragon Theater Pop 16 Popper and the Professional Series 16oz
popper require a properly gr ounded 120 volt supply wit h a 30 amp circuit. The 12 oz popper has a current
draw of 15 amps. The 16 oz popper has a current draw of 24 amps. (Export voltage is 230VAC.)

We recommend your Paragon Popcorn Machine be plugged directly into a dedicated outlet. Extension
cords may create a safety hazard and reduce its perfor ma nce.

Be sure outlet accepts thr ee ( 3) pr ong gr ounded plug. DO NOT us e a t hr ee (3) prong to two (2) prong
adapter.

CONTROLS AND FUNCTIONS

POWER: .......................................................Turns on the Presentation Lamp, lighting the area fo r

better food display.

WARMER: ...................................................Powers the Built-in Warming De ck to continue heating

popcorn after kettle cooki ng.

STIRRER: ...................................................Activates the motor which evenly distrib utes kernel s

with oil, seasoning, and heat to create the best product
possible.

KETTLE: .....................................................Begins heating the kett l e f eaturing patented heater

arrangement, which opti m izes popping process.

WAIT/READY INDICATORS: .....................Light during popping to in dicat e w hen it’s ready to add

popcorn ingredients.

UNPACKING

Paragon carefully inspects each product during ass em bly and after completion t o adher e t o strict quality
guidelines, and packs it secur ely to ensure safe delivery to each of our customers. Be sure to carefully
remove all packing materi al and adhesive before any operation. Please examine your product to guarantee
all equipment has arrived, complete and in good conditi on.

If you believe that any damage may have occurred during shipment or parts may be missi ng, please
contact Paragon immediately for replacement.

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How much will my popcorn popper produce?

The Paragon 12 Oz. Poppers will yield 221 ounces of popcorn per hour , w hile the Paragon
16 oz. Poppers will yield 295 ounces.

Why are hard-coat anodized aluminum kettles considered the best?

When you are cooking po pcor n t her e are two key elements: heat transfer and ease of
cleaning. Aluminum provides the best heat transfer of any approved cooking material which
means that the heat from t he el ements transfers comp letely to the food, resulting in muc h
better performance. When you anodize aluminum you are changing the molecular surface of
the aluminum and filling in t he por es of the material. This makes a ver y smooth and slippery
surface which can be cleaned very easily and is extremely durable.

What makes popcorn pop?

A popcorn kernel actually has approximately 12% moistur e inside of it. As you heat up the
kernel, the moisture turns into s t eam and expands. Once t he kernel reaches 475 degrees
Fahrenheit the expandin g s t eam forces the hull to explode ( or pop) .

How long does it take to cook a batch of popcorn?

All Paragon poppers are designed to cook a kettle of kernel s in approximately 3-1/2 m in utes.
The cycle time is based on having the kettle heated t o cooking temperature befor e loading
the kettle.

What type of oil should I use to cook popcorn?

The type of oil that you use wil l affect t he t aste of the popcorn. The most common type t hat
is used is coconut oil. It normally is regarded as the best tasting and has long been a staple
at movie theaters. Howev er , many health conscious people pre fer canola oil due to its lower
fat and cholesterol content . Other types that are often used are s unflower, peanut and soy .

What’s the best way to keep my popcorn machine clean?

All Paragon poppers utilize tempered glass panels, st ainless steel cleanout tray s, aluminum
corner posts and anodized ket tles. These surfaces can be c leaned using a vinegar and
water solution. The use of am mo nia based cleaners is not reco m m ended. You will want to
note that you should never s ubmerge a kettle in any type of liquid because it has electrical
components inside of it th at can short out. Paragon kettles are designed to be wiped out w it h
a clean cloth after each use. Should you have a kettle that get s bur ned-on oil stains you can
order Paragon’s kettle cleaning kit (part #1075) whi ch w il l al low you to clean it to near new
conditions.

What is “expansion ratio” on popcorn and what is the optimum level?

Expansion ratio refers to the increase in volume that occurs as popcorn pops. It is
determined by measuring t he volume of popcorn prior to and aft er popping. An expansion
ratio between 40 and 44 is usua lly considered ideal. If the expansion is less than 40, the
popped corn can be a little chewy and if the expansion ratio is over 44 t he popcorn becomes
very brittle and tends to brea k ap ar t into small pieces.

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