Paragon 1216810 User Manual

OWNER’S MANUAL

FOR PROFESSIONAL POPCORN MACHINE

Model Numbers

CLASSIC POP 14 CLASSIC POP 16

1112810 (120V) 1116810 (120V)
1212810 (230V) 1216810 (230V)

14 and 16 oz Popcorn Machines

www.ManufacturedFun.com

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Paragon International, Inc • 731 W. 18

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

A503

Street • P.O. Box 560 • Nevada, IA 50201 USA

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 equipment.

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 ie d Paragon personnel
will void warranty and ma y also create unsafe working con ditions. 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 w ith t he best solutions to attract cust om er s, expand your business, and i m pr ove
your profits. That’s why this product has been specia lly -crafted to meet precise sp eci 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 cleaning.

• 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 att r active

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 ke eps which popcorn hot and fresh thanks to even

heating throughout the bat ch.

• Old maid drawer to catch unpopped kernels that effort lessly sift through for later disp osal.

• Infrared Toughcoat Heat Lam p t hat li ght s t he cabinet interior and highli ght s the popped corn for added

impulse sales.

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 Classic Pop 14 requires a properly-grounded 120 volt supply with a 15 amp circuit. The
Paragon Classic Pop 16 oz Popper requires a properly grounde d 120 volt supply with a 30 amp circuit. The
14 oz popper has a current dr aw of 15 amps. The 16 oz popper has a cur r ent dr aw 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 performa 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 Deck 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 condition.

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 14 Oz. Poppers will yield 2 40 ounces of popcorn per hour, while 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 whic h
means that the heat from t he el ements transfers comp letely to the food, resulting in m uch
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 v er 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 steam and expands. Once the kernel reaches 475 degrees
Fahrenheit the expandin g steam 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 kern el 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 will affect t he t aste of the popcorn. The most common ty pe 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 t hat ar e oft en used are sunflower, 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 t les. These surfaces can be c lea ned 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 su bmerge a kettle in any type of liquid because it has electrical
components inside of it that can short out. Paragon ket tles 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 after popping. An expansion
ratio between 40 and 44 is usually considered ideal. If the expans ion 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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