Kettle Corn Secrets!

When you think of gourmet popcorn, does one specific flavor come to mind, such as kettle corn? If so, it might be time to branch out and explore the varieties available for you to sell to customers who are increasingly looking for unique snack options. In today’s post, we’ll share with you the directions for making kettle corn, plus four other options that will inspire your menu to evolve in creative new (and profitable) ways.

In short, to make gourmet popcorn you can start with basic popcorn that’s freshly popped, then add natural flavors and spices. If you sell large quantities, use kettle corn equipment specifically; these supplies allow you to prepare the kettle corn at a lower temperature than regular popcorn, which prevents the sugar from burning. Tip: Do a taste-test before selling the gourmet popcorn so you can answer questions about the flavors and make suggestions based on what your patrons might like.

Kettle Corn Directions (for an 8-oz kettle):
1. Use the #2845 MegaPop® Glaze Popcorn/Oil Kit with White Coconut Oil (for 8-oz kettle)
2. Wait about 45 seconds to 1 minute, and then add 5 to 5.5 oz Pappy’s Mix (in the ratio of 2/3 Pappy’s Mix to 1-part corn.)
3. Once it’s finished popping, dump the kettle and lightly salt the corn.

Don’t have a kettle corn popper? You can still make kettle corn in any Gold Medal popcorn popper if you use our #2538 Pop-N-Glaze™ Sweet Corn Mix. Pop-N-Glaze™ coats the corn with a clear, sugary glaze, and works in any kettle. Just add 3 ounces of glaze for 6-ounce kettles to get that tasty, sweet crunch.

As with gourmet popcorn, take your basic kettle corn recipe and then experiment. Test any flavors/combinations with kettle corn for another twist on this similar product, and get twice as much bang for the same supplies you already have on hand. Other favorite popcorn flavors include Glaze Pop®, Candy Glaze Flavors, Shake-On Savory Flavors, and Cheese Pastes. Each of these options gives you an easy way to broaden your menu, allowing your customers to try new flavors that will have them coming back for return visits.

Which gourmet popcorn flavor is your biggest seller? Tweet it to us and use the hashtag #GMPopcorn!

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If you’d like to make 70-80% profits, contact our concession specialists and we’ll show you how to get started. Call 562-355-4074 or send an email to info@beachcitieswholesalers.com today!

They Deep-Fried What? Unique Concession Food Ideas!

Concession stands continue to get more and more creative with their menu items, always pushing the limits of what customers may come to expect with foods that are at first shocking, then tempting. After taking the risks, the benefits pay off as customers show their willingness to wait in line for these unusual treats.

Some of the wildest concession food ideas we’ve seen (so far) are:

1. Chicken-fried bacon
A fair vendor in Texas tried his luck with this combination with a recipe that involves battering bacon just as you would prepare fried chicken. The results? Best Taste at the Big Tex Choice Awards.

2. Fried avocados
Leave it to California to find a way to serve this delicious fruit in a unique way. To create this snack, large chunks of avocados are rolled in corn dog fryer batter and fried, then served with ranch dip or herb-infused oil.

3. Pizza cones
Not that there’s anything wrong with ice cream, but we do love pizza. Take a pizza crust and form it into a cone, then fill it with pizza ingredients such as tomato sauce, cheese, pepperoni, mushrooms, and/or peppers. It’s delicious and easy to carry.

4. Fried Coke
By now you’ve probably heard of fried Twinkies® (Hostess Brands, LLC), Oreos® (Intercontinental Great Brands LLC), and even butter, but what about fried Coca-Cola? This creative treat involves cola-flavored batter that’s fried and drizzled with Coke syrup. A similar (perhaps call it more advanced?) treat showed up in Texas when a food vendor used fried-beer ravioli made of pretzel dough, filled it with beer, fried it, and then topped it with nacho cheese.

5. PB&J
If you like to stick with the tried-and-true, you can always rely on America’s favorite packed lunch: a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Cater to festival customers when you put it on a stick, deep-fry it, and dust it with powdered sugar.

Still looking for new fair food ideas? You can always make and sell some of these new creations: chocolate-covered bacon, peanut butter pineapple pork burger, deep-fried pretzel-crusted brownie on a stick, bacon-wrapped corn on the cob, deep fried grilled cheese, or fried chicken and gravy in a waffle cone. Come to Gold Medal for all of your concession needs, including equipment, supplies, and creative ideas.

What’s the most unique food concession idea you’ve tasted and/or sold? Tell us about it on Facebook and we just might feature it in a future blog post. Consider trying something new at your concession stand; it just might end up in your favor.

Ways to Prep Your Concession Equipment for the Off Season!

It will soon be that time of year when many of us are putting our “tools-of-the-trade” away and waiting for warmer weather to return. Here are a few reminders on how to properly store your equipment.

When possible, run your equipment one more time, looking and listening for anything that may indicate a problem. If maintenance is needed, doing it during the off season will prevent down time when it is least wanted.

Spend some time cleaning popcorn machines and all equipment, making sure to remove all traces of food. Keep in mind that vegetable-based oil can become rancid during storage. Gold Medal’s Watchdog™ Concession Equipment Cleaner (#2580) is the solution for removing cooking oils, grease, starch, sugar, and protein residues. It works on chrome, Formica, copper, aluminum, brass, and more. Apply a thin coat of Petro-Gel (#1110) to the inside of the tanks to ensure they’re protected from oxidation.

When storing your unit, check the power cord. Make sure it isn’t kinked or wound too tightly. Loops about 6 to 8 inches in diameter will allow the cord to be stored without damage.

Store your equipment in a dry environment. This is particularly important for equipment with heating elements, which can be damaged by moisture. Store smaller equipment in large plastic bags that can be sealed tight. You can also toss in a few bags of desiccant to keep things dry; just remember to remove it before restarting in the spring.

Cleaning popcorn machines and concession equipment now will help you avoid dealing with damage control in the long run. When the next season rolls around, you’ll have a better setup time and profit margin because your equipment will be ready to fire up quickly and efficiently. If you have questions about cleaning or storing your Gold Medal concession equipment, contact us and we’ll be happy to help.

How else do you prepare for the off season? Tell us about it on Facebook!