A popcorn popping assembly includes a popcorn popping kettle having a side wall extending from a bottom wall. The assembly includes a plurality of retainers. Each of the retainers includes a bottom wall extending between a pair of side walls. The side walls and the bottom wall define a cavity, and an aperture is formed in the bottom wall and defines an essentially closed shaped periphery. The assembly includes a plurality of studs, each configured to be inserted through a respective aperture of a respective retainer. A plurality of fasteners are each configured to be received within the cavity of a retainer and couple with a stud to secure the stud to the retainer. A temperature sensor may extend through at least one of the apertures. A stud may be configured to cooperate with the temperature sensor and hold the temperature sensor in a predetermined location.

A kitchen appliance for popping popcorn comprises a housing and a popping mechanism. The housing comprises a bottom housing portion adapted to sit stably upon a surface during operation of the appliance and adapted to receive popcorn that has been popped by the appliance and a top housing portion adapted to sit stably upon the bottom housing portion during operation of the appliance and selectively removable from the bottom housing portion. The popping mechanism heats unpopped popcorn kernels in order to cause the unpopped popcorn kernels to pop. The popping mechanism is affixed within the top housing portion such that, when the top housing portion is selectively removed from the bottom housing portion and placed upright on a surface, the popping mechanism does not contact the surface.

A kitchen appliance for popping popcorn comprises a housing and a popping mechanism. The housing comprises a bottom housing portion adapted to sit stably upon a surface during operation of the appliance and adapted to receive popcorn that has been popped by the appliance and a top housing portion adapted to sit stably upon the bottom housing portion during operation of the appliance and selectively removable from the bottom housing portion. The popping mechanism heats unpopped popcorn kernels in order to cause the unpopped popcorn kernels to pop. The popping mechanism is affixed within the top housing portion such that, when the top housing portion is selectively removed from the bottom housing portion and placed upright on a surface, the popping mechanism does not contact the surface.

A method of popping popcorn in batches/cycles. A sensor on a popcorn popping machine senses pops of popcorn in the kettle. A system computer controller monitors the rate of popping sensed by the sensor and uses the beginning of the decline in the rate of popping as a basis for controlling heat to the kettle during a given cycle/batch. Activation of the dump mechanism, which terminates the popping cycle/batch, is initiated when the computer controller detects a predetermined programmed minimum count rate after the heat has been turned OFF.

A method of popping popcorn in batches/cycles. A sensor on a popcorn popping machine senses pops of popcorn in the kettle. A system computer controller monitors the rate of popping sensed by the sensor and uses the beginning of the decline in the rate of popping as a basis for controlling heat to the kettle during a given cycle/batch. Activation of the dump mechanism, which terminates the popping cycle/batch, is initiated when the computer controller detects a predetermined programmed minimum count rate after the heat has been turned OFF.

Popcorn machines having radiant burners and associated systems and methods are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a popcorn machine includes a kettle assembly having a heating plate that separates an upper portion from a lower portion. The heating plate can include a coated lower surface to absorb radiant heat, and the kettle assembly can be supported by a base having a gas-fired radiant burner. The radiant burner can include a heating element positioned to direct radiant heat toward the heating plate. In several embodiments, the heating element includes an opening extending therethrough, and a coupler can extend through the opening to connect a motor in the base with a mixer in the upper portion of the kettle assembly.

Popcorn machines having radiant burners and associated systems and methods are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a popcorn machine includes a kettle assembly having a heating plate that separates an upper portion from a lower portion. The heating plate can include a coated lower surface to absorb radiant heat, and the kettle assembly can be supported by a base having a gas-fired radiant burner. The radiant burner can include a heating element positioned to direct radiant heat toward the heating plate. In several embodiments, the heating element includes an opening extending therethrough, and a coupler can extend through the opening to connect a motor in the base with a mixer in the upper portion of the kettle assembly.

A heated air popcorn popper and related methods of popping popcorn in which unpopped kernels are retained in a heating zone and are prevented from being expelled before they have been exposed to a heated air stream for sufficient time to result in popping of the kernels. The popcorn popper can have a popping portion including a retention mechanism capable of moving in response to physical contact with popped kernels that experience a dramatic volumetric increase in size following popping. As the number of popped kernels within the popping portion increases, the level of the popped kernels rises until they physically contact the retention mechanism, whereby the retention mechanism is forced to transition from a covering disposition to an open disposition in which popped kernels are allowed to exit the heating zone.

A heated air popcorn popper and related methods of popping popcorn in which unpopped kernels are retained in a heating zone and are prevented from being expelled before they have been exposed to a heated air stream for sufficient time to result in popping of the kernels. The popcorn popper can have a popping portion including a retention mechanism capable of moving in response to physical contact with popped kernels that experience a dramatic volumetric increase in size following popping. As the number of popped kernels within the popping portion increases, the level of the popped kernels rises until they physically contact the retention mechanism, whereby the retention mechanism is forced to transition from a covering disposition to an open disposition in which popped kernels are allowed to exit the heating zone.