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Author Topic: What the HECK is the difference between Canola oil and Coconut Oil?? Jim Alexander Film Handler Posts: 71 From: Greenwood, Nova Scotia, Canada Registered: Nov 1999 posted 12-14-2002 03:58 PM                        We've used Coconut Oil since I took over the theatre. And, yes the popcorn is made fresh, not only each day, but before each show. Not being much of a conaseur of the stuf (I can't stand it!), I was suprised one early morning (4:30am), about two years ago, when we received a call from the Canadian U.N. peace keepers in Bosnia... they told us we had the best popcorn ever and wanted to know if we could ship them some. Talk about being caught off gaurd! I only wish we could without it going stale or being crushed to bits. Instead we gave them detailed instructions and had the raw corn, coconut oil, and flavacol shipped over. Apparently they were just as naive as I when it came to the "health concerns" as I. Mind you, when it tastes good it has to be bad for you, and if it tastes bad it has to be good for you. Since then I've heard all these concerns about fat and what not, and I'm confused... you don't hear of McDonalds redoing their menus to remove fat, and I'd hazard to guess that's there is a heck of alot more SATURATED FAT in one of their Big Mac's. I think I'dd stick with Coconut oil, since that is what my customers prefer...  |  IP: Logged Dennis Benjamin Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1445 From: Denton, MD Registered: Feb 2002 posted 12-29-2002 01:05 PM                        Actually, McDonalds has changed the oil they use to cook their fries. They were sued by various persons because their '100% Vegetable Oil' contained animal fat. Now thier fries taste like dirt. (Trust me -I just threw a batch away).  |  IP: Logged Dave Williams Wet nipple scene Posts: 1836 From: Salt Lake City, UT, USA Registered: Jan 2000 posted 12-30-2002 05:24 PM                        I tested a batch of canola oil for popcorn once. Thats all I have to say on the subject. Dave... Really though it was pretty darn tasty! It puffed up lighter and fluffier, so we got a better kernel yield. The flavoring was quite good, and people complimented us on how good the popcorn was. After the test, we went back to coconut oil, primarily for cost. Overall it increased cost by about 15 percent, and for a dollar theater that is pure death. Besides, good old fashioned coconut oil just tastes damn good and for cheap too. Dave  |  IP: Logged Steve Kraus Film God Posts: 4094 From: Chicago, IL, USA Registered: May 2000 posted 12-30-2002 09:24 PM                    I know some theatres where the vent over the popper (properly located in the lobby of course) is piped to blow down outside near the entrance to entice people entering the theatre. Demeter, purveyors of odd fragrances, makes popcorn scented cologne. Of course they also offer "Dirt," "Lobster," "Mildew," and "Laundromat," too. You could practically restock a Smell-o-Vision machine with their offerings. Get Stinky Here  |  IP: Logged Gordon McLeod Film God Posts: 9532 From: Toronto Ontario Canada Registered: Jun 99 posted 12-30-2002 09:52 PM                     Sorry steve I didn't see my favorite Ode Du Carbon Arc  |  IP: Logged Christos Mitsakis Expert Film Handler Posts: 242 From: Ag.Paraskevi, ATHENS, GREECE Registered: Sep 1999 posted 01-05-2003 02:27 PM                     When I was in Boston (well ..1992-94), I can remember GCC advertised they were using Canola oil and it tasted ok. We use Coconut oil, and yes it not only tastes better, it smells better. You mentioned that in room temperature coconut oil is not in liquid form. Well, as we buy it in large cans, it stays in liquid form in room temperature. The moment though you put it in smaller containers for everyday use it becomes like butter. Is this happening to you also? Christos.  |  IP: Logged Daryl C. W. O'Shea Film God Posts: 3977 From: Midland Ontario Canada (where Panavision & IMAX lenses come from) Registered: Jun 2002 posted 01-05-2003 02:35 PM                        It all depends what you consider room temperature. Here on the North Pole the stuff is like ice most of the time. There is at least one company that I know of (can't remember who) selling Coconut oil in a box with some kind of additive that keeps it from congealing. Additionally, IIRC, coconut oil congeals at 74 deg F.  |  IP: Logged Gordon McLeod Film God Posts: 9532 From: Toronto Ontario Canada Registered: Jun 99 posted 01-05-2003 04:34 PM                     The hard oil in the pail has been hydrogenated  |  IP: Logged Chris Rhode Film Handler Posts: 39 From: Tampa, FL, USA Registered: Apr 2000 posted 01-06-2003 12:29 AM                     Here is an article that you all might be interested in. I have never heard of Canola Oil being hazardous to your health but for anybody who has, this link might prove useful: http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/blcanola.htm I personally don't like to eat popcorn at all because i've had so much of it. However my theater has started to get different types of toppings that you can put on your popcorn after you purchase it (i.e. ranch, parmesan & garlic, white cheddar, et al)  |  IP: Logged Jeff Sirles Film Handler Posts: 10 From: Meredith, NH, USA Registered: Dec 2002 posted 01-07-2003 07:14 PM                     My theaters arew switching to Coconut Oil as well. So, I pitched this question to the Director of Operatations and led him to this forum, and being the honest straight forward guy he is he e-mailed this reponce to me: Coconut vs. Canola Oil Pure and simply all oil is pure fat. The difference between the oils is the amount of saturated and un-saturated fats. The Health community has been able to link high intakes of saturated fats with higher levels of cholesterol in people, which of course has been linked to multitude of health risks. Upside: 1. Independent studies suggest that people prefer the taste of Coconut Oil. It seems the fellow forum writers seem to agree. People reported to give the corn a richer melt in your mouth taste. The canola was viewed as more rubbery. 2. From my experience it is a little easier to clean, but if you are diligent about keeping your machine clean it will not appreciable noticeable. 3. If you are a house that stores corn for multiple days it does "seem" to keep better, although that has not been proven. Downside: 1. It is solid at room temperature so you will need to plan ahead better. a. If you pop fresh daily you will need to come in a little earlier to make-sure you get the oil warmer turned on. Depending on the concession’s room temperature it will take 10-20 minutes before you can pop. b. Although I personally have never had a problem with oil lines clogging I can see how they could. Keep in mind if the line does become partiality clogged and you do not realize it, this will affect the oil/corn ratio, which will affect the quality. c. You will need to keep a closure eye on the amount of oil in the machine. With Coconut oil if you let it run out of oil and do not already have a pail warming, then you will be out of business for 20 to 30 minutes. So if you pop fresh for every show you will have no corn for the rest of that show. No Corn = No Profit! 2. When asked by customer which oil you use, most people will remember that Coconut Oil was linked to health risks, thanks to the infamous report that stated, eating a movie theater popcorn was like eating multiple Big Macs. Bottom Line: In my opinion if your company is choosing to change now, it has nothing to do with anything that was discussed above. It all comes down to one thing PRICE. The price of Canola oil has increased by 20%. The price increase is a simple case of supply & demand. Canola has increased in popularity not only in the movie industry but across all segments, the supply has not been able to keep up with demand thus the price has increased to the point where companies like yours are seeking alternatives. Hope that helped, and as I stated before we switched over too.  |  IP: Logged Gordon McLeod Film God Posts: 9532 From: Toronto Ontario Canada Registered: Jun 99 posted 01-07-2003 08:28 PM                     One point in that article MadCow did resurface rather serously since the stopping of the use of rape feed foods It is a genetically modified product and as such should realy be labled as such (and then avoided((If I want to kill myself with food at least glutonise naturally )))  |  IP: Logged Jack Ondracek Film God Posts: 2348 From: Port Orchard, WA, USA Registered: Oct 2002 posted 01-08-2003 08:11 PM                        Far as I'm concerned, Jeff's post could have been shortened to this one sentence: 1. Independent studies suggest that people prefer the taste of Coconut Oil. It seems the fellow forum writers seem to agree. People reported to give the corn a richer melt in your mouth taste. The canola was viewed as more rubbery. Practical experience in my two theatres and over 35 years of operation is that people prefer the coconut oil recipe. I flat don't understand this obsession with reducing product costs to the minimum possible. For what you charge for popcorn, the extra cost (if this is true) for coconut oil can't be that big a deal... and people flat love it. I sell popcorn to people who walk in just to get a tub for the road. The ONLY comment I've ever received from anyone concerned about coconut/canola/sunflower/vegetable/fish oil was "give me a large"! Maybe it's a regional thing... but I just don't see it. Not one single customer has walked away from our counter because we use coconut oil, and dammit... I'm not a health food store. I'm in the class of business our state looks toward when contemplating additional sin taxes!  |  IP: Logged Brad Miller Administrator Posts: 17775 From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall) Registered: May 99 posted 01-09-2003 01:11 AM                     Jeff, did you get permission to post that snip from the email? If not, you need to edit that out immediately and please read the FAQ document before posting again. If you did get permission, then the quote is fine of course.  |  IP: Logged Jeff Sirles Film Handler Posts: 10 From: Meredith, NH, USA Registered: Dec 2002 posted 01-09-2003 08:50 PM                     I got permission to post that, and in fact was encouraged. I agree that customer preference should weigh over cost within reason. However, what we need to keep in mind is some theater dont own their concession stand, and some chains (as we all know) only really care about the bottom line...so lets say your chain uses 1000 buckets of oil, when the pensil pushers see they can save maybe $20 per bucket (for argument sake) they see $20,000 appear out of the blue. The dont care is its better (which in this case it sounds like it may be), they care if its cheaper.  |  IP: Logged Jack Ondracek Film God Posts: 2348 From: Port Orchard, WA, USA Registered: Oct 2002 posted 01-11-2003 12:03 PM                        quote: Actually, McDonalds has changed the oil they use to cook their fries. ... Now thier fries taste like dirt. Yah... but it had nothing to do with one oil over another. McD's was putting some beef tallow in their oil for taste reasons & neglected to make that clear in their advertising & disclosures. That fact was picked up by an opportunistic lawyer and a religious group that doesn't eat beef... & the rest is legal history. Oh... make sure your coffee's not too hot!  |  IP: Logged

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