Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Butter(y topping) dispensers: which are the best?

This is topic Butter(y topping) dispensers: which are the best? in forum Ground Level at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Melanie Loggins (Member # 6454) on 02-17-2012, 10:17 AM:

I have the cheapest Paragon dispenser you can buy, and I hate it. I think it's really more for cheese. It dispenses a huge amount in one spot, is testy to control, isn't tall enough, and is difficult to clean. Someone asked me recently what he could donate to the theatre, and I'm going to request a new dispenser. But looking at them shows a wide range of price, which I assume might indicate a range of quality...? Anyway, I need a good solid dispenser for a one-screen theatre. What would you recommend?

Posted by Frank Cox (Member # 6258) on 02-17-2012, 10:26 AM:

I have a Star butter dispenser that I bought when I opened my theatre (in 1995) and haven't had any trouble with it yet. I've replaced my popcorn machine once, but not the butter dispenser. I replaced the on/off switch on it once, but that's it. Other than that I just clean it after the show every night.

It looks exactly like this one:

As I recall, the one that I bought didn't come with the pot that you put the butter in. I had to buy that separately at a restaurant supply store.

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 02-17-2012, 12:22 PM:

We have an in-the-counter model from Cretors. It is awesome. Not only is it trouble-free and nearly maintenance-free, it helps keep the concession area cleaner. How, you say? With the push-pump types, the butter tends to "ricochet" or splash off of the popcorn and wind up on the floor, walls, employee's clothes, etc. (When things are busy the idea of "operate the pump slowly" is lost on them.) With the in-the-counter type, it's just a matter of pushing the button and the topping flows slowly enough that no splashing occurs.

It also uses the bag-in-box topping, so there's no daily refilling and no water tank to worry about.

And it frees up a good amount of counter space, too.

One of these costs about 2.5 times as much as a countertop model, but it's one of the best things we ever got for the concession.

Posted by Justin Hamaker (Member # 2165) on 02-17-2012, 12:51 PM:

We use the automatic Butter Server 2 from Server Products. Fairly simple to clean and maintain. We also use a pump type at our drive-in, but I prefer the automatic.

Posted by Richard Orsak (Member # 4472) on 02-18-2012, 02:37 AM:

This Gold Medal Unit 2395NS has been very solid, super easy to maintain, and pours steady!!

Posted by Monte L Fullmer (Member # 2797) on 02-18-2012, 03:23 AM:

If you use the butter flavoring, please keep the flow tube cleaned out, for the heated vegetable oil leaves a waxy film inside the tube that will build up over time.

Clarifed butter doesn't do this.