This is where I come to get answers to all my hard hitting questions. I’m getting the neighbor a popcorn machine for the Bar in his Barn from Christmas. Somebody in IDO-land has to pop popcorn in one of these kettle machines like the bars have. What’s the best way to pop it. Oil and then add butter. Buttery popping oil? Any help would be appreciated. I’m getting sick of peanuts with my Barley pops. 
Don’t know this due to experience, but I heard that coconut oil makes the best popcorn. Like I said this is not from personal experience.
Don’t know the name of the stuff, but it comes in the waxed cardboard quart milk cartons. Suggest you source the stuff from where the movie theaters get their popcorn and oil, plus they can tell you the correct amounts to put in. Butter is put on the popcorn after it is cool – doesn’t soak in and make the popcorn soggy.
Butter-It is the best oil . Just about all the bars use it around here .About $20.00 a gallon .
Guthook has it right about the quart milk-carton-like container. It is butter flavored salt that you throw in with your cooking oil – I used corn oil with a commercial size popper and didn’t have to add any butter to have an excellent product. My boss at that time used to call to check on when the popcorn was going to be ready – he’d eat one sack full while watching the basketball game and then take one home for his “after supper” snack.
Making popcorn right now. Whirley Popper sunflower oil. Hate theatre popcorn and that butter crap though.
I’ve never used heavy-duty popping machines like you describe, but make quite a bit of popcorn on the stove in a sauce pan. I’ve learned the hard way that you can’t pop the corn in butter, it will scorch before it gets hot enough and you will wind up with brownish popcorn. You have to start with a good neutral oil, and if you want butter add it after its popped. I usually start with corn or canola oil. Have even used light olive oil.
For the machines, I’m sure they use something specific. A quick google search got me to http://www.popcornsupply.com
Looks like they will sell you any supply that you need.
And to answer the original question… I would pop in oil, add unhealthy amounts of real melted butter, and a good shake of salt. Butter flavored oils is like drinking an ultra light beer.
Dangit!
You guys gave me the urge…off to the microwave. 
Dangit!!
No popcorn in the house. 
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