Great Northern Lincoln review: theater popcorn that fits on the counter

Great Northern Lincoln at a glance

First impressions of the Great Northern Lincoln

There's a reason popcorn at the cinema tastes different from microwave popcorn.

It's popped in hot oil in a stirred kettle, salted while it's hot and kept warm under a lamp.

The Great Northern Lincoln recreates that process on your counter.

It's a bar-style cabinet with glass walls, a black-and-silver theater look and a stainless steel kettle hanging inside.

What I like first is how it combines the full experience with a manageable size.

You don't need a dedicated corner for a cart, just a solid piece of counter or a bar top.

The second thing I like is the double doors.

They open from the front and back, so you can serve from either side of a counter or island.

It also has a long history.

Owner reviews on Amazon go back well over a decade, which says a lot about how established this model is.

The full theater experience in a cabinet that fits on a counter or bar.

What the Great Northern Lincoln actually is

Great Northern Popcorn, or GNP, specializes in theater-style popcorn machines for home use.

The Lincoln is its classic bar-style model with an 8-ounce kettle.

That means it takes up to 8 ounces of kernels per batch, which Great Northern says makes up to 3 gallons, or about 48 cups.

That's a full bowl for every guest at a party, or several movie nights' worth of snacking.

The kettle heater runs at 850 watts, with a separate 60-watt warming light.

It plugs into a normal 120-volt outlet.

The machine measures about 20.6 inches long, 17.7 inches wide and 24.8 inches high.

It weighs around 37 pounds, so it's not something you'll move every day.

The cabinet is made of tempered glass, stainless steel, metal and plastic.

The box includes measuring cups, a scoop, 50 paper bags and three popcorn buckets.

How the Lincoln pops

The Lincoln follows the same steps as a cinema machine.

Heating and stirring

The stainless kettle heats the oil, and a motorized stirrer keeps the kernels moving.

That spreads the heat evenly, so more kernels pop and fewer burn.

A batch takes just a few minutes once the kettle is hot.

Spilling and dumping

As the kettle fills, popped corn pushes the lids open and spills onto the deck.

When the popping slows, you tip the kettle with its handle to empty the rest.

Keeping it warm

The heated deck and warming light keep popcorn crisp and warm after popping.

One owner says the warming pan and heat lamp make the popcorn crispy and tender, a feature some cheaper rivals lacked.

Separating old maids

Unpopped kernels drop through to a reject tray, so they don't end up in someone's bucket.

Simple controls

Three switches control the kettle heat, stirrer and light independently.

That means you can keep the light on to hold a finished batch warm while the kettle is off.

Design and build

The Lincoln has a classic theater look, with glass walls, a black top with red indicator lights and a decorated header.

It suits a home theater or retro-style bar especially well.

The tempered glass panels let guests watch the popping, which is half the fun.

The double doors are a practical touch, especially on a kitchen island where people stand on both sides.

At 37 pounds, it's sturdy and stable on a counter.

The flip side is that it's heavy to move, so pick its spot carefully.

Great Northern also sells a matching cart.

One owner bought the Lincoln specifically because he could add the stand later, although he notes that isn't possible with every model.

Glass walls let guests watch the kettle pop, which is half the fun.

Where to put it: kitchen, bar or home theater

Because the Lincoln is a countertop machine, where you put it shapes how often you'll use it.

Kitchen counter or island

An island is a great spot, because the double doors let people serve themselves from either side.

Make sure there's a nearby outlet and no wall cabinet directly above the warm top.

Home bar or basement

A bar top suits the theater look, and it keeps the machine away from everyday kitchen clutter.

It's also where popcorn tends to be eaten anyway, during games, cards or sports.

Home theater

A sturdy side table or console in the media room makes movie nights feel like a trip to the cinema.

If you'd rather roll it in and out, consider the matching cart or the Matinee cart model.

Office or small business

Some owners use countertop poppers in break rooms, waiting areas or shops as a friendly extra for staff and customers.

For all-day commercial use, though, a commercial-grade machine is the safer choice.

Setup and first batch

As a countertop model, the Lincoln is simpler to set up than cart versions.

Owners say it arrives well packed and ready to use after attaching a few parts.

Place it on a stable, heat-resistant surface with space around it for air to circulate.

Keep it away from cabinets above, since the top gets warm.

For the first run, heat the kettle with a little oil to burn off any manufacturing residue, and discard that batch.

After that, you're ready for a real movie night.

One owner ordered it on a Thursday and used it for a 10-year-old's birthday party that Saturday.

Tips for theater-style popcorn

The right ingredients make as much difference as the machine.

Coconut oil gives the classic cinema taste and aroma.

Use fine popcorn salt rather than table salt, because it sticks to the kernels.

A butter-flavored seasoning salt gives the familiar golden color.

Pre-measured popcorn kits that include kernels, oil and salt make every batch consistent.

Preheat the kettle with the stirrer on before adding oil and kernels.

Don't overfill: stick to the 8-ounce measure to avoid unpopped kernels and scorching.

Turn off the kettle heat as soon as the popping slows and dump the batch quickly.

One long-time owner says it beats popcorn from a cast iron skillet, which is high praise from a stovetop fan.

Flavors, toppings and lighter popcorn

Once you've nailed classic buttery popcorn, it's easy to experiment.

For sweet popcorn, toss a fresh batch with cinnamon sugar or drizzle it with melted chocolate.

For savory versions, try cheese powder, ranch seasoning, smoked paprika or a little chili and lime.

Add seasonings after popping, in a large bowl, rather than in the kettle where they can burn.

If you want lighter popcorn, use a little less oil and skip the butter-flavored salt.

Kettle-popped popcorn will always use some oil, but making it at home lets you control how much salt and fat goes in.

That's a big difference from cinema popcorn, which is often heavily salted and topped with extra butter.

Cleaning and care

Great Northern says you can clean the interior by wiping it with a damp cloth.

For the cabinet, that's usually enough if you do it after every use.

The kettle needs a bit more attention.

Wipe out the oil while it's still warm but not hot, using paper towels or a cloth.

Never put the kettle in water, since it contains the heating element.

For built-up residue, a popcorn kettle cleaner works much better than scrubbing.

Empty the reject tray after each session and clean the glass with a non-abrasive glass cleaner.

Regular light cleaning keeps the machine looking good and stops old oil from affecting the taste.

A quick wipe after every use keeps the kettle and glass clean.

Safety tips

The kettle, oil and top of the machine get very hot.

Always use the handle to tip the kettle, and keep fingers away from metal surfaces.

Kids will love watching it pop, but an adult should run it.

Keep it on a stable, level surface and away from the counter edge.

Don't leave the kettle heating empty, and unplug the machine after use.

What owners say about the Great Northern Lincoln

The Lincoln has a 4.5 out of 5 rating on Amazon from more than 1,100 ratings.

What owners like

Owners love the popcorn quality, often saying it's as good as the cinema.

Several mention that comparable machines cost $100 to $200 more, which makes the Lincoln good value.

The warming pan, heat lamp and good packaging also get frequent mentions.

Many say it becomes the star of birthday parties and family gatherings.

What owners complain about

Cleaning the kettle is the most common chore owners mention.

Some also wish the cart were included or easier to add later.

And because it's big and heavy, a few buyers underestimate how much counter space it needs.

Is the Great Northern Lincoln worth the money?

At around $280, the Lincoln is an investment compared with hot-air poppers or microwave popcorn.

It's a different experience, though, and it's cheaper than the cart version and far cheaper than commercial machines.

Ingredient costs are low, so regular movie nights quickly become cheaper than buying bags or cinema popcorn.

If you have the counter space and use it often, it's good value.

If you want the cart look and have floor space, the Matinee version with a cart may suit you better.

Prices move, so check the current price on Amazon before you buy.

Lincoln or Matinee: which should you buy?

Great Northern sells two very similar 8-ounce poppers, and the choice comes down to space and style.

Both have an 850-watt stainless kettle, a stirrer, a warming light, a heated deck and a reject tray.

Both pop up to 3 gallons per batch and come with the same scoop, cups, bags and buckets.

The Lincoln is the countertop version.

It's smaller, lighter at about 37 pounds and usually around $50 cheaper.

Its double doors make it easy to serve from both sides of an island or bar.

The Matinee comes on a rolling cart with large bicycle-style wheels, a supply cabinet and a shelf.

It stands nearly 56 inches tall, so it works more like a piece of furniture.

If you have a counter or bar spot ready, I'd pick the Lincoln.

If you want a showpiece for a home theater, or need to roll it between rooms and outdoors, go for the Matinee.

Great Northern Lincoln specifications

From Great Northern Popcorn and the Amazon listing.

Lincoln vs Matinee with cart vs smaller poppers

Here's how the Lincoln compares with Great Northern's cart model and smaller-kettle poppers.

Best Great Northern Lincoln alternatives

If the Lincoln doesn't fit your space or budget, consider these.

The Great Northern Matinee is the same 8-ounce idea on a rolling cart with storage, which we cover in our Matinee review.

Smaller Great Northern poppers with 2.5 or 4-ounce kettles cost less and take up less counter space.

A stovetop popper with a crank stirrer makes good kettle-style popcorn for very little money.

And a hot-air popper is the cheapest, fastest and lightest option, though it won't taste like the cinema.

How I scored the Great Northern Lincoln

I based this review on Great Northern Popcorn's published specifications, the Amazon listing, more than 1,100 owner ratings and reviews, and a comparison with rival popcorn makers.

I scored four things, and each one gets its own subscore.

• Popping (8.6): batch size, kettle power, stirrer and warming features.
• Build & design (8.2): materials, doors, stability and looks.
• Ease of use (7.8): setup, controls and cleaning.
• Value (8.2): price against home and commercial rivals, plus included accessories.

The overall score of 8.2 is an editorial rating. BrasQ editor-in-chief Ryan Mitchell reviewed the facts and figures before publication.