Not a problem really , but do I use oil in my salton popcorn popper?

No, oil and butter should not be used in the popcorn maker. You can melt some butter or buy a flavored oil to drizzle on top once the popcorn is done and in a bowl. But nothing should go inside the maker except popcorn kernels.

This is the typical measurements for salton poppers
for 3 quarts/litres of popcorn:
1 tbsp. (15 ml) of oil
1/3 cup (85 ml) of popcorn kernels
1 (15 ml)* of butter margerine

Between 1/6 and 1/4 cup, according to the owners manual found here:

What type of popper is it? The 50030178 model isn't one I'm familiar with.

For most of the small air poppers, such as the Presto Air poppers, fill the measuring cup lid with popcorn so that the popcorn is level with the top of the cup. Add this amount of popcorn to the popper. On those units, there is a fill line inside the popping chamber. Do not fill past the line. For these air poppers, if you want to have butter or margarine on the popcorn, add 3 tablespoons of the extra to the lid after you replace it on the popper.

For the Hamilton Beach Hot Oil Poppers, the manual for the 73300 is available here: http://www.hamiltonbeach.com/use-and-care/use-and-care.php . Fill in the type of device and then the model. The amount of oil and popcorn will depend on how much you want to make. For a single serving, you need 2 T (tablespoons) of kernels and 1 - 1 1/2 t (teaspoon) of oil. For enough popcorn for a family, you should use 1/2 cup of kernels and 1T of oil. http://useandcares.hamiltonbeach.com/files/840190701.pdf has a full chart of the amounts on page 6.

I hope this helps. Please add a comment with the brand of popper and I'll check for a specific chart for that unit.

Cindy Wells
(It's been a while since I used the air popper that I used to have.)

Depends on your machine. What bran/model dso you have? If it is an air popper, NO. Adding anything will damage the machine.

If your machine is not an air popper then you likely need to add some oil. I currently have a WestBend Stir Crazy Popcorn Popper. You use a tablespoon of oil for each 1/4 cup of popcorn in the bottom of the popper. See here; an instruction manual is available.

You are best to check with the manufacturer of your popccorn popper.

The manual says to put 1 to 3 tablespoons of oil in the popper, and when hot, add 1/2 cup popcorn. Salt it after dumping the popped corn into a bowl.

2 tablespoons oil to 1/2 cup corn

No oil needed - is hot air popper. Use round lid on top to measure popcorn, pour popcorn into metal part in center of popper.

I owned one of these and it worked for 2 whole months.

It's a popcorn machine, how hard could it be? Make sure the stirring bar it tight on it's shaft, make sure the plastic bolt is tight. Add about 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil, and 1/4 to 1/3 cup popcorn kernels. Turn the machine on. Turn the machine off when the popcorn stops popping, or you might scorch the popcorn.

This is the typical measurements for salton poppers

for 3 quarts/litres of popcorn:

1 tbsp. (15 ml) of oil

1/3 cup (85 ml) of popcorn kernels

1 (15 ml)* of butter margerine