Cleaning a stovetop popcorn popper is essential to keep your popcorn tasting great. If you don’t clean your popcorn maker regularly, the flavor won’t be as good as it could be and can also affect the way it pops. We recommend cleaning your stovetop popper every time you use it, but if you want extra fancy, you can season your machine after each use too!
What Is a Stovetop Popcorn Popper?
A stove top popcorn maker is a small pot with a lid with a perforated top. The lid is used to hold the popped corn and can also be used to heat the corn if you don’t want it immediately. The top of the pot is what you will use to pop your corn without burning yourself or setting off any smoke detectors in your home.
When you are ready to pop your popcorn, place about 1/4 cup of corn kernels at the bottom. Place the lid on top and turn on the stovetop burner to medium-high heat. When you hear steam coming from underneath, turn the heat down to low until no more steam is escaping from underneath.
How To Clean A Stovetop Popcorn Popper?
The first thing you will want to do is remove the kettle from the stovetop popcorn popper. Please remove all the popcorn kernels from the kettle, then turn it upside down on a dry towel. Use a damp cloth to wipe down any food residue that may have accumulated inside the kettle’s interior.
Next, wash your kettle in warm, soapy water, removing any tough stains or grease with a soft brush if necessary. Now that your pot has been cleaned, it’s time for some fun!
You can make delicious homemade popcorn using one of these two methods:
- Microwave method (2 minutes) or
- Stovetop method (3 minutes).
The microwave option works best when making small batches. If you plan to make more than 6 cups of popcorn at once, we recommend using our stovetop method instead!
Once your desired amount of kernels are popped and ready to eat, remove them from the heat immediately and allow them to cool down before serving while they are still hot. It will be easier on everyone’s tastebuds this way!
Importance of Cleaning a Popcorn Popper
Cleaning a popcorn popper is easier than you might think. It’s not only important to clean your popcorn popper after each use, but experts also recommend it. A dirty popcorn popper can cause health hazards and damage your appliance, making it less useful overall.
Tips to Clean a Stovetop Popcorn Maker
If you want to make sure that your popcorn popper stays clean and lasts longer, follow these tips:
- Wipe down the outside of the popcorn popper machine with a damp cloth or sponge (you don’t need soap). Be sure not to get water inside the machine.
- Give all removable parts a good scrubbing with hot soapy water. You can also use dishwashing liquid if needed—depending on how much grease or food you may have left behind in nooks and crannies that aren’t easily accessible when cleaning them out usually (like inside of moving parts).
- Sanitize everything by spraying some disinfectant onto all surfaces where food has touched them before making another batch of delicious kernels!
How to Clean a Popcorn Machine Kettle?
You can clean your popcorn maker machine kettle with a plastic scraper and hot soapy water.
If you have a removable bowl, remove it from the base and place it in the sink. Fill with hot soapy water and let soak for five minutes. Use the plastic scraper to scrape off any residue left behind by cold kernels that didn’t pop.
Rinse thoroughly under running water, careful not to damage any internal parts of your popper as you wash away food remnants. Dry completely before reassembling back into place on its base.
When cleaning your kettle, it is crucial to remember that it is made of aluminum. While this material is forgiving and will not rust, you still need to be careful not to scratch or dent the surface. Do not use any abrasive cleaners or steel wool on these parts, as they could damage them over time.
You should also avoid putting any part of your popcorn maker into the dishwasher because doing so can cause scratches on its surface, which should be avoided at all costs as they can lead to rusting down the road (which we do not want).
If an item has been cleaned in harsh chemicals or washed too vigorously by hand, it may be wise to throw it away rather than clean it further because there’s no point risking damaging something that works well already!
How Often Should I Clean My Stovetop Popcorn Popper?
To keep your stovetop popcorn popper in the best condition, clean it as soon as possible after each use. If you use a kettle model, wipe down all surfaces with a damp cloth to remove any lingering oil and butter.
If you have an electric machine with an enclosed heating element, place two tablespoons of water in the base of your machine and run it on medium-high heat for 3 minutes before turning it off. This will burn off any residual oil or residue from previous batches so that your next batch pops more efficiently.
In either case, be sure not to leave any food unattended while cooking—the oils may catch fire if left too long over high heat!
Seasoning Your Stovetop Popcorn Popper
Before starting your popcorn popper, you must season it first. This is the process of coating the inside with food-safe oil and heating it to create a nonstick surface.
First, make sure your popcorn popper is clean and dry. We recommend using a paper towel to spread the oil evenly over all interior surfaces; don’t be shy about using plenty. The oil will evaporate in several hours and leave behind an even sheen without making anything greasy or sticky.
You will want to let this sit overnight before using it so that all its parts have time for their coating to cook on thoroughly.
Also Read: How To Clean Electric Stove Coil Tops?
Conclusion
So there you have a few easy steps to follow when cleaning your stovetop popcorn popper. It’s not hard at all, and we hope these tips will help keep your stovetop popcorn maker in excellent condition for many years to come!
