How to Clean a Popcorn Machine
The salty, buttery aroma of fresh popcorn is a great way to drive impulse sales at concession stands, fairgrounds, sporting events, and movie theaters. Unfortunately, nearly everyone has had a bad popcorn experience at some point. So how do you avoid popcorn disasters in commercial settings?
Purchasing a good popcorn brand and using the right oil will help, but learning how to clean and maintain your commercial popcorn machine is vital for tasty results. Because they're often located in the front of house, shiny, clean popcorn makers also make for enhanced storefront appeal. In this article, we'll discuss how to clean a popcorn maker using the best products and methods.
What You Need to Clean a Popcorn Maker
- A towel or sponge
- Water
- Mild dish soap
- Kettle cleaning solution
- Food-safe glass cleaner (optional)
Popcorn Maker Parts to Maintain
This guide focuses on standard countertop or cart popcorn poppers, which usually cook between 6 and 18 ounces of popcorn at a time. Each comes with the following parts, all of which need regular cleaning:
- Interior bin
- Heating deck
- Access door
- Crumb tray
- Cooking kettle
- Stirring stick
The Best Way to Clean Popcorn Machine Parts
Cleaning a popcorn machine is a fairly simple process that should be performed at least once a day. It's easy to prevent greasy buildup and maintain a clean popcorn machine by following these steps:
- Flip the switches to "off" and unplug the machine to avoid electrical shock.
- If the machine was just running, allow it to cool for 30-60 minutes to prevent burning yourself, then empty any leftover popcorn from the container.
- Unplug and remove the kettle from the unit, rinse it out, and wipe it down with a soft towel or sponge dampened with clean water, soap, or kettle cleaning solution. Never submerge a kettle in water, as it may damage the electrical components.
- Wipe down the interior glass surfaces of the popper with a damp cloth and soap or a food-safe, non-ammonia-based glass cleaner.
- Wipe down any interior stainless steel surfaces, such as the heating deck, with a moist towel. Ensure any surface that touches food is cleaned with a food-safe cleaner.
- If the unit has a crumb tray, remove and empty it, then clean it with a damp, soft cloth. Once it's clean, replace the crumb tray and clean kettle inside the unit.
- Wipe the machine's outer surfaces. Use a damp cloth for metal surfaces and a food-safe glass cleaner for the glass panes.
- Enjoy your clean popcorn maker
How to Clean a Greasy Popcorn Machine
Occasionally, grease and oil will accumulate on the kettle, and a simple popcorn machine cleaning won't remove it. The following steps will have your kettle working like new again:
- Fill the kettle with popcorn machine cleaner and approximately two cups of water.
- Bring the concoction to a boil and turn the unit off.
- Unplug the unit.
- After the amount of time specified in the cleaner instructions has passed, empty the liquid into a container and dispose of it properly.
- Rinse and replace the kettle, and it will look and operate like new.
If the kettle is heavily soiled, sometimes even a deep cleaning won't remove all the greasy residue. In this case, do not scrub the kettle with abrasive rags, sponges, brushes, or cleaners, as doing so will damage the unit's finish. If built-up residue remains on the kettle after the first boil-out, you should repeat the procedure until all remaining grease and salt buildup is eliminated.
Some sources advise using a mixture of vinegar and water to clean your popcorn machine, as vinegar is a nontoxic, antimicrobial cleanser that helps cut grease. If your popcorn machine has an oleophobic (oil-repelling) coating or finish, vinegar can strip it away, making it harder to clean the machine in the future. To be safe, we recommend avoiding vinegar, and instead using popcorn kettle cleaner specifically formulated for cleaning a popcorn machine.
