Chosen Solution
When the corn starts popping, some of it comes out of the kettle but then it seems that the unit that spins on the bottom stops and the popcorn continues to pop but is trapped in the kettle. I have to turn the unit off and use a knife to “pry” the popcorn out.
@carlie2017 since you did not tell us what the make and model of your popcorn maker is, we can only provide you with a generic answer. This sounds like an agitator issue: Is the agitator working? YES! A. Check to be certain the agitator blade and weight are free to move on the bottom of the shaft. B. Check to be certain the stirrer blade is on the bottom of the pan and is stirring the corn. C. Were the correct amounts of corn and oil used? See Operation Section for correct amounts. D. Temperature set too high? - adjust temperature. NO! A. Check motor connections - loose wire. B. Motor bad - replace.
depending on the model…many kettle stirrers have the ability to slide upward when they encounter a jam…at which point they no longer stir. it is a safety mechanism to prevent ruining your motor or damaging the stirrer. many of them also have a heavy nut that slides over the top to hold them in place. ensure the kettle does not have carbon buildup or other crud that is keeping the stirrer from turning freely. and ensure that the stirrer is functioning properly. if you need to clean your kettle an easy and safe way is with hydrogen peroxide and baking soda mixture. place in kettle and turn on heat and stirrer. place rags/towels in the bottom of your machine as it will bubble up. after a few minutes turn off the heat, unplug and scrub gently any remaining buildup with a non-scratch cloth. rinse and clean with warm water on a cloth. it will look like new without harming your finish…and easy food safe cleanup. also make sure your flapper doors are working freely to allow the popcorn to come out of the kettle. careful using a knife as you do not want to scratch your kettle.
