# HELP!!!! Burnt Popcorn **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 2, 2001, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-burnt-popcorn/79408 "2001-09-02T14:55:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Delila](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/58956e/32.png) [@Delila](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Delila)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2001, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-burnt-popcorn/79408/1 "2001-09-02T14:55:41Z")
We have a dilemma. Burnt popcorn in a stainless steel pan. How can we remove the marks? We’ve tried Goo gone, Krud Kutter, Comet, Brillo, Degreaser, SOS and an array of other junk. ANy help is appreciated. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2001, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-burnt-popcorn/79408/2 "2001-09-02T15:16:56Z")
Have you boiled some salty water in the pan ? That seems to make burnt popcorn come off a bit easier. Follow the boiling with a good scouring. ---
**Author:** ![Yeah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/dbc845/32.png) [@Yeah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeah)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2001, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-burnt-popcorn/79408/3 "2001-09-02T16:19:26Z")
from experience: 1 part steel wool, 100 parts elbow grease ---
**Author:** ![DAVEW0071](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e19b73/32.png) [@DAVEW0071](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DAVEW0071)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2001, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-burnt-popcorn/79408/4 "2001-09-02T16:24:09Z")
Boiling ketchup or tomato soup for a while, then scrubbing for an interminable amount of time can help get a lot of it off. Whatever you use, keep in mind, it’s a long-term project. ---
**Author:** ![RyanD004](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/848f3c/32.png) [@RyanD004](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RyanD004)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2001, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-burnt-popcorn/79408/5 "2001-09-02T19:10:20Z")
Since I’m not even out of high school yet,i assumed a subject would never come up on this board that i could consider myself and expert on, but now you’ve proved me wrong. I work at a local movie theatre, so i have a good deal of experience with this. Unfortunately,if your pan is burnt pretty bad, you may never completely get those marks off. The ‘kettle’ we use to cook the popcorn at work always has an area around the center that is burnt looking now matter how well we seem to clean it. At work we have ‘kettle cleaner’ that you boil in water. Afterwards all you have to do is scrub a little and it’s clean. I don’t know if they have stuff like that at the store,but maybe you should ask a clerk at the supermarket for his advice. Squink’s advice sounds good to me, the salt might help grind it off if you use enough. ---
**Author:** ![Tattva](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba8739/32.png) [@Tattva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tattva)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2001, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-burnt-popcorn/79408/6 "2001-09-02T19:16:03Z")
I haven’t tried it, but oven cleaner works great for a lot of tough stains. Like those in your oven. I assume burnt popcorn would be something it could handle. ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2001, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-burnt-popcorn/79408/7 "2001-09-02T20:34:20Z")
Also, you can put a couple tablespoonfuls of baking soda in there, fill it up with water, and simmer it for an hour or so. Then scrub it with an S.O.S. pad. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2001, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-burnt-popcorn/79408/8 "2001-09-02T21:27:41Z")
Liquid cleaners are not going to do it. You are trying to remove virtually the equivalent of a very thin layer of porcelainized carbon and liquids are not going to cut it. 1/2 water 1/2 vinegar (or just plain water) and a fresh “Scotch Brite” pad and 15 minutes worth of _serious_ concentrated muscle power will blast the carbonization off. Bear in mind that the SB pads are an order of magnitude more abrasive than most normal scouring pads and there will be some light scuffing and scratching of the metal surface where the pad is used and surfaces will no longer be “mirror perfect”. If this is not acceptable do not do it this way. ---
**Author:** ![Yersinia\_Pestis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ccd318/32.png) [@Yersinia\_Pestis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yersinia_Pestis)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2001, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-burnt-popcorn/79408/9 "2001-09-02T23:45:56Z")
Boiling a pot of water with a couple tablespoons of cream of tartar in it might help. (You can find it with the spices; it’s a white powder.) I’ve also had pretty good luck with Soft Scrub, regular sponge, on stainless steel. You have to scrub like a son of gun, but it doesn’t seem to mar the surface. I’ve only used it on the inside of the pot, though, where it’s already a little satiny. ---
**Author:** ![Sysop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Sysop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sysop)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2001, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-burnt-popcorn/79408/10 "2001-09-03T21:26:53Z")
Get a blow-torch. Seriously, though, I’m the lazy kinda guy that would just chunk the pan and buy a new one. Next time, use something with Teflon. 🙂