My popcorn machine wont heat up

If it heats up, your popcorn may be old and dried out. If it doesn't heat up and the stirring rod does not turn, check your power cord for defects. Procedure: plug in the popper (check both ends of the cord!), turn it on, and gently wiggle the cord right at the plug or where it goes into the popper, and watch the stirring rod to see if it moves. If it starts and stops as you wiggle the cord, you've found the break in the cord. Repair it or replace it (West Bend lists it online for $5) and be more careful with the cord in the future (never unplug by yanking on the wire, always pull on the plug itself).

If the stirring rod turns and there is no heat, the thermostat or thermal fuse is probably open. This can happen in some poppers if the air vents are blocked on the bottom. Remove the obstruction from the vents, let everything cool off, and try again. If it does not heat up from a cold start, there may be a blown thermal fuse inside. If you decide to replace the thermal fuse or thermostat, it MUST have the same temperature and current rating as the original.

The thermostat built into the kettle stops the kettle from heating at a prescribed temperature. usually around 425 F. This is hot enough to smoke and cause instant burns, but is the required temp for popping popcorn.

I do not know of a "thermal fuse" built into popcorn machines. Mechanical thermo stats are not flawless. they can and do malfunction, either too cold or too hot. the model popper you have is not adjustable, or repairable.

If you are tripping a electrical circuit breaker that is a different problem not related to kettle heat. It is a symptom of an overloading problem of your outlet, or a ground fault in the popcorn popper.

Let it cool to see if the reset resets, if not, it is time to throw it away. There are no parts or repairs that can be done to that model.

Popcorn needs 400F to pop, if you machine is not hot enough it will not pop popcorn.
You did not include very much information to help fix it, but if it is a home use popper, you cannot repair anything on them.
A true commercial popper you can replace thermostats, and fix the problem.

Old popcorn is the first thing to check, and that you are measuring correctly. 12oz of popcorn is the correct amount in a 3 min popping cycle. always time the 2nd batch.

That model popper has 2 heat elements, and 2 thermo stats that control them. If the first 2 things to check are good, then you dropped a thermo stat or heater and it is operating on 1 heater instead of 2.

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.

Is the heater heating? Please check it ... Plug it into the outlet ... and put your hand GENTLY on the burner to see if it heats up. Of course, if it gets hot ... remove your hand.

I suspect the heater is not functioning 'pop'erly ...


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If you are using the Cuisinart pop corn poppper, don't use olive oil. Use vegetable oil. Two teaspoons is enough with 1/3 cup of premium kernels. That is it. Turn on the machine and wait til it stops popping. I LOVE my new pop corn popper. I will not do the hot air one again. I always had kernels flying all over my kitchen and popped popcorn everywhere, The Cuisinart popper is the best....

The problem you are having is the thermostat inside the kettle is getting weak these can be ordered from Star Manufacturing or a concessions supply place that does repairs Also Gold Medal Product has a similar thermostat that will work in your kettle pt# 47082 Just a FYI

heat mechanism is broken