Categories: Cooking Popcorn

Getting the Smell of Burned Popcorn Out of Your House

The smell of popcorn can be amazing but not so much when it is a burned popcorn smell. Even worse, that burnt popcorn smell can linger and spread throughout your home. This guide explains how to remove the burnt popcorn smell from your microwave and how to get rid of that smoky popcorn odor from your house.

How Can I Remove Burnt Popcorn Smell from My Microwave?

First, remove any loose burned popcorn and any pieces of debris from the microwave. Next, put 1 cup of water and one tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat it inside the microwave for five minutes.

After it finishes, leave it inside the microwave with the door closed for 10 to 15 minutes so the steam can continue loosening small bits of popcorn and other food stuck to the microwave walls. Grab a paper towel or sponge and wipe the interior of the microwave.

If the smell lingers, deodorize your microwave overnight. Put an open baking soda box inside the microwave (or dried coffee grounds or one cup of activated charcoal). No one should use the microwave while you are deodorizing it. In the morning, take the baking soda out. It should have absorbed the odors, and you can still use it to clean (not to cook, though).

An extremely severe burnt popcorn smell could mean you have burnt popcorn stuck in the microwave’s charcoal filter. Replace and clean the filter according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

How to Get Rid of Burnt Popcorn Smoke Smell From House?

Fixing the popcorn smell from the microwave is enough to eliminate the smell from your house. That’s especially true the quicker you act to take care of the microwave.

In other cases, try multiple open containers of baking soda, dried coffee grounds, or activated charcoal. For instance, if the cabinets above the microwave and your bedroom across the house smell of burned popcorn, use baking soda overnight to absorb it. Open the windows if you can to let fresh air circulate.

How Long Does Burnt Popcorn Smell Last?

Even with you trying cleaning methods, it can take a few hours for the burnt popcorn smell to last if the case is severe. If you do absolutely nothing, the smell could last for days. If you clean the microwave but the smell returns whenever you use it, change the filter.

Why Does the Smell of Burnt Popcorn Linger So Much?

Popcorn has a compound called 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline. When kernels are heated, they release this compound and it produces a toasted smell. It’s powerful and not the easiest to get rid of.

Prevention is a great way to avoid dealing with burnt popcorn smells. Purchase Topsy’s Popcorn today to avoid dealing with the hassle of microwave popcorn. Visit us online, give us a call at (816) 523-5555, or stop by one of our Kansas City-area locations.