It is an issue which does, unfortunately, face some soup maker models and users. You can spend ages preparing a delicious, warming soup, but then go to serve it and realise a lot of it has stuck on to the bottom of the unit.
Worse still, if the burn is really bad, it could even affect the taste of your soup – and that could mean a lot of wasted food or a rather unpleasant experience if you power on through eating it.
How To Clean A Soup Maker
The heating element is usually at the bottom, which is why the risk of the soup burning on the base is so high. This is just the same as making it on the hob, or indeed making anything on the hob, from mashed potato to sauces.
But this also means that harsh chemicals or scrubbing could cause a lot of damage, not just aesthetically but also to the element, making the soup maker pretty ineffective when you next bring it out of the cupboard to use.
Method
- If your appliance has a dedicated wash cycle, try this first. This cycle will be designed to get rid of general day-to-day burns and grime – after all, it is hard to prevent it sometimes
- If this doesn’t work, mix ⅔ cup of biological washing powder with boiling water. Around 2” of water should be enough, but just make sure the burnt bits will be covered
- Leave to soak overnight, then use a non-abrasive and non-metallic brush or cleaning pad to remove the remaining patches. You may need to repeat this a second night if the problem is particularly bad
- Ensure you rinse and wash the pot thoroughly afterwards, so no traces of powder remain. You may also wish to wash again just before you use it the next time
The best way to remove burnt on food is to prevent it in the first place, however. Follow instructions and always add water or stock to reduce the likelihood of anything sticking, as well as frequently stirring or mixing the soup.
