The electric rice cooker is a modern convenience. Nowadays, most households use electric rice cookers instead of cooking over a wood fire. In addition to cooking rice, electric rice cookers can also be used to make porridge, boil water, steam, and more. However, many people have habits that they use incorrectly, which can result in unappetizing rice and a damaged cooker.
Cooking rice too far in advance of the meal
Many families start cooking rice at 10am but don’t eat until after 12pm, so the rice sits in the cooker for a long time, which results in unappetizing rice. Our ancestors used to say that rice is best when it is freshly cooked, meaning that rice is cooked for a short period of time. When rice is fully cooked and continues to sit for a long time, it becomes overcooked, resulting in reduced texture, dryness, and a loss of fragrance. Moreover, if rice sits for too long, the cooker’s lifespan is reduced and it consumes more electricity.
Therefore, you should only start cooking rice so that it reaches the warm-hold mode about 15 minutes before you plan to eat. This ensures that the rice is delicious, fully cooked, and at its highest level of texture.
Pouring rice directly into the cooker without rinsing
In the past, we used to put the rice in a sieve to remove impurities and bran before cooking. Nowadays, many households skip this step and pour the rice directly into the cooker, allowing it to catch the water and impurities in the pot. This is convenient, but it can cause friction that damages the cooker. When the non-stick surface is scratched, it affects the quality of the cooker and increases the release of toxic non-stick coating into the rice.
Not wiping the bottom of the cooker before cooking
If you pour rice directly into the electric rice cooker, the draining process can cause water to splash around the pot. If you don’t wipe it dry, it can affect the bottom heat plate, causing electrical leakage and damaging the cooker. For your safety and the longevity of the cooker, it’s important to use a dry cloth to wipe the cooking pot before cooking.
Pressing the “cook” button multiple times
Many people believe that pressing the cook button multiple times will make the rice cook better. But in reality, this method has no effect. Furthermore, it can cause the cook button to malfunction, resulting in undercooked or overcooked rice. Therefore, you should avoid pressing the “cook” button repeatedly each time you use the electric rice cooker.
Constantly opening the lid
Constantly opening the lid interrupts the cooking process of the electric rice cooker, resulting in the loss of steam and the distinctive aroma of the rice. It can also prolong the cooking time and result in less tasty rice. If you really want to check your rice cooker, you should only open the lid when it signals that the rice is cooked. Then gently fluff the rice grains and close the lid to let it rest for a while or press the warm-hold button to keep the rice hot and delicious.
Opening the lid too soon
Many people open the lid as soon as the rice cooker switches to warm mode. This method results in rice that is not fully cooked and loses heat. The best approach is to open the lid about 5-10 minutes after the warm mode is activated. At that time, the rice is fully cooked and still retains heat. Stir the rice gently at this point to ensure it is fluffy and delicious without clumping.
Scrubbing the cooker vigorously or using sharp objects to clean it
Leaving rice in the cooker for a long time can cause it to stick and harden, making it difficult to scrub. Some people use metal scouring pads to vigorously scrub off the stuck rice. Using abrasive materials to scrub and clean the cooker quickly damages the non-stick coating. Putting the cooker in a dishwasher subjects it to the strong water jets and detergents, causing the non-stick coating to deteriorate faster and making the cooker more prone to damage.
It’s best to use a soft cloth to clean the cooker. If rice sticks to the pot, soak it in water for about 20 minutes to soften it before washing. Avoid soaking it for too long.
Leaving rice in the cooker when not in use
When you finish eating rice, it’s best to transfer any remaining rice to a separate bowl and leave the cooker open to dry.
Leaving rice in the cooker for an extended period of time causes the pot to become damp and deteriorate quickly.
Using the wrong functions of the rice cooker
Some rice cookers come with additional functions such as baking, yogurt making, porridge cooking, etc. However, using too many additional functions can cause the cooker to break down faster.
Plugging the rice cooker into the same outlet as high-powered devices
When you plug the electric rice cooker into the same outlet as a refrigerator or an electric stove, it can cause the total power load to exceed the capacity of the electrical circuit, leading to electrical short circuits. This can damage both the rice cooker and other devices, and may even cause a fire.
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