Know the Reasons Why You Should Not Open the Lid of an Electric Rice Cooker After Cooking

Music brings to mind many essential elements for human life, and when it comes to essential items, we cannot overlook the electric rice cooker. The rice cooker plays a crucial role in saving time and energy for users with its simple operations. Additionally, the rice cooker offers the versatility of cooking various dishes beyond just rice, adding creativity to family meals.

On average, every household has at least one electric rice cooker and uses it twice a day. Regular use is necessary, but not every user possesses the same understanding and knowledge when it comes to using this device.

Recently, within a family forum, a question sparked a significant amount of attention and debate: “Why should the lid of the rice cooker not be opened even after cooking is finished?” Discovering the answer to this question requires considering several factors, such as conditions, circumstances, and many others.

The purpose of closing the lid of the electric rice cooker

Currently, electric rice cookers come with two types of lids based on their design: hinged lids and snap-on lids. The lid of an electric rice cooker typically includes a push button, enabling users to easily open and close the lid while ensuring a seal and allowing steam to escape during the cooking process. In general, the lid of the rice cooker encloses the inside, effectively retaining heat and ensuring the cooker’s proper operation.

It is not only essential to tightly close the lid but also advisable to avoid opening it multiple times while the cooker is in operation. Experienced experts in the distribution and repair of household appliances, specifically electric rice cookers, note that most electric rice cookers transition from the “cook” button to the “warm” button. At this point, steam in the cooker tends to escape for inspection. However, unintentionally opening the lid can cause the heat inside the cooker to escape, resulting in undercooked or improperly matured rice.

As a result, instead of immediately opening the lid, users should wait for about 10-15 minutes before fluffing the rice and opening the lid. Afterward, close the lid again until ready to eat. This approach ensures softer, fully cooked, and better-heated rice.

For the most effective usage of an electric rice cooker, experts also emphasize the importance of ensuring the lid is properly closed before starting to cook. Improper lid closure right from the beginning can immediately impact the rice’s quality. Additionally, users may risk being burned by hot steam when near the cooker, as the steam forcefully escapes outward.

Other essential considerations when using an electric rice cooker:

1. Dry wipe the inner pot before turning it on

Many users tend to directly put the pot into the inner pot, then place it into the cooker and close the lid to start cooking. However, between these steps, there is a commonly forgotten step: wiping the outer dry part of the inner pot. This action prevents water stagnation, which can lead to corrosion and darken the inside of the pot, affecting heat exchange.

Furthermore, failing to dry wipe the pot and immediately using the cooker can unintentionally affect its longevity.

2. Do not press the “cook” button too many times

An inexplicable action is when users repeatedly press the “cook” button, which can quickly age the device. By pressing the button multiple times, steam continuously escapes, causing the cooker to lose heat. This action also applies to the “warm” button.

Therefore, users should avoid repeatedly pressing any button on the rice cooker. Instead, they should use the appliance appropriately, aligning with their intended purpose.

3. Use both hands when inserting the inner pot into the cooker

Experts advise that when inserting the inner pot into the cooker, users should use both hands. They should turn the inner pot handle to make contact with the belt part of the pot as the final step. This approach helps minimize damage to the hot belt, resulting in evenly cooked, delicious, and less sticky rice.

4. Clean the rice cooker regularly

Similar to a rice cooker, it is best to thoroughly clean and disinfect it after each day or each use. All parts of the cooker, including the inner pot, lid, drain valve, and excess water tray, need to be cleaned to remove any residue.

Given that the electric rice cooker comes into direct contact with the food that people consume daily, cleaning it is crucial to prevent the growth of bacteria, which directly affects the health of the individuals using the rice cooker, regardless of their age.

Finally, users should place the electric rice cooker in a cool, airy, and dry location, avoiding areas with high heat sources or proximity to water, dirt, gas stoves, etc.