However, the rice cooker offers a huge helping hand to the worn-out college student. If you’re tired of eating ramen and pizza, a rice cooker might be able to help! 

We made a list of the top 5 and offer helpful insights on h

Can You Have a Rice Cooker In College?

Every college has its own regulations and requirements for the appliances permitted on campus. If you are staying in an on-campus dorm there are more restrictions than in an off-campus dorm. However, you should always be careful to check with your college administration before making a purchase. 

Williams College in Maryland lists rice cookers as one of the many appliances forbidden on campus. The college sites fire hazards as the main concern driving the prohibition of rice cookers, and coffee makers, among numerous other devices. 

This is not unique for William’s College, either. Other larger colleges such as Arizona State University also forbid most appliances in on-campus dorm rooms. However, rice cookers remain a favorite for college students for their convenience, affordability, and their compact size. 

If you are in college and hope to do some of your own cooking, you should stay off campus. Some college students choose to stay in an off-campus college dorm which is typically less regulated. 

However, make sure you check the off-campus house rules to guarantee your rice cooker won’t be confiscated. If you bring a rice cooker into a dorm that forbids them, you can also expect a fine, which varies in severity. 

You can also opt to take college online or stay in a cheap apartment close to campus. Fortunately, most college communities have many small studio apartments that can accommodate you in college. In these situations, rice cookers make the perfect kitchen tool during these busy, complicated years of your life. 

What Should You Look For In a Rice Cooker?

Rice cookers should have versatility and utility. This includes the size as well as the multiple capabilities of the machine. Additionally, you will want a machine that meets your space requirements and budget. 

Rice cookers come in a variety of sizes, setting options, and personalizations. You should choose your machine based upon how you plan to use your machine and how much rice you usually use.

Price

Rice cookers can be as cheap as $40.00 for simple, smaller models. Or, they can cost over $300-$400.00 for a more complex, all-in-one unit. 

For most college students, the smaller, cheaper units are more than adequate to accommodate simple meal preparation. However, the smaller units have several downsides that are not common for larger units. 

Costly units usually last longer, have more capabilities for personalization and include a steamer. However, the cheaper units are perfect if you just want a convenient way to cook a cup or two of rice. 

Portability

Although the ability to bring your appliances on the go may seem unnecessary, there are several benefits. Portable rice makers were designed to be brought camping, in an RV, or on a road trip. 

It is easier to store and bring with you when you need to switch apartments or make the move from home. This makes it ideal for college students since they usually move quite a lot and can easily fit it back inside its box and pack it away in the trunk of their car. 

Size

Size is an important factor for college students looking to make good use of minimal space. Since some dorms do not allow you to use rice cookers inside the dorm, you may need to use them in the common area. This makes space and size an even more important consideration. 

While most expensive and versatile units can make up to ten cups of rice, smaller ones make between 1-3. However, unless you really love rice, a few cups at a time are more than adequate for the average person. 

Capabilities 

Although most rice cookers can cook quinoa, lentils, and other grains besides rice easily, there are some with more variety. Both small and large units can include a steamer basket which is one of the additions you should always seek out. 

Customization is another key feature you should have in your rice cooker. Some rice cookers include only simple “start” and “open” buttons. However, Others will allow you to customize the temperature and keep your rice warm without burning it. 

Maintenance 

If you do not have easy access to a kitchen, you will want to make the cleanup experience as painless as possible. Most college dorms do not include a kitchen or easy access to a sink where cleanup can be done. 

To keep cleanup simple, always make sure you buy a cooker with a non-stick pan. This will make cleanup so much simpler. Burnt rice further connects to the inside pot since it has large amounts of gluten and other sticky substances.  

The Best Rice Cookers For College Students

1. DASH Mini Rice Cooker Steamer with Removable Nonstick Pot

The Dash Mini Rice cooker is the perfect, versatile, and space-saving device for any college student. Although meant for rice, it can easily be used for quinoa, oatmeal, and other convenience grains. 

Additionally, it is portable, easily cleaned, and very affordable. With several color varieties, including blue, white, and pink, you can make it personalized and yours. 

2. Aroma Housewares ARC-363-1NGB 

The Aroma Housewares rice cooker is larger and more versatile than the Dash machine. This makes it ideal for cooking for yourself and guests. 

The cooker used the steam from the rice pot to cook vegetables, meats, and other steamable foods. The stainless steel, non-stick pot, and easily cleanable lid makes cooking easy and effortless. 

3. BLACK+DECKER Rice Cooker, 6-cup

Similar to the Aroma rice cooker, the Black and Decker is a larger rice cooker. It cooks up to 6 cups of cooked rice and can steam veggies and meats at the same time. 

This rice cooker includes a non-stick tray, cooking pot, and is dishwasher safe. This makes cleanup and preparation easier and allows you to sit back while it does the cooking for you. 

4. COMFEE’ Rice Cooker, Slow Cooker, Steamer, Stewpot, Saute All in One

The Comfee rice cooker is a somewhat unique variety on this list. It is an all-in-one convenience cooker and is especially ideal for college students living off campus with a bit more living space. 

It includes the convenient steaming tray and timer features of the other rice cookers, but offers several other functions as well!

These include a pressure cooker for when you’re pressed for time, a slow cooker for when you want to start dinner in the morning while at class, as well as a sautee setting. The Comfee cooker offers ease, versatility, and functionality so you can get your day rolling. 

5. Zojirushi NS-TSC10 5-1/2-Cup 

This is the most expensive option on our list, but this is for good reason. The Zojirushi rice cooker is sleek, convenient, and makes a variety of rice dishes to pique perfection. 

Zojirushi features several rice cooking settings so no matter if you want white, brown, or jasmine, your machine will make it perfect! It has detachable parts and dishwasher-safe material so cleanup if a jiffy. Last, you can cook almost anything from rice, steamed foods, and even cake with the cake baking setting.

What Can You Cook in Your Rice Cooker?

Your rice cooker was specifically designed to cook course and hard grains such as rice, oatmeal, quinoa, and buckwheat. However, with the proper skills and setup you can also use your rice cooker to make pastries and one-pot meals. 

There are several recipes online which give steps regarding how to make exotic dishes! However, we recommend you use your rice cooker for its intended purposes and try to avoid baking or cooking anything you’re unsure of. 

Some of the best dishes to make in your rice cooker include: 

• Chili 
• Rice pudding 
• Cinnamon baked apples
• Oatmeal
• Soups 
• Hard-boiled eggs 
• Shrimp and rice 

Although this isn’t an exhaustive list, it gives a general idea of what types of foods you can make in your rice cooker. For the best results, we suggest you make more moist, wet foods than dry pastries. 

One-pot meals, such as chili rice, chicken rice, and others of similar varieties, are super convenient for college students. They provide whole grains, proteins, and veggies all in one easy-to-make dish.

As with any electric appliance, there might be issues that you need to troubleshoot. Like, what happens when your rice cooker won’t turn on? 

The most common reasons why your rice cooker won’t turn on lie in issues with the power cord, thermal cutoff, or the heating element. If any one of these parts isn’t functioning properly your rice cooker won’t turn on. Some rice cooker issues can be mitigated on your own while others require the help of a professional. 

Many appliances these days, especially those sold at a low cost, are built only to survive a few years and to be replaced. Not only is this a wasteful approach, but it can also get annoying to spend money on the same piece of kitchen equipment every few years. 

That is why it’s very useful to know how to identify the common problems occurring in your rice cooker and knowing how to combat them yourself or when to ask for professional assistance. I’m here to help with that!

How Do You Fix a Rice Cooker That Won’t Turn On?

The first step to fixing your broken rice cooker is identifying the issue. There are a few problems that are common for rice cookers and cause them to not turn on or heat up.

For many of these issues, you might consider investing in a multimeter as it will help you determine any electrical discrepancies that are occurring internally and can’t be seen.

Power Cord

The easiest to tackle problem that your rice cooker could be having is with the power cord so that’s what you’ll want to check first. It may turn out that you can visibly see the damage on your power cord.

It will look frayed or pinched or torn in places. Any of those signs are an indication that the cord isn’t working properly.

To make sure this is the case or if there is no visible damage, use a multimeter to check if the cord is working properly. If you determine the problem lies with the power cord, you can very easily replace the cord as most rice cookers have a removable power cord.

All you need to do is buy a new power cord from the same brand and model as your rice cooker and dispose of the old one.

If your rice cooker has a cord that is not detachable and you feel confident enough to safely work with the electrical wiring yourself you can check out this resource for detailed instructions on power cord replacement for rice cookers.

However, don’t attempt this if you have no experience at all working with electric wiring because the process requires you to have your rice cooker plugged in to check for voltage, and doing so without prior experience could be a safety risk.

Thermal Cutoff

Thermal cutoff is one of the most expected issues for a rice cooker to have. This happens when the fuse that heats the rice cooker breaks as an automatic safety precaution if the device reaches levels of heat that are considered too high in order to prevent the appliance from catching on fire.  

To check for thermal cutoff you will need to make sure your device is turned off and unplugged from any power source. Then, using a screwdriver, open the bottom of the rice cooker and identify the fuse.

Use your multimeter to check for continuity. If the multimeter does not beep there is no continuity and the fuse needs to be replaced.

Buy a new compatible fuse by referencing the numbers on your old fuse (visiting an electric parts store or calling in to speak with a professional will help you find the part you need quickly).

Once you have your new fuse you can disconnect the old one from the ring terminal and replace it with the new one using pliers to bend it into shape and wire cutters to get rid of any excess wire.

Heating Element

Another issue that can occur is with the heating element. Checking the heating element is quite similar to checking the fuse for thermal cutoff. You open the bottom of your rice cooker and use your multimeter on the terminals for the heating element.

The biggest difference with this issue, as opposed to a burnt-out fuse, is that replacing the heating element can be very costly and can even rival the cost of just replacing your rice cooker.

If you do decide to take on the task of replacing your heating coil, use the same safety precautions as you would for any of the above processes and be sure to use a detailed step-by-step guide like this instructional video on how to replace the heating element of your rice cooker.

Internal Circuitry

If the rice cooker’s internal circuitry is broken, the rice cooker won’t turn on when you press the on button. Faulty circuitry and connections prevent the electronics from communicating with one another, making it quite hard to do anything with the unit.

Check the connections to make sure they’re attached firmly.

How Do You Reset a Rice Cooker?

If your rice cooker is still heating up but you notice issues with some of its functions like the menu or displays, you may simply want to reset your device.

To reset your rice cooker you need to have it plugged into a power source. Then hold the cancel button for 5 seconds. Make sure no lights are on and your appliance should be reset.

Note that doing this will not fix any of the major issues we discussed before and is simply a way to fix any small errors like blinking lights or problems with the reheating function.

How Long Should a Rice Cooker Last?

While electrical issues are inevitable in an appliance that isn’t made to work forever, you may be wondering how long should a rice cooker actually last?

If you use your rice cooker very frequently, every day or more, it will probably last around 3 to 5 years. With regular use of once or twice a week your rice cooker should make it upwards of 8 years. Of course, this all depends on the make and model and some older rice cookers even have a life span of 10 years while more modern ones average around 5.

Other Common Rice Cooker Problems & Solutions

Besides the big internal problems and small display malfunctions, your rice cooker might encounter some other common issues that keep it from working properly.

The first of these problems is your rice cooker is leaking steam. This indicates an issue with the gasket. If this happens, you may simply need to clean the gasket of any food stains or residue and put it back into proper positions. If your gasket is old or damaged, it will affect the quality of the rice you are cooking so you will want to replace it right away.

Another issue you might encounter is your rice not being fully cooked after the rice cooker has completed its cook time. This might, again, be a cleanliness issue.

You want to make sure your rice cooker is well taken care of and clean at all times. You might also be having this problem because you are overloading your appliance with too much rice or water.

The most common causes of a rice cooker failing to heat up are a broken power cord, heating element, thermal fuse, or thermostat. These parts work together to produce and regular the heating process inside the rice cooker, and if any of them go bad, the cooker will not heat up.

Rice cookers generally last about 7 or 8 years with average use. If your rice cooker stops heating up as it should, it doesn’t necessarily mean the end of your cooker.

Since rice cookers are rather simple appliances, so it’s not too difficult to determine what problem is causing a failure to heat up. After diagnosing the issue, you’ll have to evaluate whether you want to fix it or get a new rice cooker.

How To Fix A Rice Cooker Not Heating Up

The first step in fixing a rice cooker that’s not heating up is figuring out which part is causing the problem. That takes some trial and error. You’ll need to troubleshoot the common problems one at a time until you find the culprit.

Once you determine which part is faulty, you can usually repair or replace the part. However, some replacement parts are difficult to find, and others are quite expensive.

Another factor to consider is the time and trouble it takes to troubleshoot and repair the rice cooker. You may decide you’d rather buy a new cooker. However, if you know something about electric appliances, replacing a part could mean adding a few years to the life of your rice cooker.

Power Cord

The power cord is the first part you should check.

The power cord can get frayed and worn out, especially if it gets bent frequently or handled roughly. You may notice the insulation has worn away, exposing the wires inside, or that the plug on either end feels loose. However, this isn’t always the case; sometimes wires can get loose inside with no outward signs.

You can use a multimeter to test whether the cord is functioning as it should. If the cord is not carrying a current, it could be the reason why your rice cooker is failing to heat up.

Almost all rice cookers have a detachable cord, so you can easily buy a replacement. You may find a cord specially made for your brand and model. If not, you can buy a generic one, as long as it has the same number of prongs.

Heating Element

The heating element is located at the bottom of the rice cooker, below the removable food pot. When functioning properly, it heats up the water that cooks the rice. But it can go bad and stop working.

To access the heating element, first turn the rice cooker off and unplug it for safety.

Next, turn the rice cooker upside down and remove the bottom panel with a screwdriver. You may see a rectangular opening where two metal tabs are protruding. These are the terminals for the heating element.

Use a multimeter on the terminals to check whether current is flowing through the heating element. If it’s okay, your problem is elsewhere, but if not, it means the heating element has stopped working.

Some websites sell replacement heating elements for some rice cookers, but they are not brand-specific. It might be difficult to locate a heating element that will fit your rice cooker exactly.

Moreover, the new heating elements that are available are nearly as expensive as the average new rice cooker would cost. Add shopping fees, and it might be a better choice to buy a new cooker.

Fuse

The thermal fuse in a rice cooker is located on one of the wires connected to the heating element terminal. It may be covered with a white rubber insulation tube that you can easily slide off.

After you slide off the insulation, you should find a small cylinder with wires at both ends. This is the thermal fuse. The fuse in a rice cooker works just like any other fuse—if the appliance starts to overheat, it cuts off the electric circuit.

If the fuse is burned out, it permanently breaks the circuit so that there’s no way the heating element can heat up at all.

To determine whether the fuse is bad, visually inspect it. You may see blackened areas on it. You can also test it with the multimeter to see if the current will flow.

Thermal fuses are inexpensive and easily available online. Just make sure you buy one that’s the same size and type. On the fuse, you should see numbers telling voltage, amps, and maximum temperature.

Replacing the fuse doesn’t take much effort. It’s a repair worth making.

Thermostat

It’s not always easy to tell whether the problem with the rice cooker is the thermal fuse of the thermostat. They are similar in function, though they look quite different.

The rice cooker thermostat, sometimes called the temperature limiter, keeps the heating element from overheating. Once the rice is fully cooked, it switches the cooker to the “keep warm” setting.

The thermostat is a thick, cylindrical metal piece located in the center of the heating element on a spring. If the thermostat is malfunctioning, it causes the heating element to turn off before it gets a chance to heat up sufficiently.

You can’t tell by looking at it whether the thermostat is bad, but you can test it with your multimeter.

You can buy a replacement thermostat for about $10 that may fit your rice cooker. Removing the old thermostat and putting a new one is a bit complex. You will need manual dexterity and a few tools like a screwdriver.

Eating rice that has not been washed before cooking does not necessarily have any immediate adverse effects, but there are risk factors to be aware of such as contamination from chemical pesticides, heavy metals, industrial byproducts, and other toxins. Whether or not washing rice is strictly necessary depends on where it was grown, and how it has been processed.

For example, rinsing prewashed and enriched rice may wash away essential vitamins and minerals introduced to increase nutritional value, but not washing other types of rice may increase your risk of exposure to certain pollutants and other undesirable substances the grains may have been exposed to.

Why Do You Wash Rice?

Many who wash their rice before cooking consistently don’t even know why they are doing it, only that they were taught to. The most commonly given explanation is that washing rice before cooking can affect the texture and appearance of the finished product. But there are more serious and less cosmetic reasons as well.

Here are three reasons to wash your rice:

Remove Excess Starch

Rice is usually shipped and stored dried in bags. Whenever these bags are moved or handled the rice grains rub up against each other, causing some to disintegrate. These become loose starch that coats the other grains of rice.

If this extra starch is not removed, the cooked rice can become gummy or gluey. Rice that is cooked after this starch is washed away is fluffier, the individual grains have more definition, and many feel it has a fresher, cleaner overall taste. Some sources suggest this helps the cooked rice last longer before spoiling.

Remove Impurities

Rice goes on a long journey of processing and distribution before it’s ready to be consumed. In the course of all this, the rice can be exposed to all sorts of dirt, dust, rocks, and bugs. A quick rinse and look over your rice before cooking is a great way to avoid an unpleasant surprise that could ruin your meal.

Reduce Exposure to Heavy Metals and Additives

Rice production and distribution can include mixing rice with talc to prevent moisture from causing mold and ruining the rice. For most rice processed domestically in the U.S. this is not the case, but talc is still introduced in the process of removing the bran from brown rice to make white rice (also known as polished rice, or milled rice).

While the risks of talc are debated, it is known to possibly contain asbestos. The Federal Drug Administration in the U.S. claims that cosmetic grade talc is asbestos free, but there doesn’t seem to be any sign of such rigorous standards for the talc used in rice polishing.

Another risk factor is heavy metal contamination. Water-soluble arsenic, lead, and cadmium gets into rice plants via polluted groundwater that floods rice paddies. Research conducted in China suggested industrial wastewater is a significant contributor to this issue.

Rice grown in U.S. states like Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri, and Texas on land that once produced cotton was found to have higher levels of arsenic than many other places in the world. This is possibly linked to past use of arsenic-based pesticides on cotton fields. Rice grown in these states makes up 76% of the rice consumed in the U.S.

Consumed in large enough quantities, these contaminants can pose a significant threat to health and safety. Washing rice was found by a 2018 study to significantly reduce the concentration of these pollutants.

How to Clean Rice Before Cooking

There are several methods to clean and prepare rice for cooking. To clear up any confusion let’s differentiate between rinsing rice, washing rice, and soaking rice.

Rinsing

This usually refers to running rice grains under cool running water to quickly send any dust, unwanted additives, or impurities down the drain.

An easy way to do this is to place the rice in a fine mesh colander or strainer and hold it under the faucet until the water running out from under the rice is clear.

Another method if you don’t have a strainer is to put your rice in a large bowl, add at least enough water to cover the rice, and swirl the rice around with your hand or a utensil. Pour the water away and repeat until the discarded water pours away clear.

Washing

The process of washing rice is similar to rinsing, just more involved.

Place your rice in a large bowl, add enough water so that it stands about finger length above the rice. Use your hand to massage the rice grains thoroughly for a minute or two. Pour away the cloudy water and repeat between three and five times.

Soaking

Soaking rice is even more effective than washing it as far as reducing exposure to toxins. Plus, soaking rice kick-starts the re-hydration process of the grains, shortening cook time overall. Different types of rice require different soaking times. Short grain rice like arborio should not be soaked.

After the rice has been washed, add more than enough water to cover the grains. Keep in mind the goal is that the rice will absorb the water. Make sure you put enough water that the rice will remain submerged, otherwise it will not soak properly.

Cover the bowl and leave it at room temperature for anywhere from fifteen minutes to twelve hours depending on the type of rice.

Does Washing or Soaking Rice Remove Nutrients?

For most types of rice, washing or soaking does not remove any nutrients other than excess starches. Even if it did wash away a small amount of usable nutrients, it would probably be worth it to discard any dangerous contaminants.

The exception is enriched or fortified rice. White rice is such an indispensable food source for many parts of the world, but removing the bran from brown rice to make white rice does remove a portion of the natural nutrients contained in less processed forms of rice. Concerns about this led producers to begin adding nutrients like iron, folic acid, and vitamin A back to the white rice after processing.

These nutrients can be added back to the rice in the form of a powder mixed in with the final product or a spray that is applied to the rice grains during processing. The nutrient powder can be washed away much more easily than the spray, which is designed to be water-insoluble. The rice is washed before the enriching process. Be sure to check the packaging on your rice to learn whether or not it has been prewashed.

Which Types of Rice Should You Wash?

Given the risk factors associated with heavy metal contamination, many believe you should always wash your rice. Many Americans tend not to do so, as much of the rice they eat is prewashed and enriched.

There is debate online about when washing rice may be inappropriate. The only rice that was consistently recommended not to be washed before cooking was arborio rice. Risotto, the dish it is used to make, requires every bit of the high starch content that variety is known for to achieve its iconic creamy texture.

Other than that, washing is consistently recommended for all types of rice to improve texture, flavor, safety, and overall quality of your meal.

Rice made in a rice cooker is better for taste and texture. Rice cookers are designed for rice and therefore reach the optimal temperature and pressure for making the very best rice. The regulated temperature helps the rice retain its flavor while thoroughly cooking the rice inside and out. 

A rice cooker makes the best rice with ease and simplicity. Rice made with a rice cooker is notably soft without being mushy with an authentic rice flavor dominating the taste. Rice cookers do not run the same risks from neglect associated with other cooking methods. 

Why Do Rice Cookers Make Better Rice?

Rice cookers have been engineered specifically to cook rice. This technique was made to bring the rice to a boil quickly and evenly. This prevents the rice from becoming mushy due to a slow cooking experience. It also prevents an uneven cook with some of the rice overcooking and other grains under cooking as happens so often on the stove. 

Rice cookers have a gauge that communicates to the machine about when the rice is finished. This helps regulate the heat and intensity of the cooking. It can determine if the rice is finished or not and then turn on the “warm” setting. This will keep the rice warm without further cooking it. 

They also do not run the risk of over-saturating and over-boiling the rice. Rice cookers utilize all the water in the cooking of the rice. This prevents the rice from becoming too wet and mushy as the water evaporates. 

Just be careful how much water you add! As we’ve discussed in a previous article, adding water to a rice cooker is very important. If you add too much water it can cause your rice to overcook and become mushy. If you don’t add enough it may undercook or possibly burn. 

But, the rice cooker does have lines for measuring out the rice which should be sufficient to help you get the right amount. Just try your best to stick to this as much as possible and adjust where you prefer. 

One of the best ways to understand how a rice cooker cooks rice is to compare it with other methods of cooking. 

How do Rice Cookers Compare with Slow Cookers and Stove Top Rice?

Rice cookers differ from stovetop and slow cooker methods. Slow cookers use a low heat setting which gradually warms the water and cooks the food. This means that foods such as meats and potatoes are great in a slow cooker since they get nice and tender. 

However, with rice, you don’t necessarily want slow-boiled rice. This is because while it is cooking and sitting in tepid water it tends to get softer and mushy and thus makes an unpleasant rice experience. 

For stovetops, temperature control is the real struggle (especially for gas and open flame stoves). It’s hard to get an even and steady temperature for your rice to boil. Also, if you accidentally boil it too long or have the heat on too high it can cause the rice to burn or not cook on the inside. 

A rice cooker solves both of these issues with a regulated temperature and cooks the rice at a much quicker rate. Rice cookers usually take around 20-40 minutes to cook rice, whereas a slow cooker can take up to 2 hours. This is why rice from a rice cooker is not mushy but also evenly cooked. 

Other Benefits of Rice Cookers

Aside from making some of the best rice for your meals, rice cookers are also beneficial for their convenience and versatility. Rice cookers require very little oversight when they are being used, unlike stovetop cooking. Additionally, they can be used for cooking a variety of meals and not only for cooking rice. 

First, rice cookers are convenient. With very little effort, a rice cooker can create a much more pleasant experience than a stovetop meal. You essentially just need to add the water, the rice, and allow it time to finish. 

It’s great for the busy person who wants a warm meal at the end of a long day. They automatically switch from cooking to keeping warm without your intervention which means if you need to run errands your rice should still be fine when you get back. 

A rice cooker can also be used for more than just rice. People who have a busy morning can use their rice cooker to make some delicious oatmeal or other hot cereal. 

Similar to the rice, the hot grain cereals cook thoroughly without becoming mushy or overcooked. The hot cereal is also said to have a richer flavor and absorb any added seasonings thoroughly. 

Rice cookers can also be used to steam vegetables. Some rice cookers come with a steamer basket. This can be used to steam vegetables while your rice is cooking to save you time. 

If your rice cooker does not have a basket, you can also just add the vegetables on top of the rice when it’s about halfway done. But, it could make your rice taste a little like the vegetables you’re cooking. 

Are Rice Cookers Worth It?

Rice cookers are worth it, especially if you are a busy person looking to still make healthy, wholesome home-cooked meals. They can save you time, effort, and make better quality rice than other methods. And, they are versatile machines that can be used for a variety of dishes with ease. 

More expensive models tend to have more options for cooking and cooking different varieties of food. This isn’t to say you can’t cook wild rice, brown rice, or other grains in a cheaper model. Many claim that cheaper models make good white rice, but it gets more difficult with other grains or rice varieties. 

Part of this is related to the fact that many cheaper models only have two settings: cook and warm. This means that it’s great at making a few things well, but it doesn’t have much versatility for other foods.

The more expensive models can cost close to $100-$170, but they do have more settings and are more versatile. This may make them more useful to you if you hope to use them for a variety of foods and grains. 

How to Care For Your Rice Cooker

Cleaning your rice cooker is very important for your health and the longevity of your machine. Rice needs to be thoroughly cleaned from your machine after each use. Otherwise, your machine can develop bacteria from the rice fermenting with age and moisture. 

Rice is also a starch food and the water can tend to get very thick as the rice cooks. You want to be sure that the residue from the rice is removed and cleaned out of each crevice and the cooking tray. 

If you regularly clean it then hot water and dish soap should suffice to keep your rice cooker running smoothly and without any harmful bacteria. But, it’s a smart idea to try and clean out the space below the steamer pot as well as the exterior (for aesthetic purposes! But, no one likes a dirty appliance, right?). 

Last, make sure you clean the glass lid thoroughly. This part is ignored by and large, but it must be thoroughly cleaned after each use. The steam from the rice tends to have some starch in it that will leave your lid feeling sticky and can lead to bacteria buildup. 

Putting too much water in a rice cooker can result in rice that is mushy, starchy, and gluey. Rice absorbs water while it cooks, and if you use more water than necessary, the rice becomes saturated. When this happens, the grains split open and the rice becomes mushy.  

Most rice cookers have labeled lines etched inside the cooking pot to guide you on how much water to use. For example, the manual may instruct you to put two cups of short-grained white rice into the pot and then fill with water to line 2.

The water fill lines and cooking times will vary depending on the amount of rice and the type of rice you use. In general, long-grained and brown types of rice will need a bit more water.

If you are following instructions and your rice is still turning out mushy, you might want to use a measuring cup to measure the water.

You may be familiar with the conventional stovetop rice-to-water ratio of two cups of water for each cup of rice. The manuals of many rice cookers will also recommend that ratio for white rice. However, there are many rice cookers on the market and they vary in their requirements.

Many people who are experienced with cooking in a rice cooker recommend a one-to-one ratio (one cup of water for every cup of rice), or maybe a bit more water than a cup. That’s because cooking rice in a rice cooker uses less water compared to cooking rice in a pot on the stove. The rice cooker has a tighter seal than a stove pot lid, and so not as much water escapes as steam.

You may have heard about the finger measuring method of determining the correct amount of water for cooking rice. In this traditional measurement, you put the rice in the pot, even it out, and place your index finger vertically on top of it. Then, you pour in water until the water level reaches the first knuckle of your finger.

While some may swear by finger measuring, keep in mind that not everybody’s finger is the same length, so it is bound to be an imperfect method. Moreover, people don’t agree about which finger to use, with some recommending the middle finger rather than the index finger. Using a measuring cup or the cooker’s water fill line will provide a more accurate and consistent amount of water.

It may take some experimenting to see what water ratio works for you. If your rice turns out too soft, cut back on water next time.

What To Do if You Put Too Much Water In a Rice Cooker

You might be new at using a rice cooker. If so, don’t worry if you make mistakes or if your rice doesn’t turn out perfectly. While you’re learning, you can often turn a mistake into something good.

If your rice turns out mushy because you added too much water, all is not lost. You can always make rice pudding. Just leave the rice in the cooker and add milk, sugar, vanilla, and a little cinnamon. Then, run the rice cooker for another cycle.

The amount you use of each ingredient depends on how much mushy rice you have. It’s best to consult a recipe to figure out the proportions.

Sometimes, there could be standing water on top of the cooked rice. You can try straining out the water using a basket strainer. The results won’t be the same as you hoped for, but you could still use the rice for the base of a recipe, such as veggie burgers.

You could also refrigerate it and make fried rice the next day, or try making rice cakes.

How To Make The Best Rice In a Rice Cooker

The right amount of water is essential for good rice, but it’s not the only factor that can influence the perfect batch of rice.

Making the best rice involves preparing the rice properly before cooking, adding the correct amount of water, and cooking the rice for the right length of time. No matter what kind of rice you use, preparing it is the same—rinse it thoroughly. The tricky parts are the amount of water and the cooking time.

Rinsing your rice before putting it in the cooker cleans any dust away and helps remove excess starch. This results in a fluffy rice where you can separate the grains with a fork. It will also prevent your rice cooker from accidentally boiling over.

The easiest way to rinse rice is with a strainer. Since rice grains are tiny, avoid using the type of colander you would use for draining pasta. Instead, use a metal strainer basket with a tight mesh. Put the strainer under running water for a few minutes, and it’s ready to go.

Some people prefer to rinse the rice by putting it into a bowl of water and swishing it around by hand to remove hidden dirt and starch residue. Then, they pour out the water and repeat until the water looks clearer. This method takes longer than rinsing it in a strainer.

Once the rice is rinsed, put it into the rice cooker with the correct amount of water. Check the manual for your rice cooker to see how much water it recommends. Generally, brown rice, long-grain rice, and specialty rice take a little more water than plain white rice.

Cooking time is another key to making perfect rice. Your rice cooker might be equipped with buttons that a pre-set with the correct cooking length for various types of rice. Some models, however, will have fewer or more buttons. Be sure to read the manual for your cooker to understand how to set cooking times.

Setting the right time is important to avoid undercooking or overcooking your rice. The rice cooker is equipped with sensors that can detect the water temperature. Once your rice has fully absorbed the water during the cooking process, the sensors will turn off the cooker and switch to warm mode.

It sounds simple enough, but it is still possible to overcook if you add too much water or use too long of a cooking time.

If your rice is too crunchy, you’ve probably undercooked it by setting too short of a cooking time or using too low of a temperature. The water must boil for the rice to cook, and it needs enough time to absorb the water.

For undercooked rice, first try keeping it on warm mode for about 10 minutes to see if the absorption process will finish. If that doesn’t work, try setting the timer for another 2 or 3 minutes. Add time slowly, so that you don’t accidentally overcook it.

After your rice is cooked to perfection, you’ll be able to keep it on warm for up to 12 hours.

Does Jasmine Rice Need More Water Than Basmati?

Both jasmine rice and basmati rice are popular because of their suitability for Asian and Middle Eastern cuisines. However, they are quite different in their water needs and cooking processes.

Cooking jasmine rice requires about half the amount of water compared to basmati rice. Since jasmine is softer, it will absorb water more quickly. Basmati rice not only needs more water but also requires soaking before cooking.

Jasmine rice, also known as fragrant rice, originated in Southeast Asia. It is slightly sweet and sticky. To cook in a rice cooker, use a water ratio of one cup of rice to every cup of water, though some people recommend a bit more water. You can use the “white rice” setting on your cooker.

Basmati rice is also aromatic but isn’t as sticky. It also has longer grains than basmati and a nutty taste. You can buy brown basmati or white basmati, which is white because it has had the outer hull removed.

Before cooking basmati rice, you’ll need to soak it in water for at least 30 minutes. This will soften the rice so that it absorbs water more efficiently during the cooking process.

Basmati rice requires a water ratio of one cup of rice and two cups of water. As usual, you may need to tweak this ratio to get it perfect in your rice cooker. Be sure to use your measuring cup and remember how much water you used.

Once you’ve perfected your rice cooking technique, you can add vegetables and other ingredients into your rice cooker for a one-pot dish.

You can add vegetables to the rice in your rice cooker, as long as they are chopped or diced to a small size. Since vegetables vary in how long they need to cook, some can be put in with the rice at the beginning while others will need to be added in during the cooking process. Frozen vegetables can also be cooked with the rice.

Hard vegetables like carrots, sweet potatoes, celery, beets, and most squashes take longer to cook, so they should be cut into small cubes or julienned before mixing them with the rice. Even with the full cooking time in the rice cooker, they may turn out with an “al dente” texture, which is delicious for vegetable connoisseurs.

More tender vegetables, such as onions, spinach, and zucchini, will cook quickly. Unless you want them very soft or mushy, you might want to add them halfway through the cooking process. Just open the lid on the rice cooker and toss in the vegetables.

You can find hundreds of rice cooker recipes online that combine vegetables and rice, sometimes along with broth in place of water or sauces like teriyaki. Some recipes even contain meat or seafood.

How To Cook Frozen Vegetables In a Rice Cooker? (With Rice)

You probably love your rice cooker for its speed and convenience. It’s the perfect appliance for making a quick dinner for a busy family. But if you don’t have time to chop up vegetables, don’t worry.

Frozen vegetables turn out great when put in the rice cooker. You can toss them in with the raw rice and water at the beginning of the cooking process, and they will both thaw and cook by the time the rice is done. Some people recommend that you lay the frozen vegetables on top of the rice rather than mixing them in.  

Whether you use commercially packaged frozen vegetables or garden produce you have frozen yourself, they have probably been blanched before freezing. Blanching involves partially cooked vegetables quickly but briefly in boiling water.

Since frozen vegetables are already partly cooked, they’ll take a shorter time to cook than fresh vegetables. Still, harder vegetables like carrots or potatoes will still take a bit longer than more tender vegetables. By the time they thaw and cook with the rice in the rice cooker, they might still come out a bit crunchy.

To make sure your frozen vegetables cook to the desired level of doneness, select small-sized vegetables like peas and corn. Chunky-cut vegetables like the popular California blend of broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots might not cook all the way through when mixed with the rice.

Can You Steam Fresh or Frozen Vegetables In a Rice Cooker?

By now, you know the rice cooker is more versatile than you thought. In fact, you don’t even have to cook rice in it. Sometimes, you just want to cook vegetables to serve as a side dish.

Your rice cooker can be used to steam either fresh or frozen vegetables. The time needed to steam them will vary, depending on the type and size of the vegetable. Fresh vegetables will generally take a bit longer to cook compared to frozen ones.

Most new rice cookers will come with a steaming basket, but if yours doesn’t have one, you can easily buy a collapsible stainless steel steaming basket that adjusts to fit your cooker, no matter what size the inside space may be.

To begin, pour a cup or two of water in the bottom of the cooker, add the vegetables to the basket and close the lid. Your rice cooker may be equipped with a steam button. If not, set the timer to 15 minutes or so, and the vegetables will begin to cook when the water boils.

You may need to experiment with the cooking time. The same as steaming vegetables in a conventional manner, the size and texture of the vegetables, as well as your preferred level of crispness or softness, will affect how long you let them steam.

Frozen vegetables, since they are partly cooked, will not take as long to steam as fresh vegetables. On average you can figure two or three minutes less steaming time for frozen vegetables in your rice cooker.

What Else Can You Cook In a Rice Cooker?

While rice and vegetables taste great, they aren’t always enough to satisfy big appetites. But that’s not a problem because your rice cooker can make entire meals.

A rice cooker is great for cooking any grain, such as quinoa, barley, or oatmeal. You can also cook dried beans and some types of meat, such as chicken or pork.

Breakfast in a Rice Cooker

Oatmeal is especially easy in a rice cooker because you don’t have to constantly watch it and stir it like you do when you cook it on the stove. All you have to do is add the amount of oats you want with the proportional amount of water, along with any sweeteners or flavors. Mix it up, turn on the rice cooker, and leave it alone until it’s done.

With the steamer basket, rice cookers can make soft-boiled or hard-boiled eggs, though you may need to experiment with the cooking time to achieve your desired level of doneness. Or, you can make a full pot of scrambled eggs and keep them warm for a breakfast buffet.

Rice Cooker Bean Dishes

For dried beans like pinto beans or chickpeas, it’s a good idea to soak them overnight or as the package directs before putting them into the rice cooker. They’ll get tender much faster.

If you’re pressed for time, you can make a rice and bean meal by adding canned beans to your rice while it cooks. For extra flavor, use chicken broth for part of the water and add onions, celery, peppers, and seasonings to taste.

Cooking Meat in a Rice Cooker

Cooking meat in a rice cooker is a bit trickier. The easiest way is to add diced pieces of chicken, beef, or pork to your rice so they cook together. Some recipes without rice, such as rice cooker chili, begin by cooking the meat in oil at the bottom of the pot before adding the rest of the ingredients.

If you’re cooking larger pieces of meat, such as chicken thighs, keep in mind that the rice cooker is essentially a boiler and a steamer. You might want to brown your meat in a frying pan to get a crisp and flavorful surface before cooking it the rest of the way in the rice cooker.

The cooking time for meat will vary widely depending on the type and thickness of the meat, whether there are bones, and so on. When you’re trying it for the first time, it’s a good idea to test it with a meat thermometer. Minimum temperatures for safely-cooked meats are 165F for chicken and poultry and 145F for beef and pork.

Rice Cooker Desserts

Believe it or not, you can even make desserts in a rice cooker. Rice pudding is an obvious choice, but tapioca pudding can also be cooked on the porridge setting. Rice cookers are also great for making cooked cinnamon apples or peach crisp.

You may also be surprised to learn that rice cookers can make cakes and brownies. Most recipes call for mixing ingredients from scratch, such as flour, sugar, baking soda, and so on. However, there are some methods of making a cake from a mix.

When the cake is done cooking, you just remove the inner pot and turn it upside down on a plate. The nonstick surface should help the cake fall right out. This makes a pineapple upside-down cake perfect for a rice cooker.

Rice cookers do vary in capacity and settings, so it may take some trial and error as you learn to cook new dishes. Still, you’ll agree that the convenience and versatility of a rice cooker make it suitable for much more than rice.

In an unplugged rice cooker at room temperature, your rice becomes unsafe just after 2 hours, but using the keep warm feature present on most rice cookers allows you to extend this window. With the warm function on, the rice is safe to eat for up to 12 hours, in so long as it stays above 60° Celsius (140° Fahrenheit), as this discourages the growth of the bacteria Bacillus cereus.

This bacteria can survive regular cooking temperatures, so if your rice is left off the heat, spores can germinate and produce toxins that can make you ill.

How Do You Keep Rice From Spoiling in a Rice Cooker?

The main reason rice spoils is that it contains microscopic spores that proliferate into bacteria at room temperature. To prevent this, rice cookers hold temperatures well above that which the bacteria can grow in, both while cooking and on the keep warm setting.

If your rice cooker falls below this temperature, your rice will begin to spoil, and quickly at that. In addition to this, if rice spoiled inside your cooker even once before, bacteria can remain on the surface and spread into any rice cooked inside of it afterward.

Make sure that your cooker has, and switches to, its “keep warm” setting after it finishes cooking and that the keep warm setting remains at a temperature above 60° Celsius (140° Fahrenheit).

Properly cleaning, and caring for your cooker, ensuring it is cleaned thoroughly and isn’t scratched or dented will deter bacteria from clinging to the surface, further helping to preserve any future batches.

Why Does Rice Spoil Easily in a Rice Cooker?

If you are experiencing consistent rice spoilage every time you make a new batch, see if any of the following issues are happening.

• If your rice cooker is not defaulting to the warm setting after the rice has finished cooking, this could be the cause of your rice spoiling while still in the rice cooker.
  
• If the non-stick surface of your rice cooker is damaged, this can allow bacteria to grow on the surface and spoil your rice. This is near impossible to combat and it tends to be easier to purchase a new rice cooker at this point.

• Your rice cooker isn’t keeping the rice out of the temperature danger zone [1] and is allowing the wet environment to breed bacteria that spoils your rice.

• If you have an aluminum insert in your rice cooker that is non-anodized, then your rice may be coming into contact with bare aluminum which causes a chemical reaction to occur. This chemical reaction will cause your rice to spoil.

• If you have had a previous incident of rice spoiling, bacterial spores may be lodged on certain parts of your rice cooker like the gaskets or vents, causing every batch afterward to spoil. To fix this, either buy a new rice cooker or disassemble your rice cooker and bleach it in 1 part bleach, 9 parts water. Wash thoroughly afterward and rinse with cold water.

• Human error; if you lift up the lid too much, cold air can seep in and create a mismatch in the temperature environment, causing the temperature danger zone to occur.

Can I Leave My Rice Cooker on Warm Overnight?

While a lot of rice cooker manufacturers do not recommend it, you can technically leave it overnight on warm, in so long as the keep warm function maintains the rice at a temperature above 75° Celsius or 145-165° Fahrenheit.

If it is below this temperature, the rice is likely to grow bacteria on it. Another issue with leaving the rice cooker on warm overnight is you risk drying your rice out or even burning it.

When it comes to me, myself and I, there’s rarely an occasion where I choose to keep the rice cooker on warm overnight. There’s no way for me to monitor the appliance when I’m asleep and even though the device is safe and automated, it’s still an electrical device that’s being heated. If something was to malfunction, the consequences could be dire.

How To Tell If My Rice Has Gone Bad?

Look out for the following signs that your rice is off or has gone completely bad.

1. The smell of your rice is off/strange. If your rice has an unpleasant, sour smell to it, it is a sign that there might already be bacteria growing on it. It is best to chuck it.
2. The rice has become slimy.  This means that there was too much moisture in the rice when it was stored. Too much moisture promotes bacterial growth and can lead to the first stage of fermentation.
3. The rice is extremely tough, dry, or crumbly.  This means that the rice has been left in storage for too long and has lost all of its moisture content. Even if it doesn’t smell strange yet, you may not want to reheat and consume.

If you reheat rice that has gone bad, you may experience food poisoning which comes with diarrhea, vomiting, and an upset stomach as its symptoms. Drinking plenty of water is important if you have food poisoning so that you do not become dehydrated.

If you want to eat during this time period, eat soothing foods or plain foods like bananas and crackers.

Is It Safe to Reheat Your Leftover Rice?

While some people believe that reheating rice is an unsafe practice, if you store the rice properly, handle it with care, and use the right cooking methods to reheat it, then it is safe to reheat it.  Why do some people believe it is unsafe?

Unfortunately, the dormant bacteria Bacillus cereus can survive some cooking processes, leading to food poisoning if the rice isn’t cooked or stored properly.  To help you avoid this, make sure to follow these tips.

• When reheating your rice, make sure it reaches a high temperature above the danger zone of 4.4-60°Celsius or 40-140° Fahrenheit. Ideally, you want to heat it at or above 165° Fahrenheit.

• If planning on storing cooked rice to reheat later on, cool it down quickly by dividing the rice up into shallow containers and then placing it directly into the fridge or freezer. The recommendation here is to cool the rice within 2 hours down to 70° Fahrenheit and to just below 40° Fahrenheit within 4 hours. When storing the rice, ensure it is below 4.4°Celsius or 40° Fahrenheit. This prevents bacteria from growing.

Can You Reheat Rice in a Rice Cooker?

If you are planning on reheating leftover rice, you can safely do it in a rice cooker in so long as the rice cooker can heat it up to 75° Celsius or 165° Fahrenheit [2]. If your rice cooker does not accommodate this high of a temperature setting, then reheating it in the rice cooker is not a safe option. 

To figure out if your rice cooker has a reheat option, look for it on the interface and double-check the manual to see the temperature associated with this mode. If your rice cooker does reheat up to 165° Fahrenheit then proceed with the following instructions for reheating.

1. Add in a tablespoon or so of cold water into the rice cooker and add in your rice. Adding in the water will give the rice just enough moisture to keep it from drying out but not too much to prevent it from getting soggy.
   
2. Press the reheat option.  Leave it to reheat for at least an hour. Check it thoroughly when removing from the rice cooker to ensure that it has been heated all the way through.

Please note: some rice cookers may have delay timers on them which may prompt people to place previously cooked rice into the rice cooker and leave until the timer begins.

This is not recommended as leaving cooked rice at room temperature (prior to reheating it) can cause bacteria to grow. Not only can the bacteria then infect your rice cooker, but if something goes wrong with the reheating process, it can make you ill as well. This means that it is best to reheat your rice right out of the refrigerator.

How Long Can Rice Be Kept in a Refrigerator Before it Becomes Unsafe?

Permitting that your cooked rice was cooled down quickly and placed into the refrigerator immediately after cooking, it can be kept in the fridge for up to 4 days in a sealed container.

This means that you can also reheat it up to 4 days after cooking, but the sooner you reheat it the safer it will be. If you are freezing your rice, it will last between 6-8-months but should be reheated immediately after removing from the freezer and consumed.

Can You Consume Cold Rice & Not Reheat It?

Yes, you can. As long as it is refrigerated at the right temperature (under 5°C or 41°F)  and you do not allow it to get to room temperature.

Cooked rice may smell bad because you’re having issues with your water such as sulfur compounds, spoilage due to bacterial growth (bacillus cereus), being covered in starch dust that isn’t rinsed off before cooking, or pungent strains of rice such as brown rice, which has a very nutty smell that you may not be familiar with.

For uncooked rice, this includes it being rancid from not being stored in a dry, cool place, having chemical contaminants leftover from harvesting, or storing your rice in non-food grade plastic bins resulting in plastic particles & smells seeping into the rice.

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How Do I Get Rid of Rice Smell?

Depending on what type of rice you are cooking, your kitchen may harbor a rice odor after you are done cooking it. If you are unlucky and burn your rice in the process of cooking, this can also smell pretty nasty. Here are a few ways to get rid of the smelly rice odor.

Kitchen Smells Heavily of Rice?

If you are cooking a pungent type of rice and don’t want your kitchen to smell like it after, then take a saucepan and fill it with 3 tablespoons of vinegar and 1 cup of water. Place it on your stovetop and bring the water to a boil for several minutes. Allow the steam to permeate the kitchen and neutralize the rice odor.

Burnt Rice & Now It Smells Bad? 

If you have burnt rice and want to remove the smell, carefully scoop out the unburnt portion and place them into a mixing bowl. Lay either the outer skins of an onion or a piece of white bread over the rice and then cover the bowl with a lid.

Let the rice sit for several minutes and the burnt smell will be absorbed into the bread or onion skins. If your rice burns before it is finished cooking, repeat the same steps but use raw potato slices instead.

Slow Cooker Smells Like Rice After Being Cleared Out.  

If you cook a lot of rice at home in your slow cooker, you may notice that the slow cooker smells like rice for a while even after the rice is removed from the appliance. The easiest way to get rid of this smell is with a vinegar and water solution.  Here are the steps to this solution.

• The first thing you are going to want is some white vinegar. Take 1 cup of vinegar and add it to 3 cups of water.
  
  • Pour this mixture into your slow cooker and turn the slow cooker to high.
    
  • Place the lid on top and leave until the mixture is boiling.
    
  • Once it starts to boil, turn the slow cooker off and leave it to cool down.
    
  • Once it is cool enough to handle, thoroughly wash, and rinse the ceramic insert.  The rice odor should be gone.

How Can I Make My Rice Smell Better?

As long as you aren’t cooking with rice that has gone bad and just don’t like the actual smell of rice, then there are ways that you can make it smell better. A lot of these methods will also help the rice taste better and it may prevent you from receiving comments from others who also don’t like how your rice cooking typically smells.

• Consider cooking your rice in stock such as chicken, vegetable, or beef to help with the smell of the rice. You can either use a stock cube and add it to the water that you are boiling your rice in or substitute it entirely for the water.  Just make sure to add double the amount of stock for the amount of rice you have.

• You can always cook your rice with spices and aromatics. Using spices like cinnamon, cardamom, saffron, cloves, coriander, ginger, garlic, cumin, and turmeric tends to make rice smell extremely good. You can always purchase a spice blend from your local grocer if you do not want to spend a lot on individual spices. A five-spice powder also works well with brown rice and is typical in Chinese dishes. It contains star anise, fennel, and Szechuan peppercorns.

• If you don’t want to cook your rice in stock or with a lot of spices, you can switch to a different type of rice that is more aromatic like jasmine or basmati rice types.

• If you are not rinsing your rice before putting it in your pot with water to boil, then start doing this.  When rice is packed and travels great distances, some of the rice can get crushed and pulverized in transit, coating the rice with indigestible starch. This can make it smell terrible if you do not rinse it off.

• If you prefer sticky rice and thus prefer to not rinse your rice before cooking, you can try adding a small amount of vinegar to the rice as it cooks. Approximately 1-2 tbsp per cup of uncooked rice should help.

What Happens If You Eat Spoiled Rice?

When rice spoils, it grows a bacteria called bacillus cereus, which produces a toxin that is harmful to the body. The result of ingesting this toxin is food poisoning, causing nausea, upset stomach, and diarrhea.

If you eat spoiled rice, you may be able to lessen some of the symptoms of food poisoning by avoiding food for a few hours, drinking plenty of water, then slowly easing yourself back into food with something bland and easy on the stomach, like unsalted crackers or bananas.

Does Rice Go Bad Easily in a Slow Cooker?

No, it does not go bad easily unless there is human error or a malfunction.

While it is more common to cook rice in a rice cooker, on the stove, or in the microwave, you can also cook it in a slow cooker. As with any cooking medium, your rice will go bad if you do not have the right cooking temperature, if there are scratches in your appliance’s ceramic insert, or if it has been left at room temperature for too long. 

This means that rice will go bad regardless of what appliance you are using if any of the above is true. To help prevent your rice from going bad in your slow cooker, try following these general tips.

• Don’t unplug your slow cooker or turn it off after your rice is done cooking. Doing so will cause your rice to sit at room temperature which causes bacterial growth. This will spoil your rice.
  
• When your rice is done cooking, keep your slow cooker on the “warm” setting as this will keep the rice at an internal temperature between 165° Fahrenheit and 200° Fahrenheit, discouraging any bacterial growth. Please consult your slow cooker’s manual to confirm that your slow cooker’s warm setting falls within this range.

• Inspect your slow cooker for any dents or scratches in the ceramic insert, as bacteria can gather there and spread throughout the slow cooker, ruining your rice. If you find dents or scratches in your slow cooker, you should replace the inner ceramic insert or purchase a new slower cooker.

• Try not to lift the lid when cooking your rice or when leaving it on the warm setting, as cool air will seep in potentially bringing the top portion of the rice into the temperature danger zone [1].

• If you have had previous spoilage of rice due to bacterial growth, bacteria may remain behind and spoil future batches. If this is happening, take the ceramic dish out of the outer heating element and wash with 1 part bleach and 9 parts water. Wash thoroughly and then rinse with cold water. If this does not work, you will need to purchase a replacement ceramic insert or a new slow cooker.

What Does Bad Rice Look Like in a Slow Cooker?

If your rice has an “off-color” to it, a film to it, or it looks to be slimy, then it has gone bad. If the grains look darker in color, are extremely hard/crunchy, or have crumbled into pieces, then it has gone bad. Also, take a quick sniff of it, if there is an unpleasant smell coming from it, it has gone bad.

The general consensus is that high-quality rice cookers will last upwards of 7-8 years of regular use or 3-5 years of heavy use. Most rice cookers will come with a 1-year limited warranty and the option to extend it by 2-3-years depending on the brand. If you have a pure-mechanical model it can last upwards of 10+ years, while modern models will last 2-6-years depending on use and maintenance [1].

Why Do Rice Cookers Stop Working?

As with all small kitchen appliances, rice cookers will eventually run into technical problems that prevent it from working properly or run its course and stop working entirely. Look for the following issues and either replace the parts, wipe it down, or get a professional to take a look.

Dents, Deformities, or Debris Between the Heating Plate & Inner Pot.

If you’ve noticed that your rice isn’t coming out fluffy or fully cooked, remove the inner pot and check for any type of dents, scratches, or other deformities. If you are removing after a cook cycle, use padded gloves to protect your hands.

• If your pot has been recently dropped, damaged, or dented, it may be sitting on the heater plate wrong.

• There may be rice grains or food debris sitting on the heating plate. This can interfere with the heating of subsequent batches of rice.

Power Cord Problems.

While loose wiring and thermal issues are generally the cause behind why rice cookers stop working, a power cord can also be the culprit. If your power cord is damaged, it can prevent a proper power connection from being formed between the power outlet and your rice cooker.  Look for cuts or frays in the power cord and replace it if it has them.

Problems With Internal Circuitry.

Electronic appliances have a hard time working if they have a loose wire. This type of problem can short out the internal circuitry or prevent power from reaching the appropriate place.

You can look for broken connections or loose wiring by opening your rice cooker up, but getting an electrician to assess the problem is safer. If you have a warranty still valid on your rice cooker, it is better to send it in for repair if you suspect this is the issue.

Issues With the Thermal Fuse.

It is common for rice cookers to run into thermal cutoff problems if they are overheating during use. When the maximum temperature crosses a set threshold level on your rice cooker, it begins to overheat.

It will trip/break the thermal fuse, resulting in the rice cooker to cut off power. This is to prevent serious damage to the rice cooker or to your home (catching fire). While you can check to see if the thermal fuse is tripped, it is best to get a professional to take a look. 

Dead Battery From Models That Use Them.

Are you using a model that has a lithium battery powered display? If so, your battery may be dead or damaged. You will need to remove the battery from the old compartment and install a new one. Your rice cooker manual will have further information on its lithium battery.

Old or Cheaper Model Version.

If you have a rice cooker that has surpassed it’s approximate life span and use, it may have stopped working due to it being worn out. 

Other than this, if you have a cheaper model of rice cooker that is low quality, it can retire at a much quicker age than approximated due to an accumulation of problems. 

If your rice cooker has run into problems before and you’ve fixed them, this may lower its lifespan.  The fix for this is to either buy a high quality rice cooker or replace parts as problems pop up.

Is It Safe To Use a Scratched Rice Cooker?

If your rice cooker has a teflon coating in it to prevent rice from sticking and it becomes scratched, then it is not safe to use your rice cooker.

When this coating becomes scratched, it can begin to leach toxins into your rice while it is cooking, causing you to consume low-levels of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) [2].  

If this plastic polymer leaches into your food or is heated above 572 degrees Fahrenheit, it can lead to polymer fume fever which is dangerous to humans [3].

You can avoid this issue by ensuring your inner pot does not come with any Teflon coating or by replacing the inner pot when it becomes damaged. If your inner pot is scratched but doesn’t have any Teflon and you’re simply tired of scraping rice from the sides and bottom, there are plenty of other uses for old rice cookers beyond this base functionality.

What Can I Do With an Old Rice Cooker?

Small appliances are tricky to know what to do with as they are difficult to recycle, and modern ones are built to be replaced when they break. If your rice cooker is truly past the end of its life, it is still possible to recycle parts of it, such as the cooking pan, at most recycling plants. 

If you use a Hamilton Beach cooker, the company offers a free recycling program for all of its small appliances.

If your rice cooker still has some life in it, then there are literally dozens of other things it can cook beyond just rice. From simple tasks such as boiled eggs and oatmeal, to more complex recipes like soups, frittata, and even cakes and scones.

Common Problems When Preparing Rice in a Rice Cooker

• How to Deal With Undercooked Rice? If you cook your rice at a high temperature and all the water gets absorbed but it still comes out undercooked, add ¼ cup of water to it and cook for another 5-minutes.

• How to Deal With Overcooked Rice? Use less water in your next batch. Overcooked rice typically happens when too much water is absorbed and it becomes a mushy mess. If you have overcooked rice and don’t want to throw it away, turn it into a delicious rice pudding or rice porridge.

• What to do With Gummy Rice? This is likely caused by excess starch. If your rice kernels are sticking together, make sure you are rinsing the excess starch off before you cook the rice. The easiest ways to do this are with a mesh strainer or cheesecloth.

• Do You Have Leftover Water? Don’t try and cook away the water. Instead, just pour out or dump the extra liquid and return the pot to heat. Just make sure to keep the pot cover off. You can also strain the extra water out with a mesh strainer or cheesecloth.

• Is Your Rice Sticking to the Sides of the Inner Pot? If you try and serve rice right after it is done cooking, you’ve probably noticed that it is prone to stick to the sides of the inner pot. To prevent this, let your rice simmer down until the water bubbles have settled for a few minutes – do not remove the lid.  Once the bubbles have settled, open the lid up and let the rice cool for 5-10 minutes.

• Are Bubbles Forming and Spilling Over the Sides? Either your rice is cooking at too high a temperature, or you are trying to cook too much at once. Reduce your batch size, or invest in a larger cooker with higher sides.

• Burning Your Rice Accidentally? You may not be using enough rice for the capacity of your rice cooker. Read through your rice cooker’s manual to figure out the right rice to water ratio. Your rice cooker may come with a measuring cup with designated lines for this.

• 2. See if you are keeping the “keep warm” setting on for too long. This setting is meant to keep your rice warm for a short period of time, but if left on for too long, it will crisp or burn the rice.

• 3. Cook your rice on a lower heat setting.

• 4. Try to not use the “quick cook” method on your rice cooker. This uses a higher temperature to cook your rice, which may result in burning if your rice to water ratio is off.

Given the longevity and general usefulness of a rice cooker, it is definitely a sound investment, as it can last up to a decade and cooks far more than rice alone. If you’ve ever wondered if a rice cooker would be beneficial to you, I highly recommend you get one and try it out for yourself!