A rice cooker can be the perfect kitchen tool for those who eat a lot of rice-based dishes. It definitely makes cooking the staple grain a whole lot easier and less tedious.
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.