Today, many interesting devices have been created that make life easier for housewives. The rice cooker deserves special attention. With its help, you do not have to control the process when you cook rice while standing at the stove. However, you need to clean the rice cooker regularly. Read more about rice cooker cleaning in this article.
Information about rice cooker before you start
Before you clean a rice cooker, you should pay attention to several important parameters. You need to understand that not all rice cookers work on an identical principle.
Therefore, the rice cooker, depending on the manufacturer, will be cleaned in different ways. It all depends on what material was used in the manufacture.
Some brands boast devices with removable rice cooker parts. This greatly simplifies the cleaning.
However, there are options in which there are no removable parts. Some devices have a non-stick coating, which must be carefully maintained during the cleaning process.
Before starting work, you should study the information that is indicated on the product. It is better to find cleaning instructions.
Some brands have dishwasher-safe parts. This greatly facilitates the cleaning process.
It is better to study in advance information about cleaning a specific model. This will prevent unnecessary errors, the correction of which will take time and money.
Cleaning the rice cooker: step-by-step
If you want to clean your rice cooker quickly and effectively, there are several steps to follow. More about them will be discussed below.
Training
Remove all food from it and unplug it from the mains. Then leave the rice cooker to dry completely. Do not clean the electric rice cooker with water, as this can damage it. On average, it takes half an hour to completely cool the device, after which it can be touched.
Cleaning all parts of the rice cooker
The first step is to clean the main inner bowl, which is located at the base of the rice cooker. Place the bowl in the sink and fill it with hot water. For greater effectiveness, add dishwashing detergent. The bowl should be soaked for 30-40 minutes.
To accurately remove all leftovers, you should leave the bowl to soak overnight. If there is leftover food, do not leave them. Indeed, during the further use of the rice cooker, food will stick to the walls, which will significantly complicate cleaning. Therefore, you need to soak the rice cooker carefully.
While the bowl is soaking, you can spend this time washing dishes that were used with the rice cooker.
If leftovers have not been removed after soaking, they can be removed with a plastic or wooden spatula. It is better to use plastic tools.
The metal will scratch the surface of the rice cooker. When this step is complete, you can use a sponge or paper towel to accurately remove any food particles. Finally, it remains to rinse the pan with warm water, then wipes it dry with a towel. Do not use paper towels as they will leave lint.
Cleaning the rice cooker lid
Often, many rice cookers have removable lids. It needs to be removed and cleaned. If the cover does not come off, armed with a sponge, you can wipe it. First, you need to moisten the sponge in warm water, and then proceed to wipe the inside of the lid.
Then wipe the flat and stable surface with a dry cloth. Be careful not to let water get into the inner bowl.
This allows you to see if some parts of the rice cooker can be washed in the dishwasher. After all, this will greatly simplify the cleaning process.
Interior and exterior cleaning of the rice cooker
If you notice that after you cook rice, the food particles have entered the inside of the rice cooker parts, the cleaning process will be a little more difficult. It is important to know in advance where the electrical parts of the rice cooker are located.
How to clean the inside?
The cleaning solution is allowed. However, they should only be applied to a slightly moist rag and not to the surface itself.
After, you need to carefully remove the remnants of food from the surface. If they do not clean well, you can use a sponge instead of a napkin.
Then you need to wipe the rice cooker dry. In the end, you can already put the inner bowl in place.
Cleaning by brand
As you know, rice cookers can be cleaned in different ways, depending on the brand. Often the manufacturer indicates all the recommendations in the instructions. Everything will be discussed in more detail below.
How to clean your Cuckoo rice cooker
Wipe the outside with a moist cloth. Then remove the inner bowl and wipe the sides and corners with a paper towel. You need to work carefully, especially if the model is working under pressure. Do not wipe the hot plate that is in the center.
Make sure that water does not flow into the center of the hot plate. Otherwise, you must change the hot plate. Then remove the inner cover, if any. It also needs to be wiped with a moist rag.
The inner bowl must be thoroughly cleaned with soapy water and a sponge. Avoid using abrasive materials, aggressive components, and dishwashers.
Remove the cover and take it apart. Reassemble after wiping. Remove the container in which the condensate collects and discard it.
Return after washing. Locate the steam nozzle pin located at the bottom. It needs to be unscrewed, removed, and cleaned. You need to work carefully. Rough work may damage the instrument.
Steam cleaning
As you know, rice cookers can be cleaned with steam. However, the actions will differ, depending on whether such a program is provided in the rice cooker or not. More on this will be discussed later.
Actions if the program exists
If the rice cooker has a steam cleaning program, this method will be acceptable. If you are not sure about this, you should carefully study the instructions. If such a program is not provided, another method will be required, which will be discussed later.
If the program is provided, you need to fill the inner bowl with water to the indicator “2”.
Close the lid, and set the mode to “Automatic steam cleaning”. To get started, you need to click “Pressure Cooker”. Next, remove the pan, and remove the food residue.
Actions if there is no program
In this case, you need to fill the inner bowl up to the “2” mark. Close the lid, and set the mode to Cooking Sticky Rice. To start, click on “Pressure Cooker”. Bring water to a boil and leave for 2 minutes. Then stop the rice cooker with the “Cancel” button.
Remove the inner pot and wipe it clean. If you want to remove bad odors and disinfect the device, add ½ tablespoon of kitchen vinegar to the water.
Cleaning the Zojirushi rice cooker
You need to start work with the inner pot, which is cleaned with warm water and a small amount of dishwashing detergent. Do not work with metallic or abrasive materials. Remove the lid and wash it.
Then proceed to check the gasket. If cracks or stains form, a replacement will be required.
Wipe the inside with a damp cloth, then proceed to wipe the outside. Remove the steam wire and the moisture container. These parts also need to be cleaned. Finally, rinse with warm water.
Cleaning the Aroma rice cooker
First, you need to cool the device. Do not start cleaning immediately after the end of cooking rice because you can burn yourself.
It is recommended to wipe the outer part with a damp cloth. To clean the inner pot, it should be removed from the rice cooker and washed with warm water, a pinch of baking soda, a sponge, and dish soap.
In the end, the part must be left to dry completely. The inner lid must be removed and rinsed according to the principle of the inner pot. After air drying, put it back. If the lid does not close, you have installed it incorrectly. The cleaning of the hot plate deserves special attention.
It must be wiped with a damp cloth. Finally, wipe with a dry towel.
Cleaning the Tiger rice cooker
The instructions say to clean a rice cooker after each use. This will prevent the accumulation of unpleasant odors as well as the accumulation of germs.
All parts, for greater efficiency, should be cleaned separately. Detailed instructions for cleaning the rice cooker:
- Unplug the rice cooker from the mains, and cool down.
- Remove the inner pot, lid, and steam cap. Removing the inner cover is easy. It just needs to be pulled a little. To remove the steam lid, grasp the cut and lift the part.
- Wash the parts. If a lot of food has accumulated on them, and it has stuck, you will have to soak them in hot soapy water with a pinch of baking soda for 2-3 hours. You can add a little bleach or vinegar to the cleaning solution to remove bad odors.
- Rinse the parts and dry them. Assemble the device. Finally, wipe the exterior and power cable with a damp cloth.
How to prevent the bad smell of the rice cooker?
An unpleasant odor can appear in the rice cooker for various reasons. This is often due to liquid rice starting to bubble up the sides of the cooking bowl.
There may also be food leftovers inside. Removing unpleasant odors is possible if you clean a rice cooker from liquid and food residues in time.
You can also mix water and vinegar in a 3:1 ratio. Dampen a rag or sponge in the cleaning solution and wipe the interior surfaces and cabinet. Rinse with warm water afterward to remove the odor. You may have to repeat the procedure several times.
Careful handling of the device
Each rice cooker comes with a maintenance manual. Read everything carefully before using the device.
This will keep the electrical appliance in good condition, which will have a positive effect on durability. It is important to clean rice cooker after each use.
Try to work carefully, especially if the device is supplemented with a non-stick coating. Using the wrong tools and materials can ruin everything. When storing the instrument, the lid should not be completely closed to allow air to circulate. This will prevent bad odors.
FAQ
When you have perfectly cooked rice, and it comes to cleaning your rice cooker, there are many questions that you might face.
How often should I clean my rice cooker?
The rice cooker must be cleaned after each use. This will prevent bad odor and prolong the life of the rice cooker.
How do I clean and sanitize my rice cooker?
To do this, mix hot water, 2 tablespoons of bleach, and 2 tablespoons of vinegar. The solution must be treated with all surfaces, and then dried.
How do I clean my rice cooker with vinegar?
Yes, you can use vinegar to clean a rice cooker. For 1 tablespoon of vinegar, 3 tablespoons of water are used. The solution must be poured into the rice cooker, and run it. After turning off and cooling the device, drain the solution and rinse the parts with warm water.
What is the first thing to do before cleaning the rice cooker?
First, the device must be turned off and cooled. All electrical parts must be protected from moisture.
Results
As you can see, cleaning the rice cooker is not difficult if you take your time. It is better to work with individual parts to get the best result.
Read also: Best Cuckoo Rice Cooker in 2023
Leave a Comment