are rice cookers hard clean

Arent rice cookers handy? They make adding rice to any meal seamless. But, over time and use after use, your rice cooker can become dirty and lose its luster. If your rice cooker isnt looking its best, its probably time for a deep clean. Fortunately, cleaning your rice cooker is easier than you might think.

Rice cookers are all made with non-stick bowls. As such, it should be cleaned with soap, warm water, and a soft cloth. Even a plastic scrubber might scratch it. If rice is burned onto it (it happens) it should be dislodged with a nylon spoon or spatula which won’t scratch the surface.

How to Clean a Rice Cooker

• Take Apart the Appliance

  In order to clean the rice cooker, youll need to take the appliance apart and wash each piece individually. Make sure youve given the hot plate at least 30 minutes to cool, then remove the internal pot and place it in a sink or bucket filled with hot, soapy water. The Spruce / Ana Cadena

• Soak in Soap

  Allow the pot to soak for around twenty minutes if the rice pieces are really stuck. You may need to adjust the soak time depending on how much rice is stuck in the pot. The Spruce / Ana Cadena

• Clean With a Nonabrasive Sponge

  After youve sufficiently soaked the internal pot, use a nonabrasive sponge to gently buff away any stuck-on rice. Use the same sponge and soapy water to clean the rice paddle and steam basket. If youre dealing with an extra crusty mess, you may want to use a plastic or rubber spatula to pry off stubborn pieces of food. Just avoid metal utensils when scraping off stuck-on rice—it can damage the appliance. Once youre done washing, rinse and wipe down with a dry towel. The Spruce / Ana Cadena

• Detach Lid and Clean

  If your rice cooker has a detachable lid (and most do), remove it and gently clean it with your sponge and soapy water. Once youre done, wipe it down with a wet microfiber cloth to remove any suds. You can now replace the lid as well as the internal pieces, if you havent already. The Spruce / Ana Cadena

• Clean the Exterior

  Grab your favorite all purpose cleaner (if you dont have one on hand, you can mix one part water with one part white vinegar in a spray bottle, shake it up and use that instead). Spray the outside of the rice cooker thoroughly, then wipe it down with your microfiber cloth. Be mindful of any electrical parts (plugs and switches) and avoid getting them wet if you can. The Spruce / Ana Cadena

How Often Should You Clean Your Rice Cooker?

Aim to clean your rice cooker after every use. Not only is this more sanitary, but it also will prevent rice grains from getting stuck onto the sides, creating a crusty mess that takes some serious elbow grease to remove. Cleaning your rice cooker after every use will make maintenance much easier.

• 1 bottle mild dish soap
• 1 bottle all-purpose cleaner

The Spruce / Ana Cadena

How to clean your rice cooker

FAQ

Do rice cookers leach chemicals?

What is the disadvantage of rice cooker?

How do you sterilize a rice cooker?

Do you have to clean rice cooker after every use?