The way a rice cooker is used is closely related to its product quality. Many homemakers complain about rice cookers losing their effectiveness over time, resulting in poorly cooked rice or unevenly cooked rice. One of the main reasons is improper usage by the users. Below are some harmful habits that many people commonly make when using a rice cooker.

Washing Rice Directly in the Inner Pot

To increase convenience, many users have the habit of washing rice directly in the inner pot of the rice cooker, believing it to be harmless. However, regardless of whether the inner pot is non-stick or not, manufacturers always include a protective coating on the surface of the pot to ensure it is safe for cooking.

As a result, washing rice directly in the inner pot can easily scratch this protective layer. This not only reduces the aesthetic appeal of the rice cooker but also compromises cooking safety, especially with non-stick pots. The best advice is to wash rice using a colander or a small bowl first, then pour the washed rice into the rice cooker and add water before cooking.

Plugging into the same socket as high-power devices

If you plug the rice cooker into the same socket as high-power devices like a microwave, oven, or refrigerator, it can lead to an overload and cause short circuits or fires. It’s best to use a separate socket for the rice cooker to ensure safety during use.

Not drying the inner pot before plugging it in

Many people have the habit of directly putting the inner pot into the rice cooker after washing the rice. This can be harmful if the outer surface of the inner pot is wet, as it can cause moisture to reach the heating plate, leading to short circuits, electric leakage, and safety hazards.

Using one hand to place the inner pot into the rice cooker

This method can damage the rice cooker’s main relay. Since the bottom of the pot is slightly concave, using one hand to place the pot can cause uneven contact with the relay, leading to unevenly cooked rice. The proper way to use the rice cooker is to hold the inner pot with both hands and place it into the cooker, then gently rotate it halfway to ensure even contact with the relay. This will prevent the rice from being undercooked or overcooked.