How long should a rice cooker last? The answer to this question may surprise you. Contrary to popular belief, rice cookers do not actually have a very long lifespan.
In fact, most rice cookers will only last for around three years with regular use. This is because they are generally made with cheap materials and lack any sort of durability. However, there are ways that you can prolong the life of your rice cooker. In this article, we will discuss the truth about rice cookers, lifespan, maintenance and cleaning.
Table of Contents
Rice Cooker Maintenance
Maintenance is key to keeping your rice cooker in good condition for as long as possible. There are a few things that you can do on a regular basis to keep your rice cooker running like new. First and foremost, always make sure that the pot and inner cooking bowl are clean after each use. This will help prevent any food from building up and causing bacteria to form.
Secondly, make sure that you are regularly checking for any signs of wear and tear on the rice cooker. This includes things like cracks in the body or loose parts inside. Finally, always store your rice cooker with a lid on it to prevent dust from getting inside while not in use.
Cleaning Your Rice Cooker
Cleaning is just as important as maintenance when it comes to keeping your rice cooker running smoothly for years.
The most common problem that people have with their cookers is burnt food stuck onto the bottom of them due to poor cleaning practices, such as leaving cooked rice overnight without removing it first.
In order to prevent this issue from happening again, ensure all cooked foods are removed immediately after cooking time has finished and give everything a quick wash before storing it away safely until the next use.
Buy A Good Brand
As mentioned earlier, in many cases, a rice cooker will only last for around three years, if you are lucky. After that point, the inner components start to wear out and the machine becomes less efficient at cooking rice properly. It is important to remember that not all brands of cookers are created equal! Some have better quality parts than others which means they might last longer before needing replacement or repair work done on them (and thus saving money in the long run).
If you want something with more durability, then buy from reputable brands such as Zojirushi or Japanese-made ones like Tiger Corporation’s TIGER JNP lineup that has a stainless steel inner pot which makes them much more durable.
You can get more tips on how to clean a rice cooker in my post dedicated to this topic.
Conclusion
By following these simple maintenance and cleaning tips, you can prolong the life of your rice cooker and avoid any costly repairs. So, how long should a rice cooker last? The answer is: as long as possible! However, it is important to remember that they are not built to last forever and will eventually need to be replaced. But with a bit of TLC (tender, love, and care), your trusty rice cooker can last for years to come. Thanks for reading!
