Your rice cooker inner pot may need replacement especially if it has experienced a lot of wear and tear. While most modern rice cookers enable you to simply swap the inner pot out, you still need to take care when buying one. So, here are some helpful tips that cover how to replace the inner pot on a rice cooker.
How Do I Know When To Replace the Inner Pot?
Lets face it we all like to make things last as long as possible these days. The throwaway society has gone, hopefully forever, and more and more of us are making do and mending. However, things wear out and your rice cooker’s inner pot takes a lot of punishment so, inevitably, it’s going to give up some time and need replacing.
Here are some of the reasons I swap my inner pot out.
The Coating is Gone or a Has Become a Health Risk
Non-stick rice cookers are popular because they are quick and easy to clean. Thanks to modern non-stick coatings and advanced tech such as fuzzy logic we rarely suffer from burnt food these days.
But, coatings, like all of our other handy appliances can, and do wear out. Over time they get scratched, dented, and can start to flake off. Now, although I am a fan of inner pots which have coatings, I always worry about some of these materials ending up in the food so, as soon as I see signs of degradation, it’s time to replace the pot. No one wants to take chances with their, or their families health!
Now, you can make them last longer by avoiding harsh, abrasive cleaners and never, ever, use metal utensils with a non-stick pot but, as I said, it’s inevitable that they will wear out. However, you should be able to get around 5 years of good use out of a non-stick inner pot.
Holes or Cracks
Old pots wear out. If you have burnt the bottom too many times or if the coating has become damaged then they may rust. This can cause holes which, obviously aren’t a good thing. So, at the first sign of a hole developing, throw the pot in the trash. With ceramic or clay pots you need to watch out for chips or cracks. These weaken the pot and can cause it to break, and that’s not something you want to happen while it’s full of hot food that you are carrying across the kitchen. So, safety first; replace the pot.
There are Visible Dents on Body and Surface
As well as cracks and holes, metal inner pots can also become scratched and dented, and while this is not usually a reason to replace them, dents can affect the heat distribution and efficiency of the pot so, if you have the budget, it’s always a good idea to replace the pot before it becomes too damaged.
Different Kinds of Rice Cooker Inner Pot Replacements
Think that choosing a replacement inner pot is an easy job – think again!
There are several kinds available, each with its own advantages and disadvantages, and, of course, they come in all shapes, sizes, and prices.
There are product-specific ones and universal options so, again, check before you buy.
So, let’s find out what the different material options are and what each of them offers.
Ceramic Inner Pot
This is the number one choice for most people because it’s available with non-stick coatings and is generally considered to be one of the most effective and safest types of inner pot you can buy. Being ceramic, there aren’t any hidden chemicals making them 100% toxin-free. Ceramic pots are also affordable and have great thermal properties resulting in an even temperature distribution which prevents food from burning
These dishes are also pretty safe for the environment as they don’t have chemicals as you find in PTFE cookware. And, while there’s no evidence that such cookware is responsible for health issues would you really want to take the chance?
If you fancy a new rice cooker with a ceramic inner pot then I can recommend the popular and well-priced Aroma Housewares ARC-6206C. Or, if it’s just a replacement pot you need you could try this great 6 Quart ceramic cooking pot which will fit most mid-size rice cookers.
The disadvantages are that they are more expensive than metal or stainless steel inner pots and they are less durable. Like clay pots, they are prone to breakage so you need to take extra care when using them.
They’re also quite expensive compared to other pots, but, again that’s the price you pay for all of the advantages they offer.
| Image | Title | Price | Prime | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Instant Pot Ceramic Inner Cooking Pot - 6 Quart | PrimeEligible | Buy Now | |
Top | Inner Pot Ceramic Inner Cooking Pot for Rice Cooker, Non-Stick Inner Cooking Pot Liner Container Replacement Accessories | PrimeEligible | Buy Now | |
 | Genuine Instant Pot Ceramic Non-Stick Interior Coated Inner Cooking Pot - 6 Quart | PrimeEligible | Buy Now |
Stainless Steel Inner Pot
Personally, one of my favorite types of the inner pot is the stainless-steel inner pot. When it comes to durability and versatility, stainless steel just can’t be beaten. It heats well, has good heat distribution properties, and is practically indestructible. Oh, and it’s also one of the cheapest kinds of replacement inner pots you can buy. There’s also something homely about them – maybe it’s because my own mother used to use one and I can still remember cleaning it as a child. Hey ho.
Of course, it has some disadvantages. For instance, it’s fairly easily dented and scratched and burnt-on food can be a nightmare to get rid of. But it will withstand almost any kind of cleaning agent and scouring pad you throw at it and modern stainless steel pots also contain iron, nickel, and even chromium so they are super tough.
The OYAMA CNS-A15U Rice Cooker with Stainless Steel Inner Pot is one of the best rice cookers in its price range and comes with a great stainless steel inner pot. If you are just needing to change the pot in your existing cooker then I recommend the Double Insight 6 Quart Cooking pot which fits lots of the best cookers on the market today.
| Image | Title | Price | Prime | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Original 8Qt Power Cooker XL Replacement Inner Pot Stainless Steel Compatible with 8 Quart Power Pressure Cooker Model PPC772 (or #PPC772), PPC780 (or #PPC780), and WAL3 | PrimeEligible | Buy Now | |
 | "GJS Gourmet Stainless Steel Inner Pot Compatible with 4 Quart GOURMIA Electric Pressure Cooker Model GPC400 (Stainless Steel, 4 Quart)". This pot is not created or sold by Gourmia. | PrimeEligible | Buy Now | |
Top | Instant Pot IP-POT-SS304-60 Genuine Stainless Steel Inner Cooking Pot - 6 Quart | PrimeEligible | Buy Now |
Clay Inner Pot
A clay inner pot is one of the healthiest options that you can opt for because it’s an all-natural product – no coatings, no additives, and no potentially harmful chemicals. Just ancient materials that have been used for cooking since we all lived in huts.
Clay also has fantastic thermal properties meaning that it heats up quickly and retains heat far longer than other kinds of the inner pot. The only downside is, naturally, the price – they are a bit more expensive and don’t last quite as long. You need to take extra care handling them and if you drop one, then expect to be picking up shards of clay from your kitchen floor for some time!
However, if you are health conscious and like the sound of a clay inner pot then we recommend the High-Fired VitaClay VF7700-8 as it blends modern looks with traditional properties as it is made from unglazed and slightly porous clay to ensure that it will retain moisture and important nutrients.
Clay Inner Port Replacement
Non-Stick (Teflon) Inner Pot
Last but not least, you can replace your rice cooker’s inner pot with one that has a non-stick coating such as Teflon.
If you are worried about the safety of Teflon – don’t be. As far as non-stick coatings go, its a very safe and stable compound and has been used around the world on millions if not billions of pieces of cookware since it was first developed in 1938.
However, just to be on the safer side, it’s recommended that you never use the pot above 570°F or 300°C otherwise there is a danger that the coating will start to break down and release toxins. But, then again, most rice cookers never get anywhere near these kinds of temperatures so, for everyday use, you should be fine.
The main advantage of using an inner pot coated with Teflon is, of course, that its very easy to clean. But that doesn’t mean you dont need to take any precautions because the coating can be quite delicate so always use a non-abrasive sponge.
Summary
Your health should be the number consideration when choosing a rice cooker inner pot replacement. Yes, it may be good to try out new and modern kitchen appliances and accessories, however, always lean on the safe side.
I have listed the different types of inner pot replacements above along with the pros and cons of each kind. Hopefully, you can decide on what inner pot should you get.
Overall, there are many universal rice cooker inner pot replacements you can find. All you need to do is to note down the size of your cooker and search for the best replacement material.
Hopefully, you enjoyed this post and, if you would like to find out more great ways to use your rice cooker, I have posts covering how to cook pasta, fish, or even lentils. Who knew that a rice cooker could be so versatile ?!
