The rice cooker is one of the most reliable cooking appliances today. It has revolutionized rice cooking by making it easy and convenient. Unfortunately, just like any other electrical appliance, it’s susceptible to malfunctions. And, this could mess up your rice prepping significantly.
We’ll break down the wide range of rice cooker problems and solutions. Keep reading to learn how to troubleshoot your rice cooker.
Problem: The rice cooker light is not turning on
When the cooker light doesn’t turn on, you could be dealing with a couple of issues. First, the internal wiring and circuit connections could be loose. Secondly, a faulty power cord may prevent a proper connection and transfer of power to the rice cooker. Or, it’s the LED’s fault.
Solution:
- Open the rice cooker from the bottom using a screwdriver and inspect any broken connections or loose wiring. Get them fixed before closing the cooker and checking if the light will turn on. If the wiring and connections are too complex, you should leave the fixing to a qualified technician.
- Does the power cord heat up when connected to a power source, but you don’t see the rice cooker light turning on? Then, it’s possible the cord is damaged. Replace it with another premium cord just to be sure. When inspecting the cord, turn the main power switch off.
- You will know the LED is the problem if the rice cooker prepares your rice perfectly but the light doesn’t turn on. In this case, you replace the LED. It’s simple and you can do it on your own.
Read Also: List of the best Japanese rice cookers
Problem: The rice cooker is not switching to warm
Once all the water has evaporated, your rice cooker should switch to warm mode automatically. When that doesn’t happen, it’s because the amount of rice cooked is smaller than the minimum amount. The temperature will lower and if it goes below 140 degrees Fahrenheit, there’s a risk of the rice spoiling.
The other possible cause for your rice cooker not switching to warm is that the cooker relay isn’t sensitive anymore. This is mainly due to many years of use.
Also, the bottom of the pot might be bent, causing a wider distance between the bottom of the pot and the springs of the heat tray. As a result, the comprehensive force and thermal sensitivity weaken.
Lastly, pressing the cook button too many times affects its sensitivity.
Solution:
- Make sure the amount of rice cooked is more than the minimum for the rice cooker. In this case, you should take your time to read the user manual carefully. Different rice cooker models work differently. So, if you don’t read the operation instructions, you’ll not know the minimum amount of rice to prepare with the cooker, thus resulting in the rice cooker not switching to warm.
- You should avoid pressing the cook button several times.
- The relays that are no longer sensitive should be replaced immediately. Try and keep food droppings from the heat springs to boost their effectiveness and longevity.
- Replace the bent pot with a new one.
READ: Ninja Foodi troubleshooting guide
Problem: The rice cooker is not going to cook mode
There are situations where the rice cooker is not going to cook mode. You will notice the cook button won’t stay down or it comes up after a few minutes of cooking. Now, most rice cookers are controlled by either weight or temperature. If it’s controlled by temperature, it’ll likely not go to cook mode if you already have the rice in hot water.
On the other hand, if it’s controlled by weight, your cooker will stay in cook mode until the rice loses enough weight, through the cooking for it to move to warm mode. So, if it’s not going to cook mode, the rice cooker doesn’t have the required weight.
Solution:
- For a rice cooker that works by sensing temperature, you may have to open it up and replace the temperature sensor.
- In the case where the cooker is controlled by weight, you can trick it by adding weight to the pot. This will make the switch move down to cook mode.
Problem: The rice cooker is not heating up
If you have a heating problem with your rice cooker, chances are that the thermal fuse or the heating coil is faulty. The thermal fuse works just like the electrical fuse. Only that it breaks off when it senses the temperature going beyond the rice cooker’s thermal rating. It breaks off to prevent the rice cooker from causing a fire.
On the other hand, the heating coil could stop working because the thermal fuse breaks off, or a faulty thermostat shorts the heating element.
Solution:
- First, you need to check the thermal fuse of your rice cooker. For this, you must have the right tools like a screwdriver (opening the cooker), needle nose plier (pry the fuse off the wire), and a digital multimeter (confirm if the fuse is functioning). If it’s faulty then you should replace it with a new, but similar thermal fuse.
- Once you’re certain the thermal fuse is okay, but the rice cooker is still not heating up, then the heating coil is the problem. You should replace it immediately. In this case, you must seek professional help because it’s more complex.
Problem: The rice cooker is not cooking rice properly
In cases where the rice doesn’t cook properly, you need to look for dents and other deformities on the pot. These cause the pot to sit unevenly on the heater plate, resulting in bad cooking. Also, rice grains and other debris on the heating coil might cause this problem.
The other cause for this problem could be that you’re not adding the right amount of water to your rice.
Solution:
You can troubleshoot the rice cooker through these steps:
- Fix or replace the pot if it’s damaged. It should sit on the heating coil properly for the rice to cook well.
- Make sure you clean the pot often to remove any rice grains and debris that might have accumulated on the plate.
- To get the right ratio of water to rice for your rice cooker, consult your manual since different rice cookers recommend varying amounts.
Problem: The rice cooker only warms
When dealing with a rice cooker that only warms the rice, it could be because the pressure switch isn’t working properly, the heating element is damaged making its contact to the pot incomplete, or, in some cases, if you plug in the cooker before placing the rice and water in the pot.
Solution:
To troubleshoot the rice cooker:
- Get a technician to inspect your pressure switch for any issues and fix them or replace the switch entirely.
- Look for a quality heating element and replace the one that’s damaged.
- Lastly, try and put the rice and water in the pot then place the pot in the rice cooker before plugging it into a power source and see if it helps.
Problem: The rice cooker is an older or cheaper model
There are instances when the issues with your rice cooker are because of old age or it being a knock-off product. Therefore, at one given point you’re dealing with more than one issue. For example, an older model that has surpassed its lifespan and usage will have different parts failing consistently because they’re not as effective.
Cheaper models on the other hand have low-quality parts that are susceptible to occasional breakdown. If it’s not the rice cooker thermostat at one point, it’s the heating coil. The rice cooker is never at 100%.
Solution:
In this case, you should either buy a brand new, high-quality rice cooker or replace the parts that malfunction with good ones.
For the latter, you’ll be repairing different issues constantly, and you never know when something will fail. Getting a new rice cooker can be costly at the moment, but cost-effective, and stress-free in the long run.
Problem: Rice cooker takes longer to cook
When your rice takes a long time to cook in the rice cooker, it’s because:
- There’s a lot of rice or food and water in the rice cooker.
- The food or rice that’s in the rice cooker is frozen.
- The lid of the pressure cooker is loose, so the required pressure is not being created.
- You could have poured a thick liquid into the rice cooker.
Note: Not all foods are fit for cooking in the rice cooker.
Solution:
To troubleshoot the rice cooker, you should ensure:
- You put only the specified amount of rice or food in the rice cooker.
- Avoid cooking frozen food.
- You keep the lid of the pressure cooker tight.
- You don’t pour thick liquids into the rice cooker.
How to repair a rice cooker thermostat
The thermostat plays a very key role in the functioning of a rice cooker. Its malfunction could render the entire rice cooker unusable. It senses when the rice has cooked and immediately causes the system to switch to warm mode.
To troubleshoot your rice cooker in order to fix thermostat issues, you must open the cooker and inspect its condition and placement. In some cases, it probably needs to be aligned properly. For one, it should contact the cooking pot properly to be effective in sensing temperature changes.
One of the simplest ways to test if the thermostat is still usable is with hot boiling water. When it retracts then you can still use it but if it doesn’t you need to shop for a new one. You should never compromise on the quality of your rice cooker’s thermostat.
Conclusion
With that, you can now troubleshoot your rice cooker and know exactly what the problem is. Thereby fixing the issues before they escalate and damage the rice cooker completely. Be sure to use your warranty if it covers the issues you’re dealing with. It’ll save you a lot of time, money, and unnecessary hassle.
For simple malfunctions that don’t need much expertise, you can work on them immediately. However, if you’re uncertain, it’s better to seek the service of a certified technician. To keep the rice cooker in top shape, you must maintain it properly by cleaning and inspecting it regularly. This will help to boost its lifespan.