A rice cooker can stop working for various reasons. In most cases, you should be able to rectify the problem and make it work again.
Here are some of the problems that affect rice cookers and how to fix them.
1. Rice Cooker Is Not Turning On
One of the most common problems is the rice cooker not turning on. It could happen due to any of the following reasons.
Cord Not Plugged In
The rice cooker cord should be properly plugged in for it to operate. The outlet should deliver power for the rice cooker to work without issues.
Check whether the power outlet is functioning properly to confirm whether the problem is with the rice cooker.
You can try plugging the rice cooker into another outlet to make sure. If it still doesn’t turn on, the power cord or the heating element may be faulty.
Solution: Test both the power outlet and the rice cooker to determine where the problem lies.
Damaged Power Cord
The rice cooker will not work properly if the power cord is faulty. In most cases, the damage to a power cord will be visible.
If it’s frayed, twisted, or broken in places, it may cause the rice cooker to not work.
To confirm if a damaged cord is the cause of the problem, you can use a multimeter.
If the multimeter doesn’t register any current flow, the power cord is faulty.
But not all of us have a multimeter at home. So another option is to use a spare cord to check if it works normally.
Solution: Spare cords are easily available at very affordable prices in the market. Replace the existing cord with a spare cord to fix the problem.
Faulty Thermostat or Heating Element
The thermostat is an important part of the rice cooker. It accurately sets the cooking time and temperature.
It also prevents overheating and protects the appliance from damage.
The thermostat controls the operation of the heating element that is responsible for warming the cooking pot.
If either of these components is faulty, your rice cooker will not work properly.
A faulty thermostat can send an inaccurate signal that slows down the rice cooker’s operation.
So the rice cooker may take much too long or not cook the rice at all.
To check if either the thermostat or heating element is faulty, unplug the appliance and let it cool.
Remove the outer covering, locate the thermostat, and check for current conductivity. If there is no conductivity, you will have to replace it.
The heating element is at the base of the rice cooker. If it doesn’t heat up, it may be damaged.
Solution: Replace the faulty thermostat or heating element to rectify the problem.
Blown Thermal Fuse
The fuse is a protective device that ensures user and appliance safety. It protects the device from sudden power surges.
When there is a power surge, the fuse melts and interrupts the flow of power to the appliance.
Thus, it prevents the high current spike from frying the circuit.
Thermal fuses are located inside the rice cooker’s casing. To find this component, you must remove the casing and expose the internal circuit.
You can easily identify a blown fuse by the broken filament and black color. Replacing it will restore your rice cooker to working condition.
Solution: Replace the blown fuse with a new fuse to make the rice cooker work again.
Circuit Board Is Damaged
The internal electric circuitry of a rice cooker contains many tiny parts. Advanced models will have several tiny processors and chips.
These circuit boards are designed to withstand power surges and stress.
All the individual components are also selected after checking the maximum and minimum operating conditions.
Nonetheless, some of these components can get damaged due to excessive power surges or physical stress, like when you accidentally drop the appliance.
When this happens, some components need to be replaced.
Solution: Replace the damaged parts with the help of an authorized technician. If the appliance is too old or most of the circuit is damaged, it may be better to replace the rice cooker.
2. Rice Cooker Is Overcooking the Rice
A faulty sensor or thermostat is usually responsible for rice being overcooked. In this case, try cleaning the heating element.
If it doesn’t fix the problem, get the thermostat checked by a professional. Fixing it will usually rectify this problem.
3. Rice Is Too Dry or Too Wet
This problem is mostly caused by a slip-up in measurements. Check the manufacturer’s instructions for the correct rice-to-water ratio.
There may be differences according to the variety of rice. So, consider this factor also.
If changing the rice-to-water ratio doesn’t help, the issue may be with the sensor or thermostat.
You may have to repair or replace it if this is the case.
4. Rice Cooker Doesn’t Turn Off
Rice cookers are automatic appliances. They either turn off or switch to keep warm mode after cooking.
However, this may not happen in certain circumstances.
If the rice cooker doesn’t turn off after the rice is cooked, the problem must be with the sensor or the timer.
To rectify the problem, you must check if the sensor is operating. Try cleaning the sensors. If it doesn’t correct the issue, get it checked by a professional.
A faulty timer can also create problems and make the cooker stay on for longer than required.
In this case, you will have to get it professionally checked and replaced as necessary.
5. Rice Is Undercooked
The operation of the timer and sensor decides the cooking duration. If either of them is faulty, you can end up with half-cooked or uncooked rice.
Get the sensor and timer checked to determine what is causing the problem.
If the sensor cuts off prematurely, you will have to adjust the thermostat. This must be done by a professional service agent.
For a complex rice cooker, changing the circuit can reset all the settings. So you may have to program the device once again to make it function as before.
Further Reading: 18 Simple Rice Cooker Dishes
6. Leaking
Rice cookers use large amounts of water for cooking. Though rare, water leakage can happen at times.
It can lead to shocks and accidents. It can also short the internal circuitry and fry the board.
Water leakage occurs even if there is only a small fracture or crack in the pot.
This happens if you accidentally drop the pot or put it to rough use which results in a dent or hole.
To prevent leaks, be careful while handling and washing the rice cooker.
If there is a crack or hole, replace the internal cooking pot or fix the crack with a metal sealant.
