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Rice cookers are handy but become dirty and lose their oomph over time.

If your rice cooker isn’t looking its best, it’s probably time for a deep clean.

Fortunately, learning how to clean a rice cooker is easier than you might think.

Recently used rice cooker on a kitchen countertop

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Take the appliance apart and wash each piece individually.

Adjust the soak time depending on how much rice is stuck in the pot.

Use the same sponge and soapy water to clean the rice paddle and steam basket.

Materials needed to clean a rice cooker

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Pry off crusty or stubborn pieces of food with a plastic or rubber spatula.

Avoid metal utensils when scraping stuck-on ricethe metal can damage the appliance.

Once you’re done washing, rinse and wipe down with a dry towel.

Taking apart the rice cooker before cleaning

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Wipe off any gunk on the heating element with a barely damp cloth.

Though this rarely happens, burnt-on residue may need to be gently loosened with a barely dampened abrasive sponge.

Gently clean it with a sponge and soapy water.

Add soap and warm water to the pot

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Wipe it with a wet microfiber cloth to remove suds.

Replace the lid and the internal pieces.

Clean the Exterior

Spray the outside of the rice cooker thoroughly with an all-purpose cleaner.

Scrubbing the pot with a non-abrasive sponge

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Wipe it down with a microfiber cloth.

Be mindful of keeping electrical parts (plugs and switches) dry.

Additional Tips for Keeping Your Rice Cooker Clean

Detaching the rice cooker lid to clean it

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Cleaning the exterior of a rice cooker

The Spruce / Ana Cadena