How Long do Rice Cookers Last? | Up to 10 Years

Moderate quality rice cookers can last up to 10 years as they have minimal mechanical parts, limited electronics and few things can go wrong with them. High quality rice cookers can last 12 years or more with some brands still in top condition after 18 years of use.

Rice cookers will last longer when cleaned with a soft sponge, are moved carefully and regularly maintained.

Rice cookers can last for 10 years or more

I have been using my Breville rice cooker for over 10 years. It really needs a new pan but the mechanics are still working well. It only cost me around $40 when I bought it. It has a manual button and just a light to indicate that it is cooked.

This moderately ranged rice cooker is a good choice for home use but it only does one thing, cook rice. New developments in cooking technology including one-pot cookers offer the ability to cook rice but also a range of other foods and meals including slow cooking.

Reasons why rice cookers do not last longer

Here are the main reasons why rice cookers will not last forever. If your rice cooker has any of these problems it might be time to trade up and buy a new one.

Dirt and food between the plate and the dish

Rice cookers come with a removable rice pan which can be non-stick and washed separately from the main cooker itself. Because the dish can be removed there is the chance that food can fall between the dish and the bottom plate.

Any food that gets between the plate and the dish can burn and cause a problem damaging the bottom of the heating pad. Making sure the bottom of the dish itself is cleaned thoroughly will help to prevent this problem and checking the heating base before replacing the dish is very important.

Washing the pan thoroughly is an important step each time the rice cooker is used.

Do not wash the hot plate or base of the rice cooker but check for food that may have dropped in.

Dents in the pan

Another problem that can shorten the life of your rice cooker is a dented rice pan. Dropping or banging the pan around when washing can cause small dents in the base.

Dents can cause the pan not to sit flat on the base of the rice cooker and it may not heat up evenly. There is also the chance that the mechanism will not turn off automatically which can overcook the rice.

A dented pan will need to be replaced or a new rice cooker might be the only option if there is no replacement available.

It may not sit on the heating plate will and therefore will not heat up

Scratches on the non-stick coating

Scratches on the non-stick coating of a rice cooker is another reason why your cooker may have reached the end of its life. When the non-stick coating has been damaged it is time to replace the pan as the damage can cause rice to stick or the coating can come off into your food.

Damage to the power cord

The power cord is one of the important pieces of a rice cooker which needs to be checked and always in good working condition. Any frays or damage to the cord means that the rice cooker should not be used.

Replacing the rice cooker straight away if there is any cord damage is the safest option.

To work out how much energy your rice cooker uses at home or to compare brands, check out my calculator below.

This calculator will show you an estimate of how much energy your slow cooker will use and how much it costs to run. This calculation is based on the average cost of energy in the USA.

Check out this quick video on how to cook rice in a rice cooker.

Thermal fuse problems

Rice cookers are inbuilt with a thermal fuse which will turn off the cooker when the temperature gets too high. This is a safety feature and an important working aspect of a good rice cooker.

If there has been damage to the thermal fuse, the rice cooker can overheat, overcooking the rice and causing damage to the cooker itself.

If the rice cooker overheats, burning the rice or drying it out too much, the thermal fuse may be damaged and the rice cooker should be replaced.

Replace the battery for LED displays

Rice cookers with a LED display will usually need small batteries to run the display lights. Sometimes a simple problem can occur where the battery runs out of charge.

To fix this problem and extend the life of your rice cooker, these small batteries will need to be replaced to re-activate and re-set the display.

For simpler rice cookers like mine, there is no independent battery that runs the light as this will be run by the electricity that heats the cooker. Simpler rice cookers wont’ have the battery problem but are limited in their functions unlike more expensive models.

Upgrading to an Instapot to cook rice + more

When you are ready to replace your rice cooker a good quality replacement can be a great idea. A new rice cooker to replace the old is an easy option and good choice can last for 10 years or more.

For a mid range rice cooker, check out this one on Amazon.

For the top of the range rice cooker, check out the Zojirushi on Amazon.

Since I have bought my rice cooker 10 years ago, the creation of the Instapot has been a new phenomenon.  When I upgrade, I might look at whether the added functions of these pots are worth it as I can cook rice, slow cook and make soups.

Check out Instapots from Amazon below.

How long do rice cookers last? | Summary

A good quality rice cooker can have a lifespan of 18 years plus. A good quality, Japanese brand like a Zojirushi can be a great wedding present (or birthday) request and can last until your 20^th anniversary.

Moderately priced rice cookers like mine have happily lasted 10 years but is now ready to be replaced. The balance between budget and lifespan is an individual choice. If you are ready to level up, a multifunction Instapot or equivalent is worth considering especially if you don’t own a slow cooker.

Happy cooking.