The smell of stale rice sticking to the rice cooker? Check out the easy way to get rid of it in 15 minutes

illustration photo: Gemini AI

Brilio.net – Cleaning the rice cooker from the smell of stale rice is not enough just to wash the pan. Often times, the pungent odor is also absorbed into the steam system and the inner lid of the rice cooker. If left untreated, freshly cooked rice will quickly go stale and smell bad.

It turns out, there is an effective way to sterilize this tool without having to disassemble it or wash it repeatedly with soap. Just use the ingredients you have in the kitchen, the unpleasant aroma can disappear instantly.

The Secret of Hot Steam and Natural Ingredients

Many people don’t realize that hot water steam mixed with odor neutralizing agents is the most effective solution. A YouTube user with the account @BalayVlogs shared a clever trick using a combination of salt, baking soda and lime to solve this problem.

Logically, the steam produced from boiling these ingredients will reach the crevices of the rice cooker which are difficult to clean by hand.

Steps to Eliminate Odors in Rice Cookers

Follow this practical guide to restore the freshness of your beloved rice cooker:

1. Prepare a mixture of ingredients

photo: YouTube/@BalayVlogs

Pour enough hot water into the rice cooker pan. Add 1 tablespoon salt, baking soda as needed, and the juice of two limes. Don’t throw away the peel, also add the lime peel to the water to strengthen the fresh citrus aroma.

2. Evaporation Process (Cook Mode)

photo: YouTube/@BalayVlogs

Close the rice cooker tightly. Press the ‘cook’ button as if you were cooking rice. Let the water boil and release steam for approximately 15 minutes. The aroma of this mixture of ingredients will work to neutralize the remaining stale odor hiding in the lid and rubber of the rice cooker.

photo: YouTube/@BalayVlogs

3. Final Stage and Drying

After 15 minutes, switch the switch to ‘warm’ mode. Discard the boiled water, then wash the rice cooker pan as usual with dish soap. Make sure you dry all parts before using them again to cook new rice.

FAQ Removing the Smell of Stale Rice in the Rice Cooker Pan

1. Why does the smell of stale rice remain even though the pan is clean?

This smell is usually trapped in the steam vent and rubber cover of the rice cooker which is often exposed to steam when stale rice is left out for too long.

2. Is baking soda safe for the nonstick coating of pans?

Baking soda is safe as long as it is used in a water solution and is not rubbed roughly in dry conditions onto the lining of the pan, because of its gentle nature in neutralizing odor-causing acids.

3. Can you replace lime with white vinegar?

Can. White vinegar has strong acidic properties to kill bacteria and odors. However, the lime aroma is preferred because it provides a natural fresh effect after the cleaning process.

4. How long does it take to sterilize the rice cooker this way?

This method is highly recommended immediately after you accidentally let the rice sit until it goes stale. For routine maintenance, you can do it once a month to keep the rice cooker free of bacteria.

5. Will the non-removable part of the rice cooker lid be clean?

Yes, this is precisely the advantage of steam engineering. The hot steam produced will enter between the cover and air holes, so that parts that cannot be reached by hands can remain sterile.

(brl/tin)