Commercial rice cookers are a great investment, especially when your Delaware restaurant relies on having an abundance of perfectly cooked rice all day, every day. Are you keeping up with your rice cooker cleaning? Although you might clean the interior pot regularly (at least, we hope you are), there’s more to cleaning your rice cooker than just the part where the rice sits. Generally, you should clean the entire machine regularly—not only does it help with sanitation, but it will also extend your rice cooker’s lifespan. Here are our best tips for cleaning a commercial rice cooker in Delaware.

Before you get started

Before you start cleaning, unplug the rice cooker and let it cool completely. Gather your dishwashing liquid, a soft scrubber (nylon is preferable) and several washcloths. Never use steel wool or abrasive cleaners on your rice cooker, as they may scratch or otherwise damage the interior.

Exterior body and inner pot

Your rice cooker should have a removable inner pot. When the rice cooker is fully cooled, take the interior pot out and hand-wash it in warm, soapy water. You will need to use your scrubber, especially if there are grains of rice stuck to the pot. Make sure to remove all food debris, and rinse your pot with clean water until all the soap residue is gone. Dry the inner pot thoroughly.

Please note that you should never replace the inner pot in the rice cooker until everything is completely dry.

Be sure to remove the condensation collector from the rice cooker and dump the water. Wipe the collector down. To clean the exterior, wipe it down with a damp cloth and soap, if needed. Dry completely.

Cleaning underneath the lid

Next, detach the inner lid from the outer lid and wash that with a damp cloth. Once it’s completely dry, you can replace it by installing the inner lid on the outer lid’s shaft. Make sure the lid is properly inserted (check the manufacturer’s instructions), or else the rice cooker will not close properly.

How to clean the hot plate

Finally, you’ll need to clean the hot plate. The plate may have some grains of rice stuck to it, which will need to be removed before you’re able to cook rice again. Food debris can prevent the pot from contacting the inner pot, which can cause your rice cooker to overheat or otherwise malfunction.

Wipe the hot plate down with a damp cloth. When it’s completely free of debris (this may take several sessions), dry it with a dry washcloth. Then you can replace the dry inner pot and lid. Your rice cooker is once again ready to use.

When you need help servicing or cleaning your commercial rice cooker or other kitchen equipment in Delaware, or if you need more commercial rice cooker tips, Commercial Equipment Service Inc. has you covered. Call us today to learn more about our sales, installation and service appointments. We’re sure to have everything you need to keep your kitchen up and running.