Should I unplug the rice cooker after the rice is cooked?
Electric rice cookers often switch to automatic keep-warm mode after the rice is cooked, maintaining a temperature of 60–70 degrees Celsius to keep the rice hot. However, although this function is very convenient, it consumes a small amount of electricity. According to experts, if the rice cooker is left to keep warm for a long time, it can consume 20–30% more electricity than just cooking rice.
Electric rice cookers usually switch to automatic keep-warm mode after the rice is cooked, maintaining a temperature of 60–70 degrees Celsius to keep the rice hot.
Electric rice cookers usually switch to automatic keep-warm mode after the rice is cooked, maintaining a temperature of 60–70 degrees Celsius to keep the rice hot.
Specifically, the electric rice cooker uses about 600 – 1500W of electricity when cooking and about 40 – 140W when in keep-warm mode. If you leave the cooker running at this mode for 10 hours, you can save from 0.4 – 1.4 Wh of electricity. In particular, for families who cook rice in the morning and keep it warm for lunch or dinner, the amount of electricity consumed will increase even more. To save electricity, you should unplug the rice cooker immediately after the rice is cooked and only turn on the keep warm function when really necessary. This not only helps reduce electricity costs but also helps the rice to stay warm, avoiding damage due to prolonged overheating.
Benefits of unplugging the rice cooker after the rice is cooked
Save electricity: Statistics show that each hour of keeping the rice cooker warm can consume 4-6% of the power capacity of the cooker. If you unplug the rice cooker after the rice is cooked, your family can save a significant amount of electricity costs, especially when used daily.
Extend the life of the rice cooker: Leaving the rice cooker warm continuously can cause damage due to overheating, reducing the life of the device. Unplugging the rice cooker after the rice is cooked will protect the internal components, helping the cooker operate more durably and last longer.
Leaving the rice cooker on continuously can cause damage due to overheating, reducing the life of the device.
Leaving the rice cooker on continuously can cause damage due to overheating, reducing the life of the device.
Reducing the risk of fire and explosion and ensuring safety: Some old or poor quality rice cookers can experience electrical short circuits and fires when left in the keep-warm mode. Unplugging is a simple and effective way to reduce this risk, ensuring safety for the family.
Important note:
Do not plug the power cord of the rice cooker into the same power outlet as other high-power appliances. The power plug must be compatible with the power source to avoid short circuits and explosions. This may cause voltage fluctuations, which will quickly damage the appliance and cause danger. Avoid pressing the cooking button repeatedly, as this may damage the internal relay.
The relay regulates the temperature and cooking time. If it is over-activated, it will cause the rice cooker to operate unstablely, affecting the quality of the rice and possibly damaging the appliance. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for use to ensure the longevity and performance of the rice cooker.
Household appliances should be unplugged when not in use
Phone charging: Even when the device is charging, the charger still consumes a small amount of electricity. Unplugging the charger from the outlet helps save electricity and prolongs the life of the device.
Electric kettle: After boiling, unplug it immediately to avoid wasting electricity and ensure safety for the family.
Microwave oven: Microwave ovens still consume electricity even when in standby mode. Unplugging after use will help stop consuming unnecessary electricity.
TVs and entertainment devices: Devices such as TVs, DVD players, and stereos consume electricity even when not in use. Remember to unplug them to reduce power consumption.
Computers and laptops: These devices also consume electricity in standby mode. Turn them off completely and unplug them when not in use for long periods of time.
Unplugging the rice cooker after the rice is cooked not only saves electricity but also protects the appliance and ensures family safety. Instead of relying on the keep-warm function, you can use an insulated lunch box to keep rice warm for several hours. At the same time, remember to unplug other electrical appliances when not in use to save energy and reduce monthly electricity bills.
