My rice isn't as good as I would like it to be

Before contacting us about a cooking issue, please take a look at our Tips and Troubleshooting page, where we cover many of the common questions and problems customers encounter.

It is very rare for a Yum Asia rice cooker to develop a genuine cooking fault. Our rice cookers undergo rigorous quality controls during manufacture, and our engineering and product teams have extensive experience in rice cooking and rice cooker technology.

If you are still experiencing a problem after working through the advice below, please contact us. We know our rice and our rice cookers, and we will be happy to help you troubleshoot the issue.

Tips for Cooking Perfect Rice

There are several things you can do to consistently achieve excellent results from your rice cooker.

• Choose good-quality rice. We recommend basmati or Thai jasmine rice for plain white rice, or short-grain rice for dishes that require a Japanese-style rice.

• Check the quality of the rice. When choosing a pack of rice, look for one with a low proportion of broken grains. Excessive broken grains can release more starch during cooking and may result in rice that is excessively sticky, stodgy or mushy.

• Check the packaging carefully. Make sure the rice is not described as quick-cook, easy-cook, pre-cooked, parboiled or partially cooked. These types of rice are not suitable for our fuzzy logic rice cookers, which are designed to cook raw, uncooked rice.

• Do not use easy-cook or quick-cook rice. This includes sella basmati rice. If the packaging does not clearly state that the rice is pre-processed, check the cooking instructions. If the rice is advertised as cooking in less than around 15 minutes, it is likely to be a pre-processed or quick-cooking variety and is not recommended for our rice cookers.

• Fill the supplied rice measuring cup correctly. Our rice measuring cups hold 180 ml when filled to the brim. If you are measuring a full cup, make sure it is filled completely to the top. Failing to use the correct amount of rice can lead to inconsistent results.

• Rinse the rice correctly. Before cooking, measure the rice into the supplied measuring cup and transfer it to a sieve. Rinse it under cold running water until the water runs reasonably clear. Excess surface starch can contribute to sticky or soggy rice. Alternatively, use a dedicated rice-washing bowl, swirling the rice in water and draining it repeatedly until the water becomes clear. Do not wash rice directly in the rice cooker inner bowl, as this can potentially damage the bowl's coating.

• Allow the rice to drain after washing. Leave the rice in the sieve for around 5 minutes after rinsing to allow excess water to drain away. Give the sieve a gentle shake or shuffle to ensure that excess water has been removed.

• Add fresh, cold water after rinsing. Place the drained rice into the inner bowl and then add fresh, cold water up to the appropriate water-level marking for the type and quantity of rice being cooked.

• Adjust the water level to your preferred texture. For firmer, less sticky rice, use the lower part of the indicated water level. For softer rice, fill closer to the top of the indicated line. Small adjustments can make a noticeable difference, so avoid making large changes to the water level.

• Stir the rice after cooking. Once the cooker switches to KEEP WARM, open the lid and gently stir the rice with the supplied spatula. This releases excess steam and moisture and helps separate any clumps that have formed. You can then leave the rice on KEEP WARM if required.

• Not all rice necessarily needs rinsing. The amount of surface starch varies depending on how the rice has been processed. If you are consistently finding that a particular rice remains too sticky even after rinsing, try cooking a small batch without rinsing it. If the result is better, you may have found a variety that does not require extensive rinsing.

Adjusting the water for a new type or batch of rice

The first time you cook a new variety or brand of rice can be a learning experience. Assess the texture after cooking and make small adjustments for the next batch.

If the rice is too soft, try using approximately 3–4 mm less water next time.

If the rice is too hard or dry, try using approximately 3–4 mm more water next time.

Small adjustments are usually all that is required to fine-tune the texture.

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Troubleshooting Guide

My cooked rice is too hard or too soft

• Make sure the rice cooker is positioned on a flat, stable surface.

• Remember that using the TIMER can result in softer rice because the rice is soaking in water before cooking begins.

• The QUICK COOK function can produce slightly firmer rice because it uses a shorter cooking process.

• If the rice is too hard, try adding a little more water next time.

• If the rice is too soft, try using slightly less water next time.

• Make small adjustments rather than significantly changing the water level.

There is a strange white film on the inner bowl after cooking

This is usually caused by starch from the rice.

Try rinsing the rice more thoroughly before cooking to remove excess surface starch. Some varieties naturally contain more starch than others, so you may find that a particular brand or type of rice requires more rinsing.

The rice is scorched or burnt

• Check that nothing is stuck to the underside of the inner bowl or the heating element.

• Make sure the rice has been rinsed properly, as excessive starch can contribute to sticking and scorching.

• Check that you are using enough water. Too little water can cause the rice to become excessively dry and scorch during cooking.

• Make sure you are using an appropriate type of uncooked rice and are not using easy-cook, parboiled or pre-cooked rice.

Why is the water boiling over during cooking?

• Check that the inner lid is attached correctly.

• Make sure the rice has been rinsed properly to remove excess surface starch.

• Check that you have not added too much water.

• Make sure you are not exceeding the rice cooker's maximum capacity.

• Remember that the maximum capacity can differ depending on the type of rice being cooked, particularly between white and brown rice.

• Check that the steam vent and condensation collector are clean and unobstructed.

The rice cooker does not cook

• First, check that the rice cooker is plugged in.

• Check that the power cord is pushed firmly into the rice cooker. Even a small amount of movement or an incompletely inserted connector can prevent the unit from operating correctly.

• Check whether KEEP WARM is already active. If it is, press CANCEL/RESET and then select the cooking function and press START/COOKING again.

Why is there a strange smell, or why is the rice yellow or too dry?

If you are experiencing an unusual smell, discolouration or excessive dryness, check the following:

• Make sure the inner bowl is thoroughly cleaned after cooking mixed rice or other dishes.

• Do not keep rice on KEEP WARM for longer than recommended. For Zojirushi, we recommend not keeping rice warm for more than 12 hours. For Yum Asia, rice can begin to deteriorate after approximately 15 hours on KEEP WARM.

• Avoid keeping very small quantities of rice on KEEP WARM for extended periods.

• Do not leave the rice spatula inside the inner bowl while KEEP WARM is operating.

• Loosen and thoroughly stir the rice after cooking to release excess steam and redistribute moisture.

• If using KEEP WARM on a Yum Asia rice cooker, rice can gradually become drier over time because moisture naturally evaporates while the rice is being kept at a safe serving temperature. If necessary, you can periodically add a small splash of water and mix it through the rice to help maintain moisture.

New-appliance smell

It is normal for a newly purchased rice cooker to have a slight new-appliance, plastic or manufacturing smell during the first few uses. This is common with new appliances and is not normally a cause for concern.

We recommend running a complete rice cooking cycle through the new cooker and discarding the rice from the first cycle. This helps remove any residual manufacturing aromas from the appliance.

The rice cooker started cooking immediately after I set the timer

• Check that the timer has been set correctly.

• If the timer is set for a time that is shorter than the normal cooking time for the selected programme, the rice cooker may begin cooking immediately rather than waiting.

The rice is not ready at the exact time I set on the timer

• Check that the timer has been set correctly.

• The timer should not be considered an exact start-time measurement.

Our fuzzy logic rice cookers need to assess what is inside the inner bowl — such as the type and volume of rice, oats and water — so they can calculate and manage the cooking process correctly.

For this reason, the cooker may start the cooking process slightly earlier than the programmed completion time. This allows the fuzzy logic system to assess the contents and determine the appropriate cooking cycle.

The actual cooking process is managed in the same way as when the timer is not being used. You may therefore notice that the displayed KEEP WARM time does not exactly match the time you expected. This is normal operation and does not indicate a fault.

The timer cannot be set

Remember that setting the timer does not complete the process by itself.

After selecting your required timer setting, you must press the START/COOKING button to confirm and activate the timer.

If you do not press START/COOKING, the timer setting will not be activated.

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