Why is the water boiling over during cooking?
If water, starch or foam is bubbling up through the steam vent during cooking, this is usually caused by the rice, water, cooking quantity or setup rather than a fault with the rice cooker.
Please check the following:
Check that the inner lid is attached correctly. Make sure it is securely fitted and sitting in the correct position before starting the cooking cycle.
Make sure the rice has been rinsed properly. Rice that has not been rinsed sufficiently can have a high level of surface starch. This excess starch can create more foam during cooking and cause the contents to bubble up through the steam vent.
Check that you have not added too much water. Using more water than recommended can increase the amount of bubbling and may cause water or foam to escape through the steam vent.
Check that you are not exceeding the maximum capacity of the rice cooker. The maximum capacity is not necessarily the same for all types of rice. In particular, the maximum cooking capacity for brown rice is lower than for white rice on many models. Always follow the capacity markings and instructions for your specific rice cooker.
Check the steam vent and condensation collector. Make sure the steam vent, steam cap and condensation collector are clean and completely free from rice, starch, residue or any other obstruction. These components need to be able to release and collect steam and condensation correctly.
Soft or filtered water
If you live in a soft water area or have a water filter fitted in your home, this can sometimes contribute to bubbling or foaming in a sealed-unit rice cooker.
Soft or filtered water can behave differently during the cooking process and, in some circumstances, can cause bubbling through the steam cap. If you experience this, try adding 1/8 of a teaspoon of cooking oil to the rice and water before starting the cooking cycle.
This small amount of oil should not noticeably affect the taste or texture of the rice, but can help reduce foaming and prevent the contents from bubbling up through the steam vent.
The same advice can also be applied when cooking porridge oats, which can naturally produce a significant amount of foam during cooking.
If you have checked all of the above and are still experiencing bubbling or overflow, please contact us so we can help you troubleshoot the issue further. Please provide details of the rice or food being cooked, the quantity, the amount of water used and the cooking function selected, as this will help us identify the likely cause.