There are marks on the heating element of my rice cooker, is this normal?

f you notice marks, discolouration or residue on the heating element of your Yum Asia rice cooker, this is usually caused by the outside of the inner bowl being wet or having food debris on it when cooking begins.

This is generally normal and does not necessarily indicate a fault with the rice cooker.

Why Does This Happen?

Before placing the inner bowl into the rice cooker, it is important to make sure that the outside and especially the bottom of the bowl are completely clean and dry.

If there is water, rice, food residue or other debris on the bottom of the bowl, applying heat can cause it to dry out and effectively burn or bake onto the heating element. This can leave behind marks or discolouration and may sometimes produce a temporary burning or unusual smell.

The process is similar to placing a wet or dirty pan onto a hot stovetop: moisture evaporates and food residue can become baked onto the hot surface.

How to Prevent Marks

Before every use:

1. Remove the inner bowl from the rice cooker.

2. Check the bottom and outside of the bowl for water, rice or food debris.

3. Wipe the bowl thoroughly with a clean, dry cloth.

4. Make sure the heating element itself is clean and free from debris.

5. Carefully place the bowl back into the rice cooker.

Never place the inner bowl into the rice cooker while the outside or bottom is wet or dirty.

This simple step will help prevent residue from burning onto the heating element.

How to Clean the Heating Element

If marks or residue have already appeared on the heating element, they can generally be removed by gently rubbing the affected area with very fine/light sandpaper, then wiping the area clean and completely dry.

Take care not to apply excessive pressure or aggressively abrade the surface. The aim is simply to remove the residue rather than damage the heating element.

Always ensure the rice cooker is switched off, unplugged and completely cool before cleaning the heating element.

Do not pour or spray water directly into the rice cooker or onto the heating element. Instead, use a suitable dry or lightly damp cleaning cloth as appropriate and ensure the area is completely dry before using the appliance again.

What Can the Marks Look Like?

The marks may appear as brown, black, grey or discoloured patches or spots on the heating element, depending on what has been transferred from the bottom of the inner bowl.

These marks are usually the result of residue being heated onto the element and, by themselves, do not necessarily mean that the heating element has failed.

Always check the bottom of the inner bowl before cooking and remove any moisture or food debris before placing it into the rice cooker.