Rice cookers are used to cook rice to make it more practical. The rice produced by a rice cooker is also classified as soft and perfectly cooked. However, to ensure that the rice cooker functions optimally and is durable, there are several important things to consider when using it. Understanding how to use a rice cooker properly will not only extend the life of the kitchen appliance but also ensure that the rice is perfectly soft .
One common mistake that is often made is washing rice directly in the rice cooker pan. Although it looks practical, this action has quite a big risk, you know. A YouTube account owner Flife Indonesia once explained it further. Through one of the uploaded YouTube Short videos, he appealed to stop washing rice in the rice cooker pan.
As reported by BrilioFood from YouTube Flife Indonesia on Tuesday (8/10), the main risk that can be seen is a change in the condition of the rice cooker pan or inner pot. Washing rice directly can damage the non-stick coating on the pan. In fact, this layer is very important to prevent rice from sticking and ensure that the rice is cooked evenly.
"If the rice cooker pan has peeled off and mixed with the rice during the cooking process, it is very dangerous for the body. Especially if we consume the rice," he explained.
YouTube/Flife Indonesia
Consuming rice from a rice cooker whose non-stick coating has begun to peel off can have a number of adverse health effects. Rice cooker pots are generally coated with a non-stick material such as Teflon (polytetrafluoroethylene/PTFE) or similar material designed to prevent food from sticking and make cleaning easier. However, when this coating begins to peel off, small particles of the coating can mix into the food consumed, including rice.
YouTube/Flife Indonesia
According to epa.gov, although PTFE is generally considered safe to consume in small amounts, ingested particles can cause irritation to the digestive system. In addition, when heated, PTFE can release toxic gases known as polymer fumes, which can cause symptoms such as fever, chills, and difficulty breathing at high levels of exposure.
YouTube/Flife Indonesia
In addition to PTFE, some non-stick pans may also contain heavy metals such as aluminum or lead in their coating. Reported from who.int, consuming these metal particles can cause heavy metal accumulation in the body, which can cause organ damage and nervous system disorders. In addition to health problems, sticky rice in the pan can also reduce the quality of the rice produced. The rice becomes easily stale and yellow. Even if stored in a rice cooker, this rice is still not suitable for consumption, you know.
YouTube/Flife Indonesia
Therefore, so that the cooked rice does not lose its nutritional value, does not stick, and remains safe to consume, make sure to wash the rice in a separate container. Then transfer the washed rice to the rice cooker pan to cook as usual.