Will scratching the inner pot of a rice cooker be harmful to human health?

I wonder if you have ever paid attention to the rice cooker at home, especially the inner pot, to see if there are scratches or sticking after being used for a long time?

As expected, many people’s rice cookers will inevitably end up in the dismal state shown in the picture above after long-term use. Although they have thought about replacing their old rice cookers, they have been reluctant to do so for the sake of their parents’ reputation. So the question is, will scratches on the inner pot affect our dietary health?

Is the peeling of the inner liner coating harmful to the human body?

Like ordinary non-stick pans, the inner pot of the rice cooker at home also has a non-stick coating, which is usually made of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), commonly known as Teflon.

Generally speaking, the coating will produce debris after being scratched, which may be inadvertently eaten with rice. However, regular Teflon is now non-toxic and harmless, and is not toxic when eaten with food, so there is no need to panic.

Therefore, if the coating is scratched, it will actually cause the damaged area of ​​the rice cooker pot to gradually expand, making it easier for the pot to stick and more difficult to clean. And if the cleaning is not thorough, there will be some invisible food residues hidden in the pot, which will breed bacteria.

In this case, we will see that the inner pot covered with rice grains is scrubbed vigorously by parents with steel wool. The harder the parents scrub, the faster the coating falls off and the more it sticks to the pot, thus falling into a vicious circle.

At the same time, there is also a health problem that will follow, because the damage to the liner coating will cause the food to burn more easily and produce substances such as acrylamide that may be carcinogenic to humans.

In addition to ensuring that rice does not stick to the pan, the coating also protects the metal substrate underneath. Currently, the base material of the inner pot of the mainstream rice cooker is mostly aluminum alloy. If it continues to be used after the coating falls off, the aluminum element may be dissolved.

Is price the key to determining the material of the liner?

After reading this, you may have questions: Will the coating of more expensive rice cookers be more wear-resistant?

The inner layer of the rice cooker currently sold on the market is generally sprayed with two layers, one is a wear-resistant layer, and the other is a PTFE non-stick layer. Some high-end products use three to four layers to make the coating stronger, and naturally the price will be more expensive.

For example, some high-end rice cookers will add a PFA powder coating. Although it is essentially an organic fluorine coating like Teflon, it has fewer pores, is more resistant to salt water corrosion than Teflon, and has a longer service life.

In addition, some of the current high-end rice cookers use a more wear-resistant and high-temperature resistant ceramic coating. The non-stick properties of ceramics are scratch-resistant and wear-resistant, and the far-infrared heating performance of the rice cooker is increased, making cooking faster. The hardness of the inner pot is 3 to 4 times that of ordinary inner pots. However, the disadvantage is obvious. The non-stick performance will decay rapidly with the number of times the rice is cooked.

Generally speaking, rice cookers produced by regular factories have all undergone rigorous testing, but the more expensive the product, the higher the requirements. Therefore, high-end inner pots have a longer service life. However, as long as it is purchased through regular channels, the quality will be guaranteed.

If the coating of the inner liner is damaged, can it still be used?

As mentioned earlier, the coating plays a protective role. However, as a household appliance that is frequently used in daily life, it is inevitable that the coating on the inner tank will be damaged after long-term use. Can it still be used?

If the coating peels off severely, as shown in the picture, it is recommended to replace it! Although the precipitation of heavy metals is a long process, it is not worth taking the risk. More importantly, the coating damage will also affect the heat conduction of the inner pot, resulting in sticking or uneven heating.

But if you are not considering replacing the rice cooker for the time being, you might as well try the following methods to extend the service life of the rice cooker at home as much as possible.

First of all, in normal use, try to avoid using metal shovels, and try to use matching heat-resistant silicone shovels or wooden shovels. When rinsing, do not directly rinse the hot pot with cold water, because hot and cold transactions may also cause the coating to fall off faster.

If the coating has been scratched or damaged, do not cook foods containing more acid for a long time or frequently to avoid chemical reactions with the aluminum alloy of the inner pot.

Finally, try to avoid using sharp cleaning items such as steel wool when cleaning. Generally speaking, a sponge or soft cloth plus detergent is enough.

In summary, if you continue to cook rice with an old rice cooker that has been scratched, it will not affect your health in the short term, but it is recommended that you buy a new one. When choosing a rice cooker, you can choose one that is slightly more expensive within your budget. Of course, no matter how expensive the rice cooker is, it actually has a service life. If you want to extend it, it is more important to use and clean it correctly.