Cooked rice was left out for a week. Cleaning the rice cooker...

Drez · October 2019

So someone in my household idiotically left cooked white rice in a rice cooker for about 7-10 days. I’m not going to name any names *cough* Drez *cough* but he somehow completely forgot about cleaning it out.

Anyway, I opened the lid and the odor was foul. I know even day old cooked rice can be dangerous, and this was left out for far longer.

I did not see any mold, but the remnants of said rice were a liquidy mash.

My question is: Is it safe to re-use the rice cooker if I’ve given it a good and thorough scrub with hot water and dishwashing liquid? The lid too, of course. Do I need something stronger, like bleach or whatever?

Orca · October 2019

I've done similar--except it was leftovers I dumped in the sink, put some water in, and left alone for a week. Never bothered with the bleach. No problems. It would probably be a good idea to use a dilute bleach solution if you're concerned--soap doesn't actually sterilize.

I wouldn't be too concerned about the aluminum pot, though the plastic parts of the lid and other areas where there are nooks and crannies that material can get stuck in might be of concern. The lid's your biggest problem.

But I'm just a lazy jackass--someone who works in a professional kitchen probably has better advice.

knitdan · October 2019

As someone who has made more than their fair share of rice-cooker--based fungal cultures,

Hot water and dish soap should be sufficient.

Those pots are built to be easily cleaned so unless it’s pitted (in which case it needs to be replaced anyway) you should have no issues.

Shadowfire · October 2019

I would not use bleach on the pot. Maybe use some vinegar to clean it, but bleach has the potential of making food taste awful down the road.

mts · October 2019

the concern i think is the gaskets could absorb odors.

Casually Hardcore · October 2019

If you’re super paranoid, scour with salt and vinegar. It’s how I clean my cutting board.

Drez · October 2019

Thanks, maybe I'll do that just to be on the safe side.

TNTrooper · October 2019

Salt and vinegar. If really want to make sure it is disinfected wipe it down with 190 proof Everclear.

Drez · October 2019

Fair.

dispatch.o · October 2019

That all seems excessive to me. Depending on the rice cooker that's a good way to ruin the finish.

Metal isn't porous. Just clean it with soap and water. Maybe put some boiling water and vinegar in it if you're worried about smells.

Soap and friction will kill anything.

finalflight89 · October 2019

If anything, just run it once and throw the contents away! The heat and steam will take care of the rest.

Shadowfire · October 2019

dispatch.o wrote: »

That all seems excessive to me. Depending on the rice cooker that's a good way to ruin the finish.

Metal isn't porous. Just clean it with soap and water. Maybe put some boiling water and vinegar in it if you're worried about smells.

Soap and friction will kill anything.

Chemistry is still a thing, though. Clean a stainless steel coffee cup with soap enough times and the coffee will start tasting weird. Vinegar doesn't usually have that effect which is part of why it's used for so many cleaning applications in the kitchen.

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Cooked rice was left out for a week. Cleaning the rice cooker...

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