CreatripTeam

A chemistry professor warns that washing rice directly in the inner pot of electric rice cookers can damage the pot’s coating and release metals (aluminum, nickel, chromium) into food. Many inner pots are aluminum with a chemical coating; scrubbing or rubbing hard rice can wear the coating and allow aluminum to leach. In people with reduced kidney function, aluminum can accumulate and may be linked to cognitive decline (dementia). Even stainless-steel pots can corrode and release metals if the coating is damaged — look for reddish discoloration as a sign of corrosion. Recommendations: wash rice in a separate bowl (bowl = separate dish), avoid metal spatulas or steel scrubbers, use plastic or wooden utensils, dry the inner pot completely after washing, and replace the inner pot every 3–4 years. A French researcher noted that daily aluminum intake above 0.1 mg may impair cognitive function.