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(More customer reviews)I have owned this cooker for just over one year. I rarely take time to write reviews because I usually have nothing significant to add. This time is different! I hope everyone reads what I have to say because their and their family's health depend upon it. What is also disturbing is that Wolfgang Puck's company could not care any less.
Upon receiving this rice cooker, I was shocked at the POOR QUALITY of the cooking pot itself, which is light-weight aluminum sprayed with a very thin, teflon-like coating to keep the rice from sticking. I usually only buy the very best cookware, and rarely buy any with a non-stick coating because it is well known that these coatings contain toxic substances that we can ingest as they break down. I bought this sight-unseen, though, because I was only going to be steaming food in it and I trusted this would be up to my high standards. After all, Wolfgang's "spiel" for this item includes these words: "... he brings that same (unparalleled) level of excellence to his own line of professional-quality cookware." If this is his idea of professional-quality cookware, I now think he must be an idiot - or a fraud. While I am not one who likes to complain, I called his company twice over the past year to discuss this problem. I got nowhere. They just do not care about design issues that can affect public health, so I decided to write about this problem instead.
As careful as I have been to use the special plastic spoon provided with the cooker to prevent scratching, the pot's toxic finish began to show marks of wear within two weeks of once-a-day use. A replacement pot that I recently began to use has shown the same undue wear. I see now it is a design problem. The cooking pot is one layer of thin aluminum with no extra layers at its bottom where it sits directly over a hot heating element. Although the element is covered, it obviously is not enough to protect the bottom of the pot from heating temperatures that cause the ultra-thin, non-stick coating to break down. It only breaks down at the bottom, not at the sides. Both cooking pots began to show wear and tear within just a couple of weeks of light daily use, and leaving food in it to keep it warm probably hastens the breakdown. The problem is not an aesthetic one. This breakdown of a toxic surface contaminates the food you eat and can lead to cancer and contribute to other health problems.
As I said above, I see no recourse but to throw the whole thing out. What good does it do to keep replacing a cooking pot that is simply not built to specs that can withstand sitting on top of its heating element? After going through two cooking pots in less than 6 months of usage, I believe it is fair to say that the coating on the pot is simply not heat-resistant enough to be safely used as instructed in this rice cooker. Shame on Wolfgang Puck for putting his name on it and misleading so many of us!
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Take the guesswork out of making restaurant-quality rice at home with this easy-to-use rice cooker and steamer. The handy appliance offers a generous 10-cup rice capacity--great when cooking for a large group. Simply add dry rice, measure in the water, and turn the unit on. Once the rice has cooked, the appliance automatically switches over to "keep warm" mode, which maintains an ideal serving temperature without over-cooking. The cooker can also be used to prepare dishes such as pasta, risotto, jambalaya, and more. In addition, the unit's removable lid holds in heat and moisture, while its nonstick removable pot ensures effortless food release and easy cleanup. Other highlights include "cook" and "keep warm" indicator lights, a carrying handle, and a detachable cord. A measuring cup, serving spoon, and steaming basket come included. The rice cooker and steamer measures approximately 10 by 12 by 10 inches.
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