Frequently Asked Questions

GENERAL

If you're not completely satisfied with your purchase, you can return eligible items by mail within 30 days of the original ship date. Items must be returned in their original packaging and with all accessories that came with the unit. We will provide a prepaid shipping label for you to ship your items back to our Returns Center. 

Please note that if the product box has been opened, a 15% restocking fee will be automatically deducted from your refund. 

We can only process returns and refunds for orders placed on cuckooamerica.com. If you purchased your CUCKOO product from a retailer, you will need to refer to their return policy. 

To confirm whether your item is returnable and exchangeable, check your invoice or order confirmation email for date of purchase. Once confirmed, send us an email to begin the return process. 

Some form of proof of purchase is always necessary while filing a warranty claim. Examples of valid proof of pruchase include store receipts, email order confirmation, or any other genuine document that shows the date of purchase and the location of purchase.

If you're unsatisfied with your product in any way, be sure to email customer support at info@cuckooamerica.com before returning to see if our product experts can help!


However, unfortunately we do not process returns nor exchanges for items that are purchased through authorized sellers. In order to process an exchange or receive a refund for the item, please return to the retailer you purchased your unit from. 

All CUCKOO products come with a 1-year warranty period during which you can exchange for the same item or return for a refund. 

Our customer support team will be happy to assist in processing your warranty claim and answering any additional warranty questions you may have. If troubleshooting fails to fix the problem, we can replace the item or defective part. We do require a valid proof of purchase as well as your full name, shipping address, telephone number, and the unit's model number.

We currently offer replacement air filters, replacement water filters, and an assortment of replacement parts for rice cookers/multi-cookers. To see the replacement parts we have currently available for purchase, visit this page or type your model number into the search bar to finds parts compatible with your CUCKOO product.

If you need to replace any parts or accessories that you don't see available on our website, please email us for further assistance.

Yes, the inner pot endures normal wear and tear over years of regular use. We recommend replacing it every 2 to 3 years.

If you used unrecommended material on the inner pot, such as metal, you may need to replace it earlier to ensure your rice is made with intact non-stick coating.

Please refer to the chart on our inner pot listings to purchase the one compatible with your rice cooker.

Note: Consider purchasing both the inner pot and the rubber package together to avoid steam escaping or a stiff lid. 

Yes, the rubber package endures normal wear and tear over years of regular use. We recommend replacing it every 2 to 3 years. 

Please refer to the charts on each rubber package listing to purchase the one compatible with your rice cooker. 

Note: Consider purchasing both the rubber package and the inner pot together to avoid steam escaping or a stiff lid. 

Founded in 1978 under the name Sungkwang Electronics, customer satisfaction, innovation, and premium quality have always been our top priorities. Over 40 years and one rebranding later, we remain dedicated to those same core values in order to provide the best home and kitchen products to customers like you around the globe.

To learn more about who we are, be sure to visit our About Us page.

Our headquarters and customer support team are located in Southern California with operating business hours Monday - Friday, 9:00a.m. to 6:00p.m. PST (excluding national holidays). Our customer support team can be reached by emailing info@cuckooamerica.com.

To register your CUCKOO product, visit this page and enter in your contact information and your product information. Once registered, you will get a more customized customer support experience should you run into any errors or issues while operating your product. You will also be signed up to receive emails from us where you'll be notified of exclusive sales, special offers, and get alerts for when it might be time to purchase replacement parts/filters for your unit. 

If you've misplaced your product manual, you will first need to locate your unit's model number. Once you have your model number, visit our Product Manuals page and type it into the textbox to find an online copy of your manual to download, print out or bookmark!

Did you know your CUCKOO product is capable of making much more than just rice? If you're in need of some cooking inspiration or specific recipes to make using your cooker, visit our Recipes page!

If your product's 1-year warranty period has expired, you may contact us at info@cuckooamerica.com for further assistance.

PRODUCTS

Our quick and convenient turbo mode is featured on many of our rice cooker and pressure cooker models and perfect for any time you need rice in a pinch. While using turbo mode, your rice is guarnateed to cook up to 50% faster than the traditional rice function(s) as it shaves extraneous time off of the soaking process at the beginning of the cooking cycle and the steaming process at the end of it. 

Most other pressure cookers require you to flip the pressure weight/steam cap to a different position to release all of the pressure that was created while cooking, making you more susceptible to scalding or other heat-related injuries. 

Automatic steam release means that you do not need to manually release pressure from the cooker at the end of its cooking process by adjusting the pressure weight—the cooker automatically releases all pent up steam and pressure from the cooker at the end of cooking cycle or throughout the last few minutes of the cycle (depending on the function that was initiated). This feature was crafted with the intention of making the pressure release process more safe and more convenient!

GABA rice is germinated brown rice (or unpolished brown rice) that has a ton of nutrients that can help with stress relief, improving hormonal imbalances, and boosting your immune system. The most notable nutrient found in this type of brown rice is the grain's namesake: gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). This amino acid is believed to specifically help lower your blood pressure, improve kidney function, and provide stress relief while also providing a sweeter and softer texture than traditional brown rice.

GABA is not necessarily a new variety of brown rice, but features a different way of cooking the brown rice in order to "activate" its amino acids and nutrients. This is done by firstly soaking the grain in purified water for 16 hours. When you're ready to begin cooking, place the soaked rice into the rice cooker and select our preset GABA rice menu option. Once the function is initiated, the cycle will begin by soaking the rice at exactly 104°F for an additional 2-3 hours. Then, allow the cooker to do all of the work as it cooks your GABA rice to perfection!

How is your rice cooked to perfection use after use? The answer is our patented Smart Algorithm also known as Fuzzy Logic technology. This smart technology found in most of our rice cooker models is optimized to automatically sense and control the internal temperature throughout the cooking cycle for delicious texture and flavor. 

The cooking cycle will begin by preheating the rice and liquid to optimal low soaking temperatures in order to break down any starch or bran layers—preventing your cooked rice from becoming too mushy or moist. The cooker will then soak the grains at this temperature to continue the breakdown process and to allow each grain to absorb moisture.                                                                                              

Once sufficiently soaked, the cooker will maintain a steady heat at around boiling temperature to cook the grains, but will automatically fluctuate depending on how much liquid or moisture the technology senses—effectively preventing overcooked rice.

Reaching the end of the cooking cycle, the cooker will output a final heat surge to remove any and all excess moisture from the rice. 

When the rice has finished cooking, keep-warm mode will then be automatically initiated to keep your rice and grains at perfect serving temperatures!

While a standard U.S. cup measure is 240 milliliters, a rice measuring cup according to rice industry standards is much smaller at 180 milliliters. All of our models come with a complimentary rice measuring cup and should be used when measuring ingredients in your rice cooker. Our product manuals will always provide cooking guides based on rice measuring cup measurements.

We recommend rinsing rice under cool water before beginning to cook it. Rinsing makes a huge difference in results, especially in long-grain varieties, because it removes the surface starch that otherwise causes the rice to clump together or become gummy as it cooks. This short added step will be the difference between a good pot of rice and a great one!

TIP: Do not rinse rice under warm water. The warm water could begin to prematurely cook the rice and can lead to it being overcooked. 

If your inner pot is peeling or has visible scratch marks on its interior, this could be due to using unrecommend utensils to stir or serve your grains. Be sure to only use wooden, heat-safe plastic, heat-safe rubber utensils or the provided rice spatula that came with your unit—do not use metal or stainless steel utensils. 

The preset timer is a feature that can be used for prepping rice hours in advance or overnight so that you can have rice ready right when you need it! Most of our models offer a 13-hour or 24-hour preset timer, meaning you can place your ingredients in the inner pot up to 13 or 24 hours in advance and set the preset timer. Once the input time elapses, your rice will automatically begin cooking for you! 

Our 3-Cup (Uncooked) capacity models are designed with individuals and couples in mind. 6-Cup (Uncooked) capacity models are the most commonly bought size for small families of 2-4 people, and 10-Cup (Uncooked) cookers are most common amongst a bit larger families of 6+ people and can even be used for catering or entertaining!

Your rice cooker will automatically switch to keep-warm mode once it's finished cooking and all liquid has been absorbed into the grain. Some of our rice cooker models feature a voice guide to verbally let you know exactly when your rice is ready to be served!

We're confident your rice will come out perfectly cooked if you ensure to select the correct function that coincides with the grain added to the inner pot and if you precisely measure your ingredients with the rice measuring cup. However if your rice is a bit too dry for your tastes, add ½ to 1 rice measuring cup of water (depending on how dry it is) and stir thoroughly. Close the lid and initiate the respective menu option once more. When the cooker switches to keep-warm, open the lid and stir the rice to check its consistency. Repeat as necessary until rice is the desired texture.

If your rice is too moist/soggy, use the serving spatula to stir the rice to redistribute the bottom (moist) part of the rice and to release excess moisture. Close the lid and allow the cooker to remain on keep-warm for 10-30 minutes as needed, opening the lid and stirring periodically to release excess moisture.

All the tools you need to make and serve perfectly cooked rice conveniently come with your unit—an inner pot, a rice measuring cup and a rice spatula. Using accessories sold by third party sellers is not recommended anmd could cause damage to your cooker. 

This is dependent on the type of grain being cooked, the amount, and the rice cooker/multicooker model being used, the total amount of cooking time will vary. The average amount of time it takes to cook 1 cup of white rice in one of standard rice cooker models is about 25 minutes. 

1) Be sure you're using the correct amount of liquid/water for every cup of uncooked rice added to the inner pot. Accurate amounts and ratios can be found in your product manual for reference.

2) Rinse your rice thoroughly before cooking to reduce the amount of bran and starch on the grain. Excess starch may cause the water to bubble up and produce a sticky residue.

3) Adding a thin layer of nonstick cooking spray or oil to the rice/liquid prior to cooking may help to prevent bubbling. 

If you misplaced your product manual, go to our Product Manuals page to find an online copy of the manual. 

Traditional rice cookers have a single heating plate at the bottom of the unit beneath the inner pot. Induction cookers feature a 360° heat output so that the temperature is consistent throughout the entire inner pot, rather than only producing heat on the bottom! This technology makes for even more dependable and delicious results, quicker cooking times, even cooking, and less of a chance of your rice sticking to the bottom of your inner pot. Our induction cookers also feature a premium inner pot that is designed to optimally cook your rice with even heat distribution and high temperature retention.

We do not recommend putting your inner pot in varying environments that undergo rapid temperature change (i.e. going from high cooking temperature straight to freezer). If your inner pot is at room temperature, putting your inner pot in the refrigerator should not cause damage to the material. However, we do not recommend leaving the inner pot in the refrigerator for more than 24 hours. 

The inner pot should never be placed on the stovetop or in the oven to cook its contents. Our inner pots are designed to only be used in our rice cookers and their respective heating base and will become warped or damaged if used on/in any other type of heating element. 

To automatically steam clean the interior of your unit, simply add about 2 cups of water to the inner pot then initiate the auto-clean function. The steam will then run through all parts that are typically used during the cooking process (for example: the inner pot, the inner lid, and the steam cap) to effectively steam them clean for your next use. 

We do not recommend leaving your cooked rice in the inner pot on keep-warm mode for longer than 12 hours. 

Changing the unit's language will vary slightly from unit to unit but generally the steps below can be followed: 

1) Ensure your cooker is in standby mode (no cooking cycles running), then press the MODE button 11 times. A different setting will be selected with each press until you reach the voice guide setting. 

NOTE: If nothing appears to be happening when you press the MODE button, try pressing it for a longer period of time—we recommend about 2 seconds. 

2) The VOICE button will be illuminated and a flashing “1” will appear on the display to signify the language is set to its default of Korean.  

3) Use the > button to cycle through the three different languages until your desired language is selected (1 is Korean, 2 is English, and 3 is Chinese).

4) Once selected, press the SET button to confirm and set the voice guide’s language.

For additional notes and instructions regarding your cooker's voice guide, please refer to your product manual. If you've misplaced your product manual, visit this page for an online copy.

Our traditional inner pots are not dishwasher safe due to their coatingif you attempt to clean your inner pot in a dishwasher, you will run the risk of causing irreversible damage to the inner pot's coating (chipping, peeling, etc.). 

Please replace the inner pot every 2-3 years. If washed and used with care and compatible materials, you can extend the lifespan of your inner pot. 

If you want to purchase additional inner pots for convenience, please check out the listings here.

We recommend using wooden, heat-safe plastic, heat-safe rubber utensils or the provided rice spatula that came with your unit to stir and serve food from your inner pot—do not use metal or stainless steel utensils as this can cause scratches or damage to the inner pot. 

To automatically steam clean the interior of your unit, simply add about 2 cups of water to the inner pot then initiate the auto-clean function. The steam will then run through all parts that are typically used during the cooking process (for example: the inner pot, the inner lid, and the steam cap) to effectively steam them clean for your next use. 

How is your rice cooked to perfection use after use? The answer is our patented Smart Algorithm also known as Fuzzy Logic technology. This smart technology found in most of our rice cooker models is optimized to automatically sense and control the internal temperature throughout the cooking cycle for delicious texture and flavor. 

The cooking cycle will begin by preheating the rice and liquid to optimal low soaking temperatures in order to break down any starch or bran layers—preventing your cooked rice from becoming too mushy or moist. The cooker will then soak the grains at this temperature to continue the breakdown process and to allow each grain to absorb moisture.                                                                                              

Once sufficiently soaked, the cooker will maintain a steady heat at around boiling temperature to cook the grains, but will automatically fluctuate depending on how much liquid or moisture the technology senses—effectively preventing overcooked rice.

Reaching the end of the cooking cycle, the cooker will output a final heat surge to remove any and all excess moisture from the rice. 

When the rice has finished cooking, keep-warm mode will then be automatically initiated to keep your rice and grains at perfect serving temperatures!

The preset timer is a feature that can be used for prepping meals hours in advance or overnight so that you can have rice ready right when you need it! Most of our models offer a 24-hour preset timer, meaning you can place your ingredients in the inner pot up to 24 hours in advance and set the preset timer. Once the input time elapses, your food will automatically begin cooking for you! 

We do not recommend leaving your cooked foods in the inner pot on keep-warm mode for longer than 12 hours. 

We do not recommend cooking food using the reheat function on your multi-cooker. The reheat option is designed to heat up pre-cooked food to optimal serving temperatures without overcooking or burning it. 

We do not recommend putting your inner pot in varying environments that undergo rapid temperature change (i.e. going from high cooking temperature straight to freezer). If your inner pot is at room temperature, putting your inner pot in the refrigerator should not cause damage to the material. However, we do not recommend leaving the inner pot in the refrigerator for more than 24 hours. 

The inner pot should never be placed on the stovetop or in the oven to cook its contents. Our inner pots are designed to only be used in our rice cookers and their respective heating base and will become warped or damaged if used on/in any other type of heating element. 

Changing the unit's language will vary slightly from unit to unit but generally the steps below can be followed: 

1) Ensure your cooker is in standby mode (no cooking cycles running), then press the MODE button 11 times. A different setting will be selected with each press until you reach the voice guide setting. 

NOTE: If nothing appears to be happening when you press the MODE button, try pressing it for a longer period of time—we recommend about 2 seconds. 

2) The VOICE button will be illuminated and a flashing “1” will appear on the display to signify the language is set to its default of Korean.  

3) Use the > button to cycle through the three different languages until your desired language is selected (1 is Korean, 2 is English, and 3 is Chinese).

4) Once selected, press the SET button to confirm and set the voice guide’s language.

For additional notes and instructions regarding your cooker's voice guide, please refer to your product manual. If you've misplaced your product manual, visit this page for an online copy.

Our traditional inner pots are not dishwasher safe due to their coatingif you attempt to clean your inner pot in a dishwasher, you will run the risk of causing irreversible damage to the inner pot's coating (chipping, peeling, etc.). 

However, the inner pot that is included with the model CMC-ZSN601F is completely dishwasher safe due to its stainless steel construction. 

A bread machine mixes, kneads, rises, and bakes your ingredients from start to finish. The machine is specificlly calibrated to manage temperatures throughout the preparation and baking process to help the bread to rise and give it the customized crust color your desire.

If you prefer your loaf to be a different shape than that of our provided baking pan, you may use the dough function on the bread maker to effortlessly prepare your dough then remove it to shape and bake it to your own desire. 

Yes, all-purpose flour can be used in recipes prepared in your bread maker. However, it does not rise as well as or as quickly as bread flour. All-purpose flour is best suited for low-rising baked goods like cake, muffins, and cookies.

If your loaf doesn't come out as quite as planned, we recommend referring to your product manual. The "Troubleshooting" section will help determine exactly what component of your bread was compromised and the proper solution or steps to take while creating your next loaf.

If you misplaced your product manual, go to our Product Manuals page to find an online copy of the manual. 

Slight odors and smoke emitting from your bread maker upon first use is completely normal due to its manufacturing. In order to rid of unpleasant odors, run a full baking cycle with no ingredients inside the bread maker, repeating until the odors/smoke are no longer present.

Yes, you can remove the bread dough after the rising cycle, reshape into any shape, then allow it to rise in a warm, draft-free location and bake in your oven as desired.

If your dough is sticking to the baking pan, we recommend spraying nonstick spray onto the baking pan and the paddle before beginning to mix your dough. 

If you've already made your dough and can't remove it from the baking pan, try rubbing softened butter onto the paddle and mixing the dough for an additional 1-2 minutes. 

Water and other liquids should always be added to your baking pan first, followed by fats (such as butter, oil, or shortening), all dry ingredients, then finally the yeast.

There are two different types of yeast: active-dry yeast and instant yeast (also referred to as "bread machine yeast"). 

Active dry yeast can be added directly to your baking pan with no pre-soaking required. This type of yeast generally takes longer to rise than instant yeast. For best results, store active dry yeast in the refrigerator after use.

Instant yeast is shelf-stable, quick to rise, and can also be added directly to your baking pan with no pre-soaking required. 

If the digital display on your bread maker is showing an error code, refer to the "Troubleshooting" section and/or "Error Codes" section in your product manual. This section will detail what each error code means and what steps you should take to correct the error. 

If you misplaced your product manual, go to our Product Manuals page to find an online copy of the manual.  

Yes, in fact we recommend removing the paddle after every use in order to clean it. If you find that the paddle is stuck and/or can't be removed after use, soak the baking pan in water for about an hour then clean the paddle directly inside the pan. 

This is a common problem amongst stickier ingredients such as raisins or other dried fruits. In order to ensure the ingredients do not stick to the dispenser, try tossing them in a light coating of flour before adding them to the dispenser. 

On average, regularly using your water purifer rather than buying bottled water or other canned drinks will save about 4,000 ounces of plastic per year!

Reverse Osmosis filters feature 4-stage filtration: a sediment filter to rid your water of impurities like rust, deposits, particles, moss, and sand, a pre-carbon filter to remove heavy metals, odors, chlorine, and VOCs, a reverse osmosis filter to shed your water of lead, chromium, fluoride, and microbes, and finally a mineralizer to add electrolytes, natural calcium and potassium back to your water for healthy and pH balanced alkaline drinking water. 

Our Nano Positive filters feature 3-stage filtration: a pre-carbon filter to remove heavy metals, odors, chlorine, and VOCs, a mineralizer to add electrolytes, natural calcium and potassium to your water, and finally a Nano+ filter to remove heavy metals, viruses, and bacteria.

If the dispensed water is not tasting as great as it should be, you might need to drain and clean the tank of your purifier. If your purifier is tankless, run the water for about 10 minutes before tasting the water again. 

Alternatively, your water filters may need to be replaced with new filters.

If there are small particles or unwanted substances in your water, your water filters need to be replaced. 

To achieve fully purified air in your space, we recommend running the purifier as much as possible. On average, our air purifiers will completely replace the air in your space twice per hour.

CUCKOO's air purifiers are intended to only be used in the country it was initally purchased in. This is because the product follows any and all local regulations according to the selling location. 

“HEPA” stands for “high-efficiency particulate air” (filter). To be labeled a True HEPA filter, it must be able to trap 99.97% of particles that are 0.3 microns.

What are microns? Commonly referred as MPPS by scientists, microns are the the most penetrating particle size that are often difficult for other air purifiers to filter out. For your reference, here is a list of common indoor pollutants and their sizes:

  • Dust Mite Debris: 0.5 to 50 microns
  • Household Dust: .05 to 100 microns
  • Human Hair: 70 to 100 microns
  • Spores from plants: 6 to 100 microns
  • Smoke: .01 to 1 microns

The UV-C light featured on a select few of our air purifier models is used to detect and remove tiny particles such as germs and bacteria on your filters to increase the longevity of your filter's lifespan.

Air purifiers will still work while windows are open in your space, however, the purifier will greatly reduce its efficiency because outside elements will be repeatedly pulled in. 

If your windows are closed, the room's own air will be repeatedly circulated meaning any present contaminants will quickly be removed. 

Generally, you can increase the efficiency of the air purifier by up to 20% if you correctly place it. If you put the purifier in a corner or behind a television, you can lose more than 50% of the overall airflow.

We also recommend placing it about 3-5 feet off the ground to capture any vertical air movement that would otherwise be lost if the purifier was placed on the ground. 

Avoid placing it in areas with high humitidy like bathrooms or cooking areas--humid air is heavier air which can cause your purifier to have work twice as hard while filtering and reduce the effectiveness of the air filters. 

Lastly, avoid placing the purifier near (about 5 feet from) electronic devices like televisions, microwaves, or large computers.

Our filters have an average lifespan of 3-6 months (about 2,200 hours) with regular use. Some of our models feature a convenient and smart filter change indicator that will alert you exactly when the filters need to be changed.

Turning your air purifier on the highest mode it features and letting it run for about 1 hour can effectively and efficiently rid of smoke particles from wildfires. Our air purifers come with HEPA filters which have been proven by the EPA to be the most effective for removing smoke particulates. Many of our purifiers also feature a carbon filter which will absorb the unpleasant odors from smoke.

Sleep mode is optimally designed for your air to still be purified even as you sleep. This mode will dim all lights on the purifier and the fans will run at a slower, quieter speed so that your sleep is never interrupted. 

Auto mode, along with our real-time air quality sensor, will automatically purify your air according to the surrounding air quality. For example, if the purifier detects the surrounding air quality as "Poor" (as indicated by the LED lights), the purifier will automatically set its fans to run at a high speed to purify the air quickly until the quality is "Excellent."

Used air filters should not be recycled. To dispose of your used air filters, place them in a sealable plastic bag then throw away in an outdoor trash bin to ensure any harmful contaminants do not make their way back into your home. 

Store unused replacement filters in a dry room where the temperature will not be too hot or too cold. If you've accidentally opened a new filter before needing to replace it in your air purifier, be sure to store it in a sealable plastic bag. 

"The filter indicator alerts you when filters need changing. (red light blinks)

Please add  How to reset the filter change indicator

(Press and hold the filter button for 7 seconds to reset the filter replacement alert)"

Bidets are the environmentally friendly, extremely hygenic, and energy efficient alternative to just wiping. 

Did you know that the repetitive act of wiping can cause your skin to break down and thin which can eventually lead to tearing and even skin build-up? If you use a bidet, there is no wiping requiredless work, a "cleaner clean," and less paper waste: what's not to love?

Getting your bidet installed is extremely simple and approachable, we guarantee. All you need to do is ensure your toilet is near the water supply (to hook the bidet up to), remove the current toilet seat using a screwdriver, connect the bidet to your water supply, and screw in the bidet to where your old toilet seat used to be.

Our bidets require electricity in order to power its multitude of features such as the night light, instant warm water, and the adjustable nozzle. A select number of our bidets also have remote controls that require batteries. 

Removal is as simple as installation! You will follow the same steps, just this time in reverse order. 

Since our bidets require electricity, you can enjoy instant warm water on a whimno waiting around for the water to be a comfortable temperature!

If your toilet is not near its own water supply, you can opt to connect the bidet to your sink's water supply instead. Before installing, ensure your sink's water supply is within 8 feet of your toilet.

The front wash offers a feminine cleanse while the rear wash offers a posterior wash for both men and women.

With the help of BILT, an organization dedicated to making product home installation as easy as 1-2-3, we make sure the process of installing your new bidet will be completely stress-free with easy-to-follow 3D interactive instructions. Download the BILT app for free today on the App Store or on Google Play. 

Our bidets are most suitable for American and Canadian plumbing.