PFAS35/ 100Poor
Overall17/ 100Bad

Aroma · Rice Cookers

ARC-914SBD Digital Rice Cooker

Poor

Unknown nonstick coating; no PFAS disclosure. Consider alternatives with confirmed safe materials.

Verdict · SkipNonstick coating composition undisclosed; PFAS risk unconfirmed but unaddressed by brand. Use with caution and known maintenance limits.

Aroma does not disclose the nonstick coating composition or PFAS status for this rice cooker. Inner pot material and coating specifics are unavailable from public sources.

The better-graded swap

Zojirushi Neuro Fuzzy Rice Cooker & Warmer

Zojirushi

Zojirushi Neuro Fuzzy Rice Cooker & Warmer

75/100 safety

75Excellent

Same rubric that flunked this product. The swap earned Excellent.

Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.

Material

nonstick-coated inner pot, unspecified polymer

Brand disclosure

Brand is silent on PFAS

Lab data

No public lab test

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2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.

What ARC-914SBD Digital Rice Cooker is made of, ingredients and materials

The ARC-914SBD has a nonstick-coated inner pot, but Aroma has not publicly specified the coating chemistry (Teflon-type coating-based, ceramic, silicone, or proprietary). This matters because different nonstick chemistries carry different thermal stability profiles and leaching risks. Without disclosure, you cannot verify whether the coating is free from PFAS precursors or legacy per- and polyfluorinated compounds. The outer housing material is also not detailed in available product information.

What’s concerning

♾️

Non-stick, chemistry undisclosed

Marketed as non-stick without stating the coating chemistry.

60/ 100
♾️

Category baseline

The starting point for this type of product, before anything specific to this product is counted.

90/ 100
♾️

No PFAS disclosure

No public statement from the brand about PFAS in this product.

85/ 100
💨

Nonstick coating thermal degradation and fume risk

If the coating is Teflon-type coating-based (not confirmed), overheating or degraded coating can release polymer fumes. Aroma's silence on coating type prevents assessment of fume temperature threshold for this specific product.

70/ 100
⏳

Leaching from degraded coating or underlying substrate

Repeated thermal cycling, scratches, or normal wear can expose the substrate (likely aluminum or steel) beneath the coating. Without material disclosure, you cannot rule out aluminum leaching into rice or water, especially if coating fails.

70/ 100
🍂

Coating peeling or flaking into food

User reports on budget nonstick rice cookers, including some Aroma models, describe visible coating degradation within 1-3 years. Ingestion of flaked coating particles is the primary concern, though risk depends on coating adhesion quality.

45/ 100

What’s reassuring

✅

Polymer off-gassing from unspecified plastic housing

No documented off-gassing complaints specific to the ARC-914SBD housing material. Standard food-contact plastic use in rice cookers is unlikely to pose significant VOC concerns under normal operating conditions, but housing material is not detailed.

95/ 100
⛏️

Heavy metals

No lead, cadmium, or arsenic contamination has been reported for Aroma rice cooker pots. Rice cooker ceramics are not typically prone to these contaminants, and Aroma likely meets basic FDA food-contact standards, though this is not independently verified for this model.

Source, FDA ↗
95/ 100

How is this PFAS grade calculated?

The brand's record and disclosure

Aroma does not maintain a public PFAS transparency policy or detailed material safety disclosures for its cookware lines. No independent certifications (NSF, GREENGUARD, or equivalent) are documented for this model. The brand has not published ingredient lists or third-party testing results for nonstick coatings. This silence is notable in a category where competitors increasingly publish coating composition or pursue non-fluorinated alternatives.

How it compares in its category

Budget rice cookers typically prioritize cost over coating transparency; many use Teflon-type coating or proprietary fluorinated coatings without disclosure. Mid-range alternatives from brands like Zojirushi and Tiger publish more detailed material specs and often offer ceramic or non-Teflon-type coating options. The ARC-914SBD sits in a price-competitive segment where material transparency is less common than in premium cookware, but not unique.

If you buy it

Never exceed normal operating temperatures (the cooker's automatic heat-limit should prevent this, but verify it). Inspect the nonstick coating monthly for chips, peeling, or discoloration; if coating degrades, replace the inner pot or the unit. Avoid metal utensils and abrasive scrubbing; hand wash only. Do not store acidic foods (vinegar, citrus, tomato) in the pot for extended periods, as this may accelerate coating breakdown and leaching of base materials underneath.

What is not known about PFAS in this product?

Basis
Model estimate, 35% confidence, not a lab result
Lab test
None on record for this exact product
Brand statement
Aroma has made none

Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.

What are the PFAS-free alternatives to ARC-914SBD Digital Rice Cooker?

Instant Pot 12 Cup Rice and Grain Cooker

Instant Pot

12 Cup Rice and Grain Cooker

75ExcellentPFAS grade
  • Stainless steel pot with no nonstick coating
  • We found no PFAS statement from the brand
  • Stainless steel corrosion and metal leaching

3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.

Find an alternative on Amazon
  • Stainless steel inner pot and non-coated heating elements
  • We found no PFAS statement from the brand
  • Mineral and microbial buildup in heating element

2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.

Find an alternative on Amazon
Zojirushi Neuro Fuzzy Rice Cooker & Warmer

Zojirushi

Neuro Fuzzy Rice Cooker & Warmer

75ExcellentPFAS grade
  • Stainless steel inner pot, aluminum outer housing
  • Stainless steel nickel content

2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.

More rice cookers grades

How we score, every product runs through the same public 0-100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.