Stainless steel rice cookers can last anywhere from 2 to 8 years or even more if they are of high-end quality. Some stainless steel cookers don’t last for more than a year, despite care, but this may be because most often they’re not made from absolutely 100% stainless steel. To increase the durability of your rice cooker, take special care to clean it with a soft sponge and avoid over-boiling or reheating your meals inside it. Also, make sure to not leave food inside for extended time periods on the keep-warm mode, since prolonged heating can damage the coating of old-style inner steel pots.