Depending on what kind of rice cooker device it is, it may or may not get additional scrutiny at airport security screening checkpoints. Some people who carry their own rice makers shifted to all-plastic, microwavable rice cooker devices to try to minimize carry-on and even checked-in bag checks for electric rice cookers.

I have traveled with various sorts of unusual things, but the one non-liquid/gel/aerosol/food item that gets my cabin baggage pulled for manual searches (by airport screeners) more than any other: electronic door locks. In checked luggage, the same items are way less likely to get pulled for manual searches by the TSA. Make or this what you want, but I would suggest checking in the rice cooker as checked luggage but don’t package it in luggage with food.