If you love eating rice, but want a quick and easy way of preparing it, invest in a rice cooker. It will take all the hard work out of cooking rice. With just a press of a button, you can enjoy perfectly cooked rice every time!
The 7 Best Rice Cookers
- TIGER JBV-A10U Micom Rice Cooker
- Oster Titanium Infused DuraCeramic Rice & Grain Cooker
- Zojirushi NS-ZCC10 Neuro Fuzzy Rice Cooker and Warmer
- Hamilton Beach Digital Programmable Rice Cooker and Food Steamer
- Aroma Housewares Digital Rice Cooker (Our Top Pick)
- Sistema Microwave Collection Rice Cooker
- Cuckoo Multifunctional Micom Rice Cooker & Warmer
Our Top Pick for the Best Rice Cooker
Our top pick for the best rice cooker is the Aroma Housewares Digital Rice Cooker.
If you love your rice dishes, but would also like a cooker that offers you the versatility of being able to prepare other dishes in an appliance, then take home the Aroma rice cooker. It is high performing and also excellent value for money.
It has a large capacity, up to 20 cups of rice, which is enough to feed variously hungry kids in a large family or for those large dinner parties. You can also steam fish and vegetable meals, make hearty soups, and slow-cooking meals all at the simple press of a button.
Check the price on AmazonHow to Choose the Best Rice Cooker
Rice is one of the most common food choices for many cultures across the globe. It is versatile, you can boil, steam or fry it. You can have it for breakfast, lunch, or dinner and you can serve it as a savory dish or as a dessert. However, it is not the easiest food to cook. It needs constant monitoring to make sure that the grains do not stick to the bottom of the pot or pan.
If you do not cook it long enough the grains can be hard. If you cook it too long it can turn out to be a mushy mess that ends up in the bin. Cleaning up after a rice cooking session can be a nightmare too, especially if the pan has not been soaked first and the grains seem to be almost super-glued to the surface. Still, a rice cooker can eliminate all of these problems and turn you into a Master Rice Cooking Expert.
If you would like to discover some new rice recipes, learn some rice making tips from the world-famous chef, Jamie Oliver.
Rice cookers range from basic models to highly sophisticated cooking dynamos that can make all sorts of rice from basmati to perfectly prepared sticky rice. Some models do so much more than just cook rice, they can steam vegetables or even cook your porridge for breakfast!
Rice Cooker Features
So in your search for your appliance, here are four features that can help you to find the perfect one:
1. Material: Stainless Steel, DuraCeramic, Aluminum, or BPA-Free Plastic
Stainless steel has become the favorite material for a lot of cookware. Many cookers like the Aroma Housewares Digital Rice Cooker are made from this high-quality, durable metal. Another favorite is DuraCeramic titanium infused material, which the Oster Titanium Infused DuraCeramic Rice & Grain Cooker is made out of. Their cooking pot has a non-stick surface and will also not flake or peel.
Some models like the TIGER JBV-A10U Micom Rice Cooker have a plastic housing. However, the cooking pot is made out of aluminum with a non-stick Teflon coating that is also scratch-resistant. One thing to remember about the scratch-resistant material is that it can only maintain its scratch-resistant integrity if you use plastic utensils and not metal.
Other manufacturers make their cookers out of a special type of thick plastic, like the Sistema Microwave Collection Rice Cooker that is designed to steam rice in the microwave. The Sistema cooker/steamer is manufactured from Polyolefins. Polyolefins do not contain any Phthalate plasticizers, so they do not leach any chemicals into your food.
As well as a cooking pot for your rice, cookers usually come with a separate container for steaming vegetables or fish which is made out of BPA-free plastic. These separate containers not only give you the choice of cooking two meals at once but the flavors from the food at the bottom pot will not interfere with the food that is sitting in the upper container.
2. Cup Capacity
The size of the rice cooker is determined by its capacity or how many cups of rice it can hold. Some cookers, like the TIGER JBV-A10U Micom Rice Cooker, has a 5.5-cup capacity, which makes it ideal for one or two people. Other cookers have a 10-cup capacity like the Zojirushi NS-ZCC10 Neuro Fuzzy Rice Cooker and Warmer.
Or a 14-cup capacity like the Hamilton Beach Digital Programmable Rice Cooker and Food Steamer, both of which can cater for a larger family or for those people who enjoy a lot of entertaining.
3. Intelligent Cooking Technology
With massive leaps in technology, cooking appliances are constantly being revamped with the latest high-tech gadgetry. Like the Smart Syncro-cooking technology that the Tiger Rice Cooker uses, which allows you to make two meals at the same time, while also making sure that both meals are cooked to perfection.
– What is the Fuss About Fuzzy Logic?
The very latest innovation is Fuzzy Logic. The Zojirushi Rice Cooker and the Cuckoo Multifunctional Micom Rice Cooker & Warmer use “fuzzy logic”, which basically means that the machine is programmed to think the same way a human would about cooking rice. So for perfectly cooked rice without all the guesswork, you cannot go past Fuzzy Logic.
4. Extra Features
Besides cooking rice, some cookers are designed to be super appliances that offer you a lot of different cooking choices. You can cook more than one meal in the cooker, which is such a great time-saving feature. Cookers like the Oster Titanium Infused DuraCeramic Rice & Grain Cooker or the Aroma Housewares Digital Rice Cooker can cook all different types of food like steaming vegetables or fish.
You can use the Aroma Cooker to cook soup and it can also double as a slow cooker.
Other handy features might include a “Keep Warm” setting like the Hamilton Beach Rice Cooker, which allows you to keep your rice warm until you are ready to serve it. It might have an extra-large LCD screen on its operational panel like the Zojirushi Rice Cooker. Or the manufacturer might include extra utensils or attachments like extra plastic serving spoons.
With so many cookers that offer you a high-quality cooking performance and user-friendly features, you are guaranteed to find one that will suit you and your lifestyle.
4 Tips to Using Your Rice Cooker
- As most rice cookers have vents in the lid, you have to be careful not to overfill it which can cause the liquid to spill over the top. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions as per the required cup capacity and the amount of water that is required and use their measuring cups if possible.
- Some cookers may only cook certain types of rice. So once again check the small print before you buy.
- While most rice cookers have components that can be washed in the dishwasher, it is still best to wash them by hand. Most cooking pots and steaming trays have non-stick surfaces and are also very easy to clean. Another good tip is to soak the pot beforehand if there is any rice that has been well and truly stuck on the surface on the bowl.
- To maintain the surface of Teflon non-stick coating and protect it from getting scratched, do not use metal utensils and when they are included, use the measuring cups or spoons from the manufacturer.
7 Best Rice Cookers – Reviews
1. TIGER JBV-A10U Micom Rice Cooker
If you live alone or with your partner or you have a small family and would prefer a simple, easy to use rice cooker that delivers great cooking results, then check out the TIGER JBV-A10U Micom Rice Cooker. It features a compact BPA-free white plastic housing. Its operating system utilizes fast microcomputer technology called “Syncro-cooking”, which allows you to cook two meals at the same time.
With minimal preparation and just the press of a button, Tiger’s intuitive system actively monitors cooking temperatures to create the perfect meal. You can cook rice in the non-stick aluminum pot in the bottom of the unit and then another dish in the BPA-free plastic plate on top.
Rice dishes will also taste better as Tiger Corporation has designed the steam to vent from the top so that any smells from the separate dish on the bottom do not penetrate the food that is in the top container.
There are four menu settings: plain rice, synchro-cook, brown rice, and also slow cook/steam. There is also an automatic “keep warm” feature, which allows you to keep the rice warm for up to 12 hours. The inner pot and the cooking plate are very easy to clean and the inner steam cap is detachable.
As well as the inner pot, it comes with a non-stick spatula, a cooking plate, a measuring cup, and a cookbook for using the Synchrony-cooking function. The Tiger Corporation also makes a 10-cup capacity rice cooker. It is advised that to get the best results, measure rice in the cup that comes along with the product.
Pros
- Very good value for money
- Ideal for one or two people or a small family
- Smart “Syncro-cooking” technology
- Can cook two dishes at once
- Easy to use push button design
- Four cooking menu settings
- BPA-free cooking plate
- Automatic “keep warm” feature
- Easy to clean non-stick inner pot
- Detachable inner steam cap
- Fast
- Easy to clean
Cons
- Condensation pools under the lid
- Water can boil over the top
- No timer
2. Oster Titanium Infused DuraCeramic Rice & Grain Cooker
This fast working versatile rice cooker from Oster is an excellent choice for a family of three or four and it can cook rice in just 30 minutes! As well as cooking perfectly cooked rice, the Oster can simultaneously steam delicious veggies and also fish so that you can prepare a complete meal for your family, which also means you will save on food preparation time.
Oster has designed this innovative smart-looking black and silver rice and grain cooker from ultra-durable DuraCeramic titanium infused material. The non-stick ceramic coating lasts eight times longer than other materials. It cooks up to 30% faster than ordinary non-stick surfaces and will not flake or peel.
You can cook your rice knowing that your food will be free of toxins as the DuraCeramic non-stick coating is free of PTFE and PFOA chemicals. The material is also scratch-resistant.
It is very easy to use with simple one-touch controls, which include a cooking control button and also an automatic “keep warm” setting. Three cups of uncooked rice will make six cups of cooked rice. You can cook all sorts of rice like fluffy and also sticky rice in the bottom pot and steam vegetables, tofu, or fish in the separate steam tray above, and the tempered glass lid lets you monitor your food as it cooks.
Washing up is a breeze as the cooker has three components that can be removed for quick and also easy cleaning.
Pros
- Very good value for money
- Ideal for a small family
- Non-stick DuraCeramic titanium
- Scratch-resistant
- Simple one-touch controls
- Versatile
- Cooks two dishes at once
- Cooks rice in 30 minutes
- Easy to clean
Cons
- Not ideal for a large family
- Limited control options
- Steam can run down the side of the lid
3. Zojirushi NS-ZCC10 Neuro Fuzzy Rice Cooker and Warmer
With a host of user-friendly features, state of the art cooking technology, and the ability to cook up to five and a half cups of great-tasting rice, the premium white 680-watt Neuro-Fuzzy Warmer from Zojirushi is a very good choice for a big family.
It is more expensive than other cookers. However, do not be put off by the price as it is great value for money due to its ability to deliver superb cooking results. The white stainless steel 1-liter cooker uses advanced Neuro-Fuzzy Logic technology, which allows it to ‘think’ for itself and also make fine adjustments to the temperature and heating time to cook perfect rice every time.
Why cook rice in a pot on the stove when you can utilize the high-tech benefits of MICOM (Microcomputer) Technology? Let the Zojirushi do all of the hard work so that you can relax and enjoy flawless rice dishes.
It boasts a variety of menu and cooking selections that allow you to cook all sorts of rice: white (regular/sushi, softer or harder), mixed, porridge, sweet, semi-brown, brown, and there are also three heating selections: automatic keep warm, extended keep warm, and also reheat cycle. You do not have to constantly monitor your food as the programmable melody feature or beep audio indicator lets you know when the cooking cycle has ended.
The spherical Teflon non-stick inner cooking pan is highly scratch resistant and the innovative heating system ensures uniform and efficient heating. The brightly lit LCD clock and the timer are also very easy to read. If you get interrupted during the cooking process there is a programmable delay timer with two settings.
The stay-cool side handles help to protect your hands from getting burnt when you detach the inner cooking pan. And together with the pot, the detachable inner lid is very easy to clean.
To help you to accurately measure out the rice, Zojirushi includes two measuring cups, a rice spoon holder, a nonstick rice spoon/scooper, and also recipes to help you get started. It has a fold-down handle for easy carrying and transport. And the built-in retractable power cord provides extra safety and also easy storage. It is covered by a one-year limited warranty and Zojirushi also makes a 1.8-liter rice cooker.
To get the best results make sure you use the right function for the type of rice you want to cook and also use the included measuring cups and spoons.
Pros
- Great value for money
- Ideal for a large family
- Micro computerized Neuro-Fuzzy Logic technology
- High performance
- Extra-large brightly lit LCD clock and timer
- Multi-menu selections
- Programmable melody or beep audio indicator
- Spherical inner cooking pan and intuitive heating system
- Delay timer (two settings)
- Fold-down handle for easy carry and transport
- Built-in retractable power cord
Cons
- Lid can become loose
- Only one-year limited warranty
- Doesn’t keep the rice fresh for long
- Only displays remaining cook time at end of cycle
4. Hamilton Beach Digital Programmable Rice Cooker and Food Steamer
Whether you want to cook rice for breakfast or dinner or steam vegetables, meat, and fish, the Hamilton Beach Digital Programmable Rice Cooker and Food Steamer can do it all and then even more. Cooking is made super easy with this highly versatile rice maker that is ideal for a large family or for dinner parties as it can take from two to 14 cups of rice.
There are six program settings: white rice, quick rice, whole grain, hot cereal, steam cook, and also heat/simmer. It can also cook all varieties of white rice, including short and long-grain rice, farro, quinoa, and will eliminate any guesswork out of cooking to make sure that your rice is cooked to perfection.
Planning for a dinner party? The Hamilton Beach cooker has got you covered: the “delay start” feature allows you to prepare your meals up to 15 hours in advance which makes breakfast and also meal planning easier. The quick function is great for when you need to cook rice for your hungry family in a hurry. The “keep warm” feature will keep your food warm until you are ready to serve it.
As well as cooking rice and steaming vegetables and fish, it has a heat/simmer setting which is an excellent function for cooking flavored pasta, rice mixes, beans, soups, and one-pot meals. The two-in-one rinse/steam basket not only ensures that fish and vegetables are cooked to perfection, but it also helps to prevent clumping and makes sure that your rice stays fresher for longer.
It is made from strong stainless steel with black plastic trim and the internal pot is made from aluminum with a dark non-stick coating and the steaming basket is made from BPA-free plastic. The pot, steamer basket, and also lid liner can be removed for easy cleaning in warm soapy water.
It can be purchased without the steamer basket. Hamilton Beach offers a limited warranty, five-years for purchases in Canada, and one-year for purchases in the US.
Pros
- Very good value for money
- Ideal for a large family or for entertaining
- High-quality stainless steel
- BPA-free plastic steamer basket
- Non-stick cooking pot
- Makes great tasting fluffy rice
- Highly versatile
- Can steam vegetables and fish
- Heat/Simmer function
- Six program settings
- Delay start for easy meal planning
- Two-in-one rice rinse/steam basket
- Automatic warming feature
- Easy to clean
Cons
- Bulky
- Programming takes some getting used to
5. Aroma Housewares Digital Rice Cooker
With an extra-large cooking capacity, a range of cooking options, and a high cooking performance, the stainless steel Aroma Housewares Digital Rice Cooker, home-cooked rice meals have never tasted so good! When you use the Aroma, you may find that restaurant meals will become a thing of the past.
This easy to use and multi-functional rice cooker can cook a large variety of rice meals and the result is well-cooked meals at just the touch of a button. It can cook from four to 20 cups of any variety of rice as well as steaming meat and vegetables while the rice cooks below in its own non-stick pot.
It can also make soups, jambalaya, and it also doubles as a 4-quart slow cooker for scrumptious one-pot roasts for those cold winter nights.
Whatever type of dish you want to cook, the programmable digital panel with easy to read controls takes all the guesswork out of cooking. There is a 15-hour delay timer for flexible meal planning, a slow cook and a steam function setting, and an automatic “keep warm” option that keeps your meals warm until you are ready to serve your latest creation.
Why not use the innovative “save time” button which can cut your cooking time up to 50%!
Not only does it make cooking easy, but the pot and other accessories can be removed for a quick cleaning in warm soapy water. It comes with a steam tray, rice measuring cup, and also a serving spatula.
Pros
- Excellent value for money
- Large cooking capacity
- High cooking performance
- Three-in-one: rice cooker, steam, and also a slow-cooker
- Easy to read and also use programmable functions
- 15-hour delay timer
- Time-saving feature
- Easy to clean
Cons
- Does not keep the food warm beyond 12 hours
- Only one heat setting
- No viewing window
6. Sistema Microwave Collection Rice Cooker
If you love your rice and would like a fast and easy way of preparing it, then the Microwave Rice Steamer from Sistema is the right choice for you. For a lot of busy working people or families who have a lot of sporting events that their kids need to attend, the microwave oven is the appliance of choice. So Sistema has come up with a unique way of preparing rice in a bright red rice steamer that offers great value for money.
As well as providing you with a quick and no-mess-no-fuss approach to cooking, this durable steamer/cooker is a great choice as the steaming function preserves vitamins and minerals, helps to retain flavor, texture, and color, and maintains moisture in the food, so that your rice stays fluffy and will not be dry or claggy.
The secret to its success is the pressure chamber tray that provides optimum cooking conditions for perfectly cooked rice every time.
The cooker/steamer was designed in New Zealand and is made from 100% strong plastic, which is BPA-free, so you can cook rice knowing that the container is safe to use in the microwave. The steamer has an 11 cup capacity which means it is just right for a large family. It also has patented easy locking clips for extra safety and a steam release vent in the solid plastic lid and cool to touch, easy-lift tabs.
This rice steamer comes with a rice paddle. It is also dishwasher safe (but it needs to be placed on the top rack). You can also safely store any leftovers in the fridge or freezer. Sistema also makes a large range of microwavable cooking products for all types of cooking applications.
The manufacturer states that you should follow their instructions and only use water to cook the rice and do not add oil or butter as it can get very hot, overheat, and can burn or melt the plastic container.
Pros
- Affordable price
- Ideal for a large family
- Pressure chamber provides excellent steaming and heating results
- Maintains moisture
- Can use it for reheating
- Easy locking clips
- Steam release vent in lid for splatter-free heating
- Durable phthalate-free and BPA-free plastic
- Quick and easy way of cooking rice
- Dishwasher, fridge, and also freezer safe
Cons
- Plastic gets very hot
- Overcooking can cause the plastic to melt
7. Cuckoo Multifunctional Micom Rice Cooker & Warmer
The Cuckoo Multifunctional Micom Rice Cooker & Warmer not only makes great-tasting fluffy rice, but it is also multi-functional. Its stylish white and pink modern design makes it excellent value for money. The first thing you notice about the Cuckoo is its sleek shape and pretty pink and white design, but more importantly, it delivers a high-quality cooking performance and offers you a lot of versatility.
It is made in Korea and utilizes the Fuzzy Logic & Intelligent Cooking Algorithm to create superb meals every time. The six different settings allow you to prepare a whole range of meals with just one appliance. You can cook up to six cups of rice, including white, brown, and also GABA rice. There is also a turbo setting and slow cooking function.
There is an extra-wide and easy to read LCD screen which displays the time and temperature. You can also adjust the time and temperature according to the food you want to cook. The lid flips open so you can easily access your rice when it is done. You can prepare your meals safely in the Teflon non-stick coated cooking pot, which can be removed for easy cleaning.
Two other key reasons that Cuckoo is so popular is that it is a fast worker. And the automatic warming feature keeps rice warm for a longer period of time. It also prevents the rice from turning yellow. Cuckoo offers a one-year warranty that covers all parts and labor.
Pros
- Ideal for six people
- Highly effective
- Intelligent Fuzzy Logic technology
- Teflon coating on the inner plate
- Can cook white, brown, and also GABA rice
- Six different cooking settings
- Includes turbo and slow-cooking functions
- Keeps rice warm without turning yellow
- Easy to clean
Cons
- Expensive
- Aluminum cooking pot is not scratch-resistant
- Hard to understand instructions
Our Top Pick for the Best Rice Cooker
Our top pick for the best rice cooker is the Aroma Housewares Digital Rice Cooker.
If you love your rice dishes, but would also like a cooker that offers you the versatility of being able to prepare other dishes in an appliance, then take home the Aroma rice cooker. It is high performing and also excellent value for money.
It has a large capacity, up to 20 cups of rice, which is enough to feed variously hungry kids in a large family or for those large dinner parties. You can also steam fish and vegetable meals, make hearty soups, and slow-cooking meals all at the simple press of a button.
Check the price on Amazon
