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The 9 Best Rice Cookers in 2023

The winner is the Zojirushi Neuro Fuzzy Rice Cooker and Warmer

By

Donna Currie

Donna Currie

Donna Currie is a food writer and blogger specializing in recipes and kitchen gadgets. She covers kitchen tools and gadgets for The Spruce Eats and is the author of Make Ahead Bread.

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and

Katya Weiss-Andersson

Katya Weiss-Andersson

Katya Weiss-Andersson is a commerce editor for The Spruce Eats. With eight years of experience as a professional chef cooking in cramped kitchens and developing recipes with limited space and equipment, Katya has become an expert on how to make life easier in the kitchen.

Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process

Updated on 08/5/22

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The Spruce Eats / Chloe Jeong

The Spruce Eats Top Picks

The Zojirushi Neuro Fuzzy Rice Cooker and Warmer is our top pick because it offers thermal sensor technology that adjusts time and temperature for the type of rice being cooked, and it performed superbly in testing. For a budget-friendly option, the Hamilton Beach Rice Cooker is a good choice, with easy-to-use functionality and cleanup.  

Rice is an affordable and versatile grain with many different varieties that can be enjoyed alone, as a side dish, or as the base for recipes like grain bowls, jambalayas, stir fries, and so much more.

Although the process of cooking rice on the stovetop is fairly easy—after all, it's just water and rice, usually in a 2-to-1 ratio—it's also easy to under or overcook your rice. If you've ever scorched a pan of rice or wondered why your rice is overly soft and mushy, you've realized cooking a pot of rice requires precise timing and supervision.

Rice cookers allow you to make a pot of perfectly textured, fluffy rice without any guesswork or babysitting. Most models can also be used to cook other grains, such as oats, quinoa, or polenta, and you can even use a rice cooker to make a no-stir risotto. Before buying, you'll want to consider a rice cooker's capacity and cooking functions for how much rice you eat and which types of rice you eat most often.

Here are our top rice cooker picks.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

Zojirushi Neuro Rice Cooker at Amazon

Best Splurge:

Zojirushi Induction Rice Cooker at Amazon

Best Budget:

Hamilton Beach Rice Cooker at Amazon

Best Basic:

Aroma Housewares 8-Cup Rice Cooker at Amazon

Best Smart Cooker:

Panasonic 5-Cup One-Touch Fuzzy Logic Rice Cooker at Amazon

Best Stovetop:

Presto Stainless Steel Pressure Cooker at Amazon

Best Large-Capacity:

Aroma Housewares 20-Cup Digital Rice Cooker & Food Steamer at Amazon

Best Microwavable:

Sistema 2. 6L Microwave Rice Cooker at Amazon

Best Multipurpose:

Instant Brands 20-Cup Rice Cooker at Amazon

In This Article

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What We Like

What We Don't Like

Zojirushi Neuro Fuzzy Rice Cooker and Warmer Review

Who else recommends it? Wirecutter and CNET both picked the Zojirushi Rice Cooker.

What do buyers say? 89% of 8,400+ Amazon reviewers rated this product 5 stars.

Zojirushi makes some of the best-selling and most loved rice makers. This model takes our top pick because it's compact and has computer chip technology to turn out perfectly cooked pots of rice. The Neuro Fuzzy line has two different capacities available: the 5.5-cup and the 10-cup model which is ideal for frequent entertaining and big families. Our review focused on the 5.5-cup model.

This technology, called "fuzzy logic," assess the cooker's temperature via a thermal sensor built into the bottom of the unit. The machine then makes adjustments to the cooking time and temperature according to the cooking requirements for the type of rice you selected.

You can choose between regular white rice, sushi rice, mixed, porridge, sweet, semi-brown, and brown rice settings. There are also settings for cooking rice without pre-rinsing, quick cooking, and options for softer and harder grains of white rice. Our tester did note that "a little planning goes a long way with this rice cooker. It took a whopping hour and 30 minutes to cook 2 cups of brown rice with the brown rice setting." Even with the longer cook time, the perfect results made it worth the wait.

The nonstick cooking pot has measurement markings on the inside so you can quickly eyeball how much water to add for different types of rice. The pot also has stay-cool handles so you can transfer a hot batch of rice to the table. Other noteworthy features include a removable inner lid for easier deep cleaning, carrying handle, retractable cord, LCD timer, and the inclusion of two measuring cups, a rice scooper, and spoon holder.

This 5.5-cup cooker makes up to 10 cups of cooked rice.

Price at time of publish: $231

The Spruce Eats / Renu Dhar

Uncooked Capacity: 5.5 cups | Cooked Capacity: 10 cups | Dimensions: 10.13 x 13 x 8.13 inches | Weight: 6.4 pounds | Time to Cook White Rice: 48 to 55 minutes | Power Rating: 680 watts

What Our Testers Say

"From half a cup of medium-grain white rice to about 5. 5 cups of long-grain white rice, the appliance produced perfectly cooked rice every time." — Renu Dhar, Product Tester

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Zojirushi Rice Cooker and Warmer Review

This rice cooker uses induction cooking that heats the bottom, sides, and lid of the pan and can make precise adjustments to the cooking temperature to make perfect rice, no matter what variety you're cooking, every time. It can make up to 5.5 cups of uncooked rice at a time and has settings for white rice (regular, softer, or harder), jasmine white rice, mixed rice, sushi rice, porridge, sweet rice, brown rice, GABA brown rice, and quick-cooking.

Chef Hiroyuki “Zama” Tanaka, owner of Philadelphia-based sushi restaurant Zama, recommends Zojirushi rice cookers, which he grew up with in Japan and still uses in both his restaurant and home today. He says, "The best thing about the Zojirushi induction cooker is the way it brings the boiling temperature up so quickly and evenly. It cooks the rice from both sides and top to bottom."

In our product testing, our reviewer was able to turn out an "absolutely perfect" 0.5-cup each of white and brown rice, with no gumminess or clumping, after following the manual instructions.

There are two keep-warm settings, one for holding rice for a short time when dinner might be delayed, and another for keeping the rice warm for longer than eight hours. The extended keep-warm uses a slightly lower temperature to keep the rice from drying out and can hold the rice for up to 24 hours.

The cooker lets you choose between a standard beep notification, melody, or silent mode to let you know the rice is ready. The cooking pot has a nonstick coating for easy cleaning, and the cooker includes a measuring cup and rice paddle.

Price at time of publish: $348

The Spruce Eats / Caroline Goldstein 

Uncooked Capacity: 5. 5 cups | Cooked Capacity: 10 cups | Dimensions: 10 x 14 x 8 inches | Weight: 9 pounds | Time to Cook White Rice: 47 to 54 minutes | Power Rating: 1,230 watts

What Our Testers Say

"The Zojirushi is simple to get the hang of, despite its technologically advanced design. Its orange LCD control panel is easy to read, and choosing the appropriate cooking setting using the Menu button is intuitive—even if you’re typically tech-averse." — Caroline Goldstein, Product Tester

Hamilton Beach

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What We Like

What We Don't Like

Hamilton Beach's 8-Cup Rice Cooker Is a One-Hit Wonder

Our testers reviewed a previous model of this product and loved its value—this newer model has additional features at the same price point. Hamilton Beach's wallet-friendly rice cooker includes a basket for rinsing rice or for steaming foods in the cooker and has a removable nonstick cooking pot for easy cleaning. It holds up to 8 cups of cooked rice to feed a crowd. Users note that it cooks rice beautifully every time.

Operation is easy, just note that all batch sizes take 45 minutes to cook. When the rice is done, it automatically switches to a keep-warm setting—although some users reported that the warm setting overcooked the rice at the edge of the pot if left on for a while.

Besides making rice, you can cook whole grains or use the steamer basket for vegetables or fish. For easy cleaning, both the cooking bowl and steaming basket are dishwasher-safe, while the lid is removable for hand washing. A carrying handle makes it easy to move or store.

Price at time of publish: $47

The Spruce Eats / Caroline Goldstein

Uncooked Capacity: 4 cups | Cooked Capacity: 8 cups | Dimensions: 8. 25 x 9.74 x 9.88 inches | Weight: 4 pounds | Time to Cook White Rice: 45 minutes | Power Rating: 250 watts

What Our Testers Say

"You’d be hard-pressed to find a rice cooker that’s easier to use." — Caroline Goldstein, Product Tester

Courtesy of Amazon

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This best-selling rice cooker get high marks for being affordable, easy to use, and the perfect size for most households. Measuring almost 10 inches tall by 8.9 inches wide, it's got a small footprint that won't take up too much counter or cabinet space.

It has settings for cooking white and brown rice and can cook up to 8 cups of cooked rice per batch. A warming mode switches on automatically when the rice is finished cooking so your rice stays at the perfect temperature for serving.

The newest version of this cooker has an upgraded pot made of bonded granite construction for added durability, nonstick cooking, and easy dishwasher cleanup. Previously, our tester noted some chemical smell during cooking, but that issue should be fixed with the new pot.

User-friendly features include a non-stick interior for easy cleaning, a condensation collector to capture cooking steam, and a slot built into the lid to stash a spatula for scooping. It comes with a measuring cup, plastic rice spatula, and a removable steamer tray. The steamer tray can be used to steam meat, fish, tofu, or vegetables while the rice cooks so you have a complete meal with minimal work or cleanup.

Price at time of publish: $40

Uncooked Capacity: 4 cups | Cooked Capacity: 8 cups | Dimensions: 8.6 x 8.5 x 9.3 inches | Weight: 4.9 pounds | Time to Cook White Rice: 36 to 41 minutes | Power Rating: 450 watts

Courtesy of Amazon. com.

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What We Don't Like

This is another smart rice cooker with a micro-computer that adjusts its power depending on how much rice is being cooked. This means the rice is cooked perfectly every time, whether you’re cooking rice for one person or for your whole family.

While the cooker is a smart model, the controls are very simple to use, with icons on the buttons for selecting white rice, brown rice, porridge, or soup, or the quick-cooking or steaming modes. It has an auto-shutoff and can keep rice warm for up to 12 hours after it has been cooked.

The cooker comes with a steaming basket, rice paddle, and measuring cup. The power cord is detachable for safety and storage, and the interior bowl has a nonstick coating for easy cleaning.

If 10 cups of cooked rice isn’t enough, there is a larger model that can make up to 20 cups of cooked rice.

Price at time of publish: $94

Uncooked Capacity: 5 cups | Cooked Capacity: 10 cups | Dimensions: 10.2 x 13.9 x 7.8 inches | Weight: 6.6 pounds | Time to Cook White Rice: 38 minutes | Power Rating: 750 watts

The 6 Best Multi-Cookers of 2022

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Sure, you can cook rice in a standard pot, but a pressure cooker does it easier and faster since pressure cookers work up to 10 times faster than normal cooking methods. Even better for your wallet and your storage space, a stovetop pressure cooker is a multi-use item that you can use every day. If you don’t pressurize the pot, you can use it just like a standard saucepan.

This has a 6-quart capacity and is made from stainless steel that’s rustproof, nonreactive, and stain-resistant. It can be used on any type of stove, including induction, and it has a helper handle to make it easy to move.

During pressure cooking, the pressure regulator maintains the proper cooking pressure automatically, and the cover locks securely while under pressure with a sealing ring that keeps the steam inside the cooker. For safety, an overpressure plug releases pressure if it builds up too high. The pot is dishwasher-safe for easy cleaning.

Price at time of publish: $80

Uncooked Capacity: 10 cups | Cooked Capacity: 20 cups | Dimensions: 17.31 x 9.12 x 8.75 inches | Weight: 5.32 pounds | Time to Cook White Rice: 5 to 8 minutes

The 7 Best Pressure Cookers for Quick and Easy Meals

Courtesy of Amazon.com.

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If your goal is to cook a lot of rice without a lot of fuss, this 10-cup cooker can make up to 20 cups of cooked rice per batch.

There are presets for cooking white and brown rice and the cooker can also be used to slow cook or steam. A steaming tray is included and can be used at the same time rice is cooking. Place meat or veggies on the tray, and the steam from the cooking rice will cook the rest of your food for a one pot meal.

The 15-hour delay timer means you can prep your rice and cooking water in the morning and program the cooker to start cooking later in the day so that your rice is done and waiting for you when you get home.

This cooker also comes with a measuring cup and rice paddle. All removable parts, including the inner pot, can be washed in the dishwasher.

Price at time of publish: $40

Uncooked Capacity: 10 cups | Cooked Capacity: 20 cups | Dimensions: 11.3 x 11.3 x 11 inches | Weight: 8.7 pounds | Time to Cook White Rice: 40 to 45 minutes | Power Rating: 860 watts

The 7 Best Food Steamers of 2023

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For an easy way to cook rice that doesn’t involve yet another countertop appliance, this microwave cooker is ready to produce perfect rice in your microwave.

The cooker has an 11-cup capacity, so you can make rice for the whole family, and the steamer plus pressure chamber design produces fluffy rice every time. Locking clips hold the lid in place during cooking, while steam vents release steam without spatter. Side tabs stay cooler and make it easy to remove the cooker from the microwave when cooking is done. The cooker is made from BPA-free plastic.

Price at time of publish: $29

Uncooked Capacity: 5.5 cups | Cooked Capacity: 11 cups | Dimensions: 8.5 x 7.68 x 6.34 inches | Weight: 10. 9 ounces | Time to Cook White Rice: 8-12 minutes

The 10 Best Small Kitchen Appliances for Compact Spaces

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If you don’t make rice on a daily basis, it might make sense to get an appliance that can cook more than just rice. While this Instant Pot can cook rice for sure, you can also use it for slow cooking, sautéing, steaming, and warming. The Zest lacks the pressure cooking feature that other Instant Pot products offer, which may be ideal for cooks who don't want to pressure cook but want all the other features.

It's available in 8-cup, 20-cup, or 20-cup Plus models. The 20-cup Plus stands out because it has 13 preset cooking functions to perfectly cook every grain you can think of, from white and brown rice to couscous, oats, risotto, and more. It includes a steamer basket, rice measuring cup, and rice spoon.

Price at time of publish: $60

Uncooked Capacity: 10 cups | Cooked Capacity: 20 cups | Dimensions: 11.3 x 11.26 x 11.42 inches | Weight: 6.61 pounds | Time to Cook White Rice: 25 to 60 minutes | Power Rating: 860 watts

We Researched the Best Instant Pots—Here Are Our Top Picks

Final Verdict

Our top choice is the Zojirushi Neuro Fuzzy Rice Cooker & Warmer, which has a thermal sensor that allows the cooker to automatically adjust cooking time and temperature. Our budget-friendly pick, the Hamilton Beach Rice Cooker , also performed well in testing and is easy to use.

The Spruce Eats / Caroline Goldstein

What to Look for in a Rice Cooker

Capacity

A rice cooker's capacity is usually measured in the number of cups of uncooked rice it can hold, and most types of rice expand to double that amount when cooked.

Presets

Many rice cookers come with presets for different types of rice, as well as ones that include adjustments for making your rice softer or firmer than usual. Basic cookers, on the other hand, might just have an on/off toggle with no additional settings.

Extra Features

Besides being able to cook different types of rice, some units venture beyond grains and can be used as slow cookers or steamers for vegetables or fish. If you don’t cook rice regularly, those extra features might make a rice cooker more useful more often.

FAQs

How do you use a rice cooker?

Making rice in a rice cooker is as easy as measuring your uncooked rice, rinsing your rice until it runs clear, measuring cooking water, placing your rice and water in the rice cooker, adding any additional seasonings you like, and setting the rice cooker according to the type of rice or grain you're cooking.

The exact instructions for your rice cooker will be included in the user manual. You should read over the instructions so you know exactly how to get perfectly cooked rice in your cooker.

Can you cook quinoa in a rice cooker?

Yes, you can cook quinoa in a rice cooker. Consult the cooker manual for recommended grain to liquid ratios for best results.

The Spruce / Renu Dhar

What else can you make in a rice cooker?

Most grains can be cooked in a rice cooker including barley, farro, grits, quinoa, and oats. Some rice cookers include steaming inserts that can be used to steam vegetables, meat, or fish.

There are also recipes for cakes and egg dishes that are cooked in a rice cooker. Some home cooks even use rice cookers to steam-cook hard-boiled eggs.

How do you clean a rice cooker?

Before cleaning, make sure the rice cooker is turned off and cooled down. The cooking insert and detachable lids can be removed and washed by hand or placed in the dishwasher. Check the manual to verify whether these parts are dishwasher-safe. If there is stuck-on food in the pot or lid, you can let them soak first in hot, soapy water.

If your cooker has a lid that does not detach from the cooking base, use a wet sponge to wipe it clean, but do not submerge the cooker in water. The inside and outside of the cooking base can also be wiped with a damp cloth or sponge.

Why Trust The Spruce Eats?

Donna Currie is a cookbook author who writes roundups and reviews products for The Spruce Eats. She has tested more than 90 kitchen products for the brand.

This roundup was updated by Katya Weiss-Andersson, a writer and editor who has nearly a decade of experience as a professional chef, Sharon Lehman, RDN, a home cook and registered dietician nutritionist, and Katrina Munichiello, a writer and editor who specializes in the tea and food industries.

Here Are the Best Woks to Make Impressive Stir-Fry at Home

Additional reporting by

Fran Sales

Fran Sales

Fran is an associate editor for The Spruce Eats, where she helps with managing product testing operations, as well as creating and editing content.  

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Updated by

Sharon Lehman, RDN

Sharon Lehman, RDN

Sharon Lehman is a freelance writer and Registered Dietitian Nutritionist specializing in food, health, and wellness topics. She is the Small Appliance Expert for The Spruce Eats.

Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process

and

Katrina Munichiello

Katrina Munichiello

Katrina Munichiello is a freelance writer and editor whose career began in the tea industry. Her work has appeared in Yankee Magazine, Connecticut Magazine, and the Boston Globe Sunday Magazine. A highlight of her career was covering a Mother’s Day tea event at the White House.

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Article Sources

The Spruce Eats uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

  1. The Best Rice Cooker. Wirecutter. https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/the-best-rice-cooker/

  2. Best Rice Cookers for 2022. CNET. https://www.cnet.com/home/kitchen-and-household/best-rice-cooker/

  3. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29363749/

7 best rice cookers in 2022, according to chefs

Rice is one of the most widely consumed grains in the world and a staple food in many cultures. And there's a good reason: It’s extremely versatile, with the capability of acting simply as a side dish or as the main element of many different meals.

“Rice is a staple in Asian cuisine and a common denominator in all Asian cultures,” said Sherman Yeung, the executive chef and owner of Tobiuo Sushi & Bar in Katy, Texas, and Money Cat in Houston. “It’s nice to see others taking a greater interest in properly cooking [it]. ”

Preparing the ideal fluffy rice can be tricky, especially when considering the precise cooking time, measurements and ratios it takes to actually get decent consistency and texture. That’s where the rice cooker can come in handy — it helps you make the perfect rice every time at the touch of a button.

SKIP AHEAD Best rice cookers to consider | How to shop for a rice cooker

Rice cookers can vary from basic one-button types that can cook simple white rice to more high-tech options that feature multiple buttons with different functions to cook grains like quinoa and oatmeal or even steam vegetables. They can also vary in price point, ranging from as low as $20 to upwards of $250, according to the experts we spoke to.

To learn more about how rice cookers work and determine which one is right for you, we talked to professional chefs, cooking teachers and food bloggers about the difference between different types of rice cookers, who should use them and how to shop for them. We also highlighted some of their favorite rice cookers.

What is a rice cooker and what are the benefits?

Mitsubishi developed the first consumer-oriented rice cooker in Japan in 1945. The first automated electric rice cooker came about about a decade later, thanks to Toshiba, and the electric cooker we typically see today followed shortly after — it was introduced by Zojirushi in 1965 and included a Stay Warm function.

After the introduction of rice cookers in Japan, these devices branched out to several countries, including South Korea, which makes several popular rice cooker models, and the U.S., which produces some of the more basic and inexpensive ones. And the popularity of rice cookers worldwide comes as no surprise: They offer consistency, versatility and efficiency.

Today, rice cookers are a kitchen staple in many households. Sonoko Sakai, a cooking teacher and author of “Japanese Home Cooking: Simple Meals, Authentic Flavors,” noted that a rice cooker “is as common as a toaster oven or toaster in Japan,” mostly because rice is “typically the centerpiece of our table. ” Here in the U.S., she said rice cookers are starting to become just as popular. “[I’ve noticed that] the American palate is evolving and accepting more Asian cooking,” she noted.

A rice cooker completely controls the cooking process, meaning it can give you some flexibility to leave the room while your rice cooks. “You program it, press the button and walk away,” Sakai noted. She added that unlike cooking rice in a pot, you’re more likely to get the same ideal result every time with a rice cooker.

“When I was in college, I had a rice cooker that had only one button and it did a pretty good job. Now they have all the bells and whistles. They want to pressure cook the rice in … the traditional way” she said.

Conventional versus smart rice cookers

The experts we spoke to separated rice cookers into two main categories: conventional cookers and smart, computerized cookers. Conventional rice cookers tend to be very easy to use — you just add your ingredients and press a button to start. These are inexpensive and tend to cook the rice very quickly — some have additional features like a warming function.

Smart rice cookers, on the other hand, use fuzzy logic to determine the best way to cook the rice and make small adjustments on their own to achieve that, even if you mess up the ratio of ingredients or leave the rice in for too long. Although smart rice cookers usually provide the best cooking results, they’re typically more expensive than conventional rice cookers, sometimes costing more than $500 or $600.

You’ll also find rice cooker options in popular kitchen appliances like pressure cookers, including the Instant Pot, and slow cookers like the Crock Pot. Looking for appliances that include a rice cooker function can save you money and counter space in the long run, but experts told us to keep in mind that even rice cookers themselves can serve multiple purposes — some have steamer functions for vegetables and dumplings or a slow cooker function for meats.

Best rice cookers to consider

Below, we highlighted both expert-recommended rice cookers as well as highly rated options aligned with expert guidance. All of the rice cookers we recommend have a Keep Warm function, per expert guidance.

Zojirushi NS-TSC10 5 1/2-Cup Micom Rice Cooker

All the experts we spoke to recommended the Japanese brand Zojirushi for rice cookers, and Yeung suggested this specific 5 1/2-cup model that he’s been using for years. “Zojirushi — or ‘little elephant’ — is unanimously the most popular rice cooker among all the Asians I know,” he said. This model features an extended warming function that keeps rice warm for several hours along with a reheating option. It also uses its own “logic” to make small adjustments to cook the ideal rice, according to the brand.

Tiger JKT-D Series IH Stainless Steel Multifunctional Rice Cooker

Yeung and Sakai agreed that Tiger makes reliable products. This rice cooker features induction heating, which uses alternating electric current to heat up the entire inner pot for even cooking, according to the brand. It has a 5 1/2-cup capacity, a large inner pot with a nonstick ceramic coating and a warming function that keeps rice hot for up to 24 hours, Tiger says. You’ll also find settings to cook different types of rice and grains, including porridge, brown rice and multigrain rice, along with a slow cooking option.

Panasonic 5-Cup Japanese Rice Cooker

This rice cooker from Panasonic lets you properly cook quinoa, porridge, sticky rice, brown rice, frozen rice and more. The warm setting automatically activates when cooking is done and keeps the contents warm for up to 12 hours, according to the brand. This model also features induction heating to cook rice evenly, and the durable seven-layer inner pot is both nonstick and heat-efficient.

Aroma Housewares 8-Cup Digital Cool-Touch Rice Cooker and Food Steamer

At less than $50, this Aroma rice cooker is more affordable than other high-tech brands but still capable of making good rice. This 8-cup model includes a user-friendly display with eight presets, including brown rice, quinoa, slow cook and oatmeal. It comes with a steam tray that fits toward the top of the device to steam food and vegetables while simultaneously cooking inside the pot. The sauté-then-simmer function also lets you cook food at a high heat, then automatically switches to simmer mode once you add liquid. When you’re done cooking, it automatically switches to Keep Warm mode, the brand says.

Toshiba Rice Cooker 6 Cups With Fuzzy Logic and One-Touch Cooking

This 6-cup rice cooker from Toshiba includes seven pre-programmed settings to cook multiple kinds of rice as well as quinoa, oatmeal and porridge. It features two programmable delay functions that let you set a timer for whenever you want your ingredients to be cooked and ready, according to the brand. It also includes a quick-cook function that Toshiba says can deliver hot steaming rice in 30 minutes.

Black & Decker 3-Cup Dry/6-Cup Rice Cooker and Steamer

Although not as robust, our experts say the simple, easy-to-use Black & Decker Rice Cooker and Steamer is more than capable of delivering a great batch of rice. It cooks up to 6 cups of rice and equips just one button to cook it. Included is a measuring cup, a rice paddle (a large flat spoon to stir and serve rice) and a plastic steamer basket. The indicator lights let you know when the rice is cooking and when it’s warm, while the tempered glass lid features a steam vent and handles on the top and the sides.

Instant Pot Zest 8-Cup Rice Cooker

While the original Instant Pot already has a basic rice cooker option, the Instant Pot Zest is specifically designed to function as a rice cooker, complete with four smart programs that let you cook white and brown rice, quinoa and oatmeal. It also features a steam option for conveniently steaming vegetables, fish and more using the included dishwasher-safe steamer tray. It can make up to 8 cups of rice, according to the brand.

How to shop for a rice cooker

Experts told us that the best rice cooker for you will depend on how you’re planning to use it and how often. Below are some of the main features that experts recommended considering when looking into which rice cooker to purchase.

Capacity

The ideal capacity of your rice cooker depends on your planned meals, how often you eat rice and how many people you’re hoping to feed. According to the experts we consulted, rice cooker capacities can range from 3 cups up to 10 cups. Sakai recommended a 5-cup model for families of four and said a 3-cup option can work well if you’re a single student or a family that “only occasionally eats rice.” Larger families, as well as those who typically use rice as the main element of their meals, can likely benefit from a 7- or 10-cup rice cooker.

Functions

Like we previously mentioned, a rice cooker can have multiple functions to cook various types of rice, grains and other foods.

According to Yeung, one of the most important features of any rice cooker is the Keep Warm function. “This is particularly handy if you are cooking for a large group and need to safely maintain your rice at a consistent, warm temperature for a long period of time,” he said. If your rice ever becomes dry, Yeung said you can “place a damp paper towel over [it] and reheat it.”

Another especially useful feature to look for is a timer function, which can be great for people who want to start their meal prep early, Sakai said. This function lets you place rice and water in the pot in advance and set a timer for when you want the rice to be done.

Ease of use

While rice cookers with multiple functions can be great on the cooking front, more buttons and functions can be tricky to figure out at first. If you’re someone who occasionally eats rice and you aren’t looking for the bells and whistles of a smart rice cooker, the simple design of a conventional cooker — which typically just features a few labeled buttons — can really be all you need.

Cleaning a rice cooker is much easier than cleaning after cooking rice on a stovetop pot, since the rice doesn’t usually stick to the bottom. However, some affordable models can be tougher to clean. Sakai said it's important to be gentle when cleaning a rice cooker pot with soap and water so as to not scratch the inner pot of the rice cooker. Similarly, she recommended rinsing the rice outside of the rice cooker — preferably using a colander — to avoid unsightly scratches. (If you do scratch the pot or if it has wear and tear after years of use, rice cooker inner pots are easy to replace and can cost less than $100, Sakai said.)

Cooking time

Another useful feature is the time it takes for a rice cooker to actually cook the rice. The experts we spoke to noted that different models will vary in terms of cooking time — some will cook rice in as little as 20 minutes, while others (typically the more high-tech options) may take 10 to 25 minutes longer to cook rice to a perfect consistency. Different types of rice will also vary in the time they'll take to cook. You should always refer to the device’s user manual to determine how long your ingredients will take to cook.

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Xiaomi Mijia Rice Cooker 2 (1.5 L) (MFB05M)

Xiaomi Mijia Rice Cooker 2 (1.5 L) (MFB05M)

1.5 liter bowl

9000 allows you to get about 5-6 cups of fragrant and perfectly cooked rice. This rice cooker is perfect for preparing a delicious lunch with your loved ones, as well as for holding a gala dinner with numerous dishes and snacks.

An excellent helper for various dishes:

9000

9000 9000 fragrant rice in one touch takes only 28 minutes. Save cooking time.

Compact body

The laconic design and small size of the body are another distinguishing features of the Xiaomi Mijia Rice Cooker 2 (1.5L) (MFB05M) Smart Rice Cooker. The snow-white color is perfect for any interior, and the light weight makes it easy to move the device as you wish. nine0003

Touch control panel

Xiaomi Mijia Smart Rice Cooker 2 (1.5L) (MFB05M) has a glass touch control panel on top, thanks to the material, it is easy to clean and scratch resistant.

Remote control using the proprietary Mi Home application

Using a convenient mobile application, you will not only be able to control the device remotely, but also find many interesting recipes from different parts of the world. nine0003

Suitable for any variety of rice

From regular long grain to exotic Thai, Mijia smart rice cooker can choose more than optimal cooking30 varieties30 , fully revealing the unique taste of each of them. With long cooking at low temperature, rice is better saturated with water and becomes softer, and fast cooking at high power makes the grains more elastic. nine0003

Non-stick coating

The inner bowl of the rice cooker consists of 5 different layers and has a durable 1. 7 mm thick PFA non-stick coating. Thanks to the even distribution of heat, there is now no need to constantly stir the cereal during cooking - Xiaomi Mijia Rice Cooker 2 implements the same cooking speed for all parts of the rice.

Dual temperature sensor

The body is equipped with a dual temperature sensor that monitors the operation of the device and warns when the rice bowl is overflowing . If the temperature exceeds the allowed temperature, the sensor automatically switches the rice cooker to the optimal fire mode and warns you of any problems. nine0003

Keep warm

With your mobile phone, you can cook your favorite food even when you are away from home. The keep warm function will keep the rice warm and fragrant even after 24 hours!