Kitchen & Dining » Small Appliances » Top 10 Best Rice Cooker Reviews and Buying Guide for 2021

Top 10 Best Rice Cooker Reviews and Buying Guide for 2021

I don’t know why the rice cooker named only rice cooker. When it has a lot more things offer to do.

I have seen this product from my childhood. When I was a kid. My friends & family use to arrange a picnic once in a month on vacation. My mom made some rice meatballs for us.

After having these, we use to play the whole day long on our yard. Those rice meatballs were the best in the world. I wish I could always be stuck to that period moment. Oh, those days were the best days of my life.

OK moving from that.

A rice cooker is a great thing to have. You can try to make several kinds of dishes and recipes by using this. You also use it as a hot pot. Mostly it can cook white rice, Buckwheat, and Brown rice. Sounds like rice racism. Any social activist here? Give me a cheer.

Some rice cooker is a slow cooker, some are cooking fast. Many rice cookers get overheated in a while and some of it had hard functionality, which is hardly apparent, some of it soaks the water instantly. Those are typically some basic issues people are facing most.

So here we talk about what precautions do you need to take before you buy a rice cooker.

All the rice cooker we reviewed down it wins many consumers heart.

You can choose several from the Table.

Best Rice Cookers Comparison Table

IMAGEPRODUCTDETAILS 
1-instant-pot-duo
  • Capacity: 12 Cups
  • Material: Stainless Steel
  • Color: Black
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3-instant-pot-ip-lux60
  • Capacity: 24 Cups
  • Material: Stainless Steel
  • Color: Black
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2-aroma-housewares
  • Capacity: 8 Cups
  • Material: Stainless Steel
  • Color: Silver
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11-hamilton-beach-37548
  • Capacity: 8 Cups
  • Material: Plastic
  • Color: White
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4-aroma-housewares
  • Capacity: 20 Cups
  • Material: Aluminum
  • Color: Black
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5-zojirushi-ns-tsc10
  • Capacity: 12 Cups
  • Material: Steel
  • Color: Stainless Brown
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6-tiger-corporation
  • Capacity: 14 Cups
  • Material: Plastic
  • Color: White
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7-hamilton-beach-37508
  • Capacity: 8 Cups
  • Material: Plastic
  • Color: White
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Zojirushi
  • Capacity: 8 Cups
  • Material: Plastic
  • Color: White
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12-zojirushi-ns-lac05xt
  • Capacity: 12 Cups
  • Material: Stainless Steel
  • Color: Black/Stainless Steel
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Below there is a buying guide to the bottom of the article, I discuss some common features of the rice cooker and what to look for when comparing different rice cooker. Check out these guides to find the Best Rice Cooker for you.

Rice cooker

A rice cooker may just look like a machine which just cooks rice. The fun thing is it’s just not a machine to cook rice and it also has some authentic historical background.

Modern rice cookers were first developed in japan named as Shihanki.

This popular kitchen device rice cooker was first introduced in Japan by Toshiba. It is an Automated appliance designed to cook or boil rice, veggies, and meats. It equipped with a heat source, a cooking pan, and a thermostat.

The thermostat is the main thing on a rice cooker, because, it measures and control the temperature of the cooking pan.

Modern rice cookers have many more sensors like fuzzy logic and other mechanisms, and also versatile.

About 20 minutes to 1 hour, it is the time duration for most electric rice cookers to complete cooking, depending on quantity.

History of Rice cooker

In 1937 a rice cooker which was actually a rectangular wooden box with two electric circuits attached to the end’s opposite to each other. It was introduced by the Imperial Japanese Army.

That rice cooker wasn’t an appropriate one and had many malfunctionality in controlling. So, in 1945, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation commercially launched a rice cooker with a heating coil inside which required continuous monitoring when cooking.

Mitsubishi rice cooker wasn’t also successful and wanted one. Those invented things were nothing but just some heat-producing bowls.

Then in 1956, after many times of failure, The Toshiba Corporation was on the market with the actually successful modern automated electric rice cooker which was invented by Yoshitada Minami.

Days after days this process got new ways and developed more. Time passed and this machine became smarter. As a result, today’s most advanced rice cookers are on our step next.

Why need a rice cooker?

Cooking rice has required continuous monitoring to confirm the rice was cooked appropriately, and not overcooked.

An electric rice cooker programs the cooking method by automatically and controlling time and heat. So, freeing up the heat on the cooking range, otherwise, everybody may busy with rice cooking.

Once the rice cooker is set to cook, just measuring the rice, cooking the rice properly and using the right amount of water, then the rice will be cooked with no further attention.

With the rice cooker, you can also cook pasta, oatmeal, vegetables, meats, sauces and many more.

Necessity is the mother of invention and because of the necessity, only the rice cooker is also invented. There are many reasons to use it. This machine named just a rice cooker but it does more than that. The things because a rice cooker has to be used are:

Cooks perfect rice

Rice is the most calories observing and easy to digest grain. Most of the people in the world live their days on it. It can easily kill hunger. This one is the food which is easiest to cook. The problem is, it’s very easy to cook but very much time conscious one has to be when cooking rice. Not knowing the perfect timing can make the rice hard, sometimes sticky and sometimes burns also. With a rice cooker, it’s never that hard. All you have to do is put the water, put the rice, get the machine plugged, and set the time. Your perfect fluffy good textured rice is ready to consume.

The time-saver

In today’s fastest-growing world the thing we have lesser than the less is time. Time became the most precious and valuable thing to the modern world as it says “time is money”. Your one is not different from that. Who wants to waste time making food hours long? So, nothing but the rice cooker is the best solution. It cooks itself on time lesser than the burner and stores the food inside safe and warm as you want.

They don’t only cook rice

Yes, the rice cooker has rice on their name just. They cook more than rice. Hundreds of varieties of foods from breakfast to dinner can be prepared on the rice cooker. Many easy and time-saving rice cooker recipes you can find online.

How does it work?

Before buying a rice cooker, the most vital thing to know about it is, how it works?

Yes, not knowing the perfect way of handling it can make things annoying. So, here we are.

First of all, it has four parts:

  • Main body
  • Cooking pot
  • Heating plate in the bottom of the body
  • And the thermostat controlling sensor

The thermostat device is actually a digital thermometer which measures the heat of the cooking pot every time. Its functioning is very significant for perfect cooking.

When water is put into the pot, the early setup temperature of the device quickly brings the water to boil.

Then when the water matches the temperature the device stops to produce heat and keeps the water on the temperature as it is.

Because of the perfect temperature, the rice grains become able to soak water and the perfect rice is produced.

That’s how the rice cooker functions and makes perfect rice.

How to use it?

Not only the working process of the rice cooker is enough but to know the use of it is also a very important thing. It works in steps so the steps to use a rice cooker are:

  • First to plug in the cooker.
  • Then measure the amount of rice you want to cook.
  • Net to put the rice on the cooker pot maintaining the ratio of water.
  • Set the cooker on cooker mood and to wait until fully and perfectly cooked.

Once the rice is cooked perfectly no need to remove it just keep the rice on the cooker and turn on the ‘keep warm’ mode. The rice will be warm until eaten in this mode.

Kinds of Rice Cookers

As rice cooker is a machine and manufactured by different companies. The user of this machine is worldwide and all their needs aren’t the same. All the people don’t earn the same not everyone can afford the same. So, the manufacturers comparing the want of their customers made different kinds of cookers. There are many varieties of the cooker and these are:

Simple cookers

This type is the most common and cheapest of all. They are a regular rice cooker. No special features they have. Their special is only to get automatically switched off when the rice is cooked. Most of them don’t have non-stick inner pots and light indicators.

Keep-warm cookers

For those who can invest some more on their cooker, this one is for them. This one includes a feature named keep-warm which helps to keep the cooked food warm for a long time even if it is cooked 2 or 3 hours ago. This feature is good for the family in which everyone doesn’t eat together.

Digital-control featured cookers

This category is one of the most advanced categories. This one includes the reheat cycle, quick-cooking technology, porridge cycle, and texture control feature which makes them more advanced. They cost higher than in other categories.

Fuzzy-logic technology included cookers

This one is the most modern technology used in modern rice cookers. Rice cookers with fuzzy logic technology are not very new but they are the most expensive of all. Their specialty is, they just don’t cook rice but helps to cook brown rice, soups, etc. other meals, and snacks. Any recipe related to rice cooker can be prepared on the rice cooker.

Induction rice cookers

These cookers are the most advanced, active, highly-priced, and most wanted modern rice cookers. They are designed with artificial intelligence and can cook by themselves.

If you are one of them who don’t know how to use a rice cooker this one for you. All you have to do is put the ingredients inside and get the machine plugged, other works it will do by itself without bothering you. Working with them is kind of effortless cooking.

What is Fuzzy-Logic?

You may read about some rice cookers have “fuzzy-logic” and curious about what that is. Fuzzy-logic rice cookers developed with computer chips that have the ability to make proper regulations for cooking time and temperature. Not like basic rice cookers, which complete cooking in a sole-minded, mechanical method, on the other hand, Fuzzy-logic technology automatically regulates cooking parameters for best cooking performance.

What is Induction Cooking?

best-rice-cooker

Induction technology started to used in cooking in the early 1900s, but only America has gained mainstream consideration in the last few decades.

Induction cooking is made using direct induction heating of cooking bowls, moreover depend on indirect energy, thermal conduction, or convection.

Induction cooking provides very fast increases and high power in temperature to be reached, and changes in heat functions.

A coil of copper rope is placed under the cooking pan and an alternating electric current is passed through it in the induction cooktop.

Manufacturers are now working to produce more cost and energy-efficient models, which are gaining popularity all over the world.

How to Cook Rice in a Rice Cooker

best-rice-cooker

Different types of rice available in the market, and they require an exact amount of water-to-rice ratios and times.

Your rice cooker may come with modern features, such as warming controls, automatic timers, or settings for different types of rice like brown rice, white rice, etc. In this cause, we mention to reading the manual before cooking.

However, to start rice cooking, we’ve described the universal steps for cooking white rice. Really, it’s so easy, you’ll sorry why you delayed so long to buy a rice cooker!

Rinse rice

Take a cup rice into a pot, then rinse out it under running water. Rinsing rice grains take away excess starch from the outward and helps make the rice fluffier.

Mix rice and water—and any others

Uncover the lid of your rice cooker and add the rinsed rice and 1-1/2 cups of normal water into the pan. If you need to add any flavors or cooking oil, now’s the time. Once you’ve added the whole thing you want, go forward and close the lid.

Keep and forget

Set your rice cooker to the suitable customization, then switch it on. If white rice, you’ll be busy with another thing for about 20 to 25 minutes for it to cook. Your rice cooker will automatically turn to the keep warm option when the cooking rice is done.

Let it rest then serve

Let your rice relax for an extra five minutes before serving. This may help any extra steam to absorb into the rice for ideal fluff.

Then, take your rice from the cooker pan and serve it with something delightful.

An Overview of The Best Rice Cooker

1. Instant PotDuo Mini 3 Qt 7-in-1 Slow Rice Cooker

93
AVERAGE
SCORE
23798

Now you may spend less time in the kitchen as you make up a meal in no time at all with the support of The Instant Pot Duo Mini 3 Quart Pressure Cooker.

Build for today’s people with your busy routine kept in mind, the Instant Pot is a smart electric cooker that helps you rapid up your cooking!

That decodes to very effective cooking & more significantly, you no longer have to monitor while your rice is prepped to precision, all with the press of a key! 

This presser cooker is capable of doing more than preparing beautiful dishes at the scheduled time.

The Instant Pot Duo Mini is a 7-in-1 programmable multi-functional cooker the syndicates the utility of a pressure cooker, rice cooker, slow cooker, warmer & yogurt maker, saute, steamer!

Key Features

  • 7-in-1 Multi-Use Programmable Pressure Cooker.
  • It comes with 11 Smart Built-In Programs.
  • With LED screen you can monitor the cooking time status.
  • It has Dual Pressure Settings.
  • Quick & Easy Program Adjustments even while cooking is in progress.
  • Delay Start time Up to whole day.
  • Up to 10 hours automatic keep warm.
  • Very energy efficient – it saves up to 70% of the power.
  • Cooking Pot made with stainless steel.
  • Exterior made with Brushed stainless steel.
  • 700W power to Run it to range pressure rapidly.
  • Power supply: 120V – 60Hz.

Customer Review

I LOVE my Instant Pot! But I will be the first to admit that it can be a little intimidating at first, and it can feel like it has a steep learning curve (and I’m a tech reviewer and tech lawyer, and one of those people who generally just jumps in and figures things out without reading the manuals (“Manuals? We don’t need no stinkin’ manuals!”), so for me to feel like I’m not ‘getting’ something ..well, yeah. ” – Anne P. Mitchell

Pros
  • The perfect companion for side dishes, vegetables, and rice.
  • No heat, cooking smells or steam.
  • Large capacity, best for small families.
  • Making, delay start and auto keep warm.
  • Stainless-Steel interior.
Cons
  • Not for huge family gatherings.
  • Not a pressure canner.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW ON AMAZON

rice-cooker-recipes

2. Aroma Housewares ARC-914SBD Rice Cooker

82
AVERAGE
SCORE
23459

With this Aroma 8-Cup Digital Rice Cooker & Food Steamer, you can start easy rice cooking. You can also prepare restaurant-quality rice, fluffy steamed meals, and delightful single dishes.

The funny thing is, you can prepare all this and more at the matter of a press a switch!

Aroma turning your kitchen time into your time moves the “cook” out of home cooking!

You can help your sons with the assignment of school, get inspired to take up that book you’ve been exiting to dive into, or at playtime. Meanwhile bringing hot, delicious and yummy meals the whole family will love.

This suitable cooker has enough volume to perfectly prepare 2 to 8 cups of any kind of rice with specific options for both Brown Rice and White. Once the rice has done, it will shift to Keep-Warm so there’s no need for stirring or waiting.

Key Features

  • Delay timer Up to 15 hours.
  • It has Automatic keep warm option.
  • Cooks 2 to 8 cups of rice.
  • Stain less still exterior.
  • It has an on or off button for turning the appliance.
  • It comes with a rice measuring cup, serving spatula and, steam tray.
  • White or Silver, there are two colors available in the market.
  • Its proportions are 8.5 x 9.3 x 8.7 inches and it weighs 4.2 pounds.
  • While the rice is cooking at a time steam tray steams meat or vegetables.
  • For selecting white rice or brown rice cooking, it has a control panel with buttons.
  • Incredibly easy to clean as the inner cooking pot and the other accessories.

Customer Review

Okay. I’ll give it five stars based on the rice it produces and easy of use and design. It does indeed make pretty much perfect rice, white, brown, wild, etc. as well as other grains. It comes with a little measuring cup. The water level marks inside (none too easy to see, are calibrated for the number of these little cups of grain you use. ” – Gerald C.

Pros
  • Large enough for one or two persons.
  • Removable nonstick pot.
  • Special button for better brown rice cooking.
  • Removable rice cooking pot for serving or cleaning.
  • It comes with a rice paddle.
Cons
  • The lid is more difficult to clean than an ordinary glass lid.
  • The beeps can be a bit loud.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW ON AMAZON

3. Instant Pot LUX60V3 V3 Programmable Slow Rice Cooker

93
AVERAGE
SCORE
23470

This Instant Pot LUX60V3 model is particularly coming for people with a limited budget. The LUX60 is offered at a low price.

The Instant Pot IP-LUX60 Pressure Cooker has the whole thing you could ever need from a cooker. All of these functions giving you to cook what kind of dishes you can imagine.

Its functionality consists of a pressure cooker, rice cooker, slow cooking, steamer, sauté/browning, and keep them warm to serving time.

It comes with the recipe leaflet contained with the Instant Pot IP-LUX60 package, with this manual you can also make some experimental and thrilling menu.

Key Features

  • Instant Pot Lux V3 6 in 1 is improved version includes an Egg and Cake program.
  • It comes with 12 Smart Built-In Programs.
  • 3G microprocessor technology.
  • It remembers your last customization.
  • Stainless steel inner cooking pot with no chemical coating.
  • Fingerprint resistant and Brushed stainless steel exterior with a large display panel.
  • 10 safety mechanisms.
  • It has 33 inches long and non-detached power supply cord.

Customer Review

LOVE IT! My favorite appliance. Best kitchen thing I ever purchased. It has paid for itself over and over again. I mostly use it for beans and soups, but have cooked meat in it a couple of times and it’s come out wonderful (so they tell me). I literally use this nearly every single day and have since the day it arrived about 7 or 8 months ago.  ” – stephanie

Pros
  • It is suitable for everyone and easy to use.
  • The closed atmosphere keeps the flavors and nutrients.
  • Cook more of your favorite foods at the same time.
  • Decent size pot capacity.
  • Includes exterior water fill and a water level window.
  • Microprocessor regulates temperature, pressure, during the cooking.
Cons
  • A little bit pricy.
  • Doesn’t have a delayed start option.
  • Cooks only on high pressure.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW ON AMAZON

90
AVERAGE
SCORE
23561

The Aroma ARC-150SB looks decent and it cooks yummy rice. It comes with different buttons for cooking brown rice and white rice.

It also comes with various settings for steaming food, slow cooking, delay timing, keeping rice warm, a power button and many more.

This Aroma Housewares 20-cup rice cooker has maximum cooked rice capacity compared to others available in the market. This capacity is large enough for a family or a small get-together of friends, but too excessive for a person.

The display control panel this ARC-150SB was modernized a few times before, that was very helpful for a newbie.

It now features a “Flash Rice” cooking function for cooking rice even faster cooking. Here is our features, Pros, and cons of its.

Key Features

  • You can use the 15-Hour Delay timer for your dinner planning each day of the week.
  • The programmable Digital Controller is very easy to program.
  • Large capacity of cooked rice.
  • Can cook rice and steam your meat and vegetables at the same time.
  • It comes with, a steam tray, a rice measuring cup, and a serving spatula.
  • For steaming food, it has a Plastic steaming basket.
  • Available in black & silver color scheme.
  • Include aluminum cooking pot with a non-stick coating.
  • Cooks a maximum of 20 cups.
  • Controls for numerous functions: flash rice, white rice, brown rice, steam, slow cook and keep warm.

Customer Review

Love this rice cooker. Not sure what took us so long to get one but we are very happy so far with this one. Cooks white and brown rice perfectly and when I make a 2+ cup batch I can sprinkle fresh green onions, etc. on top and they don’t drop to the bottom, burn, or stick. ” – leadtooth

Pros
  • Reasonable price.
  • Shifts to Keep-Warm when cooking is done.
  • Steam Tray allows for steaming of meats and vegetables simultaneously.
  • It cooks brown rice very well.
  • Reaches high heat to brown foods.
  • Nonstick coating makes cleaning much easier.
Cons
  • The cup capacity is about 3/4 of the 8-ounce cup.
  • The inside lid cannot be removed.
  • It does not come with a retractable power cable.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW ON AMAZON

5. Zojirushi NS-TSC10 Micom Rice Cooker

92
AVERAGE
SCORE
23567

The Zojirushi NS-TSC10 Micom Rice Cooker & Warmer not only cooks fluffy rice but also features a steaming bowl to twofold as a steamer and a cake menu support to bake cakes.

This 5 cup Micom rice cooker and warmer prepare 10 cups of cooked rice. It also comes with a variety of cooking menus including white rice/sushi, steam, sweet, brown, mixed rice, porridge, cake, and faster cooking.

This unit applies a black thick inner cooking pot that delivers even central heating for healthier cooking and has a substitutable tune and beep signal to specify when the cooking cycle has done.

Other highpoints consist of a washable and detachable inner lid, an easy-to-read LCD display control panel.

It automatically keeps warm, extended keep warm and rewarming cycle, delay timer with two settings. It also comes with a built-in retractable power cord.

Key Features

  • With the Steam Basket steam foods and cook rice at a time.
  • LCD Display Board with clock and timer Options.
  • To prevent the rice from sticking and cleaning convenience it has Nonstick coated.
  • Detachable inner lid for cleaning convenience.
  • Compatible melody and beep signal.
  • Steaming basket and Steam menu setting allow cooking of seafood, potatoes, vegetables, etc.
  • Built-in Micro computerized Fuzzy logic technology.
  • Extended keep warm, automatically keep warm and reheating cycle.
  • Delay timer with 2 settings.
  • Stainless steel exterior.
  • Accessories: rice measuring cup, steaming basket, rice spatula, and spatula holder.
  • 110 volts and uses 610 watts.
  • Retractable power cord.
  • Porridge setting for cooking steel-cut oats.

Customer Review

Simply the best rice cooker we’ve ever bought in over 30 yrs. My family is very particular about sushi rice and comes out perfectly in 1 hr. The inner lid design prevents condensation drip while keeping the rice warm preventing unpleasant “mushy spots”. The “open” latch is well placed and can be done with one hand.  .” – L.K.

Pros
  • Cooks delicious white and brown rice.
  • Cake menu option for making a cake.
  • Delay timer works well.
  • Keep warm mode keeps the rice warm.
  • Imaginary timer & melody/beeping.
  • Automatic cooking options.
  •  
Cons
  • It is made in China, but the build quality is ok.
  • Brown rice needs almost two hours.
  • Sometimes peeling and scratch in the black inner pan.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW ON AMAZON

6. Tiger Corporation JBV-A10U-W Micom Rice Cooker

90
AVERAGE
SCORE
23584

Tiger’s JBV-A multi-purpose electric rice cooker gives you to prepare two dishes at the same time with the new tacook synchronized cooking feature.

With nominal groundwork and the press of a button, because Tiger’s have Automatic Cooking Logic™ system dynamically monitors cooking temperatures to prepare the yummy meal.

Unlike other rice cookers available in the market, Tiger’s cooking plate is especially considered so the flavors from the cooking plate do not disturb the flavor or surface of the rice.

Tiger comes a large easy to operate a one-push menu, making rice has never been humbler.

Key Features

  • Cook rice in pot simultaneously while steaming meat or veggies.
  • Built-in Tiger Micro Computerized System Technology.
  • It has a BPA-free cooking plate.
  • It has 4 menu settings and their own knobs for a simple action.
  • Keep rice warm for up to 12 hours.
  • It has a function for slow cooking.
  • Heat discharging plate with steam vent.
  • 5-cup and 10 cups sizes are available.
  • Synchro-cooking function.
  • This tiger rice cooker has a large icon display.
  • The scratch-resistant nonstick coating of internal pot.
  • It comes with a nonstick spatula, cooking plate, measuring cup.

Customer Review

This rice cooker is easy to use, makes great rice and is a good value. It’s also easy to clean. I’ve purchased several rice cookers with digital features which seem to break right after the warranty expires. This one skips digital features and is simple to use and costs a lot less to get the same job done. And it makes better rice. Highly recommend. ” – R. Harrigan

Pros
  • Easy to use because of its one-push operation.
  • Easy to clean because of the removable pan.
  • Can be used as a slow cooker.
  • Can cooks plain rice and brown rice perfectly.
  • Can be used to cook oatmeal.
Cons
  • It may need monitoring.
  • Non-removable Lid.
  • Doesn’t have an alarm indicate that the cooking has ended.
  • The cord is not retractable.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW ON AMAZON

7. Hamilton Beach (37508) Rice Cooker

90
AVERAGE
SCORE
23579

Cooking rice and whole grains in the Hamilton Beach® Rice Cooker is as easy as placing the rice in the pot and switching it on.

The rice will cook perfectly on its own, offering you time to make the rest of your meal. There’s no need to concern about boiling water, fine-tuning the temperature or even setting a timer – it will automatically change to warm once the cooking rice is done.

Use the included 2-in-1 basket to rinse rice or grains ahead of cooking, or use it to steam everything from salmon to zucchini.

Clear-out is a snap with the dishwasher safe nonstick cooking bowl and rice rinser/steam basket.

The lid liner can also be removed for quick cleaning. Its compact size makes for easy storage.

Key Features

  • 5 cooking modes.
  • Eight-cup capacity.
  • 1-4 cups uncooked rice capacity.
  • Rice rinser/steam basket in one.
  • Single-touch operation.
  • Automatically cooks rice then moves to keep warm.
  • Removable Lid liner for easy cleaning.
  • Includes dishwasher safe rice measuring cup and rice paddle.
  • Compact design with carrying handle.
  • The sizes measure 8.07 by 9.61 by 8.07 inches.

Customer Review

This rice cooker is easy to use, makes great rice and is a good value. It’s also easy to clean. I’ve purchased several rice cookers with digital features which seem to break right after the warranty expires. This one skips digital features and is simple to use and costs a lot less to get the same job done. And it makes better rice. Highly recommend. ” – R. Harrigan

Pros
  • It has the ability to steam food as well as cook rice.
  • This makes it a one-stop-shop for your complete meal.
  • It is not complicated and does not require a manual.
  • Non-stick bowl.
  • 2-in-1 basket.
  • It is very easy to clean.
  • All the parts are dishwasher friendly.
Cons
  • The steam bowl is too small.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW ON AMAZON

8. Zojirushi NP-HCC10XH Rice Cooker

93
AVERAGE
SCORE
23606

Zojirushi, being one of the most powerful Japanese international producers of different appliances has succeeded to make a remarkable place in the market.

It is not only common among the Japanese but people all around the world, especially in the USA. This has made it one of the best sellers of the time when it comes to kitchen appliances.

The second Zojirushi of our list again one of the best from Zojirushi which it has made a number of users happy and satisfied with its facilities. This 1-liter rice cooker contains the features people look upon.

It comes in stainless steel dark gray color. It can cook around 5.5 cups uncooked of rice flawlessly.

The temperature of the cooker remains warm for a longer period of time confirming you east warn food always. The user-friendly edge makes it easy to be used by all.

Key Features

  • Greater induction heating technology.
  • Brown rice and GABA brown rice settings.
  • Healthy cooking options.
  • It has an automatic keep warm and extended keep warm settings.
  • This Zojirushi rice cooker has multiple cooking functions.
  • Keeps rice at the perfect serving temperature.
  • Bottom, side and lid triple heater.
  • Delay timer support 2 settings.
  • cETLus listed, tested to comply with FCC standards.
  • Runs with 120 volts.
  • Clear coated surface.

Customer Review

The best rice cooker by far. Read the directions…press start…wait for the music…rice is done. And it will keep it warm for hours without ruining the flavor or texture. ” – Chaseydujac

Pros
  • Sufficient capacity for standard use.
  • Several cooking modes.
  • Keep warm and delayed timer modes.
  • Auto-shutoff modes.
  • Non-stick coatings to avoid sticky dirt.
  • Easy to use, easy to clean.
  • Indication tone to notify the cooking status.
  • Waterproof LED board.
Cons
  • Non-retractable power cable.
  • Fan sound could be irritating.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW ON AMAZON

9. Hamilton Beach (37548) Rice Cooker

93
AVERAGE
SCORE
23606

Breakfast, lunch and dinner, the Hamilton Beach Rice Cooker offers you cook a diversity of foods smoothly.

You can cook grains, hot breakfast cereal or even your beloved packed rice mix without having to boil water or set the timer.

You just have done, keep the elements in the nonstick inner pot, switch it on, select the program and let all cook to excellence.

You can apply the covered 2-in-1 basket to rinse rice or grains ahead of cooking or use it to steam the whole thing from zucchini to salmon.

The delay start option offers you strategy ahead and has your meal ready when you want it. The rice cooker robotically swings to Warm once the cooking sequence is done.

Key Features

  • With rice rinser and steam basket.
  • Delay start – prepare for cooking up to 15 hours in advance.
  • Steam cook- vegetables, meats, fish, and more.
  • Expand your menu with perfectly cooked dishes.
  • 4 to 20 cup capacity.
  • Select the cooking function and forget.
  • Great for rice, beans, whole grains, and flavored pasta & rice mixes.
  • Unique heat / simmer function.
  • You can steam a side dish, too.
  • Cooks food perfectly, then automatically swings to Keep Warm menu.
  • It has a steaming plate for veggies, meats and more.
  • Comes with measuring cup and rice paddle.
  • Delay start – formulate for working up to 15 hours in advance.

Customer Review

This device is incredible! While it does a great job with various grains/rice, it’s even better with Oatmeal. I don’t think I’ve gone a single day without using it since I bought it.”  – Wilfredo Martinez

Pros
  • The compact size makes this unit easy to store.
  • Use your own recipe or packaged pasta & rice mixes.
  • Great for oatmeal, grits, and cream of wheat.
  • Can keep your rice warm while you finish cooking the rest of your meal.
  • Comes with a steamer basket.
  • Features 3 options for cooking grains.
Cons
  • Steamer basket included is not suitable for rinsing rice.
  • It had issues with rice sticking to the bottom of the pot.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW ON AMAZON

10. Zojirushi NS-LAC05XT Rice Cooker

93
AVERAGE
SCORE
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The Zojirushi is a medium, easy to use rice cooker that can prepare three cups of flawless, furry white rice or brown rice.

It can also be applying for other grains such as steel-cut oatmeal when used under the Oats setting.

This Zojirushi NS-LAC05XT comes with Mixed Rice mode that can be applied for cook rice with meats, fish, tofu or other proteins and veggies with the rice.

The NS-LAC05XT features an easy detachable inner lid, to very simple LCD control panel and also a retractable power cord.

When the cooking cycle is done, the rice cooker exchanged to the Keep Warm option to keep food ready to serve. A rice measuring cup, nonstick rice spatula and spatula holder are included with this Zojirushi NS-LAC05XT.

Key Features

  • Keeps rice warm after cooking.
  • Removable inner lid for easy cleaning.
  • It has a handle for carrying the rice cooker.
  • Its dimensions are approximately 9 x 11 x 7 inches.
  • It has Menu options: White/mixed rice, brown rice, sushi rice, porridge, and quick cook.
  • To control the cooking process microcomputer, apply fuzzy logic.
  • Sphere-shaped nonstick cooking pot and heat distribution.
  • It runs with 120V, AC, 15 amperes.
  • It has a retractable power cord.
  • LCD control panel, delay timer, and clock.
  • 3 cups of uncooked rice.
  • It equipped with a stainless-steel exterior.
  • White plastic or black plastic trimmings.
  • Steam vent for discharging additional steam during cooking.

Customer Review

This is the absolute best thing I’ve ever purchased for myself. Set it and forget it. I’ve could never make rice like this. I’ve had other rice cookers. They’re huge. ”  – sean

Pros
  • It supports cooking white or brown rice.
  • Nonstick inner cooking pot.
  • You can retract the cable and stored inside the rice cooker.
  • The timer works fine for cooking rice or oatmeal.
Cons
  • Brown rice takes time to cook.
  • Rice cup size is a little bit tiny.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW ON AMAZON

Analysis and Test Results

Value

An important serious consideration when choosing a rice cooker is the value of the purchase. While one could simply understand that you get what you pay for, and thus more exclusive products are also the maximum performing, years of experience has proven to us that this isn’t always the case.

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When considering the value of a rice cooker, three aspects are critical to consider: price, performance, durability, and versatility. Two of these, price and performance, are easily calculable and can be compared efficiently.

Cup Capacity

If you are single and you may cook on a daily basis and only for you, it may be about 1-2 cups of rice, generally, 3-cup rice cooker would be the most appropriate.

If you have 2 or 3 family member you may need to cook around 2-5 cups of rice, then a 5-cup cooker would be most suitable for you.

We often hear a common concern in the comment section is, what if we have guests over? We suggest that,  if you have many guests and you may need to cook EXTRA than you need to think twice about the cooker’s capacity, but the most ideal way is to cook again.

Or why shouldn’t you get a big capacity rice cooker? When you have many guests flow, you don’t have to cook more.

You could buy a larger rice cooker but since on a daily basis you do not cook that much, it would harm the inner cooking pot of the cooker and cut its life span.

So, cup capacity is a very important thing to consider a rice cooker. So, we have very seriously analyzed the cup capacity. 

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Rice cookers size and capacity measuring may be very confusing.  The key point is whether product relates to uncooked or cooked rice since not all e-commerce site, retailers or manufacturers mentions the same data and advertising practices.

They are using the different unit to measure capacity like liter, oz, lbs, cups- again in the cup case cooked or uncooked rice.

In this case, we measure cup capacity with cooked rice and we provide very easy understanding data for you.

Cooking Times

Cooking time in a rice cooker depends on many things. First of all, the ingredients need to be fixed. What you are really want to cook.

We decided to run this experiment with rice as it called the rice cooker. Although, there is much more to be done with a rice cooker.

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Now another problem is, what we run these tests with White Rice or Brown Rice? In this case, we have taken White Rice.

This time to think about the ratio of rice and water. Because this is very important to estimate the cooking time of a rice a cooker.

Now we have to see if there is a pressure setting in the rice cooker? If so, do we use the high pressure or the natural pressure setting? Now we will cook at natural pressure.

Now we think about inner pot size, cooking time depends on inner pot size. The big size needs much time as tiny size need less time.

How much rice we cook that will impact on cooking time, in this case, we take 4 cups of uncooked rice.

Then we estimate cooking time.

Keep Warm Time

It occasionally occurs that there is still some rice excess after everybody has eaten. You may need to keep the rice warm for a few times to eat another time at the next mealtime. Cooked rice that has been kept in the fridge can often be less than yummy.

Keeping cooked rice warm for several days in a rice cooker is not good practice because of the danger of possible food poisoning and infectious growth of bacteria.

The keep-warm option must keep the rice at a high enough temperature to deject growth of bacteria, but it’s not like that be so warm that it becomes dry or burns the cooked rice.

We have tested all of our listed rice cookers with an automatic keep-warm function. Keep comparing on rating for an overview of these rice cookers with Keep Warm functions.

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Most rice cookers of our list can keep the rice warm for up to 12 hours without it becoming rotten.

Versatility

All the rice cookers that we have listed and compared here are versatile cookers. An ideal rice cooker should not only be for cooking rice but should also be able to cook other food like a root vegetable, fish, and meats on so on.

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A rice cooker that has many features like keep warm, delay timer,  stemmer, slow cooking and comes with measuring cup, spoons and has the ability to cook other food will save you a lot of time, space and effort.

You should go for rice cookers that we rating minimum 8 because we analyze all features and materials and what comes with.

Durability

Durability is the ability to last a long time without significant weakening. A durable material stainless steel helps the rice cooker reducing impacts of repair and replacement.

The inner pot is made of one type of material, while the exterior material is made with another type of material.

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A rice cooker made of a different kind of material like stainless steel, aluminum, steel, BPA free plastic.

All of our listed rice cookers provide long time warranty. We have also considered in our durability score which rice cooker provides how many time in warranty.

We have given utmost importance to the Materials and Warranties before providing durability scores.

Design

Most of the rice cooker of our list have elegant design and color. Design is a very important thing to choose a rice cooker. For this reason, we have carefully scored the design rating considering many factors, which will be very helpful for you.

These are the things that we have given most priority to rating design score, exterior material, color, carrying handle, indicator light, display, control panel, shape, size, timer setting.

Normally exterior of a rice cooker made of a different kind of material like stainless steel, aluminum, steel, plastic. We gave stainless steel the highest importance in this regard.

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In the case of color, most of our rice cooker has elegant color, we gave aluminum higher ratings.

There is a much-shaped rice cooker available in the market like a drum-shaped, square-shaped, round-shaped, egg-shaped, diamond shape. We have tried to keep variations on our list.

Buying Guides

Things to keep eyes on

There are some important key points to always have to keep an eye on when buying a rice cooker. It’s quite impossible for everyone to keep all these important things in mind. So, we listed the important issues which are very important when buying a rice cooker. Those are:

Enough Capacity

Rice cooker comes with different sizes and capacity. So, it depends on the members of your family how big cooker you are going to need. For a small family of two or a single person, the 6 cups cooked size is enough, and for a family of five members, the 15 cups sized one will be the perfect one to buy.

The keep-warm function

It’s not like you will just cook the rice and eat it, no one does that. The rice gets eaten after 2 or 3 hours of cooking so the keep-warm mode is important on a rice cooker. This function can keep your food warm until it gets eaten and that’s also important.

Versatility

A rice cooker nowadays because of its absolute thermostat controlling can cook than just more than rice. A versatile cooker can help you out a lot by saving your time and space of the kitchen.

Here, all our picks are versatile cookers and are able to cook most of the food that needs to be cooked by heat and steam. Some of the cookers come with steam stand also on which you can steam other foods when cooking rice.

Dishwasher safe

The rice always gets sticky when it dries and it is very much of a hassle to wash it. The rice cooker you should be must have to be dishwasher safe. So, you don’t need to waste more time but just put the parts on the dishwasher and sit relaxed.

These are some key things you must have to check before buying so your money doesn’t go for waste. Our picks are with all the things discussed.

Non-stick inner pots

It feels very annoying if things get stuck in the pot of the rice cooker. It is also very hard to clean. The solution to this problem is a non-stick inner pot. So, things don’t get stuck.

Light indicators

Light indicators are best for rice cookers. With light indicators, it’s very easy to understand whether the task is done or not.

Digital controls and fuzzy logic

Electronic features are also very important things to keep an eye on when buying a rice cooker. There are variations of digital controls in it.

Fuzzy logic is one of the most precious features. It allows the user to get done with the work with only one button. Quick-cooking, porridge cycle, reheat cycle, and texture are some of the other important digital features modern rice cookers include.

Reheat cycle to rewarm rice

This feature is the one which allows you to reheat the rice whenever you need and keeps it warm until getting eaten.

Quick cook function to slash the time

This one has added a feature for the time when you are in an emergency or hurry. This function can help you out. With this function, the cooker ignores the soak time and directly goes to cooking mode.

Texture settings for firmer or softer rice

Expensive cookers consist of these functions. This function allows choosing the user to decide whether the rice will be firm, soft or regular in texture.

Stainless steel pots for durability

No one is going to buy a cooker every month. You are also like us and the most important thing about the rice cooker which has to be more durable is the pot. So stainless steel pot would be the wisest choice.

Simmer or slow-cook functions

All cookers don’t have this function but this function is very much helpful for cooking other foods except rice on the cooker.

Custom measuring cups

To get the perfect rice from the cooker it is very significant that the rice must be measured perfectly. If not measured perfectly it’s a dream to get perfect rice. So, custom measuring cups for perfect rice is important.

Non-scratch serving spoons and ladles

As earlier discussed, nonstick pots are good, as things don’t get stuck on them. There is also a problem with them if they get a scratch on they get damaged. So, you must have to use non-scratch serving spoons and ladles on them.

Our Pick

This Instant pot rice cooker charmed to our experts only because of its versatility. If you don’t own two devices, even when both engage plenty of kitchen space, this is a big advantage for everyone with a tiny kitchen.

This Instant Pot also has pressure cooking facilities. Fasting up cook duration for really time-saving and food items are very nice. We also see that this Instant Pot cooker was easy to clean and a good device for cooking huge amounts of rice. On the other side, it took a minute to understand how to use it properly. We were found best rice cooker America’s test Instant Pot Duo Mini for a small family and Instant Pot LUX60 V3 for a big family.

We itemized best rice cookers amazon here, that is very convenient and helpful for everyone cooking in the kitchen. This can save up your time for other activity and cook delicious rice and yummy meals in one pot. You don’t have to wait and adding extra water so the speculation is gone. Keep warm feature keep your rice at the right temperature when you’re ready to serve.

The wonderful two rice cookers T-fal RK705851 and Sistema microwave rice cooker didn’t rank in our top ten, but they are also of great quality.

Be sure to read our other reviews to making delicious breakfast and play with coffee beans with the products reviewed there.

Warning

  • Always read the instruction manual in detail.
  • Touch the knobs or handles and not touch hot exteriors.
  • Do not imbrue the underneath with the electronics in water.
  • Keep in mind about the kids that they don’t drag the cooker over on them.
  • When not cooking and when cleaning, always unplug from the socket.
  • Before detaching parts or cleaning, let the cooker cool.
  • Be careful! Never use cooker with a damaged cord or socket.
  • Do not let a long cable wave over the tabletop.
  • Never use in the oven.
  • Never use on a cook stovetop.
  • Attach cooker end first then plug into the wall plug.
  • If the cooker end is grounded type the extension cable should be a grounding-type.
  • Do not detach the interior bowl while the cooker is working.

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