The Best Rice Cookers

The Best Rice Cookers

Rice cookers are all the rage among true foodies. If you regularly make rice (or any other grain), then this handy little gadget is a must-have. A dedicated rice cooker turns out perfectly-cooked rice every single time. Plus, you can use it to steam vegetables, make soup, and cook any number of other grains and legumes. And, best of all, there's minimal effort involved — all you have to do is fill your cooker with rice and water, press a button, and then retreat to your couch to watch Netflix. Less than an hour later, you'll have fluffy, buttery, delicious rice at just the right consistency. Yum. Now, all you have to do is pick from one of the products on this list, and you'll be on your way to the best-tasting rice of your life.

Aroma Housewares Rice Cooker

Perfect grains with zero effort

This Aroma Housewares cooker has it all.
Best Overall

Find on Amazon

Every home cook has undoubtedly had a bad experience with cooking with rice — this everyday staple can be tricky to make, as it’s easy to get the texture wrong (not too crunchy, but not too mushy, either). Poorly cooked rice will be a thing of the past when you invest in the Aroma Housewares Rice Cooker. This multi-functional cooker holds two to eight cups of rice and has a sleek, cool-touch stainless steel design that looks great in any kitchen. It even comes with several accessories, like a measuring cup, steamer tray, and spatula holder; and, conveniently, the nonstick inner pot is super easy to clean. But the bottom line, of course, is this: this cooker effortlessly churns out perfect, chewy, plump grains, no matter what.

Pros:

  • Multi-functional; you can cook white and brown rice or any other type of grain
  • Holds two to eight cups of rice
  • Sleek, cool-touch, stainless steel design
  • Comes with a spatula holder, measuring cup, steamer tray, and more
  • The nonstick inner pot is easy to clean
  • Highly, highly durable

Cons:

  • Rice sticks easily to the lid, which in turn can be a bit of a pain to clean

Zojirushi Rice Cooker

Sleek and sophisticated

The Zojirushi Rice Cooker has some seriously hi-tech features.
Best Features

Find on Amazon

Boasting advanced Neuro Fuzzy technology, this highly impressive rice cooker is fully computerized, meaning that it can intuitively make adjustments to the rice when it’s cooking, as needed. It makes up to 10 cups of cooked rice, and has a multitude of menu options to choose from, ranging from white to porridge to quick-cooking, and pretty much everything in between. The spherical inner pan allows for perfectly even cooking, and you get a host of quality accessories, too. Though it doesn’t come cheap, the Zojirushi Rice Cooker is worth every penny.

Pros:

  • Has advanced Neuro Fuzzy technology and multiple menu selections; it’s very hi-tech and efficient (without being hard to use)
  • Menu selections include white, mixed, porridge, sweet, semi-brown, rinse-free, brown, and quick cooking
  • Comes with two measuring cups, a nonstick rice spoon and scooper, a rice spoon holder, and even a booklet of recipes
  • Spherical inner cooking pan allows for perfectly even cooking and reheating

Cons:

  • Definitely on the high end, price-wise

Dash Mini Rice Cooker

Cute and compact

Save counter space with this mini-sized rice cooker from Dash.
Best Space-Saver

Find on Amazon

If you don’t have a ton of kitchen storage space or you only want to make, one to two cups of rice at a time, the Dash Mini Rice Cooker is a perfect pick. It has an adorable, compact design (it weighs just under 3 pounds), but still manages to pack in plenty of useful features, including cool-touch handles, an easy-to-use interface, a “keep warm” function, and more. Plus, you can use it to cook a variety of foods (not just rice), like pasta, soup, steamed veggies, or whatever else you’re craving.

Pros:

  • Super-cute, compact design
  • You can use it to cook things other than rice
  • Available in five adorable colors
  • Has a “keep warm” function
  • Comes with a range of accessories, from a measuring cup to a rice paddle

Cons:

  • Has just a two-cup capacity, so it may not be the right fit for those who cook a lot of rice at one time

Black + Decker Rice Cooker and Food Steamer

Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication

You certainly don't need a fancy-pants rice cooker to get the job done, and this Black + Decker device is proof of that.
Best Simple Design

Find on Amazon

The Black + Decker Rice Cooker and Food Steamer is a great product if you’d prefer something that doesn’t have a ton of bells and whistles. The design is simple and streamlined with just a couple of buttons, and the nonstick pot is completely removable. Prepare anywhere from one to six cups of rice, and never worry about burning it — this cooker automatically switches to simmer mode when the rice is done.

Pros:

  • Simple, easy-to-use design; has just a couple of buttons
  • Six-cup capacity
  • Pot is nonstick and completely removable
  • Has a food steaming basket

Cons:

  • The instructions aren’t as clear or detailed as they could be

Tiger Corporation Rice Cooker

You're in control

With multiple cooking settings, anything is possible ... or at least, any rice dish is possible.
Most Customizable

Find on Amazon

Take your pick from one of several cooking settings with the Tiger Corporation Rice Cooker — including brown rice, plain rice, slow cooking, and more. In a truly nifty touch, you can even cook your main dish and rice at the same time, by placing your rice in the inner pot and the main dish in the cooking plate right above it (and then pressing start) thanks to the synchro-cooking function. This rice cooker is crafted from sturdy, BPA-free materials and is lined with nonstick inner coating, so cooking and cleanup are as efficient as possible.

Pros:

  • Has a variety of cooking settings, so you can fully customize your meal
  • Lined with a nonstick inner coating
  • Has a nifty synchro-cooking function that allows you to cook your main dish and rice at the same time
  • Choose between two large sizes
  • Made from sturdy, BPA-free materials

Cons:

  • It does take a while for the rice to cook

Frequently Asked Questions

What factors should I consider when deciding between rice cookers?

First, size is an important factor. If you typically make just one or two cups of rice, then a compact three-cup cooker is likely fine. But if you have a bigger family or like having people over for dinner often, you may want to consider something with a larger capacity. Also, some rice cookers are just for cooking white or brown rice, while others can cook and steam veggies and other grains, so consider if you want something more versatile or not. And, it’s usually best to get a cooker with a simple, streamlined design (nothing with too many features), since the primary reason for owning a rice cooker is to make cooking easier.

Can I use any type of rice in my rice cooker?

Yes. Rice cookers can be used with virtually any kind of rice, from basmati to wild to short-grain.