Rice can be made in either a regular pot or an old-fashioned cooker. But the biggest problem with this is that when you drain the water, the rice loses a lot of its nutrients. Buying the best rice cookers can be a great way to keep the rice warm and keep its nutrients. Electric stoves are a good way to save on gas and make cooking easier. With so many choices based on different capacities and functions, it can be hard to find the right one for your needs.
Even though making rice on the stovetop is not hard, it’s easy to either undercook or overcook your rice. If you have ever made a pot of rice and ended up with crunchy or mushy grains, you know that it needs to be cooked at the right time, at the right temperature, and with close supervision. With a rice maker, you can make a pot of perfect, fluffy rice without having to guess or watch over it. Most models can also cook oats, quinoa, or polenta, and you can even use a rice cooker to make risotto without stirring. Some rice cookers can also steam vegetables or dumplings, keep rice warm for a long time, or even bake cakes. Below we have mentioned the best rice cookers.
Best Rice Cookers Comparison Table
| Rice Cooker Model | Zojirushi Neuro Fuzzy NS-ZCC10 | Cuckoo CRP-P1009SB Rice Cooker | Tiger JBV-A10U Rice Cooker | Aroma Housewares 8-Cup Rice and Grain Cooker | Aroma Housewares 6-Cup Rice and Grain Cooker |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 5.5 cups | 10 cups | 5.5 cups | 8 cups | 6 cups |
| Cooking Modes | Multiple | Multiple | Multiple | Multiple | Multiple |
| Material | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | Plastic | Stainless Steel | Plastic |
| Heating Technology | Neuro Fuzzy Logic | Induction | Synchro-Cooking | Conventional | Conventional |
| Timer | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Keep Warm Function | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Detachable Inner Lid | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Accessories | Measuring Cup, Rice Spatula | Measuring Cup, Rice Scoop | Measuring Cup, Rice Spatula | Measuring Cup, Serving Spatula | Measuring Cup, Serving Spatula |
| Price | Expensive | Expensive | Moderate | Affordable | Affordable |
Zojirushi Neuro Fuzzy NS-ZCC10
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 5.5 cups |
| Material | Stainless steel |
| Cooking Options | White rice, mixed rice, sushi rice, porridge, sweet rice, brown rice, and cake |
| Additional Features | Neuro Fuzzy logic technology, programmable timer, LCD control panel, retractable power cord, and detachable inner lid |
| Price | $189.99 |
The Zojirushi Neuro Fuzzy NS-ZCC10 makes great rice even when other cookers, even ones with similar technology, make sticky, starchy messes. This is because it has a computer chip that can sense things like moisture and temperature and adjust cooking parameters to account for human error. It’s one of the smallest types we looked at. Thus, it is one of the best rice cookers that you can buy.
The lid is easy to take off and clean, and the inner pot has handles that make it easy to lift out of the machine. The only problem with the Neuro Fuzzy is that it is pretty slow: Unless you use the quick-cook setting, it takes at least 40 minutes to make a batch of white rice and more than 90 minutes to make a batch of brown rice. But the Neuro Fuzzy’s rice is worth waiting for.
Pros
- Neuro-fuzzy logic technology adjusts cooking time and temperature to get perfect rice every time
- Can cook a variety of rice types and has different cooking settings for each type
- Has a large capacity of 5.5 cups of uncooked rice
- Non-stick inner pot for easy cleaning
Cons
- Expensive compared to other rice cookers on the market
- Some users have reported that the inner pot is not durable and can scratch easily
Cuckoo CRP-P1009SB Rice Cooker
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 10 cups |
| Material | Aluminum |
| Cooking Options | White rice, mixed rice, sushi rice, glutinous rice, GABA rice, turbo glutinous rice, and multi-cook |
| Additional Features | Voice navigation, smart NFC technology, 3-language voice navigation, 2-layer soft steam cap, auto steam cleaning, and auto temperature control |
| Price | $599.99 |
In general, rice makers make it very easy to cook rice. This one even has a digital voice that talks you through everything, reminding you to lock the pressure-cooking lid and telling you when your rice is almost done. It’s a fun and luxury feature that helps make the Cuckoo’s high price tag worth it.
This is a huge machine that can hold 10 cups of dry rice, which is equal to 20 cups of cooked rice. But as a pressure cooker, the Cuckoo cuts the time it takes to cook a lot of food. It took about 25 minutes to make a full pot of white rice, but there is a special “turbo” setting that cuts that time by almost half.
The nurungji setting makes a layer of crispy, browned rice on the bottom of the bowl under a layer of perfectly cooked rice. The multi-cook setting is used to steam rice and a meal at the same time. We especially liked trying the gaba rice mode, which soaks brown rice in just-warm water for hours to start the sprouting process and release an amino acid with many health benefits. It then cooks the rice to perfection. Overall, it is one of the best rice cookers that you can buy.
Pros
- Has a large capacity of 10 cups of uncooked rice
- Can cook a variety of rice types and has different cooking settings for each type
- Has a pressure cooking function for faster cooking times
- Easy to use and clean
Cons
- Expensive compared to other rice cookers on the market
- Some users have reported issues with the pressure valve and leakage
- Bulky and takes up a lot of counter space
Tiger JBV-A10U Rice Cooker
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 5.5 cups |
| Material | Stainless steel |
| Cooking Options | White rice, brown rice, and mixed rice |
| Additional Features | Synchro-cooking function, tacook cooking plate, automatic keep-warm function, and removable steam vent cap |
| Price | $64.99 |
The Tiger JBV-A10U doesn’t really stand out from the other rice cookers on the market because it looks simple and costs about average. When we plugged ours in and tried it, that changed. We almost got perfect results with jasmine, brown, and sushi rice. The grains were fluffy and chewy, and they didn’t stick together much. The lid locks firmly, and the whole thing has a handle that you can flip up to carry it with you. Its button controls are easy to understand and use. There are sets for white rice, brown rice, steaming, and a “synchro-cooking” mode that cooks rice and steams a main dish at the same time. For now, it is one of the best rice cookers that you can buy.
We do wish this Tiger had a timer, though. Most rice cookers like this one have a digital display that shows how much time is left in the cooking process and, more importantly, lets you load the pot and set it to start cooking at a later time. Strangely, the cooker doesn’t make a sound when it starts cooking or when it’s done. When the rice is done, a light on the front is the only way to tell that it has switched to keep-warm mode. In the grand order of things, though, those aren’t big problems, and we’re big fans.
Pros
- Has a unique “tacook” cooking plate that allows for cooking rice and a main dish simultaneously
- Has a smaller capacity of 5.5 cups of uncooked rice, making it perfect for smaller households
- Non-stick inner pot for easy cleaning
- Affordable price point
Cons
- Limited cooking settings compared to other rice cookers
- Some users have reported that the cooking plate is difficult to clean
- No timer function
Aroma Housewares 8-Cup Rice and Grain Cooker
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 8 cups |
| Material | Stainless steel |
| Cooking Options | White rice, brown rice, quick rice, quinoa, oatmeal, and cake |
| Additional Features | Steaming tray, automatic keep-warm function, delay timer, and removable non-stick cooking pot |
| Price | $29.99 |
When you think about how expensive high-end rice cookers can be, this one’s price is shockingly low for how well it works and what features it has. The controls are simple, but there are different settings for white rice, brown rice, and steaming. There is also a simple panel that shows how much time is left to cook. We tried the machine with sushi, jasmine, and brown rice, and all of them turned out great, especially brown rice, which came out fluffy and not at all sticky. When it’s done cooking, it quickly switches to “keep warm” mode, so you don’t have to worry about being in the kitchen when the timer goes off.
This Aroma holds 8 cups of cooked rice (or 4 cups of uncooked rice), which is on the small side for rice cookers but still enough to feed a medium-sized family. That also helps it take up less space on the counter. The steamer basket and other accessories all fit in or on the machine, which has a small handle that makes it easy to move around or store in a closet. Still, it is one of the best rice cookers that you can buy.
Pros
- Affordable price point
- Can cook a variety of rice types and grains
- Has a larger capacity of 8 cups of uncooked rice
- Non-stick inner pot for easy cleaning
Cons
- Some users have reported that the rice can come out sticky or undercooked
- Limited cooking settings compared to other rice cookers
- No timer function
Aroma Housewares 6-Cup Rice and Grain Cooker
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 6 cups |
| Material | Stainless steel |
| Cooking Options | White rice, brown rice, quick rice, and quinoa |
| Additional Features | Steaming tray, automatic keep-warm function, and removable non-stick cooking pot |
| Price | $19.99 |
The Aroma type with 6 cups is a great all-in-one machine for one person. Its steamer insert can cook a major dish and rice at the same time, so you can make a dinner with more than one course. What do you say to rice, salmon, and broccoli for one? That’s what this machine can do. Just remember that it can only do that one serve at a time. Thus, it is one of the best rice cookers that you can buy.
One manual switch controls the one cooking setting, and the simple glass lid doesn’t lock into place. You can’t put anything in the sink. The handles on the inner boiler are cool to the touch, which is a nice touch. In tests, the Aroma did pretty well, but the results varied from batch to batch. For example, once the Jasmine rice was just right and the next time it was too done.
Because the pot is small, even small differences in how much rice and water you put in make a big difference, so measure carefully. When the machine is done cooking, it automatically switches to “keep warm.” However, after a short time, the rice started to get hard and stick to the pot, so we wouldn’t suggest letting “keep warm” run for too long.
Pros
- Affordable price point
- Can cook a variety of rice types and grains
- Smaller capacity of 6 cups of uncooked rice, making it perfect for smaller households
- Non-stick inner pot for easy cleaning
Cons
- Some users have reported that the rice can come out sticky or undercooked
- Limited cooking settings compared to other rice cookers
- No timer function
FAQs
A rice maker is a piece of kitchen equipment that is made to cook rice by itself. It has an electric heating element and a timer to control how hot it gets and how long it takes to cook.
Rice cookers have many perks, such as being easy to use, consistent, and flexible. They let you cook rice without having to keep an eye on the pot, and they always cook the rice correctly. They can also be used to cook quinoa, oatmeal, and other grains.
The type and amount of rice you are cooking will determine how much rice and water you need to put in a rice cooker. In general, a good rule of thumb is to use 1:1.5 rice to water when cooking white rice and 1:2 rice to water when cooking brown rice.
