Quick Summary: Zojirushi Rice Cooker and Warmer is our top pick for the best Rice Cooker. It takes up little space but still cooks more than 8 cups of rice. It is a smart home appliance that uses technology to automatically adjust the cooking technique based on the food. You do not have to worry about adding the right amount of water. It also has a clock and other functionality on the cooker.
Who does not love freshly cooked rice available at home anytime you want? However, there is nothing worse than overcooked rice. If you cook rice often at home, you need a rice cooker to help reduce your dinner prep time.
You can make so many delicious meals that include rice. Today is technologically advanced, intuitive, and takes up much less space. Even better, you can cook more than just rice in a rice cooker.
Before you buy one of these cookers, it helps if you know what type of rice you prefer to cook, as well as how much rice you want to cook at one time. You want to look for fuzzy logic and digital controls. If you like your rice with different textures, you want to look for a cooker that has texture settings.
The rice cooker for you not only has a feature to keep your rice warm but also one to reheat rice. Stainless steel pots in a rice cooker offer durability, as well as easy cleanup. You can find a cooker comes with as little as a 3 cup option or as much as a commercial size 60 cup option.
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Top 10 Rice Cookers Comparisons
 | 1. Zojirushi NS-TSC10 Micom Rice Cooker and Warmer (Best overall)The Zojirushi NS-TSC10 has extended warming and reheating capabilities. It offers two delayed cooking time settings and a retractable cord. It has a separate setting for brown and white rice. | Read Our Review |
 | 2. Cuckoo Electric Heating Pressure Cooker & Warmer(Best Budget)The Cuckoo CRP-P1009SB 10 Cup Electric Heating Pressure Cooker is programmable with intelligent voice guide. It includes special safety features that can lock the pressure cooker when there is too much steam or pressure inside it. | Read Our Review |
 | 3. Zojirushi NS-LAC05XT Rice Cooker and WarmerThe Zojirushi NS-LAC05XT Micom 3-Cup Rice Cooker and Warmer comes with a detachable lid for the inner layer and an easy to read control panel. It comes with accessories to help when cooking rice. | Read Our Review |
 | 4. Aroma Housewares Digital Rice Cooker,The Aroma Housewares 20 cup Cooked Digital Rice Cooker has set it and forgotten its capability. It specializes in white and brown rice cooking. It also doubles as a slow cooker. | Read Our Review |
 | 5. Black Decker Rice CookerThe Black+Decker Rice Cooker is one of the best because small and perfect for one. Many of its parts are dishwasher safe. It comes with a tempered glass lid. | Read Our Review |
 | 6. Aroma Housewares Stainless Rice Cooker & WarmerTThe Aroma Housewares Select Stainless Rice Cooker has a stainless steel inner pot that is free of coatings. It has a simple one touch operation. This cooker for rice is also BPA free. | Read Our Review |
 | 7. Zojirushi NP-GBC05XT Rice Cooker and WarmerThe Zojirushi NP-GBC05XT Induction Heating System Rice Cooker has a carrying handle and a detachable cord. It uses induction heating for cooking purposes which provides full cooking capability. | Read Our Review |
 | 8. Aroma Housewares Digital Cool Touch Rice Grain CookerAroma Housewares Digital Cool-Touch Rice Grain Cooker cooks restaurant quality rice at home. It automatically switches to stay warm once it is finished cooking. It has a simple design that is easy to use. | Read Our Review |
 | 9. Oster Rice Cooker with SteamerOster Rice Cooker with Steamer is a fun red color. It includes a 1 liter food steamer and tempered glass lid that allows you to watch the food as it cooks. | Read Our Review |
 | 10. Cuisinart CRC-400 Rice Cooker Silver The Cuisinart CRC-400 Rice Cooker has a modern square look. Chrome plated handles stay cool to the touch and non stick coating makes it super easy to clean. | Read Our Review |
Reviews Of Top 10 Rice Cookers
Best Overall
1. Zojirushi Rice Cooker and Warmer
The Zojirushi Rice Cooker and Warmer is our overall top pick for the best rice cooker. This unit leaves a small footprint in your kitchen, but cooks up to 10 cups of rice, making it the perfect size for the average family for cooking multiple types of foods and meals.
With a variety of settings for steaming, cooking, and warming, this is the rice cooker for brown rice, sushi rice, one-pot meals, and even baking cakes.
In addition to its small size, you can make this rice cooker and warmer even more convenient for your kitchen with the retractable power cord that tucks easily inside the cooker.
Another helpful feature is the detachable and washable inner lid for simple cleaning, plus a stainless-steel shell that makes the unit a breeze to wipe off.
This is also considered the best rice cooker for its versatile functions and cooking methods. The unit doubles as a steamer, so it’s perfect for steaming fresh vegetables, shellfish, eggs, and more for a healthy way to cook.
You can use the sushi, porridge, mixed rice, and other settings to create the perfect texture for a variety of foods. Additionally, you can choose whether you want your rice to cook harder or softer than normal, and the cooker will do the rest for you.
One of the best things about this Zojirushi rice cooker is its fuzzy logic technology. What this technology does is automatically adjust the cooking technique for your rice or other foods, so you don’t have to worry about perfect measurements of water or foods.
As your food cooks, the innovative technology will sense its needs and adjust the cooking process, temperature, and more, as needed. Therefore, your rice will cook thoroughly and consistently at an even temperature throughout the cooking process.
The Zojirushi Rice Cooker and Warmer also has clock and timer functions so you can easily keep track of how long you need to cook your foods. You can even use the delay timer to start the cook cycle at a particular time.
The “keep warm” setting comes on automatically after your food has completed the cook cycle, and you can select the extended “keep warm” setting for a longer duration. This unit also has a reheating cycle to warm up your food without making rice overcooked.
Pros:
- It has a separate cake baking setting
- Interior and exterior are easy to clean
- Comes with an inner cooking pan
Cons:
- Does not come with a warranty
- Be careful when ordering from Amazon to ensure it is an authorized seller
Best Budget
2. Cuckoo Electric Heating Pressure Rice Cooker
This Cuckoo rice cooker is favored for its versatility, durability, and easy cleaning process. The cooker holds up to 10 cups of rice, which gives plenty of space to prepare meals for the average family.
Still, it’s lightweight and relatively small compared to others of its type, making it convenient to store on the countertop or tuck away in a cabinet.
This is the best rice cooker regarding safety, featuring 14 essential safety features that help it operate smoothly without causing harm to those who use it. The Soft Steam Cap, for example, helps direct the steam in a steady direction for less chance of burns.
There is also a locking handle that ensures the unit can’t be opened until it’s safe to do so, like when the cooking process has completed, or the cooker is in warming mode. A clamping lock further protects the user from accidental openings during operation.
If you’re looking for the best rice cooker for brown rice or other types of rice besides white, look no further than the Cuckoo Electric Heating Pressure Rice Cooker. The cooker has multiple cooking modes that can cook everything from chicken and vegetables to breakfast items, like oatmeal and eggs.
As for rice, the cooker will cook rich-grain rice, like brown and mixed varieties, in less time than traditional cookers and cooking methods. And, you won’t need as much water to cook, thanks to the steaming process.
The Cuckoo Electric Heating Pressure Rice Cooker uses an innovative 3D heating and warming system for cooking. The inner pot has a diamond coating to help conduct heat efficiently. Hot air and steam circulate outside the inner container, between it and the outer shell, for maximum air and steam movement.
The locking system on the machine not only provides added safety, but it also creates an air-tight seal to keep heat trapped for quick cooking and optimal warming after the cooking process finishes.
This rice cooker is also one of the easiest to clean. The cooker features a detachable pull-out cover for easy cleaning inside the cooker.
You can also set the machine to auto-clean using the simple one-button setting. Add a bit of water to the cooker, press the button, and it will automatically steam clean itself to remove stuck food particles and unwanted odors.
Once the cooker completes its cleaning cycle, you should be able to remove residue with a clean towel.
Pros:
- Includes multi function cooking that even makes soup
- Intelligent water drainage system to keep water vapors from your rice
- Includes auto cleaning that uses steam
Cons:
- Complicated and difficult to use
- Rice gets mushy
Related : Best Small Pressure Cooker
3. Zojirushi NS-LAC05XT Micom 3-Cup Rice Cooker
One of the best 3-cup rice cookers is the Zojirushi Mini Rice Cooker and warmer. The overall appearance is very modern with the black and stainless steel that is so popular.
Along with the appearance, there are several other physical features that help to make this the best 600g cooker on the market.
There is a detachable inner lid, a very easy-to-read LCD control panel, an automatic and an extended keep-warm setting, a reheating cycle, a delay timer with two settings and a built-in retractable power cord.
All of these features pay off as the rice that is produced is perfectly cooked every time. And beyond the traditional white rice, this 600g cooker can also prepare mixed rice, sushi, porridge and brown rice.
That makes this a very versatile tool for your kitchen and a tool that would be well worth your time. And to help you make this perfect rice, it comes equipped with a measuring cup, nonstick rice spatula and a spatula holder.
Pros:
- Makes very good rice
- Plays song when cooking starts and when it stops
- Does not leak when it cooks
- Easy to use
Cons:
- The cooker is a bit slow
- Nonstick coating flakes off of the bowl
- Does not keep rice heated
- Highly-priced
4. Aroma Housewares 20 Cup Rice Cooker
It’s no wonder that the Aroma Housewares 20 Cup Rice Cooker is a customer favorite and considered a best Aroma rice cooker from its extensive line of cookers and steamers.
This digital rice cooker is also a food steamer and slow cooker, making it one of the most versatile small appliances you can have in your kitchen. Let’s look at some of the most important features of this unit in our Aroma rice cooker review.
This digital rice cooker is one of the largest units you’ll find for home use, holding up to 20 cups of cooked rice or 10 cups of uncooked rice. But, the unit is taller than it is wide, so it can still fit well on a countertop without taking up too much space.
You can also make as little as two cups of rice, so it can also be helpful when you want to cook smaller portions. In addition to cooking rice, this unit can function as a steamer for vegetables, poultry, or other foods you want to steam on top of your rice with the steamer basket.
Since you can use the basket at the same time you cook rice, you can use the unit as a one-pot meal creator for ultimate convenience.
Similarly, the slow cooker ability of this digital rice cooker from Aroma will eliminate your need for a separate appliance. With the push of one button, you can trigger the slow cooker function to make soups, stews, and more.
The Aroma Housewares 4kg Rice Cooker comes packed with convenient digital controls to customize your cooking method, from the unique steam setting to a setting just for cooking brown rice. Your family may benefit from the delay timer that delays cooking for up to 15 hours.
Add your ingredients before you leave for work in the morning, set the timer for hours in advance, and come home to a meal that’s already prepared for the family.
If you’re not quite ready to eat, the automatic Keep Warm setting will maintain your food’s temperature without further cooking it.
The removable inner pot is a breeze to clean, thanks to a nonstick coating to prevent stuck-on foods. It’s also dishwasher safe for a quick clean-up, but in most cases, you should be able to clean it after a quick soak and gentle cleaning with a cloth.
Pros:
- Flash Rice option to cook faster
- Can program the timer to delay cooking up to 15 hours
- Has an affordable price
- Keep warm capability
Cons:
- Plastic base is not resistant to heat
- Water pours out of the side
5. Black+Decker Uncooked Rice Cooker, 3-cup Capacity
Black and Decker’s versatile line of electrical cooking gadgets includes the Mini Single-Serve 600g Rice Cooker.
This small unit cooks up to 1.5 cups of uncooked rice, so it’s perfect for single servings for one-person households, lunches, and other small meals.
The small frame is about half the size of larger models, so it won’t take up much space on your countertop or tucked away in a cabinet.
This unit features a nonstick cooking pot that you can easily remove for simple clean-up. With two settings – Cook and Warm – this model couldn’t be any simpler for the rice cooking beginner.
Pros:
- Simple to clean and most of it is dishwasher safe
- Indicator lights make it easy to determine cooking status
- The perfect amount of rice cooks quickly
Cons:
- The motor seems to burn out quickly
- Cheaper quality than more expensive models
6. Aroma Simply Stainless 3-Cup Rice Cooker
The aroma stainless steel rice cooker has its cooker pot made of surgical-grade stainless steel. The cooker has a capacity of three cups of uncooked white rice which gives six cups when cooked.
Similarly, it has a capacity of two cups of uncooked brown rice, giving you four cups of the same when cooked. This kitchen appliance also features one-touch operation and an automatic keep warm function.
Apart from being able to prepare any variety of cooked rice, the unit comes with a measuring cup and one serving spatula for your convenience.
Pros:
- No plastic in contact with the steam
- Stainless steel bowl is thick and sturdy
- Cooks rice perfectly
- Does not take much space
Cons:
- Splatter around the lid
- Does not cook other grains well
- Rice sticks sometimes
- Cooker is not long-lasting
7. Zojirushi NP-GBC05-XT high-tech 3-cup rice cooker
This high-tech 3-cup rice cooker is one of the best currently on the market. It includes plenty of settings to give you full control over when you want your rice cooked as well as allowing you to cook more than just the typical white rice.
It includes several accessories such as the rice spatula to assist you with producing high-quality rice for your finished product.
With the stainless steel appearance and the high quality finished product, this is a rice cooker that you will not be disappointed in.
Pros:
- Uses induction heating instead of traditional heating method
- Has a special setting for brown rice
- Lid has a special heater that provides more precise cooking
- It is 700 watts and it has a 0.54 liter capacity
Cons:
- Cooker burns up quickly
- This is more expensive than most other slow cookers
- This must be washed by hand
8. Aroma Housewares Digital Cool-Touch Rice Cooker
With a stainless steel exterior, this cooker has a capacity of four cups of uncooked rice, yielding eight cups of cooked rice.
The rice cooker is easy to use. Its functions include a delay timer of up to fifteen hours, an automatic keep warm function and programmable digital controls with steam.
Also, the appliance has a removable nonstick inner cooking pot for easy cleaning of the unit. The manufacturer also made sure that the rice cooker is dishwasher safe.
Some of the accessories that accompany the cooker are a steam tray, a cup for measuring rice, one spatula, and some exclusive recipes.
Pros:
- Great accessories
- Easy to use
- Sturdy rice cooker
- Does both white and brown rice perfectly
Cons:
- Easily breaks down
- Takes long to cook
- The bowl is a bit small
- Steam leaks
9. Oster 6-Cup Rice Cooker with Steamer
The Oster 6-Cup Rice Cooker prepares up to 3 cups of uncooked rice, making it the perfect size for small families. This tiny, but powerful, unit includes a steaming tray that sits conveniently on top of your rice so that you can cook vegetables or meats at the same time.
This model is perfect for also creating soups, fondue, stews, oatmeal, and more. You’ll receive a measuring cup with your cooker to help you measure the perfect amount of water, rice, and other foods.
The Oster’s inner pot is removable and non-stick, so cleaning is as simple as it can get. You can even add the inner pot and steaming tray to your dishwasher for hassle-free clean-up.
The tempered glass lid is durable enough to withstand high heat and includes a steam vent to direct steam in one direction to prevent burns.
What we like most about this Oster appliance is its one-touch functionality that makes it simple to use, removing the guesswork and confusion involved with some more high-tech models with several cooking settings.
This unit has a switch that toggles the cook mode with the warming mode, so those are the only two settings with which you need to concern yourself.
But, the cooker even has an automatic warm mode that comes on once the cooking cycle completes so your food doesn’t overcook.
And, an auto shut-off feature for added safety turns the appliance off after a certain length of time, just in case you forget to do it yourself.
Pros:
- Vibrant red color that is unique
- Has an automatic shut off so rice does not burn
- Incredibly affordable price
- Power indicator light makes it easy to see when it is operating
Cons:
- Cooking element is in the middle of the unit
- Rice can burn easily
10. Cuisinart 4-Cup Rice Cooker
The Cuisinart 4-Cup Rice Cooker is the smaller of the two models Cuisinart offers but has enough space to make up to 7 cups of cooked rice, which can meet the needs of medium-sized families.
Plus, it functions as more than just a way to cook rice by perfectly cooking boiled eggs, soups, stews, oatmeal, grits, and more. You can easily replace another egg cooker by using this one as a slow cooker or steamer.
You don’t need much experience with these types of cookers to make the most from the Cuisinart unit. The simple design includes a switch that controls the Cook and Warm settings.
A red LED light will show when your unit cooks, while a green LED light indicates that it is currently on warming mode.
Aside from that, you won’t need to mess with any controls, special settings, or temperatures.
The internal technology makes the adjustments you need for a thorough, even, and perfect result for rice and other foods. Once your food completes the cooking cycle, the unit will switch itself to warming mode.
For easy measuring, the inner pot includes measurements. You’ll also receive a measuring cup that’s meant for use with this model so you can always have the perfect ratio of rice to water.
You can remove the non-stick inner pot for easy cleaning, and it is dishwasher-safe.
Unlike many other similar types of cookers with a one-year warranty, Cuisinart provides a three-year warranty for this model.
If you have any issues with your product during that time through no fault of your own, Cuisinart will repair or replace it for you.
Pros:
- Inner nonstick pot is easy to clean
- Cooks rice fast
- Stainless steel finish blends well with other appliances
- Simple and easy to use
Cons:
- Overcooks rice when filled
- Cannot do brown rice
- Too small for a family
- The unit frequently overflows
Read next: Best Stainless Steel Rice Cookers
Our Recommendation: Best Rice Cooker
Of the several models of rice cookers we’ve looked at, the Zojirushi Rice Cooker & Warmer leads the pack in versatility and control.
Although this model does have a higher price point than some, it can replace your slow cooker to create the best soups, stews, porridge, and more, which can make it worth its price.
An excellent contender is the popular Aroma Housewares 20 Cup Rice Cooker, which is perfect for lower budgets but also includes slow cooking, steaming, and special rice settings for ultimate control over the cooking process.
The best rice cooker for you depends on the size and functionality you need. There are plenty of low-budget models with simple designs and minimal functions that can cook rice as well as more expensive models but without the bells and whistles.
However, if you’d like to replace your slow cooker and steamer pots potentially, you may want to consider a higher-end cooker that steams and slow cooks other foods in addition to different types of rice.
Versatility and functionality typically come at higher price points, as do large capacity units. Balance your needs and skills with your budget to find the best rice cooker in our guide that will work best for your kitchen.
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