Everything You Need To Know To Find The Best Rice cooker heater coil production machine

Straight to the Point

Rice cookers have gotten fancy, but our top pick, the Hamilton Beach Programmable Rice Cooker, offers streamlined performance at an affordable price. For a spendier option that&#;s well worth the cost, we like the Zojirushi Induction Heating System Rice Cooker and Warmer. It&#;s an outstanding rice cooker from a reputable brand.

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There are two kinds of people in this world: those who grew up with a rice cooker, and those who didn't. If you didn't, I extend to you my sincerest sympathies; if you did, high five!

People who are accustomed to seeing a rice cooker on their parents' kitchen counter will require no explanation for an equipment review of the appliance; the utility and convenience of this type of device were likely demonstrated to them on a near-daily basis. For those who didn't, let me briefly extol: A good rice cooker offers convenience and gustatory pleasure in equal measure&#;giving you perfectly cooked rice, whenever you want it, whether it's first thing in the morning or right when you get home from work.

To find the best rice cookers, we tested 19 models, making seemingly countless batches of rice to land on our top picks. If you've ever been in the market for a rice cooker, you've probably realized that there are a lot of options available. Some leading companies like Zojirushi and Cuckoo make enough that an entire review could be consumed just by a single company's offerings. Three machines from Zojirushi fit our criteria, and so our first order of business was running early rounds of testing pitting its models against each other, moving forward only with our top pick from the company. That model, the Zojirushi Induction Heating System Rice Cooker & Warmer, ended up being one of our winners.

We also recently re-tested our favorite rice cookers&#;comparing them to newer models&#;to make sure they're still the best of the best. This means our top picks have held up to repeated evaluation for years (no small task).

The Winners, at a Glance

The Hamilton Beach rice cooker was a surprisingly strong performer in our many tests, keeping pace with rice cookers that are much more expensive. Despite having a more rudimentary control panel than its competitors, as well as fewer presets, it was just as good at cooking long-grain rice as it was short- and medium-grain&#;and was the standout winner for cooking brown rice. It also cooked rice in less time than any of its competitors. 

While the price point of this model is high, Zojirushi is well-known in the rice cooker space for good reason. In our tests, it cooked Japanese rice varieties exceptionally well. It has accommodations for those with visual impairments (including sound signals, like the playing of "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" to indicate when the rice cooker has started and stopped cooking).

The Cuckoo CR-F rice cooker was another consistently strong performer. Given its slightly higher price point relative to Hamilton Beach, we decided to recommend the Cuckoo only for those home cooks who are quite serious about rice. 

Other than its good performance, the Cuckoo has a relatively small footprint, an attractive exterior, and a number of presets, including one for germinated brown rice (GABA). While the control panel isn't as intuitive as we'd like, once you get used to operating it, the Cuckoo offers up a range of customization options, including how long to soak your rice, how long to heat it, and at what temperature to cook it.

The KitchenAid Grain and Rice Cooker is by no means a traditional rice cooker: It&#;s more similar to a multicooker, like the Instant Pot. But after testing it, we were won over by its delayed start feature and scale that automatically dispenses the perfect amount of water&#;no measuring required. It&#;s a great option for &#;set-it-and-forget-it&#; types, or anyone who&#;s new to using a rice cooker. 

The Tests

We prepped each batch of rice according to the same directions to eliminate variables.

Serious Eats / Vicky Wasik

Before each test, we prepared many varieties of rice the same way. The dry rice was placed in a bowl filled with cold water. We swirled the rice by hand 15 times and then drained it, repeating the process seven times to ensure the rinsing water ran clear. Then we drained the rice in a fine-mesh strainer before placing it in the rice cooker's pot.

First, we narrowed the field with basic rice cooking tests (cooking rice according to the manufacturer&#;s instructions, as well as our prescribed quantities and ratios). We evaluated the cookers on performance and ease of use and eliminated poor performers.

Finally, when we had determined a preliminary list of winners, we tested them against an Instant Pot, using the Instant Pot's method for foolproof rice.

• Short-Grain Japanese Rice Test: We cooked short-grain Japanese rice in the cookers, at both the minimum and maximum quantities. We assessed the rice&#;s texture and flavor immediately after, five minutes after, and 15 minutes after cooking.
• White Jasmine Rice Test: We repeated the above process with white Jasmine rice.
• Brown Basmati Rice Test: Once again, we repeated the testing process with brown rice.
• Quick Cooking Test: If the machine had a quick-cook function, we used that and assessed whether the rice suffered in quality, and how much time it saved in contrast to the typical cooking function.
• Seasoned Rice Test: We tested how well the machines did when cooking flavored rice, using set quantities of rice and dashi.
• Keep Warm Test: For this test, we cooked rice according to the basic instructions and let the rice sit in the pot&#;without opening the lid&#;for eight hours on the Keep Warm function. In some instances, we were unable to test for the full eight hours and instead used the machine&#;s maximum Keep Warm time. (The KitchenAid Grain and Rice Cooker, for example, has a max of six hours.)
• Performance and Ease of Use Test: Throughout each test, we took note of the user experience: Were there clear and easily read measurement lines? Was the display panel simple or complicated? How efficient was it to navigate different settings?

What We Learned

A Simple, Intuitive Control Panel Will Best Suit Most Cooks

There&#;s a bit of a learning curve on the more advanced models. But the appeal of a rice cooker for most households is the hands-off efficiency and elimination of guesswork water-to-rice ratios. For that reason, the Hamilton Beach will suit many. Our favorite Zojirushi is one of the brand&#;s more user-friendly options, and the KitchenAid is a snap to master (you don&#;t even have to measure anything when filling the cooking pot and water tank). We recommend the Cuckoo for cooks with intricate knowledge and experience with cooking specialty rice.

&#;But the Ability to Customize Was Nice

The KitchenAid had 21 presets, all easily navigable on its digital control panel.

Serious Eats / Alexander Huang

Many of the rice cookers were programmed with options like the ability to dial in between Jasmine and Basmati rice. Although we did not conduct any formal tests on added cooking features, we were impressed by machines that included programs for beans and other grains. The KitchenAid was a standout in this category, with 21 preset cooking options. Most of the advanced rice cookers we tested also came with the ability to save a customized time or temperature setting.

Texture Was a Matter of Preference

Super specific about rice texture? You'll want to choose a machine with numerous presets/cooking options.

Serious Eats / Liz Clayman

One cook&#;s inedibly hard rice is another's perfect al dente. For example, in our brown rice test, the Hamilton Beach produced fluffy and distinct grains of brown rice that were a little firm directly after cooking but softened to a pleasing consistency after about 15 minutes. The Cuckoo and the Zojirushi, on the other hand, produced brown rice with a sticky consistency, very reminiscent of the texture of cooked short- and medium-grain Japanese rice varieties. 

If you&#;re highly opinionated about rice texture, you&#;ll want to choose a machine with customizable programs. Some, like the Cuckoo, offer plenty of opportunities for greater control, although the ability to choose minute details like soak time and cooking temperature may overwhelm some cooks. For a more streamlined approach, the KitchenAid display lets the cook choose between &#;soft,&#; &#;regular,&#; and &#;firm&#; textures.

The Best Rice Cookers Were Speedy

The best rice cookers made cooking perfect rice easy&#;and that included the amount of time they took.

Serious Eats / Vicky Wasik

Most of the rice cookers on our winners' list had quick-cook options, and we consider that essential. It doesn&#;t matter how good the rice is if it takes forever (practically speaking) to cook. The Hamilton Beach made a near-perfect batch of brown rice in under an hour&#;an impressive feat.

Keep Warm Functions Were Only Helpful If They Preserved Quality

Our favorite rice cookers kept grains warm well&#;rice will still distinct and fluffy after some time.

Serious Eats / Vicky Wasik

Beyond cooking rice, a rice cooker also serves as a rice warmer, keeping it at serving temperature for long periods without scorching or drying it out. We eliminated any rice cooker that produced dry, gummy, or burnt rice after eight hours. The best rice cookers kept the rice warm and tender, with distinct, fluffy grains that were (almost) as good as just-cooked rice. 

Why You Shouldn't Cook Rice in an Instant Pot

Whenever rice cooking as a topic comes up, someone will inevitably point out that you can cook rice in the Instant Pot. However, we found that the Instant Pot's rice was terrible and under- and over-cooked at the same time (and this was using their suggested method).

Should You Buy Any Accessories for Your Rice Cooker?

For the best quality rice cooker accessories, you'll probably have to purchase them separately.

Serious Eats / Alexander Huang

Some of the rice cookers we tested came with accessories, like steamer baskets and paddles. But in our experience, these add-ons aren&#;t the greatest quality (we didn&#;t love the Hamilton Beach&#;s included paddle). If you plan on using your rice cooker a lot, it&#;s worth picking up the following accessories.

• Rice Washer and Strainer: Typically, rice is rinsed before cooking. You could simply use a mesh sieve for the job, but a dedicated rice washer is pure luxury.
• Steamer Basket: A steamer basket is meant to be used for vegetables or other foods, either on top of cooking rice or just over water. Two of the rice cookers on our list (the Hamilton Beach and KitchenAid) include steamer baskets.
• Rice Paddle: A rice paddle is made for fluffing the rice without smushing or damaging the grains. They&#;re historically made from wood, although heat-resistant and dishwasher-safe silicone can be a nice, if unconventional, option.  

The Criteria: What to Look for in a Rice Cooker 

Serious Eats / Vicky Wasik / Rochelle Bilow

It depends on the variety, but all rice should cook up evenly so there aren&#;t pockets of over- or under-cooked rice&#;and certainly no scorched rice. The grains should be distinct and soft enough to eat, but not so soft that they become mush. Long-grain rice should be fluffy and dry, while short- and medium-grain rice should cook up slightly sticky, but not water-logged or gummy. A good rice cooker should also be easy to use, with user-friendly features like easily read measurement markings or a built-in scale. Special features should enhance the rice-making experience, like efficient Keep Warm functions and the ability to delay the start of a cooking cycle. Plentiful presets for specific rice varieties are a must; presets for other grains and beans are a bonus.

The Top-Performing Rice Cookers

What we liked: While its appearance would suggest that it's nothing special, the Hamilton Beach performed just as well as, if not better than, more expensive machines. The Hamilton Beach excelled at every type of rice we cooked&#;despite having a single preset&#;and in every test we ran, except for the test of the quick-cooking rice function, it cooked rice faster than any other machine.

If what you're looking for is a no-nonsense, budget-friendly machine that's simple to use and puts well-cooked rice on the table in about 30 minutes, the Hamilton Beach is it. It proved to be quite capable of handling varying amounts of liquid for similar quantities of rice, which means it's less susceptible to producing bad rice as a result of user error. 

What we didn&#;t like: Like all rice cookers, cooking the maximum amount of rice it can hold will give you subpar results. It produced scorching on the rice along the bottom of the cooker, which became pronounced after using the Keep Warm setting. The provided measuring cup was shallow, and the fluffing paddle, while functional, was a bit flimsy. Commerce editor Grace Kelly owns this rice cooker and notes that the hinged lid is prone to falling down when lifted, which can be unnerving when it&#;s hot. 

Key Specs

• Weight: 4.8 pounds
• Uncooked capacity: 7 cups
• Cooked capacity: 14 cups
• Dimensions: 10.75 x 10.75 x 11.06 inches
• Accessories: Steamer basket, paddle, measuring cup
• Settings: 6 (white rice, quick white rice, whole grain, hot cereals, steam cook, and heat/simmer)

• PHOTO: Serious Eats / Alexander Huang

• PHOTO: Serious Eats / Alexander Huang

• PHOTO: Serious Eats / Alexander Huang

What we liked: Cooks who make a lot of Japanese rice should consider this Zojirushi model. It comes with instructions for varieties of rice typically found in Japanese markets, like polished rice with the germ still attached and two types of "semi-brown" rice.

We also want to note that Zojirushi, alone among the brands we tested, has some accommodation for those with visual impairments: The Start and Cancel buttons have a raised dot and dash, respectively, so you can start and stop the machine by touch alone, and all Zojirushi models have (quite loud) sound signals (the default is a rendition of "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star") to indicate when the cooking process has begun or ended.

What we didn&#;t like: Of course, this rice cooker is expensive. It also produced mushy seasoned rice.

Key Specs

• Weight: 9 pounds
• Uncooked capacity: 5 1/2 cups
• Cooked capacity: 11 cups
• Dimensions: 14 x 10 x 8 inches
• Accessories: Rice scoop, measuring cup
• Settings: 10 (including white rice, sushi rice, mixed rice, and sweet rice)

• PHOTO: Serious Eats / Alexander Huang

• PHOTO: Serious Eats / Alexander Huang

• PHOTO: Serious Eats / Alexander Huang

• PHOTO: Serious Eats / Alexander Huang

What we liked: The Cuckoo CR-F has a relatively straightforward control panel, particularly for cooks who plan on using the preset programs for cooking glutinous rice varieties, long-grain rice, and brown rice. The one slightly confusing element of the preset programs was that long-grain rice and brown rice share the same preset; while that may be unorthodox, it did result in the Cuckoo taking the top spot for the jasmine rice cooking test and the second spot in the basmati test. The Cuckoo, like the Zojirushi, has a preset program for germinated brown rice.

The rice cooker also has several other functions: a steam function, for steaming dumplings and vegetables; a porridge function, for making juk/congee/okayu; a multicook function, which is essentially a slow cooker; a baby food function, which, to be frank, we don't quite understand; and a cleaning function, which sterilizes the interior.

Finally, the Cuckoo allows cooks to customize the rice-cooking process: You can choose how long the rice soaks before the cooking process begins, you can choose how long to heat the rice for, and you can choose the cooking temperature. We believe this level of control will be appealing to some cooks out there, particularly those who regularly purchase and eat different varieties of rice.

What we didn't like: It didn&#;t blow any of the competitors out of the water in terms of texture, but we still think it did a solid job.

Key Specs

• Weight: 7 pounds
• Uncooked capacity: 6 cups
• Cooked capacity: 12 cups
• Dimensions: 8.6 x 9.4 x 13 inches
• Accessories: Rice scoop, measuring cup
• Settings: 11 (including white rice, brown rice, mixed rice, porridge, and steam)

• PHOTO: Serious Eats / Alexander Huang

• PHOTO: Serious Eats / Alexander Huang

  For more information, please visit Foshan Osno.

• PHOTO: Serious Eats / Alexander Huang

What we liked: You simply cannot make bad rice in this cooker. A scale underneath the ceramic cook pot is what makes it so hands-off: Just add your rice and press start, and the machine will automatically dispense the correct amount of water from the attached water tank. (If you want to cook with stock or broth, that should be added directly to the cooking pot, according to the manufacturer&#;s instructions.) There&#;s also the option to choose your ideal texture: soft, regular, or firm. A textural adjustment will, of course, affect the cooking time. The digital display is sleek and super easy to use. We liked the delay start feature, which could be set up to 24 hours in advance. And although the presence of 21 cooking functions (that includes items like pearled barley and pinto beans) edge it away from &#;true&#; rice cooker status, we did find them useful and effective.

What we didn&#;t like: It has a large footprint, owing in part to the water reservoir on the side of the cooking pot. The Keep Warm function tops out at six hours, and sometimes the rice was mildly scorched around the edges. It&#;s pretty pricey. 

Key Specs

• Weight: 10.5 pounds
• Uncooked capacity: 8 cups
• Cooked capacity: 14 cups
• Dimensions: 9 3/4 x 17 7/8 x 8 1/8 inches
• Accessories: Steamer basket
• Settings: 21 (including basmati rice, jasmine rice, sushi rice, quinoa, lentils, and chickpeas)

• PHOTO: Serious Eats / Alexander Huang

• PHOTO: Serious Eats / Alexander Huang

• PHOTO: Serious Eats / Alexander Huang

The Competition

FAQs

Are rice cookers worth it?

In our opinion, yes, they are. A good rice cooker is easy to use and will make well-cooked rice and keep it warm for a prolonged period of time. If you love rice and eat a lot of it, there are few kitchen gadgets that are as useful as a rice cooker.

How much should you spend on a rice cooker?

You really don't have to spend a lot to get a great rice cooker. Our winning model, the Hamilton Beach, hovers around $50, and you may be able to snag a sale. But if you cook a lot of specialty rice, a rice cooker with more presets and features is worth the price bump. The Zojirushi Induction Heating System Rice Cooker costs over $400, and it's worth every penny&#;especially if you cook a lot of Japanese rice.

Is the Zojirushi rice cooker good?

Very! In fact, we tested three for this review and only eliminated two because they didn&#;t meet the specific criteria we&#;d set. It&#;s an incredibly reputable brand and a Serious Eats staff favorite. Senior commerce editor Riddley Gemperlein-Schirm has one, and notes that she especially likes that it offers auditory cues for both the start and the finish. &#;I've owned a Zojirushi rice cooker for years, use it multiple times per week, and have found it to be super consistent,&#; she says.

What size rice cooker should I get?

We find rice cookers that have a cooked rice capacity of no less than 10 cups and no more than 15 cups to be the most useful; they also don&#;t take up too much countertop or storage space. Remember: A bigger rice cooker can handle less rice, but a smaller one can't accommodate more.

Is a rice cooker faster than a stovetop?

Sometimes; depending on the variety and cycle you choose. But the appeal of a rice cooker is less about the cooking time and more about hands-off efficiency. The consistent textural perfection is pretty great, too!

Can you make seasoned rice in a rice cooker?

Yes, you can. In most instances, you can add seasonings, like dashi, spices, or broth, right into the cooking tank. That said, introducing ingredients to the mix that increase moisture (such as vegetables) may result in mushy or clumpy rice. 

What else can I cook in a rice cooker?

Depending on the cooker, you may be able to cook a variety of other things in it. Some people like to steam vegetables on top of the rice as it cooks (and even thinly sliced meats)&#;just make sure you add the vegetables later in the cooking process, to avoid soggy, overcooked results. Many rice cookers also have a "porridge" option, which makes congee. You can also cook oatmeal and other grains in a rice cooker. One of our winners, the KitchenAid Grain and Rice Cooker, even has settings for beans and lentils.

How do you clean a rice cooker?

To clean a rice cooker, wash the cooking pot with warm, soapy water and a soft sponge. Some rice cookers (like those from Zojirushi and KitchenAid) have removable portions on the underside of their lids that should also be cleaned after each use. You should then wipe down the exterior of the rice cooker with a clean, damp cloth. Let both the cooking pot and rice cooker dry completely before storing.

Why We&#;re the Experts

• Sho Spaeth was the senior editor for Serious Eats, having joined the team in . He left the site in and is now working for ChefSteps. He's also currently working on a ramen cookbook.
• Rochelle Bilow is one of Serious Eats&#; commerce editors. She has written numerous gear reviews for the site, including anti-fatigue mats and blenders. She tested the KitchenAid Grain and Rice cooker for this review.
• For this review, we tested 19 rice cookers. We re-evaluated old favorites and tested new products regularly in the five years since publication. We&#;ve kept our original three recommendations on the winners list, which means they have stood up to long-term use.
• We recently received a sample of KitchenAid&#;s Grain and Rice Cooker and tested it according to the metrics used in our original review&#;and we were impressed. It has smart technology that actually works and other helpful features, like a delayed start option. Plus, it can cook beans, lentils, and grains. For these reasons, we added it as a winner.
  

Read our full review of the Zojirushi 3-Cup Rice Cooker

KitchenAid Rice and Grain Cooker

Kitchenaid&#;s new grain and rice cooker is unlike any other rice cooker we&#;ve ever tested. Its unique design uses an integrated scale and external water tank. Rather than relying on a cup or the lines on the interior wall of a bowl, you just pour your grains right into the cooker and the internal scale will adjust and add what it deems the right amount of water from the tank accordingly. It uses pre-programmed ratios for different grains, cereals, beans, and legumes, with 21 preset functions in all, more than almost any other rice cooker on the market. It&#;s an interesting concept that seeks to further streamline the already pretty streamlined cooking process of a rice cooker, but the results of our initial test were mixed.

The first batch of white rice was unacceptably dry. The KitchenAid fared better on the brown rice setting which, while still a touch dry, had a nice, chewy, properly cooked texture. We gave white rice another go, selecting the &#;softer&#; function and had better luck with results that were in line with middle-of-the-pack, perfectly acceptable rice cookers.

I don&#;t want to write off this machine quite yet&#;it has a lot of cooking functions that go above and beyond a typical rice cooker and beyond the scope of this test we want to explore. And, as is the case with all appliances, especially ones with novel engineering, there&#;s a bit of a learning curve to using them. For now we will leave this one down here, until we are able to conduct a comprehensive stand alone test.

Toshiba TRCS01 Rice Cooker

In our first initial blind rice cooker test, the Toshiba TRCS01 won us over with the quality of rice it produced in addition to its programmable features. However, we encountered an issue in long term testing. Like many higher-end rice cookers, the Toshiba utilizes fuzzy logic AI, which allows the rice cooker to make fine adjustments to temperature in order to optimize the quality of rice you get. The Toshiba gets major points for giving us a full countdown from the start rather than appearing 10 minutes before completion. It also includes a delay timer so you can pre-soak grains overnight and have them cook up automatically and produces an audible chime when it&#;s finished cooking

The controls are very intuitive, easy to use, and well-designed for American consumers, with presets for white, brown, mixed grain, porridge, steel-cut oats, and more. The quick rice function is great for grains like quinoa, polenta, and farro that one might normally make in a saucepan. It also includes a basket for steaming proteins and veggies&#;another feature most Zojirushi models lack.

We decided to replace the model as our budget recommendation after long-term testing revealed an issue where the timer would freeze but the machine would continue to cook until manually stopped. The timer on this rice cooker is technically relative, meaning that it is not a true timer but provides a rough approximation of when the cooking cycle will complete, so sometimes &#;minutes&#; that seem to go on for several actual minutes can be expected. However, we found this machine to have an issue&#;particularly with the multi grain and quick rice settings, where it would stay on the same time for 20 minutes or longer. usually when this took place, the resulting rice or grain would be overcooked or burned. This would occur when cooking grains like quinoa, farro, or a multigrain blend. However, it was not a consistent problem. Sometimes these settings, with the same grains and same water ratios, would function without issue at all. It could very well be a consequence of human error, but the manual did little help to troubleshoot the problem, and we imagine that the perception of a rice cooker ostensibly &#;freezing&#; in this way, may not make this the best rice cooker for someone who isn't too familiar with how these machines work.

Toshiba TRCS02

Despite the name, this is not a new and improved version of the Toshiba TRCS01, which for a time was our best rice cooker until long-term use revealed some glitchy problems that led us to knock it back down. This Toshiba is smaller and has a different roster of settings, including an official &#;cake&#; setting (making cakes in rice cookers is a popular off-label use for them, but a designated setting is a new thing.) It did a decent job on the white rice setting, but the brown rice was overcooked.

Toshiba Small 3 Cup Rice Cooker

$90

$80

Amazon

Tiger Microcomputer Controlled Rice Cooker JAX-T10U

This model is similar to the Toshiba in functionality, but testers found that rice on standard settings skewed a little too soft for their liking, and overall ranked it lower than the more affordable Tiger JBV-A10U. This is another model that we will continue to provide information through long-term testing.

Tiger 10-Cup (Uncooked) Rice Cooker JNP--FL

This is a big, family-style basic rice cooker that cooks things one way and only one way. With the brand's recommended measurements, testers found this rice cooker skewed the softest and mushiest out of all the machines tested. Certainly, it&#;s something that can be remedied by tinkering with water levels, but this rice cooker is just too simple for what we were looking for and delivered underwhelming results. The flowers on the outside were cute, though!

Tiger 5.5-Cup (Uncooked) IH Rice Cooker JKT-D10U

This Tiger model was remarkably close in performance to the winning Zojirushi, with testers scoring the Zojirushi rice only slightly higher. We feel comfortable recommending this cooker as well and will continue to provide more in-depth information with long-term testing.

Cosori 5-Cup Rice Cooker

This is Cosori&#;s first rice cooker, and the brand did a fine job. Standard settings on this machine run dry, so people who like their rice al dente will appreciate this machine. Most of the testers found the rice to be undercooked. This cooker has 18 settings, though, which also include adjustments on doneness. However, we reserve our recommendations for this cooker since plenty of other models simply do a better job.

Cuckoo 6-Cup Micom Rice Cooker CR-F

This is seemingly a redesign of Cuckoo's CR-F model, with a sleek new modern control panel and design. Yes, the rice is great, but we found that the new buttons responded poorly to touch, many of the settings were poorly explained and inadequately translated to English in the manual, and overall, we found the machine not to be very intuitive or easy to use. Cuckoo rice cookers cook great rice, and also have uniquely appealing settings&#;like one that specifically gives you a crispy bottom&#;but this redesign was just a bit of a mess in our opinion.

Cuckoo 6-Cup Rice Cooker and Warmer CR-F

The Cuckoo 6-Cup Rice Cooker and Warmer has a fantastic price for the quality it delivers. It produced rice that was close in quality to the Zojirushi Induction Rice Cooker&#;at a much faster pace. It beat the Zojirushi by 15 minutes. Also, it has a slightly larger capacity than the Zojirushi, holding 6 cups of uncooked rice compared to the Zojirushi&#;s 5.5. For $90 (at the time of writing), it&#;s a great deal, and you&#;ll get great rice out of it again and again. However, a couple things kept it out of the top budget pick spot. The lid jerks open so violently that it can knock itself or other things off the counter, and it also does not display the countdown from start to finish.

Cuckoo 6-Cup HP Twin Pressure Rice Cooker CRP-STF

This Cuckoo suffered the same design issues as the CR-F, but with the addition of a sputtering pressure cooker valve. However, by far the most distinctive feature of this rice cooker is that it talks&#;a lot&#;.with a perky voice similar to Y2K-era Barbie toys. We were honestly charmed, but the glitchy and unresponsive control panel and meh performance held this one back.

Aroma Digital Rice Cooker ARC-914SBD

The Aroma Housewares Digital Rice Cooker made solid rice, though not as fluffy or perfectly textured as our winning models. Also, it released fumes that smelled like burning rubber.

Aroma Mi 3-Cup Rice Cooker

The Aroma Mi 3-Cup Rice Cooker had a unique shape; tall rather than squat, it features a side-locking lid and top handles for carrying, plus individual buttons for cooking white and brown rice. It was easy to clean, made very fluffy rice, and emitted a loud beep to let us know when it was done cooking (then immediately moved to the Keep Warm setting). It would be a decent budget-friendly pick for those looking for a smaller rice cooker.

Aroma 2.5-Cup Rice Cooker ARC-753SG

The Aroma 2.5-Cup Rice Cooker is a dead-simple, one-button machine. It cooked totally passable rice in 25 minutes and takes up virtually the same counter space as the Zojirushi 3-Cup. But it suffered from some leakage.

Aroma Housewares Select Stainless Rice Cooker

$40

$31

Amazon

Hamilton Beach Rice Cooker

The Hamilton Beach Rice Cooker was a solid contender. It produced impressive results with medium-grain white rice and long-grain basmati and possessed a number of features more advanced than what you'd normally get on a low-cost machine, such as warming and preprogramming options. However, it fell short with the brown rice, which was undercooked after 60 minutes. If you&#;re not much of a brown rice eater, this could be a good option for you.

DEAL: Hamilton Beach Digital Programmable Rice Cooker

$40

Amazon

GreenPan Bistro 8 Cup Traditional Rice Cooker

GreenPan&#;s Bistro rice cooker, like its Elite rice cooker, is notable because it&#;s one of the few options out there with a ceramic nonstick interior rather than a PTFE-based interior. Performance-wise though, it pales in comparison to the Elite model. We found that this rice cooker runs far too hot, as it scorched the bottom of each batch of rice we cooked in it, and the keep warm setting caused the rice to yellow in a matter of minutes.

Yum Asia Panda

This is one of the best-selling rice cookers on amazon. But as we know from testing the site's popular knives and juicers, that doesn&#;t necessarily mean it&#;s going to be one of the best rice cookers. The Panda definitely gets points for its compact size. It&#;s a mini rice cooker, but has the preset functionality, like different options for long or short grain rice, typically limited to larger rice cookers. That definitely makes this model appealing for small spaces. The white rice was really well executed in this one, which set high expectations for the brown rice. Sadly the brown rice ended up mushy and overcooked. Still, this could be a good rice cooker to keep in a dorm room for any upcoming college first years.

Yum Asia Panda Mini Rice Cooker

$110

Amazon

Dash Mini Rice Cooker

The Dash Mini Rice Cooker is very cute and easy to use, with a one-button lever system like the Zojirushi 3-Cup. But the lid was too light to stay on properly; while the rice cooked, the resulting steam kept popping the lid askew. That allowed too much heat to escape and we had to monitor it throughout the process. Also, it took the longest of any of the mini models we tested to cook one of rice&#;a whopping 34 minutes.

DASH Mini Rice Cooker

$25

Amazon

Cuisinart 4-Cup Rice Cooker

The Cuisinart 4-Cup Rice Cooker had the biggest capacity of any mini rice cooker we tested, but it fell short on execution. The rice it made&#;in record time for a mini, just 19 minutes&#;was a little too firm, and during the cooking process, it leaked slightly starchy water all over the sides and down the counter.

Nutribullet EveryGrain Cooker

The Nutribullet Rice Cooker produced inconsistent and unsatisfactory results. Some batches were too dry, while others were too mushy.

Instant Pot Duo

If the Instant Pot Duo is already your air fryer and slow cooker, why shouldn&#;t it be your rice cooker? After all, one of the many versatile functions it offers is a rice cooking setting. Well, the multi-cooker produced the most disappointing results of the rice cookers we tested and did not advance beyond the medium-grain rice round. It was very fast, but the result was gummy, difficult to fluff&#;even with the rice paddle&#;and stuck to the stainless-steel pot (the only pot insert that held on to rice). As a pressure cooker, it&#;s great, but we would not count cooking rice successfully among the Instant Pots&#; many features.

Are cheap rice cookers good?

While we certainly understand the impulse to always want the &#;best&#; option out there when appliance shopping, we feel comfortable saying that for many people out there, a budget rice cooker will be more than fine. If you are someone who eats rice several times a week, consider it a fundamental component of your diet, or have exacting standards in regard to texture and quality, it is worth investing in an electric rice cooker with fuzzy logic and an array of precise settings. A cheap machine will not produce the kinds of consistently excellent results you get from one of those.

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