The 13 Best Rice Cookers To Buy In 2023
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It would be quite difficult to find someone who has never enjoyed a bowl of fragrant and fluffy rice. According to a 2007 paper published in the Annals of Botany Journal, this nutritious and versatile grain has roots in our culture dating back to 8,000 B.C. The truth is that in the few millennia that it has been cultivated, rice has become more than just a staple food for half the world's population. It sits at the heart of almost every cuisine in the world, from authentic Indian biryani to creamy Italian risotto to Cajun-inspired jambalaya from New Orleans.
With so many varieties of rice, it can be a challenge to master the art of a perfectly-cooked grain. Experienced cooks get it wrong too, that's why rice cookers have become so popular. Whether you're making easy vegetable fried rice or a more intricate classic Mexican rice, with the help of a cooker you'll never be disappointed again. The best part, it allows you to get all the nutritional benefits of harder-to-cook varieties such as wild rice. And what makes them even better is that some rice cookers can do so much more than just cook rice.
You can find rice cookers in any shape or size, as well as with an abundance of features including the more advanced GABA setting, which increases the levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid in cooked brown rice. However, if you aren't specific enough, you'll find yourself in a scroll hole. Therefore, we've put together a list of the best rice cookers available today. We guarantee your rice will never be lumpy, wet, or mushy again.
1. DASH Mini Rice Cooker and Steamer
If you're a college graduate living in a tiny dorm, a traveling rice lover, or simply have a small kitchen with minimal storage space, buying a dedicated rice cooker may not be at the top of your list. Well, we'd say we've found an answer to that.
When it comes to delivering value products, Dash is known for exceeding expectations. The company's latest mini rice cooker that doubles as a soup pot delivers on the promise. No wonder it has won the hearts of so many. This adorable little pot, which sells for only $25, cooks perfect rice and does it in no more than 20 minutes. At least, that's what thousands of satisfied Dash customers say. With numerous five-star reviews on Amazon, this pretty little beast isn't going anywhere — at least not in 2023.
The Dash Mini Rice Cooker comes in 10 stylish colors and is very compact; in fact, it's so small you can take it on a camping trip. As you'd expect from a budget cooker it's not loaded with high-tech features, but it does have a handy keep-warm function and a removable, non-stick inner pot you can put in the dishwasher. It may take some fiddling with the right amount of water, but for what it's worth, the results this nifty cooker puts out are really hard to match.
2. Instant Zest Rice and Grain Cooker
Suppose you want to cook not only rice but also add some vegetables or fish. The Instant Zest Rice and Grain Cooker can do all that and more. For a budget-friendly appliance that costs $39.99, it isn't bad at all. No wonder it has become a staple in so many households across the U.S.
The Instant Zest can easily tackle anything from making fluffy Japanese rice to quinoa or oatmeal. It also doubles as a great steamer, allowing you to cook a complete meal in one go with the included basket. Too good to be true, maybe. Although customers on Amazon agree: With an average rating of 4.6 and plenty of five-star reviews on Amazon, this cooker is sure to win your attention.
Besides an overall great performance, it has some super handy features like a delay timer, keep warm, auto off and on, and Overheat Protection. And if that's not enough to convince you, it comes with a dishwasher-safe, ceramic-coated, non-stick inner pot.
3. Aroma Housewares ARC-914SBD
Aroma ARC -914SBD may not be the best cooker on the market, but it really stands out from the crowd for its incredible value. Just like the Instant Zest, Aroma is a multi-cooker that can easily handle more tasks than cooking a batch of rice. The convenient steamer basket offers the flexibility to cook multiple dishes at once, and the 15-hour delay timer allows you to plan your meals ahead of your busy schedule.
One of the great features of the Aroma rice cooker is that it has enough room for eight cups of rice, but it does an equally good job cooking as little as two. It also has different cook settings for brown and white rice, as well as a Flash Rice function that cooks it in half the time. The latest Aroma model features an 8x Bonded Granite inner pot, which is meant to be even stronger than previous ceramic-coated pots.
No wonder this rice cooker has received so many five-star reviews on Amazon since its launch. It lives up to its name, delivering high-quality results for a very small budget. At the $45 mark, we can't recommend it enough.
4. Toshiba TRCS02 Digital Programmable Rice Cooker
The rice cookers we've covered so far all tip towards the budget side of the scale, delivering satisfactory yet not perfect results. To switch things up a bit, we'd like to introduce you to a great entry-level professional rice cooker from Toshiba.
Toshiba may not be the brand that's best associated with rice cookers, but its digital programmable model TRCS02 is definitely the one to watch this year. Its compact, yet somehow spacious size and very clean design immediately give you the impression of a reliable and solid machine. So what really earned it a place on this list?
To start with, the Toshiba TRCS02 gives you a selection of eight dedicated menus that let you cook everything from brown rice to eggs, with a welcome addition of a cake setting. The advanced fuzzy logic technology ensures smooth heat distribution, even if you're only cooking a single serving of rice. It also features a delay timer and keep-warm function, which is standard on premium cookers. Finally, the inner lid, non-stick inner pot, and pressure valve are all removable for easy cleaning. At $89.99, it's an obvious choice for most small families; the average rating of 4.7 stars on Amazon is only further proof of that.
5. YumAsia Kumo YumCarb Rice Cooker
Korean brand YumAsia is serious about one thing and that is cooking perfectly fluffy rice every time. The Kumo YumCarb model is an entry-level cooker with a number of premium features and a surprisingly low price. This cooker currently sells for $89.90 and we really have a hard time not loving it.
The Kumo YumCarb is the only rice cooker on this list that has a low-carb setting. How cool is that? YumAsia claims that with the push of a button, you can cook your rice with 25% fewer carbs in the finished product. We can already hear the sound of raving health-conscious consumers and for good reason. Rice is known to have a very high glycemic index, so we think this is a smart move by YumAsia.
Aside from its unique selling point, it's generally a very high-quality cooker. A myriad of settings, sleek and sturdy stainless steel body (also available in black), advanced fuzzy logic technology for even heat distribution, and multi-stage cooking have led the Kumo YumCarb cooker to receive more than 300 5-star reviews.
6. Cuckoo CR-0675F Micom Rice Cooker
The Cuckoo Micom CR-0675 has intelligent microcomputer processing, which is able to adjust the cooking temperature and time depending on the volume, type of grain, desired texture, or flavor. This takes the guesswork out of cooking and allows you to relax and enjoy consistent results each time.
However, that's just a small part of what this rice cooker can do. With its impressive 13 cooking settings, the Cuckoo CR-0675F gives any cooker a run for its money. Remember the GABA setting we covered earlier? This rice cooker can do that too, giving your brown rice the attention it needs. Plus, you can use it to serve up to 12 cups of cooked grain, making it ideal for small gatherings.
Since you're probably already wondering how much it's all going to cost you, we'll give you a heads-up. To our surprise, the cooker now sells for as little as $109.99. Now add in the self-cleaning feature and the beautiful touchscreen display, and you've got yourself a steal.
7. Tiger JBV-A18U-W Micom Rice Cooker
Tiger is a staple name in many Japanese households, so it's not surprising that it has a large following overseas as well. One particular model we'd like to mention is the Tiger JBV-A Multi-functional Rice Cooker. At first glance, it doesn't try to impress us with ultra-modern looks or flashy LED lights, yet behind its sleek and ergonomic design is the precision and functionality for which Tiger is known.
One of the great features of the Micom JBV-A18U-W rice cooker is the ability to cook two dishes at once. The Tacook cooking plate ensures that the flavors of the rice and the other dishes you're cooking are separated. The convenient 5.5- or 10-cup size makes it an ideal meal prep machine for most families. Perhaps that's one of the reasons it's received an incredible number of five-star rating from thousands of satisfied Amazon customers.
As you'd expect from a $129.99 cooker, it has all the basic features like the keep warm function that lets you keep your rice warm for 12 hours, as well as the more advanced Automatic Cooking Logic that adjusts cooking parameters depending on what you're cooking. Although it doesn't have as many adjustment options as other pots in this price range, it cooks white or brown rice beautifully.
8. Muji Rice Cooker
If we had to give an award for timeless design, it would definitely be Muji's rice cooker. It's a beautiful blend of form and function, and despite its hefty $149.99 price tag for a small gadget, it's as reliable as a rice cooker can be. Steve Vaughan, cookbook author and chef, confessed to the New York magazine that he's been using his Muji rice cooker for more than 10 years now. No wonder customers on the brand's website consistently give it generous five-star reviews.
The compact size and ultra-low-key design of this rice cooker can perfectly fit into any kitchen setup you have. And don't let the small digital display fool you. Muji's rice cooker has a number of cooking settings, including mixed, brown, rinse-free, sprouted, porridge, and even curry. All in all, it's a great cooker with zero clutter in mind, that is very durable, and does exactly what it says on the box.
9. Zojirushi NS-TSC10 Micom Rice Cooker and Warmer
Our list wouldn't be complete if we didn't include at least one of the rice cookers from the world-famous Zojirushi range. All rice lovers among you should be familiar with the name Zojirushi, but for those who aren't yet familiar with the subject, let's say that Zojirushi rice cookers combine everything that makes up the Japanese art of rice cooking: They make every grain of rice perfectly fluffy and plump.
Although the NS-TSC10 Micom Rice Cooker and Warmer is an entry-level premium cooker from Zojirushi, it features the intelligent Micom technology and a wide range of cooking settings such as white, brown, sweet, mixed grain, porridge, steam, cake, and quick. It also features a steam basket, removable inner lid, and a heavy, thick inner pot for even heat distribution. In addition to the delay timer, the Zojirushi NS-TSC10 also features advanced keep warm and reheat functions.
And if you're looking for additional approval, the Zojirushi rice cooker is one of the highest-rated cookers on this list with more than 85% of the reviews on Amazon being five stars. If paying $199.49 for a genuinely good piece of equipment isn't going to break your bank then you should definitely buy it — you won't regret it.
10. Breville the Fast Slow Pro
When buying a premium kitchen appliance it's worth asking yourself how exactly you'll use it. If rice is all you can think of for dinner then buying a dedicated rice cooker might be just right for you. However, we also recommend looking at the overall functionality of your kitchen appliances. Often, replacing a few gadgets with one could be a far wiser investment.
The Fast Slow Pro is Breville's answer to that. This state-of-the-art, multi-functional cooker can really do so much more than just cook rice. It features 11 settings for pressure and steam cooking, giving you the ability to customize your favorite dishes. With just the push of a button, you can prepare your creamy mushroom risotto or pasta with Bolognese sauce in no time.
Breville's cooker comes in beautiful brushed stainless steel with an easy-to-remove lid and ceramic bowl you can use for serving as well. It also has an upgraded automatic steam shut-off feature for added safety when cooking at high pressure. Frankly, the Breville Pro is a very good all-around performer, and the $299.95 seems like a fair price for the quality of the product.
11. Cuckoo CRP-RT0609FW HP Twin Pressure Rice Cooker
Not so long ago, voice-controlled devices were a product of our imagination or fiction. Today, with 40 million households using Amazon Alexa in the U.S. alone (via Safe At Last), it's no surprise that you can now talk to your rice cooker as well. The Cuckoo CRP-RT0609FW HP Twin Pressure Rice Cooker is an interactive kitchen companion that truly understands your needs. It will flawlessly make any kind of rice on your command and will happily clean itself afterward. And that's not all.
The Cuckoo CRP-RT0609FW has dual-pressure technology that lets you customize the result you want. With no pressure, it cooks utterly delicious sushi rice, while for harder grains, you should opt for a high-pressure setting. This cooker also has a duel gasket, so that no pressure can escape from the inner pot, which Cuckoo says makes the rice far more superior.
With 40 years of experience building quality rice cookers, Cuckoo has earned a worldwide reputation. The CRP-RT0609FW is no exception. With an average rating of 4.6 stars on Amazon, this cooker seems to hold a steady position as a top contender on our list. Get yours now for $259.99 from Cuckoo America.
12. YumAsia Sakura Ceramic Rice Cooker
If sci-fi movies are your thing, you'll definitely like this high-tech kitchen gadget from YumAsia. It's the second cooker on this list from the Korean manufacturer and it's easy to see the appeal. The Sakura Advanced Fuzzy Logic Ceramic Rice Cooker combines it all: a futuristic design, advanced functionality, and a handsome list of endorsements from lifestyle and fashion outlets in Europe. We think it has everything it takes to continue the success story in the U.S., and judging by the impeccable Amazon ratings, it has already made a good impression.
The Sakura model has been years in the making, and the final version now comes with a whole host of useful cooking settings, including a rare Tahdig function if you're in the mood for some crispy Persian rice. YumAsia really took the time to craft every detail on this cooker, including the high-quality, ceramic-coated Ninja bowl with convenient stay-cool handles that allow you to carry your perfectly-cooked rice to the table.
It can serve anywhere between one to eight people and has an additional steam basket, making it an ideal cooker for any size household. The 24-hour delay and keep-warm features fit any lifestyle, and with the super crisp LED Motouch display, you'll always know where the rice is in the cooking cycle. Overall, the value fort he money is hard to beat for $139.90, which is why it's one of our top picks on this list.
13. Zojirushi NP-NWC10/18 Induction Rice Cooker
To describe the last cooker on our list, we'd have to open a chapter from a Japanese rice cooking bible. The Zojirushi brand does indeed have a cult-like following, and its high-end rice cookers give us a glimpse of how important rice is in Japan.
The Zojirusho NP-NWC10/18 Pressure Induction Heating Rice Cooker and Warmer stands tall as probably the best rice cooker the money can buy right now. Saying that, you have to be willing to spend a hefty $549.99 before you can take your rice cooking experience to a whole new level. To achieve these results, Zojirushi has equipped this cooker with the most advanced features, such as AI-controlled induction pressure technology. This means that the cooker learns and adjusts the cooking settings down to the finest detail, all while you are enjoying your favorite movie.
With exclusive programmable settings for congee, jasmine, umami, and oatmeal, this Zojirusho rice cooker will undoubtedly leave even the pickiest of food critics satisfied. Trust us, if you're lucky enough to get one of these, you'll never cook your rice the same way again.