So many types of rice cookers and so many different brands. How do you the best rice cooker for you? If re feeling overwhelmed, feel yourself becoming overwhelmed with all of your choices. Read some of my easy tips on how to choose a rice cooker and the list of the best rice cookers of 2020, so you can purchase the right one for your kitchen.
Jump to:
- Why You Should Trust My Opinion On Rice Cookers
- What Should I Look For When Buying A Rice Cooker?
- 1. Capacity
- 2. Ease Of Use
- 3. Footprint
- 4. Insert Material
- 5. Lid Type - Why A Good Sealing Lid Matters
- 6. Keep Warm/Shut Off Function
- 7. Which Types Of Grains Will It Cook?
- 8. Price
- Best Rice Cookers Of 2020
- Is A Rice Cooker Worth It?
Why You Should Trust My Opinion On Rice Cookers
- Cookbook Author: I've written 5 Instant Pot Cookbooks and 2 Air Fryer Cookbooks so I've spent more than my fair share of time in the kitchen.
- Efficient: That's the only way I know how to do things in the kitchen. Who has time to waste when you're trying to get food on the table? I'm known for my ruthless efficiency and use the pot in pot cooking method every chance I get.
- Gadget geek!: I'm a self-proclaimed food tech enthusiast and have been known to purchase (and review) just about any kitchen appliance I can get my hands on.
How Do Rice Cookers Work?
Very simply, most rice cookers work on sensing temperature differences. Water boils at 212F. No matter how much heat you apply, the temperature of boiling water does not exceed 212F as the excess is lost via steam and evaporation.
When all of the water in the rice cooker is absorbed, the rice starts to get hotter. The rice cooker senses that increase in temperature, and turns itself off.
What Should I Look For When Buying A Rice Cooker?
There are 8 very important factors that you need to consider when choosing a rice cooker. These can make all of the difference between loving your rice cooker and hating it. Here are the things you should look for when buying a rice cooker:
- Capacity - How much rice can you cook in it at one time.
- Ease Of Use - Is it easier than cooking rice the traditional way.
- Footprint - Does it take up a lot of space on your kitchen counter?
- Nonstick vs. Stainless Insert - With rice and grains, this can make a big difference.
- Lid - Does it have a sealing lid or not?
- Keep Warm/ Shut Off Function - Will it turn off automatically or switch to "keep warm" when the cooking time is over so you don't have to babysit your rice?
- Which Types Of Grains Will It Cook? - Will it cook more than just white and brown rice?
- Price - What is the value vs. price?
1. Capacity
The importance of capacity of your rice cooker depends on a few things. They are:
- How many people you're cooking for
- If you like having leftovers
- If your rice cooker is multifunctional and can cook more than just rice
- How much room you have in your kitchen
If you are cooking rice for just one or two people at a time and aren't a fan of leftovers or waste, a small capacity rice cooker will be the right choice for you. A rice cooker with a 4-6 cup capacity is probably the right size for you.
If you're cooking for a larger family, prefer leftovers, or intend to steam meat or veggies with your rice cooker, you will want one with a larger capacity. A rice cooker with an 8-20 cup capacity is probably the right size for you.
2. Ease Of Use
There are two reasons to purchase a rice cooker. They are:
- Perfectly cooked rice
- Easily cooked rice
If cooking rice is more difficult in your rice cooker than it is on the stovetop, you haven't purchased the correct rice cooker. Depending on which model of rice cooker you purchase, it can be as simple as flipping a switch to use or as complicated as selecting the correct cooking function and time.
No matter how comfortable you are with rice cookers, if you select one of my favorites from the lists of rice cookers above, you will find yourself with a rice cooker that is incredibly simple to use.
3. Footprint
The footprint of rice cookers can vary significantly depending on which capacity you decide is right for your family.
Here are some of the average footprints for different types of rice cookers:
- Standard Rice Cooker- These can vary significantly since miniature versions of the standard rice cookers are available. The sizes can vary from 8in x 8in x 6in to 8in x 10in x 12in
- Multifunctional Rice Cooker- 12in x 11in x 11in
- Induction Rice Cooker- 13in x 10in x 8in
Whether you have extra room on your kitchen counter and if you prefer to store your kitchen appliances away after each use will help you make a decision on which type of rice cooker is the best rice cooker for you.
4. Insert Material
Rice cooker inserts are usually either Stainless steel, coated aluminum, or a teflon-like nonstick coating.
Stainless steel is the most durable, but it is also more likely to have sticky rice and grains adhere to it. This is especially true for the conduction heat, inexpensive rice cookers.
Coated aluminum is light weight and nonstick, but it discolors if you put it in the dishwasher. While this doesn’t affect performance, it can give the outside of your pot an unsightly appearance, and a rough, matte finish.
My personal preference is for good, old-fashioned nonstick, but I understand that this is not an option for some of you.
Your choice will depend on whether you are okay with a little sticking to the pot (stainless steel), whether you don’t mind hand washing (coated aluminium) or whether you want the least amount of fuss and hassle (nonstick).
5. Lid Type - Why A Good Sealing Lid Matters
When you are making perfect rice, what you want is for all the water needed to stay inside the pot, any unnecessary water to escape the pot without making a sticky, carby mess on your countertop, and a good 10 minutes of steaming to finish cooking the rice.
A well-sealed rice cooker will have an easy way for steam to escape, but won’t allow water to overflow from the top.
In my experience, the worst offenders are the cheaper rice cookers that just have a hole on the top for steam and excess water to escape. Invariably, they spit water at you, they overflow and I hate cleaning up the mess (although the SKOY DISHCLOTHS work really well for hot messes like this (and I’m not just talking about me and my hot mess).
The best ones are the ones that have a tight seal such as the Instant Pot Zest Plus, the Zojirushi Micom or Aroma Rice cooker that keep all the water contained in the pot but have an outlet for steam at the top.
It is also very, very important to let cooked rice steam when it is almost finished. I always let my rice rest for 10minutes. This allows you to finish the last of the cooking with gentle, indirect, residual heat. Not only is this environmentally sound, but it also keeps your rice from burning or turning into a sticky mess as you stir it around to keep it from overcooking.
6. Keep Warm/Shut Off Function
The biggest reason a person decides to invest in a rice cooker is because they are tired of babysitting rice every time they cook it. If your rice cooker doesn't offer this function, you're forced to set a timer, wait for that timer to go off, and then eat your rice immediately so it doesn't dry out or get cold.
If your rice cooker has an automatic shut-off function that switches to keep warm after the cooking cycle is done, the rice cooker does all of the babysitting for you. No worrying about starting your rice at the perfect time to be done in time for dinner and no overcooked rice because the rice cooker didn't shut off when the rice was done cooking.
7. Which Types Of Grains Will It Cook?
Many rice cookers offer different preprogrammed cooking options for different types of grains. You will need to do a little bit of research to know which types of grains each one does since virtually all of them offer different programming. Here are some of the different types of grains your rice cooker may also cook:
- White Rice
- Brown Rice
- Mixed Grains
- Oatmeal
- Barley
- Couscous
- Bulgar
- Risotto
So if you choose the correct rice cooker, it can serve as way more than a simple rice cooker.
What Else Can You Make In A Rice Cooker?
A majority of rice cookers come with a steaming basket that fits perfectly inside. This is so that you can steam vegetables and meat at the same time as your rice.
In some of the more advanced multifunctional rice cookers, you will see that there are other functions that allow you to cook even more inside of your rice cooker. You may see soup, saute, and even cake functions on some multifunctional rice cookers.
8. Price
As with every other factor involved in choosing a rice cooker, you will see a huge range of prices. So unless you're on a strict budget, I would use all of the other points to help you decide which rice cooker to choose and then find one that is within your budget and still fits all of the important criteria.
What Are The Differences Between Expensive And Inexpensive Rice Cookers?
The two biggest differences in expensive and inexpensive rice cookers are:
- Functionality
- Fuzzy Logic Technology
The more expensive rice cookers will usually be multifunctional and offer several different preprogrammed cooking options. They will also use fuzzy logic technology to control the internal temperature of the rice cooker. The most expensive rice cookers will also use induction heat to cook rice in the most time-efficient way possible.
The less expensive rice cookers are usually just that, rice cookers. You can still get a quality serving of rice with one of the lower-end models, but you will likely need to watch it carefully so it doesn't overcook and time your cooking just right so that it is ready with the rest of your meal.
Best Rice Cookers Of 2020
Standard Rice Cookers
Aroma Housewares 6-Cup Pot Style Rice Cooker
The Aroma 6 cup rice cooker is a perfectly sized rice cooker to add to your kitchen. It comes in a variety of colors and has the capability of steaming meats and veggies.
BLACK+DECKER RC506 6-Cup Rice Cooker
This black and decker rice cooker comes in five different capacity options so you get the most ideal sized rice cooker for your kitchen. It features a nonstick cooking pot for easy cleaning. It also comes with a steaming rack so you can steam your favorite vegetables while your rice is cooking.
Zojirushi NHS-06 Rice Cooker
The Zojirushi rice cooker comes in three different capacity options. They are 3, 6, and 10 cups. It features stay-cool handles for easy transportation. It's also super simple to use with a simple flip switch to turn it on and off.
Dash DRCM200BK Mini Rice Cooker
The Dash mini rice cooker is a compact rice cooker perfect for travel, a dorm, apartment cooking, or just for someone that doesn't want to make a lot of rice at once. It has an easy to clean nonstick cooking pot. It features an easy to use flip switch on and off button for simple rice cooking.
Multifunctional Rice Cookers
Instant Pot Duo Mini 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker,
The Instant pot can make GREAT rice if you follow a good recipe. You are no doubt already familiar with all the great things Instant Pots do, so this makes a fantastic buy as a rice cooker with about 10,000 other possible thing to make in it.
Instant Zest Plus 20 Cup Rice Cooker
With a 20 cup capacity, you can use this Instant Zest Plus to cook an entire meal for the whole family. Not only does it cook rice to perfection, but it also has saute and slow cook features. Cook a variety of different kinds of grains with 10 other preprogrammed cooking functions.
Check out my full Instant Instant Zest Plus review here.
Zojirushi NS-TSC10 5-1/2-Cup Rice Cooker
You absolutely will not be disappointed with this Zojirushi rice maker. It works as so much more than a rice cooker. It is equipped with fuzzy logic technology to produce the absolute best results. In addition to cooking rice, it also offers cake and steam functions. It has an easy to clean cooking pan and a retractable cord to make storing a breeze.
Aroma Multifunctional Rice Cooker
The Aroma rice cooker has an incredible 20 cup capacity to cook as much rice as your heart desires. Not only can it cook rice, but it also comes with functions for sauteing, soup, steam, cake, and several other grain cooking options. It has an easy to clean super nonstick inner pot and a rice paddle so you don't scratch the pot with your metal utensils.
Induction & Fuzzy Logic Rice Cookers
There is significant overlap between fuzzy logic and induction cookers. Most fuzzy logic cookers also use induction heat. For this reason, I've combined the most popular and best rated induction rice cookers and fuzzy logic rice cookers into one section for you.
Zojirushi NP-HCC10XH Induction Heating System Rice Cooker
Equipped with state of the art fuzzy logic and induction cooking technology, this Zojirushi rice cooker is sure to produce the perfect rice every single time. It has a generous 1 L capacity but still has a small enough footprint to fit in most kitchens. It also offers a host of other grain cooking functions.
Cuckoo CRP-HS0657F 6 cup Induction Heating Pressure Rice Cooker
You will not believe the functionality of this Cuckoo Induction rice cooker. It offers 18 built in programs and 11 different cooking functions. It has a wonderfully nonstick cooking pan that is incredibly simple to clean.
Panasonic 5 Cup (Uncooked) Japanese Rice Cooker with Induction Heating System
The Panasonic Japanese Rice Cooker offers 13 preset cooking functions. Not only does it cook rice perfectly with its induction cooking technology, but it is also easy to use and easy to clean. It automatically shuts off when the cooking time is over but switches to a keep-warm function so you don't have to babysit your rice while it's cooking.
TIGER 5.5-Cup (Uncooked) Micom Rice Cooker with Food Steamer Basket
With it's 4 cooking menu settings (Synchrony-cooking/Plain rice/Brown rice/Slow cooking, an easy to clean non-stick coating inner pan, and a reliable and much loved brand name, this Tiger rice cooker makes an excellent little rice cooker. The synchrony cooking function is unique to this pot, and it allegedly allows you to steam veggies on top of the rice simultaneously without over or under cooking either the rice or the veggies.
Is A Rice Cooker Worth It?
What is the right kitchen gadget for one person may not be the right kitchen gadget for the next person. Here are a few quick things to factor in when choosing a rice cooker:
Buy One Of The Best Rice Cookers of 2020 If:
- You cook a lot of rice
- Are busy and can't babysit your rice while it's cooking
- Want a kitchen gadget that can be multifunctional
Pass On One Of The Best Rice Cookers Of 2020 If:
- You don't eat a lot of rice
- Already have a kitchen gadget that functions as a rice cooker
- You enjoy extra time in the kitchen
| Image | Features | Price | |
Aroma Housewares | - 6 Cup Capacity - Easy to Clean - Easy to Use - Small Footprint - Standard Type | Buy Now | |
Black+Decker | - 6 Cup Capacity - Easy to Clean - Easy to Use - Small Footprint - Standard Type | Buy Now | |
Zojirushi NHS-06 | - 6 Cup Capacity - Easy to Clean - Easy to Use - Small Footprint - Standard Type | Buy Now | |
Dash | - 2 Cup Capacity - Easy to Clean - Easy to Use - Tiny Footprint - Standard Type | Buy Now | |
Instant Pot Duo | - 12 Cup Capacity - Easy to Clean - Easy to Use - Large Footprint - Multifunctional | Buy Now | |
Instant Pot Zest Plus  | - 20 Cup Capacity - Easy to Clean - Easy to Use - Large Footprint - Multifunctional | Buy Now | |
Zojirushi NS-TSC10 | - 5 1/2 Cup Capacity - Easy to Clean - Easy to Use - Small Footprint - Multifunctional | Buy Now | |
Aroma Multifunction | - 20 Cup Capacity - Easy to Clean - Easy to Use - Large Footprint - Multifunctional | Buy Now | |
Zojurishi NP-HCC10XH | - 1 Liter Capacity - Easy to Clean - Easy to Use - Small Footprint - Induction and Fuzzy Logic | Buy Now | |
Cuckoo  | - 6 Cups Capacity - Easy to Clean - Easy to Use - Small Footprint - Induction | Buy Now | |
Panasonic | - 5 Cup Capacity - Easy to Clean - Easy to Use - Small Footprint - Induction | Buy Now | |
Tiger | - 5.5 Cup Capacity - Easy to Clean - Easy to Use - Small Footprint | Buy Now |
Read More About Rice And Rice Cookers
- Best Small Rice Cooker Zojirushi Micom Review
- Best Rice Cookers Of 2020 - How To Choose A Rice Cooker
- How Rice Cookers Work
- Delicious Rice Recipes
- Instant Zest Rice Cooker
- Instant Zest Plus Rice Cooker
If you've found these tips on how to choose a rice cooker helpful, make sure you share it with your friends on Facebook and Pinterest so they can choose the right one too.
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