The 5 Best Rice Cookers, According to Our Test Kitchen

The Bottom Line: The Best Rice Cooker

Our top choice is the Zojirushi Micom 5½-Cup Rice Cooker and Warmer (view at Amazon), but remember we also liked the 10-cup size (view at Amazon). Both consistently produce perfectly cooked rice and other grains and are easy to clean. The Hamilton Beach 8-Cup Rice Cooker and Food Steamer (view at Amazon) is a more affordable pick, and while it has fewer cooking modes than high-end machines, it still offers plenty of versatility for most home cooks.

Choosing a Rice Cooker

Rice Cooker Convenience

A rice cooker should be easy to use and easy to clean. Consider the layout and intuitiveness of the display and settings: Fewer buttons may be a better choice for less tech-savvy cooks, while models with all the bells and whistles may be a better fit for advanced cooks or those who regularly prepare a variety of grains.

Some rice cookers have dishwasher-safe parts, while others need to be hand-washed. Most rice cooker pots are nonstick, so a quick soak should remove any stuck-on bits of food. If you rely heavily on your dishwasher, double-check that the rice cooker you select has dishwasher-safe components.

Some rice cookers also have a self-cleaning function, essentially a steam cycle to sanitize and clean the cooker.

Rice Cooker Capacity

The best rice cooker for you should accommodate the amount of rice you cook regularly. Pay attention to how the capacity is described, as it may refer to the amount of uncooked rice versus the amount of cooked rice the cooker can hold. If you have a large household or want to prepare a large batch of rice for the week, you’ll probably want a bigger-capacity cooker. However, larger cookers take up more real estate, and cook times may be longer than smaller rice cookers.

Rice Cooker Performance

The most basic rice cookers may have a simple power switch, which is acceptable if you’re only interested in cooking white rice. More advanced models feature cooking presets for different varieties of rice and other grains, allowing for more versatility. Presets put the rice cooker in charge of customizing the cooking time and temperature to a specific grain without user input. The ideal rice cooker should have presets for the grains you cook the most.

While it’s natural for some grains, like brown rice, to take longer to cook, the size and performance of your rice cooker can also impact cooking time. In the 19 models we tested, cook times ranged from just under 20 minutes to over 90 minutes, with our top picks averaging 45 minutes of cook time. If you prefer speedy meals, you might want a smaller model that can have a pot of rice on the table in about 30 to 45 minutes.

Most rice cookers feature an automatic keep warm feature, which switches on when cooking is done. It’s handy if you prepare rice ahead of time. The amount of time a rice cooker can keep food warm varies, but most models we tested with this feature average 12 hours of warming. 

Rice Cooker Design

The size of a rice cooker is the biggest design feature to consider. Smaller capacity models will take up less room than rice cookers with a larger capacity. 

Some rice cookers feature a carrying handle, which is useful if you often travel with food for potlucks and parties. A handle can also make it easy to move a rice cooker for cleaning and storage. If you prefer appliances to look neat and tidy, look for a model with a retractable power cord. 

If you want the versatility of a multicooker, look for a rice cooker that includes a steamer basket insert. This will allow you to steam-cook things besides rice, like vegetables, dumplings or even proteins. 

Another feature to look out for is a removable lid and/or condensation trap. These two areas collect moisture during cooking, and removable parts make it much easier to thoroughly clean and dry them after each use. Not all rice cookers have a condensation trap; some models simply release steam from the top, which means you may need more clearance to ensure rising steam doesn’t damage cabinets or other appliances. 

Most rice cookers feature some type of sound alert when the rice is finished. In the models we tested, alerts ranged from simple beeps to a selection of jaunty melodies. If beeping appliances aren’t for you, look for a model without sounds or one that allows you to silence alerts.

Our Rice Cooker Tests

We combed through rice cooker listings available from major online retailers and chose 19 models ranging in price from $19.99 to $347.49 that were either best sellers or had intriguing features we wanted to try. The rice cookers were purchased and distributed to our team, which includes staff members and food writers with extensive home-cooking experience. 

We prepared at least three different types of rice, paying attention to how long each took to cook and describing the finished texture. We evaluated and scored each rice cooker on a scale of 1 to 5 for ease of use, design, performance, and ease of cleaning. We also reported on special features, like timer delays, keep warm functions, and included accessories, as well as the user-friendliness of the instruction manuals.

We Also Considered

Zojirushi (NHS-06) Rice Cooker ($60 at Amazon): This compact 3-cup (uncooked) rice cooker is ideal for small kitchens and consistently produces soft and fluffy rice in about 30 minutes. With only a simple on/off switch, it lacks advanced features, including presets, smart capabilities and a keep warm function, which we commonly find on other similarly priced rice cookers. 

Toshiba (TRCS01) Rice Cooker ($150 at Amazon): A decent mid-range option, this model features seven settings for different types of grains and a 24-hour keep warm function. We found it easy to use and clean, but the cooking time is a bit longer than average, and it’s rather bulky to store.

Cuckoo (CR-0655F) 6-Cup Rice Cooker ($113 at Amazon): Although this model consistently turned out well-cooked rice, the control panel is cramped, making it tough to navigate. For the price, we expect a higher-quality aesthetic.

Common Questions

How does a rice cooker work? 

The beauty of rice cookers is that they do all of the work for you. “There’s no need to stir the rice until it boils or predict the time it will be done,” says Chef Vanda Asapahu. 

Rice cookers have a heating element and a temperature sensor. Rice cookers heat the water to the boiling point to cook the rice. When most of the liquid has been absorbed, the temperature sensor recognizes it’s time to turn the heat down or off, which prevents burning or scorching.  

There’s very little work involved in using a rice cooker. You measure and prerinse your rice, add water, select your desired cooking mode and press start. Rice cookers typically include a measuring cup and water fill lines on the inside of the pot to take the guesswork out of how much rice and water to use. Your rice cooker’s manual will provide detailed instructions for various grains and cooking modes.

Is it better to cook rice in a rice cooker? 

The stovetop method for cooking rice seems pretty straightforward. However, if you’ve ever produced a pot of gluey or burnt rice—or even worse, both at the same time—you know it's a somewhat temperamental process with plenty of room for error. The perfect stovetop pot of rice requires the right ratio of cooking liquid to grain, controlled temperature from start to finish and a watchful eye. 

In general, rice is easier to cook in a rice cooker because it controls the temperature for you. With less room for error, rice cookers often turn out fluffier rice with distinct individual grains that don’t clump or stick together. Also, rice cooker rice often tastes more aromatic, robust and nuttier because it’s properly cooked.

The cooking method doesn’t change the nutrition of rice. It provides the same calories and nutrients whether you make it on the stovetop or in a rice cooker. The only exception is if you have a rice cooker that can make GABA rice, also known as germinated brown rice. GABA rice is soaked in water before cooking, which sprouts the grains and releases so-called bioactive compounds that research suggests have cholesterol and blood pressure benefits, as well as a lowered risk of some chronic conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease.

How does a rice cooker compare to an Instant Pot?

Rice cookers and Instant Pots differ in how they cook. An Instant Pot is a versatile multicooker with automatic cooking presets for pressure cooking, slow cooking, sautéing, yogurt making and cooking rice. 

Most of the Instant Pot’s functionality involves pressurized cooking, which speeds up cooking time compared to other methods. Pressure-cooking rice also requires less liquid to be added to the grains. In comparison, rice cookers use heat to boil and steam the cooking liquid. Rice made in a rice cooker typically takes longer to cook and requires more liquid.

Although you can cook rice in an Instant Pot, the rice preset is designed for white rice and may not yield the same results as other grains like brown or wild rice. Other grains cooked in the Instant Pot require more user input for time and temperature. Most rice cookers have dedicated cooking presets for various types of rice and other grains, making the cooking process effortless and mostly hands-free.

Some rice cookers have pressure cook settings, which will speed up the rice cooking process. However, pressurized rice cookers do not replace a dedicated pressure cooker since they’re often smaller and less powerful. 

How long is cooked rice good for? 

Cooked rice is good for up to three days when properly stored in the refrigerator or for up to three months in the freezer. If left at room temperature, it should be consumed within two hours to avoid bacterial growth. Toss any leftover rice that appears slimy, discolored or smells off. 

Our Trusted Expertise

Sharon Lehman is a registered dietitian, recipe developer and avid home cook. She’s been writing about food and cooking—including testing products for the Dotdash Meredith family of brands—for over five years. To compile this list of best-tested rice cookers, staff and food writers in our Test Kitchen tested 19 different rice cookers before finalizing our picks. This article was edited by Katie Tuttle, a food editor and contributor to publications such as Food & Wine and The Spruce Eats, and reviewed by Brierley Horton, M.S., RD, a senior commerce editor with over 15 years of experience writing about nutrition, health and food.