5 Best Rice Cookers That Go Beyond Making Rice

5 Best Rice Cookers That Go Beyond Making Rice

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We compare the most popular brands and models, and we boil them down to the top five to give you the most in-depth and dependable buying recommendation - so you can make the best buying decision possible.

BEST OF THE BEST

How We Tested

These products are recommended based on a thorough research process that aims to cut through the clutter and uncover the best products in this category. We spend hours looking into the elements that matter with the assistance of experts to provide you with these options.

20
Models Considered
180
Consumers Consulted
8
Hours Researched


Table of Contents

Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker

BOTTOMLINE
Most Versatile
This rice cooker/pressure cooker comes with many features and is a highly adaptable kitchen gadget. There are several cooking options, including slow cook, rapid cook, rice porridge (similar to rice pudding), white rice, and brown rice.

PROS
A sturdy, versatile cooking machine that works more quickly and consumes less power than a steamer. There's a dedicated rice button on the front to automatically regulate fluffy rice every time. Long-grain and wild rice may be perfectly cooked using it.

CONS
For those unfamiliar with pressure cooking, there may be a learning curve.

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Aroma Housewares 20-Cup Digital 3-in-1 Rice Cooker

BOTTOMLINE
Best for Large Households
For the price, it has a lot of features.

PROS
The programmability of this rice cooker is fantastic, and it's easy to use. It makes a lot of rice—20 cups—making it ideal for meal preppers on a budget. It includes a rice measuring cup as well as a plastic rice fork. It's small and easily fits in pantries.

CONS
It will go wrong if you leave rice damp for an extended period. Cleaning may be difficult.

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Zojirushi Rice Cooker and Warmer

BOTTOMLINE
Best for Small Spaces
Zojirushi Rice Cooker is an advanced rice cooker/steamer with "neuro-fuzzy logic" that creates high-quality rice.

PROS
Protect your hands from the heat. The straightforward LED display makes usage easy. Great for a family of average size. It has a keep-warm function and wall-mounting capacity—bonus points for the ability to mount on the wall.

CONS
After a few years of usage, many people notice that the toilet is beginning to wear out.

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Oster 14-Cup Multi-Use Rice Cooker

BOTTOMLINE
Simple Yet Solid
It is a compact cooking machine with a bonus steamer basket for easy preparation.

PROS
The inner pot is detachable for simple cleaning. It makes 6 cups of rice or 3 cups of rice to go with whatever's in the steamer basket. It takes up a little space, ideal for tiny apartments or dorm life. Rice doesn't burn and clings to the bottom of the pan.

CONS
It's only efficient for cooking about 5.5 to 6 quarts of rice.

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Zojirushi Induction Heating Pressure Rice Cooker and Warmer

BOTTOMLINE
Expert Recommended
This product is a must-have for people who eat rice regularly. Every meal with delicious, delectable rice. The finest rice cooker available.

PROS
All of the functions you could want are already included, so it makes excellent rice without requiring any special instructions. Extraordinarily versatile and competent. Hobbyist chefs appreciate its high-end appearance.

CONS
Owners claim they don't regret investing in this pricey device.

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Buying Guide For The Best Rice Cookers

Stovetop rice may not be the most challenging thing to prepare, but it is when you're pressed for time or cooking for many people. The best rice cooker can also cook other foods like beans and oatmeal and various grains like quinoa and risotto.

You'll want to think about a rice cooker's capacity, whether it has a timer if it includes preset features and settings, and whether it can cook other foods before you select one. Some rice cookers are Pressure Cooker knockoffs with additional functions for sautéing, steaming and warming food.

Rice cookers come in various styles and prices, from inexpensive models perfect for the money chef to feature-rich versions for people on a bigger budget. You'll be able to prepare your ideal rice soon enough.

WHY BUY A RICE COOKER?

Let's look at some of the benefits of purchasing the best rice cooker if you're still undecided.

  • If you prepare rice frequently, a rice cooker will save you a lot of time and effort over the years.
  • When comparing rice cookers to other cooking methods, such as on the stovetop, you'll find that they produce significantly better and more consistent results.
  • You may also use rice cookers to prepare other foods.
  • Using a rice cooker to cook rice frees up room on your stovetop for other meals.
  • A rice cooker is an easy-to-use and handy appliance that requires no constant checking or stirring.
  • There are numerous rice cookers on the market, so you may set one ahead in the morning and come home to a perfectly cooked rice and ready to eat.

EXPERT TIP

A great rice cooker should be able to prepare other grains just the way you like them.

REVUU BUDDY

RICE COOKER CONSIDERATIONS

Capacity

The capacity of a rice cooker is often measured in cups. Because some manufacturers measure "cooked cup" and others "uncooked cup," this might be confusing. On the other hand, Gallon may make things a bit more clear since it is widely used to describe liquid capacities (e.g., 1 gallon = 4 liters).

Consider how much capacity you'll require based on your needs - for example, if you have a big family or prefer to batch cook and store leftovers, you'll want a greater capacity .

Intelligent cooking

High-end rice cookers aren't simply expensive electric steamers with microchips inside; they also have microprocessors that monitor the temperature and other elements within the cooking vessel. They respond accordingly to ensure consistent results.

To do so, many rice cookers use either "neuro-fuzzy logic" or "induction heating." Induction heating is better because the chip can compensate for measuring mistakes and still produce excellent results.

However, rice cookers with neuro-fuzzy logic are far more efficient than the ordinary type.

"If you want to invest in a rice cooker with intelligent features, consider one that has an LCD. However, if you are a novice chef, a simple rice cooker will suffice."

REVUU BUDDY

Cooking pot material

Most rice cookers feature stainless steel or non-stick coated aluminum cooking pots. You probably prefer one of these materials already, but both have advantages and disadvantages.

For the sake of durability, stainless steel is the best choice. If rice burns onto the bottom while cooking in a pot on the stove, it's more challenging to clean; but this won't happen if you use your rice cooker correctly.

Non-stick is simpler to clean, but it's not as long-lasting, and some people are concerned about potential hazards.

Timer

Some rice cookers include a timer, so you may program the cooking cycle to start after 23 hours (depending on the model).

This is ideal if you only have a limited amount of time to prepare dinner since it speeds up the process considerably, especially if you get home late from work.

It also makes breakfast a snap, as rice cookers may also be used to make porridge.

Texture settings

When it comes to rice, everyone has their preferences. Different dishes or types of rice may also need distinct tactile qualities.

Rice to accompany Thai food, for example, should be soft and sticky, whereas an Indian curry will be better served with a slightly firm Basmati.

Higher-end rice cookers have various texture options, so you may make rice to match all kinds of meals.

TIPS

  • There is a difference between rice measurements for brown rice and white rice regarding hydration. White rice needs 1½ cups of water per rice, whereas brown rice requires 1¾ to 2 cups of water per cup of rice.
  • Check the rice cooker's instruction book for the maximum fill line or the height you can fill the cooking pot. When rice cooks, it expands considerably, so overfilling your rice cooker might mess up.
  • After your rice has finished cooking, leave it covered for about ten minutes before fluffing it with a fork to get the best results.
  • Avoid flavorless rice by adding a bit of salt while loading it into your rice cooker.
  • A "porridge" function is included in most rice cookers. This was developed to cook traditional Asian rice porridge, which is eaten for breakfast in many countries but is also suitable for everyday porridge.

A rice cooker with a timer is ideal for busy professionals or anybody who'd want to come home to a pot of freshly cooked rice.

DID YOU KNOW?

You may steam food in addition to cooking rice if you have a rice cooker with steamer inserts.

REVUU BUDDY

RICE COOKER PRICES

A basic rice cooker can be purchased for much less than the price of a family-sized take-out dinner, while a deluxe model with all sorts of bells and whistles may cost hundreds of dollars.

Here's what you should expect to pay for a rice cooker and what you'll receive in return.

Basic rice cooker

A simple rice cooker with only a few functions, such as a timer and white vs. brown rice options, should cost between $25 and $60, depending on the manufacturer and capacity.

Mid-range rice cooker

A mid-range rice cooker with extra features, one from a well-known brand, or a multi-cooker that may also cook rice, will cost around $80 to $120.

High-end rice cooker

A top-of-the-line rice cooker with induction heating or neuro-fuzzy logic and all the texture adjustments and other features you could desire should cost between $200 and $400.

Consider how often you'll use a rice cooker. If it's going to be a regular item in your kitchen, go for a higher-end model.

FAQ

Q. What if I don't eat my previously cooked rice right away?

A. Life is unpredictable, and you may prepare your dinner precisely ahead of time yet end up with it ready 30 minutes before the main course. Something might come up to push back dinnertime. Don't worry; your meal won't be ruined - most rice cookers include a "keep warm" function that keeps cooked rice warm without burning or overcooking it.

Q. Should I go with a glass or metal lid on my rice cooker?

A. While it is not essential, a glass lid may be helpful while monitoring your rice's progress. You should choose the one with a glass lid if you're undecided between two options that you enjoy equally.

Q. Is it possible to cook anything other than rice in my rice cooker?

A. The type of rice you're cooking will determine the amount of time it takes. The longer your rice preparation, the more likely that moisture would be lost from all of your ingredients. Because each component has its own set of needs, a recipe may need modifications to compensate for seasonal vegetables or brown rice versus white rice, among other things. It's best to test this out and see how long your various ingredients take before preparing larger batches with multiple quantities to get an accurate result. This varies based on the brand and model of rice cooker you choose. Simpler-to-use rice cookers are often better at cooking non-rice foods than those with neuro-fuzzy logic or induction heating because they are specifically designed to "know."

OTHER PRODUCTS WE CONSIDERED


The Revuu Buddy editorial team conducts studies on hundreds of goods based on consumer feedback, brand quality, and value. After that, we narrow down our list for in-depth research and testing. These are the items that didn't make it into our top five because they weren't as effective as we'd hoped.

ZOJIRUSHI

Induction Heating Pressure Rice Cooker & Warmer

ZOJIRUSHI

3-Cup (Uncooked) Rice Cooker

INSTANT POT

Instant Zest Rice Cooker

COMFEE'

20-Cups Cooked Programmable All-in-1 Multi Cooker

AROMA HOUSEWARES

Professional Plus 20-Cup Digital Rice Cooker

AROMA

6-Cup Pot-Style Rice Cooker

DASH

Mini Rice Cooker Steamer w/ Removable Nonstick Pot

HAMILTON BEACH

Programmable Rice Cooker & Food Steamer, 8 Cups

AROMA

ARC-954SBD Rice Cooker, 4-Cup

INSTANT POT

Lux Mini 6-in-1 Electric Slow Cooker, Rice Cooker

Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker

BOTTOMLINE
Most Versatile
This rice cooker/pressure cooker comes with many features and is a highly adaptable kitchen gadget. There are several cooking options, including slow cook, rapid cook, rice porridge (similar to rice pudding), white rice, and brown rice.

Shop Now

Aroma Housewares 20-Cup Digital 3-in-1 Rice Cooker

BOTTOMLINE
Best for Large Households
For the price, it has a lot of features.

Shop Now

Zojirushi Rice Cooker and Warmer

BOTTOMLINE
Best for Small Spaces
Zojirushi Rice Cooker is an advanced rice cooker/steamer with "neuro-fuzzy logic" that creates high-quality rice.

Shop Now

Oster 14-Cup Multi-Use Rice Cooker

BOTTOMLINE
Simple Yet Solid
It is a compact cooking machine with a bonus steamer basket for easy preparation.

Shop Now

Zojirushi Induction Heating Pressure Rice Cooker and Warmer

BOTTOMLINE
Expert Recommended
This product is a must-have for people who eat rice regularly. Every meal with delicious, delectable rice. The finest rice cooker available.

Shop Now

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