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Allrecipes / Alli Waataja
Rice is a staple at my house, showing up two or three times a week as either a side or a main dish, but it wasn’t always this way. I used to dread making rice on the stove, disliking the space it took up and the hovering required. Then I started making rice in my new Instant Pot and realized that a rice cooker is key to easier (and better) rice. Now, adding rice to a meal isn’t a chore or a hassle, and I can count on it turning out perfectly cooked each and every time.
There are many different types of rice cookers, and contrary to their name, they can all do much more than cook rice. How about making pancakes or a one-pot dinner? Even the simplest rice cookers can make a variety of meals. I chatted with chef and dietician Breana Lai Killeen MPH, RD, as well as searched high and low, to find the best rice cookers and help you make the most of yours. In addition to some thorough research, two of the Allrecipes Allstars put several rice cookers to the test in their kitchens.
My Top Pick
Instant Pot Duo Pressure Cooker
Why It’s Great: Saute function lets you cook multiple types of rice sides; built-in rice function; stainless-steel inner pot
Grain of Salt: Might have to experiment with the water-to-rice ratio
Multiple times per week, I fill up my Instant Pot 6-Quart Duo just to make rice. At first, I thought I’d be using it mostly to make mains, soup, or dried beans, but as it turns out, its primary role is now to make rice. While I definitely make plenty of white rice, I find rice side dishes are where the Instant Pot really shines. The sauté function lets me quickly make a creamy risotto or flavorful Mexican rice right on my counter instead of adding another pot to my already crowded stovetop.
I love that the rice preset is very convenient for making plain rice, and I don’t have to monitor a pot or worry about an overboil. I do prefer 1.25 cups of water to 1 cup of rice more than the 1:1 ratio Instant Pot recommends, but all my batches come out fluffy with nicely separated grains. And even without using oil or butter, the plain rice doesn’t stick to the stainless-steel inner pot.
I’ve had my Instant Pot for quite a few years now, and everything is still in near-perfect condition, including the inner pot which regularly goes through the dishwasher once the rice is done.
The Details: 4-cup capacity (uncooked rice); 12.2 x 13.38 x 12.48 inches; 7 cooking functions
Allrecipes / Rachel Knecht
Allrecipes / Rachel Knecht
Allrecipes / Rachel Knecht
Allrecipes / Rachel Knecht
Allrecipes / Rachel Knecht
Allrecipes / Rachel Knecht
Allrecipes / Rachel Knecht
Why It’s Great: Automatic keep warm function; easy to use; comes in three sizes
Grain of Salt: Only comes in white
A high-quality 5-cup rice cooker that comes at a low price, the IMUSA is big enough to feed my family of four and will last for years. It comes with a measuring cup and a serving spoon as well, which I love.
There isn’t a learning curve to using this simple rice cooker. Plug it in, add rice and water, press “cook,” and the rice cooker does the rest. Once the rice is ready, the machine automatically switches to “warm” mode and will stay there until the unit is unplugged. The nonstick coating on the removable inner pot keeps rice from sticking and allows for easy cleaning. The tempered glass lid lets you watch the progress of the rice and has the necessary steam vent (note: pay attention to the amount of water you use if you experience steam vent splatter).
You can also make other dishes in it besides rice. The manual gives instructions on how to use it for soups and stews, which I found helpful, especially for beginners. The IMUSA also comes in two other sizes: 3-cup and 8-cup. I especially like that the rice cooker is compact and easy to store, so I can have clear counters between meals.
Allstar Lisa Lynn Backus tried this IMUSA model for herself and was impressed with the quick 20-minute cook time. "[It] cooked and warmed perfectly with white, brown, basmati, jasmine, specialty rice with grains, wild rice, even meats and spices," she says. "I did not experience any overcooking or scorching, and kept the dish warming for over an hour."
The Details: 5-cup capacity (uncooked rice); 9.45 × 9.45 × 8.07 inches; 1 setting
Allrecipes / Lisa Lynn Backus
Allrecipes / Lisa Lynn Backus
Allrecipes / Lisa Lynn Backus
Allrecipes / Lisa Lynn Backus
Allrecipes / Lisa Lynn Backus
Allrecipes / Lisa Lynn Backus
Best Space-Saver
Aroma Housewares 4-Cup Rice & Grain Cooker
Why It’s Great: Makes fluffy rice quickly; comes in multiple cute colors; very easy to use
Grain of Salt: Needs to be unplugged to turn off
If you’re looking for a compact rice cooker, then look no further. The Aroma Housewares 4-Cup rice cooker is only 8.5 inches wide by 6.5 inches high, which is an inch or two smaller than similar-sized rice cookers. You could store the lid upside down in the pot to take up even less space when not in use.
The simple design makes cooking rice stress-free. You simply add two full cups of white or brown rice, fill the nonstick inner pot with water to the 2-cup line, and turn it on. Once the rice is cooked, the machine will automatically turn to the warm setting, with the indicator light on the front clearly showing you if the rice is cooking or on warm. Like other single-button rice cookers, you’ll need to unplug it for it to turn off.
Though the warming feature is a nice touch, Allstar LaDonna Langwell warns users not to leave rice on that mode for too long, as it can dry out the rice. "Other than that, the rice turned out perfect. It was very evenly cooked and took about 20 minutes to cook," she says. "If you want something that will make a quick pot of rice without dirtying up a sauce pan, this little Aroma cooker is for you. It's small, lightweight, and you can also use it to warm up soup! It's very convenient and also very cute!"
What I really like about the Aroma is that it comes in multiple colors and comes with a measuring cup and a rice paddle for serving. Keep in mind that the compact size of the rice cooker makes rice for 1 to 2 people, and larger options are not available.
The Details: 2-cup capacity (uncooked rice); 8.5 x 7 x 6.5 inches; 1 setting
Allrecipes / LaDonna Langwell
Allrecipes / LaDonna Langwell
Allrecipes / LaDonna Langwell
Allrecipes / LaDonna Langwell
Best Large
Zojirushi Rice Cooker
Why It’s Great: Makes 20 cups of cooked rice; “fuzzy logic” technology; delay start; interchangeable melodies and beeps
Grain of Salt: Lengthy cooking time; bulky
Chefs and rice enthusiasts alike turn to Zojirushi for making rice. This is one of its larger rice cookers, and it comes with all the bells and whistles of a high-end appliance. With enough room for 10 cups of uncooked rice, this will feed up to 12 people, making it the perfect size for large households.
What makes Zojirushi rice cookers so fantastic is the “fuzzy logic” technology. There’s a sensor at the bottom of the pot to help the machine adjust the cooking time and temperature for every type of rice. Even if your measurements aren’t perfect, this will still turn out perfect rice. Rice will do a pre-soak before cooking and steaming, so be aware that it takes longer from start to finish than basic rice cookers.
In addition to all of that, I like that this has multiple rice presets plus a cake setting and a Quick Cooking setting for a speedier option. It also has two delay start modes, giving you the ultimate flexibility when it comes to cooking dinner. Another one of the beloved functions of the Zojirushi is the option to have it play melodies when the rice is finished. That, and the retractable cord, are two things I wish more appliances had.
"This Zojirushi cooker is so much more than just a rice cooker," says Lisa. "It’s a steamer, soup maker, and cake baker. [It] was fabulous to cook basmati, jasmine, and specialty rice dishes with red rice, forbidden rice, orzo, meats, spices, and broths." One downside Lisa has with the Zojirushi is the weight and bulky build, however she does appreciate that the machine comes with a support handle for carrying it around.
The Details: 10-cup capacity (uncooked rice); 11.12 x 15 x 9.87 inches; 8 settings
Allrecipes / Lisa Lynn Backus
Allrecipes / Lisa Lynn Backus
Allrecipes / Lisa Lynn Backus
Allrecipes / Lisa Lynn Backus
Allrecipes / Lisa Lynn Backus
Allrecipes / Lisa Lynn Backus
Allrecipes / Lisa Lynn Backus
Best Design
Cuckoo 6-Cup Micom Rice Cooker
Why It’s Great: Modern design; “fuzzy logic” technology; completely customizable; auto clean
Grain of Salt: Touchscreen can be hard to read
The Cuckoo Micom Rice Cooker brings contemporary design to the world of rice cookers. It doesn’t have any protruding handles or knobs, which makes it easy to store, with two color options (gray and white), as well as two sizes (3 cups and 6 cups). This comes with 12 menu options as well as a custom mode; you can even make baby food in it! (Of course, if you don’t have a baby, you could use that cooking mode to make applesauce or mashed sweet potatoes.)
Like the Zojirushi, you’ll have perfect rice every time thanks to the “fuzzy logic” technology—which involves a pre-soak, so the rice will take a bit longer to cook. I appreciate that the touch screen is on the lid instead of the side of the machine, cutting down on visual clutter. That being said, the menu can be slightly difficult to read depending on the angle and lighting. The nonstick inner pot makes this easy to clean, especially when using the self-cleaning mode.
LaDonna was also impressed with the sturdy machine, praising its capacity, ease of cleaning, and attractive, sleek appearance. She notes that due to the egg shape, it's a bit tricky to store. However, since it's nice to look at, she doesn't mind setting it on her countertop. "This rice cooker by Cuckoo is just the thing if you really, really like rice and make it a lot," she says. "We made Spanish rice in it, and it turned out great."
The Details: 6-cup capacity (uncooked rice); 11.34 x 14.9 x 10.2 inches; 12 settings
Allrecipes / LaDonna Langwell
Allrecipes / LaDonna Langwell
Allrecipes / LaDonna Langwell
Allrecipes / LaDonna Langwell
Best Stainless Steel
Aroma Housewares Select Stainless 6-Cup Rice Cooker & Warmer
Why It’s Great: Easy to operate; inexpensive; also available in a 14-cup size
Grain of Salt: No menu options
A lot of rice cookers only come with a nonstick-coated inner pot, which not everyone wants. This Aroma Housewares option, though, comes with a stainless-steel inner pot that’s also dishwasher safe.
Like the other Aroma Housewares cooker on this list, this compact machine makes cooking rice easy. Just add three full cups of rice, fill with water to the 3-cup line, and turn it on. There’s a tempered glass lid to monitor the cooking, and it automatically switches to warm when the rice is done cooking. There’s also a larger size available that holds 14 cups of cooked rice. Both the measuring cup and rice spatula are made of BPA-free plastic and are dishwasher-safe.
While Allstar Lisa didn't notice any sticking or scorching after the 25-minute cooking time, she did find the rice just slightly overcooked at the bottom, which made it trickier to clean. She did, however, admire the lightweight construction and the compact size. The included rice spatula can slot into the handle to save on drawer space.
The Details: 3-cup capacity (uncooked rice); 10.25 x 8.25 x 7.88 inches; 1 setting
Allrecipes / Lisa Lynn Backus
Allrecipes / Lisa Lynn Backus
Allrecipes / Lisa Lynn Backus
Allrecipes / Lisa Lynn Backus
Allrecipes / Lisa Lynn Backus
Best Multicooker
Our Place Dream Cooker
Why It’s Great: Easy to toggle between cooking modes; ceramic nonstick inner pot; beautiful design
Grain of Salt: Expensive
I use my Instant Pot all the time but I’ll admit, I’ve been checking out the Our Place Dream Cooker. The Dream Cooker is a multicooker with four functions—pressure cook, slow cook, sear, or saute—and a setting for keeping food warm. At the end of the day, this is everything I need from a multicooker. I like that there are no presets, which gives the cook full control over the length of cooking time. You can also easily toggle between the cooking modes.
The inner pot has an aluminum core with a ceramic nonstick coating, meaning cleanup will be easy. Its performance would be enough to justify the price, but it also has a great design. The gorgeous matte colors make this an appliance you won’t mind leaving out on the counter (which is good because at 18 pounds, it’s heavier than other multicookers). The easy-to-use LED control panel disappears entirely when the machine isn’t on. It is more expensive than other rice cookers, but the superior functionality seems worth it.
The Details: 4-cup capacity (uncooked rice); 13.3 x 12.4 x 15.2 inches; 4 cooking functions
My Takeaway
I can’t recommend the Instant Pot 6-Quart Duo enough! I regularly use the saute function for making rice dishes, plus the stainless-steel inner pot is dishwasher safe and can stand up to regular use without losing functionality.
About Our Tests
Allstars Lisa Lynn Backus and LaDonna Langwell used each rice cooker multiple times with different kinds of rice to really see how the machines handled. While observing the rice cookers, the Allstars also kept a number of important criteria in mind:
- Design: Is the control panel easy to understand? Are there any particularly useful functions, settings, or presets? Does the rice cooker alert you when the rice is done? Are the pieces heavy or awkward to hold?
- Performance: Is the rice evenly cooked throughout? How long does it take to cook? Does the rice overcook or scorch on the bottom? How well does the “keep warm” function work?
- Size and Versatility: How easy or difficult is it to store the rice cooker while not in use? Is it bulky or awkwardly shaped? Are there different settings/cooking methods for different types of rice?
- Cleanup: How easy is it to clean the rice cooker? Do any pieces require extra effort to clean? Are any of the pieces dishwasher safe?
How to Pick the Right Rice Cooker
Capacity
To properly choose the right size, you have to first learn “rice cooker math” says Breana Lai Killeen MPH, RD, of Vermont Culinary Creative. If you, like me, didn’t grow up with a rice cooker, then you might not know that a rice cooker “cup” doesn’t refer to the standard U.S. measurement. Instead, a “cup” refers to the cup that the rice cooker comes with. Usually, the rice cooker “cup” is closer to three-quarters of a US measuring cup so when a rice cooker says that it makes 2 cups rice (4 cups cooked), it is actually making closer to 3 US cups cooked rice or 1.5 cups uncooked rice. This information is essential to choosing the right capacity (and for not overflowing your rice cooker!). Now that you understand rice cooker math, let’s talk about capacity.
When picking out a rice cooker, think about the amount of rice you will make consistently and then choose one that handles a slightly larger amount. “A 3-cup rice cooker is enough for a 4-person household,” says Killeen. “That’s enough [cooked rice] for dinner one night and to make fried rice the next. However, if you’re consistently making 3 cups of rice, it’s better to get a larger rice cooker, one that has a 5-cup or more max as the cooked rice comes out better when you don’t push the rice cooker to the max.” For smaller households, a 3-cup capacity works well, while larger households will appreciate models up to a 10-cup capacity.
Features
Rice cookers offer a variety of features for making rice. The most basic models have a single button that will automatically flip to “warm” once the rice is finished. More advanced models have options for selecting the exact item you want to cook, such as brown rice, oatmeal, or other grains. Other helpful menu options to look for are Delay Start and Quick Cook options.
The most advanced rice cookers use technology to ensure that every pot of rice is perfect. This technology is called “fuzzy logic.” Sensors inside the rice cooker adjust cooking time and temperature in real time to correct for water and rice type.
Common Questions
How do rice cookers work?
“Rice cookers work by heating the hot plate to boil the water inside the rice cooker, then shut off when the water is evaporated (via steam) and the rice is cooked through,” says Killeen. “This is why it’s important to have the correct water-to-rice ratio in the rice cooker. Most rice cookers have labeled notches on the inside bowl so you know how much water to add.” Don’t second guess the interior measurement markings, or you could end up with undercooked rice.
Should you rinse your rice before placing it in a rice cooker?
The manual that comes with your rice cooker will tell you whether to rinse the rice or not but it’s also up to personal preference. Rinsed rice will be drier and less sticky, and, if short grain, the steam will be less starchy.
“Usually, you follow what your family does,” says Killeen. “My family doesn’t rinse the rice but I know many that do. It depends on the type of rice—is it meant to be sticky rice (this is the rice we eat)—or is it meant to be drier, like my husband is used to eating.”
What else can you make in a rice cooker?
A rice cooker can make so much more than rice! Even the most basic models can be used for making oatmeal, multi-grains, and even soups (and this KitchenAid rice cooker can also handle grains and beans). To get started, pick up a rice cooker cookbook or check out the user manual. Killeen got creative with her rice cooker while she was in college. “I used to essentially use it as a hot plate and cook chicken, vegetables, and tofu,” she says. Some rice cookers also come with steamer pots for more versatility.
How long does a rice cooker take?
“It depends on the setting and the type of rice you are making,” says Killeen. “Some rice cookers just have an on and off switch but more advanced models have several different options. Quick cook means rice is ready in about 20-25 minutes, regular white rice is 30 minutes, and brown rice usually takes about 40 minutes.”
Rice cookers that use a multi-step cooking process, such as Zojirushi, take about 40 minutes for white rice, so make sure to plan ahead (or use the delay start function).
Why Take Our Word for It?
Rachel Knecht is a food writer and recipe developer in Seattle. Her writing and recipes can be found on EatingWell, The Spruce Eats, and Simply Recipes. She makes rice weekly and doesn’t plan on ever making it on the stovetop again.
Allison Wignall updated this article using the testing insights from two of our Allrecipes Allstars. Her work has been featured in the Spruce Eats, Food & Wine, Travel + Leisure, and Southern Living.
LaDonna Langwell is an Allstar who loves everything to do with food, especially if it's Italian. In her free time, she volunteers at local wineries. Allstar Lisa Lynn Backus has reviewed nearly 200 different recipes on the site. She has also tested a number of products for Allrecipes, from cutting boards, to panini presses, to whole cookware sets.
What is an Allrecipes Allstar? Food bloggers, registered dietitians, and more home cooks (just like you!) make up our enthusiastic squad of 100+ brand ambassadors. Learn about their favorite recipes, kitchen hacks, and product picks.