The Best Rice Cookers in 2022

Regardless of contemplating rice one of many 4 important meals teams (together with noodles, dumplings, and bread), I at all times poo-pooed rice cookers as space-hogging unitaskers. I now remorse this. The very best rice cookers should not solely time-savers, however they’re foolproof rice-making workhorses that take the potential of scorched rice out of the equation.  

Even once I was pregnant and will solely abdomen rice with butter, I discovered the standard stovetop technique superior. Nonetheless, across the time that the aforementioned baby might crawl away from me and stick her fingers in electrical sockets and discover the canine kibble the second I turned my again, I noticed the error of my methods. Abruptly making rice on the stovetop — which I believed then is one of the best ways and nonetheless do, when attainable — was an inconceivable activity. I mismeasured as a result of I used to be making an attempt to do three issues without delay, I missed the timer and it boiled over or became soup, or I burnt it to the underside of the pan only a few too many occasions. By the point my youthful daughter might additionally transfer round, I admitted defeat: I wanted a rice cooker. 

Eric Kim, a employees author for the New York Occasions and the creator of the upcoming cookbook Korean American: Food That Tastes Like Home, agrees with me on each factors: that rice tastes greatest when correctly cooked on the range and that I wanted a rice cooker — he has recipes for each strategies in his e-book. Furthermore, he factors out that he, as a one-person family, additionally requires a rice cooker. “I really like the chance to make rice on the stovetop,” he says. “However the purpose I’ve a rice cooker is for comfort.”

When he first moved to New York, his mother bought him a elaborate rice cooker at HMart that he used for a decade. However after a user-error mishap, when he went to purchase his personal, he simply purchased an affordable, small one, as a result of it nonetheless makes good rice in a handy method. Chef Tiffany Ran, who runs a Taiwanese pop-up called Ba Ba Lio in Seattle, however, finds herself drawn to the rice cookers that supply extra bells and whistles, like settings for various grains and her personal customized rice blends. You need to use different cookers for a similar function, she acknowledges, however you must study it by really feel. 

“I like rice cookers which are dummy proof,” says Ran, summing up my motivations (it’s me, I’m the dummy). “I wish to press a button, and test on it later, one which doesn’t dry out the rice, since generally you neglect about it. These are one of the best.” 

The distinction between Ran’s and Kim’s concepts on rice cookers highlights the assorted causes one may select one mannequin over one other Although Kim freely admits that the standard of rice cooker usually goes up with how a lot you spend, he doesn’t essentially really feel that it does so in a method that issues for on a regular basis rice cooking. “The purpose isn’t that it makes good rice, it’s a easy machine, it’s comfort.” He turns down individuals who wish to know what model or mannequin he makes use of, saying they need to simply get what they need. 

And he’s proper: almost all of the low-end fashions by the usual kitchen equipment manufacturers run beneath about $50 and can do job cooking no-frills rice conveniently. However for people like Ran, me, and lots of others, trying to spend a bit bit extra and get a number of extra options, we wished to dig deep to seek out one of the best rice cookers and what makes each nice.

Our High Picks

Finest Total: Zojirushi NL-GAC10

Capability: 5.5 cups | Worth: $273.99 | Show: Digital 

Why we selected it: Merely put, this mannequin made one of the best rice.

Zojirushi confirmed off the way it earned its popularity for one of the best rice cookers in our testing, turning out near-perfect rice in a variety of kinds at various worth factors, however this mannequin stood out to tasters as making one of the best rice. When you pay for that high quality, the machine earns its worth in different methods, with greater than a dozen completely different modes for making jasmine, brown, candy, and blended rice, in addition to “umami” mode, which soaks and steams the rice longer, supposedly making the rice style even higher, a congee button for porridge, “fast” choices, plus steam and sluggish prepare dinner capabilities. 

It additionally had tons of little options that made it a delight to make use of: it performs a track because it begins — although you possibly can select to alter that to a beep or silence it — and it tracks the entire time remaining within the cooking course of (together with steaming time) which is useful for timing meals and surprisingly uncommon within the class. It took about 50 minutes to make one cup of rice, which was fairly normal among the many cookers, however that point was completely palms off, because it moved mechanically into heat mode to finish the steaming. Lastly, it did all this with out making the operation remotely sophisticated. Clear measurements on the within of the bowl and the straightforward interface made this machine a breeze to make use of and turned out rice as near excellent as any machines we examined.

Finest Worth: Cuckoo CR-0671

Capability: 6 cups | Worth: $49.99 | Show: Indication lights

Why we selected it: Easy, cute, and inexpensive, this made rice almost in addition to cookers that price 5 occasions as a lot.

One step up from the only ones, this very cute machine does principally a single factor — prepare dinner rice — however does it fairly effectively (okay, it does have the indispensable on the spot heat operate, too). The grains have been only a smidge stickier than these of our winner, however for on a regular basis functions, they have been wonderful, and we discovered it made rice with a extra constant texture all through the pot than related fashions. The financial savings do imply forgoing all the flamboyant modes, but when making good rice is a precedence, this mannequin works effectively — and appears good doing it.

Finest Small: Zojirushi NHS-06

Capability: 3 cups | Worth: $47.99 | Show: Indicator mild 

Why we selected it: This small rice cooker epitomizes simplicity with out forgoing high quality.

Electrical rice cookers are usually cumbersome home equipment by nature, so this little three-cup mannequin is about as small as they arrive. However, as Kim notes, larger shouldn’t be essentially higher. Actually, this smaller mannequin was quicker than the bigger fashions — although it did require paying sufficient consideration to note when it flipped off after which timing the quarter-hour of steaming — and it turned out pretty textured rice with shiny particular person grains. With out the moment heat operate (or any heat operate) it simply wants a bit further babysitting. Nonetheless, there’s something pleasant about how effectively it cooks rice and the way easy the machine is — only a single lever, and an indicator mild whereas it cooks. 

Finest Multi-Goal: Instant Pot Duo

Capability: 5 cups | Worth: $89 | Show: Digital 

Why we selected it: For anybody who solely makes rice sometimes, the Immediate Pot affords a extra versatile automated choice that rivals rice cookers. 

The Immediate Pot makes surprisingly good rice, even with none additional changes than hitting the “rice” button. It’s undoubtedly a step down from any of the rice cookers, popping out a tad gummier and far much less constant — wetter in some elements than others. Nonetheless, it served its function and with some adjustment of technique and ratio, might be improved. For somebody who eats rice only some occasions a month and has house constraints, this multicooker helps cut back home equipment. The opposite massive benefit of the Immediate Pot comes within the velocity: begin to end, it took lower than half-hour, the quickest of the electrical rice cookers we selected right here takes 50 p.c longer.

Finest Aesthetics: Hario Japanese Rice Cooker

Capability: 2.25 | Worth: $95 | Show: None 

Why we selected it: This beautiful, artistic dish mimics the digital rice cooker expertise on the stovetop.

The black ceramic bowl of this rice cooker appears like every other good piece of pottery, however when mixed with the specifically designed glass lid, creates a rice cooking system that makes cooking rice on a variety virtually so simple as utilizing a rice cooker. Or, it not less than does effectively sufficient that its attractiveness made up for any lack of performance. Whereas the take a look at batch of rice wasn’t excellent — nonetheless a bit moist once we pulled it off per the directions — letting it steam a number of further minutes labored out advantageous. Just a few makes use of are sufficient for novices to hone the recipe, particularly because the included non-English directions hampered us a bit (although we finally discovered the handbook on-line). The method is barely extra hands-on than an electrical cooker (you do should take away it from the warmth your self, although it whistles to let when), however solely barely so, and it’s much more easy than managing the warmth of a regular stovetop course of. It does require soaking the rice forward of time, so despite the fact that the cooking time is fast, the entire time is nearer to that of an electrical rice cooker.

Runners Up 

Framing is crucial within the seek for one of the best rice cooker, as a result of rice cookers are like canine: all rice cookers are good rice cookers, and the one you personal is, by default, one of the best one. That additionally means folks can have emotional attachments to rice cookers: Ran was excited to have a Tatung, a cult favourite for Taiwan cooks, in our testing. Whereas it has loads to advocate it — extra dishwasher-safe elements, tremendous easy development, and a popularity for lasting endlessly — it grew to become clear that it was extra Akita than Golden Retriever: it required constructing a powerful relationship over time. The producer directions yielded middling outcomes, and the storied versatility requires analysis or apply. We belief tens of millions of Taiwanese grandmothers greater than virtually something on the earth, however on the subject of advising strangers to shell out $100 or extra, we leaned towards the foolproof choices.

How We Selected These Merchandise

Framing is crucial within the seek for one of the best rice cooker, as a result of rice cookers are like canine: all rice cookers are good rice cookers, and the one you personal is, by default, one of the best one. That additionally means folks can have emotional attachments to rice cookers: Ran was excited to have a Tatung, a cult favourite for Taiwan cooks, in our testing. Whereas it has loads to advocate it — extra dishwasher-safe elements, tremendous easy development, and a popularity for lasting endlessly — it grew to become clear that it was extra aloof Akita than pleasant Golden Retriever: it required constructing a powerful relationship over time. The producer directions yielded middling outcomes, and the storied versatility requires analysis or apply. We belief tens of millions of Taiwanese grandmothers greater than virtually something on the earth, however on the subject of advising strangers to shell out $100 or extra, we leaned towards the foolproof choices.

Options to Maintain in Thoughts

Dimension & Dimensions 

The dimensions of a rice cooker has two parts: the amount of rice it could possibly make, and its total bodily dimension. A 3rd component to choosing a rice cooker dimension is the ratio of these. The fancier the rice cooker, the bigger the scale of the machine relative to the amount of rice it holds. Our alternative for one of the best small cooker, for instance, held extra attraction in its house effectivity.

Many of the rice cookers we examined are available in not less than two capacities, providing you with flexibility on the scale as you select the proper model. Kim advises shopping for a cooker with the capability that matches the amount you make most frequently, protecting in thoughts that one cup of dry rice makes three cups cooked. If you happen to sometimes have to make extra, he factors out, you possibly can simply try this in a pot. Ran additionally notes that till you get restaurant-specific variations, the bigger rice cookers are usually much less constant in high quality.

The size of a rice cooker is a extra easy query: it’s a small to medium dimension equipment, and also you’ll have to retailer it someplace. If house is at a premium, search for a multi-use machine (just like the Immediate Pot) or at our small choose — which does are available in a barely bigger dimension that’s equally space-efficient.

Presets & Modes

Kim favors the tremendous easy, one-button machines like our small choose. “The rationale I’ve a rice cooker is for comfort,” he explains. “One button, one lever, and a glass lid. Nothing fancy.” Nonetheless, one among Ran’s favourite issues about rice cookers is the flexibility — that they can be utilized for making entire meals by steaming meat and greens over rice, or simply making congee with out having to maintain stirring. 

The best machines don’t also have a show, simply the button that pops up when the rice is completed cooking. As costs go up, options increase right into a easy mild show, or onto a digital display screen with a lot of buttons for various presets.. Our prime total choose, for instance, has greater than a dozen modes, relying on what sort of rice, how you intend to prepare dinner it, and even has choices for non-rice cooking. 

However on the subject of rice cooker modes, an important factor to consider is how you intend to make use of cooker. For Kim, it’s only for handy rice, so easy works effectively. If you happen to plan to make use of yours for congee, brown rice, and slow-cooking, search for fashions with these options.

Cleansing & Upkeep

The fancier your rice cooker, the extra work it takes to wash. All these bells and whistles embrace shifting elements. One of many issues Kim talked about liking in regards to the super-simple funds choices in an identical model to our small choose is the convenience of cleansing. There aren’t any rubber seals or vents, no disassembly of the lid concerned.

Every rice cooker comes with particular notes on cleansing, together with whether or not  the primary insert is dishwasher secure, however the good factor about even most mid-range variations is that wiping the within with a humid fabric is greater than sufficient to maintain it clear between common makes use of.

Extra Options 

Even most funds rice cookers include the necessities: a measuring cup and a rice paddle. A pleasant-to-have function is a notch on the aspect of the cooker that holds the paddle. You’ll be able to retailer it inside, however this makes it simpler between fluffing and serving, and protecting it useful to get out extra rice. A non-stick coating is sweet from an ease of use (and cleansing) standpoint, however the higher-end rice cookers have already got sufficient fail-safes that it’s unlikely you’ll find yourself with rice sticking to it. And if you happen to do scorch the rice to the insert, Kim says one among his favourite dishes is a Korean burnt rice tea which you could make from it. 

Ran recommends searching for a cooker with an “on the spot heat” operate,  that mechanically adjustments to a warming mode when the cooking is completed, and retains the rice contemporary for hours (and generally even days) with out drying it out.

Ask the Consultants

Q: What else can I make with a rice cooker?

Folks fill entire cookbooks  with the probabilities for making issues in rice cookers, however Ran has her eye on a number of particular issues to experiment with, together with chiffon-style cakes. “I’ve heard about folks utilizing it to make bread and yogurt,” she says, although she has to date caught to steaming buns and baos. “And I do know you may make black garlic in it, however I don’t advocate utilizing it for rice afterwards,” she provides.

Q: Ought to I preheat my rice cooker earlier than cooking?

Whereas the entire level of the rice cooker is that it doesn’t want preheating, Kim is an ardent fan of pre-soaking the rice. “A part of what cooks rice is the steam,” he explains, so the pre-soak adjustments how the steam works — even 5 minutes helps. Ran finds soaking notably essential with bigger portions of rice.

Q: How lengthy does a rice cooker final?

“If a mother can move it all the way down to her daughter,” Ran thinks out loud, “a number of many years?” Kim says he had his final one for about ten years earlier than a consumer error — he put in soaked rice with out the insert — impressed him to get a brand new one.

Q: Can I wash my rice cooker within the dishwasher? 

Every rice cooker has its personal cooking directions, and whereas among the inside bowls can go within the dishwasher, there’s not a tough and quick rule. It goes with out saying, nonetheless, that you need to by no means put something with digital parts within the dishwasher. 

Our Take

Discovering the proper rice cooker requires trying particularly at your family and your habits round rice. Spending extra money usually leads to higher rice, but when the large fancy rice cooker can’t match — bodily or mentally — in your kitchen house, the smaller and cheaper ones nonetheless do a improbable job of constructing rice neatly and effectively. The entire cookers we listed right here made wonderful rice, so one of the best rice cooker is the one which makes you content — in how a lot it prices, the scale, and the options.

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