The 8 Best Rice Cookers You Can Buy Right Now

Any good rice cooker can take the guesswork out of making rice, but the Aroma Housewares Digital Rice Cooker and Food Steamer kicks things up a notch by offering the ability to cook multiple foods—at the same time.

As user-friendly as it is reliable, this gadget comes with a nonstick inner pot, measuring cup, serving spatula, and a steam tray, so you can prepare veggies, fish, and other delectables separately or above your rice as it cooks. Furthermore, the digital control panel’s offerings include White Rice and Brown Rice settings and a programmable countdown timer with a delayed start feature that allows you to schedule up to 15 hours in advance.

As a “really basic and easy to use” rice cooker, Papantoniou appreciated the Aroma’s “small footprint” and said “the different functions are helpful because they really spell it out and you’re not wondering what to do.” Furthermore, she pointed out: “It has a really helpful Keep Warm setting that’s more obvious to know it’s on than you would with models that have just a little light. The outside is really easy to clean, and the countdown timer is helpful as well.”

Perfect for individuals who love their leftovers or the average family, this compact unit's 8-cup capacity allows you to prepare anywhere from two to eight cups of cooked rice.

Whether you’re more of a casual rice eater or you’re on the hunt for a model that offers the best combination of performance and ease of use for an affordable price, the budget-friendly BLACK+DECKER Rice Cooker is tough to beat. Like the Aroma, this model comes with a standard plastic steaming basket and serving spoon (so you don’t accidentally scratch the nonstick, dishwasher-safe rice pot).

According to Papantoniou, the main draw of this “super cute, super simple” countertop cooker is its “very basic on/off button,” as well as “the red and green lights, [which] are good indicators of where it is in its cooking processes, and it has a glass lid that lets you see inside as it’s cooking.”

The BLACK+DECKER Rice Cooker may be a more basic model, but it still comes with all the design features necessary to get the job done, like a Keep Warm function that automatically turns on once cooking is finished. However, Papantoniou noted that testers “did see some sticking—the longer it’s on, the more likely rice is to dry out and stick. But as a whole, I think it’s a really good entry level into rice cooking.”

The Good Housekeeping Institute also advised that although the
BLACK+DECKER Rice Cooker “might take some trial and error, all you have to do is use the included measuring cup and adjust the liquid amount accordingly.” From there, you can enjoy anywhere from one to six cups of cooked white or brown rice, or even oatmeal!

They say variety is the spice of life, and if you’re looking to get the most out of your rice cooker, the Instant Pot Duo Plus will maximize your counter space and your kitchen-appliance budget.

Boasting 15 customizable smart programs, this gadget offers all the classic one-touch Instant Pot cooking functions—including slow cooker, rice cooker, and steaming features—as well as some extra capabilities, like cooking eggs, baking cakes, sous vide cooking, and sterilizing.

P“The Instant Pot's rice function brings it up to the right temperature, and the pre-programmed setting cooks it for about 11 minutes before letting you know it’s done," Papantoniou said. "But unlike a rice cooker, it doesn’t cook based on sensors, it cooks based on timing, so your rice is done when the unit is done cooking.”

While the Duo Plus lacks the preheat and poultry settings of more souped-up Instant Pots, we still appreciate its user-friendly anti-spin design, 10 safety features (including overheat protection and a safe-locking lid), and a steam release switch that automatically resets when you close the lid.

The TIGER JBV-A10U MICOM Rice Cooker rises up to the challenge of your rice bowl. Operating with the touch of a single button, this model offers the choice between four cooking functions—white rice, brown rice, slow cook/steam, and synchrony-cooking, which can simultaneously cook your entrée and rice.

During the Good Housekeeping Institute’s road tests, Papantoniou noted, “We found this to be the easiest to use because the control panel is just really straightforward, and it has a nonstick pot with inner markings that are clear to read, which is important.”

Though she isn’t familiar with the TIGER's synchrony-cooking feature, “It’s a good price, everything is contained inside, and just in terms of the shape and design, it’s more thoughtful than others.”

Among these convenient details are the included non-stick spatula and measuring cup, as well as a Keep Warm mode, which automatically switches on after cooking is complete.

Joseph Joseph’s 45002 M-Cuisine Microwave Rice Cooker is basically foolproof: In addition to coming with a colander and measuring cup, this unit’s 2-liter cooking pot is dishwasher-safe for easy clean-up.

Listing off the M-Cuisine's bevy of benefits, Papantoniou said, “It’s microwaveable, really small and compact, you don’t need a plug—it’s pretty basic.”

Even using it is a breeze: “You put your rice and your water, pop in the microwave, and that’s it. It has air vents to let steam escape and it’s made of heat resistant material.” Furthermore, she said “The mixing paddle helps fluff it at the end and then you can store it all neatly together when you’re done.” That’s right—the convenient rice paddle can not only be used as a serving spoon, but also lock the pot lid while offering handles on either side for easy transport.

Granted, cooking rice in the M-Cuisine takes about as long as it would to prepare it on your stovetop, but it’s a solid option for those seeking a nearly fool-proof option without needing a free outlet or extra counter space. Just be sure to read those instructions carefully, as the recommended cook times are for 800-watt microwaves, meaning a more powerful microwave can overcook your rice (or worse, turn your cooker into a molten plastic vessel).

The DASH Mini Rice Cooker will have your rice ready to eat in 20 minutes or less. This compact gadget comes with a rice paddle, measuring cup, and a removable pot with a PFOA-free nonstick coating. Plus, it has a bunch of fun color options to complement your kitchen décor.

“It’s smaller than the BLACK+DECKER, so it’s great for someone who lives by themselves and just wants to make rice without having to worry about it,” said Papantoniou. “It’s cute, it’s little, it’s a good price point… and it does the job.”

This compact cooker doesn’t offer any extra bells and whistles, but it does have a Keep Warm function and indicator light, so you’ll never have to suffer through overcooked or burnt rice ever again. Its 2-cup capacity only makes 1-2 servings, so you’ll have to make multiple batches if you’re cooking for more than a few people. However, where it lacks in features, it makes up for in ease of use: Just add water and your uncooked rice, pasta, or vegetables, press the cook button, and let the DASH Mini Rice Cooker do the rest.

You’ll need to clear off a significant portion of your countertop to make room for the Cuisinart FRC-800 Rice Plus Multi-Cooker, but it’s worth it if you have the space. This 10-cup capacity cooker comes with a rice paddle, steaming tray, 6-ounce measuring cup, and removable anodized aluminum cooking pot with a nonstick coating for easy cooking and clean-up, but there’s more to this model than what meets the eye. Boasting a large LCD screen and a selector knob for easy scrolling, it uses Fuzzy Logic technology to automatically sense moisture levels and adjust the cooking time and temperature as needed, thus ensuring your rice is perfectly cooked every time.

“It's a really pretty, definitely an upscale model,” Papantoniou said. “There are a lot of different settings. The screen offers you a lot of information, and that digital experience just makes it smoother and easier to keep track of the cooking process.”

In addition to offering eight rice and three grain programs, the Rice Plus offers 10 other automatic cooking functions, including sautéing, steaming, soaking, an automatic Keep Warm setting, and a pre-wash setting for easy cleanup. You can even cook pasta and one-pot meals!