
It gets bonus points for its Keep Warm countdown timer that begins right away and tracks by the minute (most others only track by the hour). Every batch was moist but not wet gemmy but not dry sweet and aromatic. Every grain was well-defined and evenly cooked. It cooked all four types of rice perfectly - a feat that most bigger name rice cookers weren't able to accomplish. It has different programs for long- and short-grain rice as well as brown rice, porridge, quick and slow cooking, steaming, and even making cake, which speaks to its precision. A detachable cord stores right into the inner pot the attached carrying handle tucks away seamlessly a built-in holder keeps the spatula clean and in reach and a minimal, easy-to-understand display and well-considered cook settings make it effortless to use. Presentation only goes so far without function this model nails both.

Its shape is sleek, tidy, and compact, and its packaging and build demonstrate high attention to small details: for example, an included steamer basket and ladle, a tabbed handle for the measuring cup, and glossy magazine-style user's manual. There's so much to love about this unassuming little powerhouse, it's hard to know where to start. Pros: Detachable power cord, clear easy-view display, straightforward operation, sleek design, compact footprint, precision settings, detachable top for cleaning, carrying handle, 24-hour keep warm setting, included extra accessoriesĬons: Strong spring-back in the lid, inner pot markings hard to read and scratch easily, only one set of water lines, quick rice setting is only for white rice It was a tough call between the legendary Zojirushi Neuro Fuzzy and this relatively unknown rice cooker from Yum Asia, but this cute medium capacity rice cooker turned out consistently flawless grains of every type of rice we tested.

#Rive cooker professional
If you're partial to a thick, pureed porridge with country-style lumps, the low and slow cook of the Aroma MTC-8008 Professional 8-Cup Champagne model will give you what you want. Smart rice cookers tend to overthink and therefore overcook brown rice, but the Cuckoo CR-0632F 6-Cup Multifunctional Micom Rice Cooker nailed the cook on this tough grain.īest rice cooker for porridge: Aroma MTC-8008 Professional 8-Cup Champagne The Zojirushi UMAMI Micom Rice Cooker & Warmer NL-GAC10 is a stylish cooker and a bit of a splurge, but you assuredly get what you pay for, especially if you primarily cook long-grain rice.īest rice cooker for brown rice: Cuckoo CR-0632F 6-Cup Multifunctional Micom Rice Cooker, $174.38 on Amazon The gold standard of rice cookers, the legendary Zojirushi Neuro Fuzzy is now available in double its original capacity.īest rice cooker for long-grain rice: Zojirushi UMAMI Micom Rice Cooker & Warmer NL-GAC10, $273.99 on Amazon If you just need a cheap monotasker for one or two people, this bargain buy from Black + Decker is just right.īest large capacity rice cooker: Zojirushi Neuro Fuzzy Rice Cooker, $251.49 on Amazon It was a tough call between the legendary Zojirushi Neuro Fuzzy and this relative unknown, but this cute medium capacity rice cooker turned out consistently flawless grains of every type of rice we tested.īest budget rice cooker: Aroma ARC-1126SBL 20-Cup SmartCarb Multicooker, $69.99 on Walmartĭespite being an older model I've used for years, the Aroma SmartCarb Multicooker outperformed more expensive models in texture and taste.īest mini rice cooker: Black + Decker 3-Cup Rice Cooker, $19.99 on Amazon Here are the best rice cookers you can buy in 2022īest rice cooker overall: Yum Asia Panda 3.5-Cup Mini Rice Cooker, $109.90 on Amazon You can read more about how the Insider Reviews team tests and reviews kitchen products here. To find the very best rice cooker for this guide, I researched 30 rice cookers, home-tested a whopping 15, and distilled it down to the seven best based on grain type, preparation, and other factors important to rice aficionados. It's a pickiness I've leveraged as a food writer, product reviewer, and author of several rice cooker references and guides. Having been raised in my parents' Chinese restaurant, where commercial rice cookers were an integral part of the business, it's no surprise I grew up sensitive to what constitutes great rice.

A staple food for countless cultures the world over, rice is inexpensive, filling, nutritious, and - with the right rice cooker - rich with subtle nuance, layers of flavor, and lovely distinctive fragrances. Why labor over a stovetop, wasting time, attention, and burner space on preparing rice in a pot when a small kitchen appliance will do the job for you perfectly? Because there are few more simple pleasures than perfect rice. I didn't have a recipe to share with the asker because honestly, nearly every East Asian household I know owns a rice cooker. The first time I was asked how I cook rice, I was taken by surprise.
