The 3 best rice cookers

One of my mom's favorite kitchen tools after living in Japan was a rice cooker. She had a basic version that she used so often that it landed a permanent spot on the counter. That rice cooker made perfect rice, and it was a big star in our grain-loving household. When I got my own kitchen, a rice cooker became a non-negotiable, and I have since owned and tested many models of all capabilities.

If you like to make grain-heavy dishes, getting the best rice cooker can truly transform your workflow. While cooking rice on the stovetop can get the job done (especially for long-grain white rice), the best rice cooker means you will have to deal with fewer mushy bottoms, boil-overs, or overcooked rice. This holds even more true for short-grain rice, brown rice, and other grains that benefit from precise temperature control and hands-off cooking. Technologies such as Fuzzy Logic and pressure cooking make rice cookers one of the easiest ways to cook perfect rice without the guesswork. And they also handle many other grains, including steel-cut oatmeal.

I've owned and tested so many rice cookers, but one brand always wins my affection. I put my trusted Zojirushi model up against a smart/compact mid-ranger, a budget-friendly underdog, a large model that sings and talks to you, and one with a built-in water tank. The TLDR? I narrowed it down to the three models you should be considering. The Zojirushi NS-TSC10's spot on my counter remains unseated because of its micom fuzzy logic and reliable durability. For a more budget-friendly option, the Aroma Digital Rice Cooker makes consistent rice and is simple to use.

Learn more about how Business Insider Reviews tests and reviews kitchen products.

The top 3 rice cookers we tested

Best overall rice cooker

What I liked: The Zojirushi NS-TSC10 Micom Rice Cooker and Warmer makes some of the most consistent and perfectly cooked rice, with an "even" texture. That, plus its price point, makes this cooker stand out from all the others. Short white-grain rice came out tender with just the right amount of stickiness, while brown rice cooked evenly without becoming dry or underdone. The induction heating system, a premium feature, eliminated hot spots, so each batch was consistently fluffy and evenly cooked from top to bottom. I was also impressed by how the keep-warm function kept the rice soft and moist for hours without drying out or turning gummy. I've used it for up to four hours after a late soccer game, and the rice was still good. It's also really easy to maneuver in and out of the cabinet. After 10 years of ownership and comparing multiple units, the model is still my favorite.

What to know: This rice cooker uses micom fuzzy logic, which means it prioritizes precision over speed, so cooking cycles are longer than those on basic one-button models and even some more expensive models. For instance, brown rice can take up to 50 minutes. This extra time allows the heating system to maintain a consistent temperature throughout the cooking process for better texture and consistency, and reduce the risk of burning. It also includes a variety of presets for different grains and cooking styles, making it a versatile appliance if you really cook rice regularly. I love the presets since I cook so many different types of rice that need different settings.

What I didn't like: One of my biggest gripes about this machine is that, while it feels exceptionally durable, a few parts don't match its premium quality. For instance, the spatula holder is a little flimsy, and I wish they would use a more durable material, even though it is designed to pop in and out. If you only make rice occasionally, the price and size may be more than you need. But if you make rice often, this is an excellent machine that will last for many years in your kitchen. They do make less expensive models, but these are the most durable in my experience.

Also considertheZojirushi NS-ZCC10 Neuro Fuzzy Rice Cooker and Warmer($265), another popular option from Zojirushi. However, instead of Micom technology, it uses Neuro Fuzzy, which offers even more precise control over cooking, using AI-like logic to think for itself and make real-time micro-adjustments on the fly, resulting in softer or harder rice depending on your preference. The Zojirushi NP-HCC10XH Induction Heating System Rice Cooker ($390) is one of the brand's most premium options, which uses induction heating to heat from all sides.

Best budget rice cooker

What I liked: For an affordable rice cooker, the Aroma Digital Rice & Cooker produced consistently good results. short-grain white rice cooked evenly, with a soft, fluffy texture and no gumminess. I like having the option of a flash rice setting, which shortens the cooking time when you need dinner on the table quickly. Brown rice also turned out really well, though the texture wasn't as refined as the premium models.

What to know: The 2-quart model I tested, which makes up to 8 cups of cooked rice, is best suited for individuals, couples, or smaller families. Zojirushi or Cuckoo are better for medium- to large-sized families who meal prep. Because it's on the smaller side, I found it easy to tuck into any cabinet. The rice cooker offers several useful cooking presets, including quinoa and oatmeal, making it more versatile than a basic rice cooker. It lacks induction heating or pressure cooking, but still delivers reliable performance at a much lower price point. It was incredibly easy to clean because the paddle and insert fit on the top rack of the dishwasher.

What I didn't like: The lighter construction is more noticeable than that of the higher-end rice cookers in our test. I also didn't love the side-hinged lid, which can make serving and cleaning a little less convenient. The smaller capacity also limits how much rice you can cook at once, making it less practical for larger households or people who like to meal prep.

Best large rice cooker

What I liked: The Cuckoo High-Pressure rice cooker made some of the best rice in my testing. Short-grain white rice came out glossy, tender, and evenly cooked with the perfect amount of stickiness, while brown rice was fully cooked and pleasantly chewy, with no dry or undercooked spots. The high-pressure cooking system consistently delivers excellent results, even for larger batches. I also enjoyed the voice prompts and musical alerts, which added a fun touch and kept me informed about exactly where the cooking cycle stood. You can mute them if that is not your thing.

What to know: The Cuckoo offers a wide range of cooking programs and smart features, but it can take a little time to learn its controls. This is a unit you’ll need to read the manual for. Its generous capacity makes it an excellent option for families, meal prep, or anyone who frequently cooks large batches of grains. An auto-clean function also simplifies maintenance. It's definitely one of the smartest machines I have used, and the pressure-cooking technology means the rice cooks quickly and to perfection.

What I didn't like: Its large size and heavy weight make it difficult to move around and store, so it works best if you have permanent counter space. I wish that it were smaller, but at the price, it might be worth making room in your kitchen. The number of buttons and settings can also feel overwhelming during the first few uses, given the sheer number of options. So make sure to read the manual if you are upgrading from a simple one-button rice cooker, because this is very advanced.

What else we tested

Our Place Rice Cooker ($139): Our Place developed this rice cooker with food journalist and cooking expert J. Kenji López-Alt. It's a competitive price for a compact unit with Fuzzy Logic technology and multiple presets. The nonstick inner cooking pot is made without PFAS, PTFE, PFOA, or other forever chemicals and claims to be non-toxic, which few other rice cookers promote. Its preset performance was average and can be improved with some tweaking. I liked the compact size, which easily fits in most cabinets, and its 3-cup capacity makes enough rice for most smaller households of 2-3 people. This is currently the only size offered, so if you need larger portions, you’ll need to look elsewhere. While we can’t substantiate the non-toxic claim, that could make this an appealing option for health-minded individuals.

KitchenAid Grain and Rice Cooker 8 Cup with Automatically Sensing Integrated Scale + Water Tank ($400): This futuristic-looking rice cooker has a built-in water tank that accurately measures the amount of water you need for any type of rice. It’s the product’s biggest selling point, but it feels redundant for any seasoned rice cooker user, who will most likely rinse their rice before cooking it. It’s a nice idea, but an unnecessary feature in my opinion. I found this machine very large and hard to carry. Good thing it has an attractive design. I wouldn’t mind leaving it on the counter. The rice we made was good, but no more notable than that of other, more portable machines.

Yum Asia Panda Mini Rice Cooker ($110): This cute 3.5 cup medium capacity rice cooker with a ceramic coated bowl turned out consistently flawless grains of every type of rice we tested. It's quick about its job, taking around half an hour for white rice, just under an hour for brown, and an hour and a half for porridge.

Black+Decker Rice Cooker ($29): Available in four sizes, this child's toy-looking, basic, one-setting, one-button, entry-level rice cooker produced surprisingly acceptable rice. The tip for best results is to be patient once it switches from cooking to keep warm, and give the rice at least 15 minutes to rest before it is really ready. Otherwise, you'll find it still quite wet and undercooked.

Toshiba Low Carb Digital Programmable Multifunctional Rice Cooker TRSH01 ($200): The Toshiba Multifunctional Rice Cooker finishes the rice by steaming it while suspended above the starchy cooking water, resulting in a lower final carb count. It turned out flawless "low-carb" rice in 40 short minutes, equally delicious regular medium-grain rice in 50 minutes, and brown rice in under 30 minutes, but it was a miss with long-grain rice. A favorite feature among Toshiba models is the countdown to completion for no-fail cooktimes.

What to look for in the best rice cookers

Capacity: Rice cooker capacity is usually listed in uncooked cups, and the included measuring cup is often smaller than a standard US cup (180ml versus 240 ml). A 3-cup cooker is best for one or two people, a 5- to 6-cup cooker is better for most households, and larger models are best for families or meal prep.

Settings: Basic rice cookers have single-cook functions with little variety in grain types. More advanced models have dedicated settings for white rice, brown rice, sushi rice, porridge, and oatmeal, which increases the versatility of what can be made. We like those with more settings because we can customize the cook time and temperature to the type of grain, which is better than a simple on-and-off button. Having other settings like porridge and cake makes this more of a workhorse, which helps justify another appliance.

Keep warm: Most rice cookers automatically switch to keep-warm mode, which maintains the temperature without overcooking it. Many households like to keep grains at serving temperature for a while, since they are eaten throughout the day in multiple meals. Higher-end machines do the best job of keeping rice and other grains warm without overcooking or drying them out because they tend to come with more advanced heating technologies such as induction, Fuzzy Logic, and Micom.

Fuzzy logic or Micom technology: “Micom” (microcomputer-controlled) rice cookers use sensors and a small onboard computer to monitor factors like temperature and cooking progress. Many Micom cookers use fuzzy logic, a type of control system that continually responds to changing conditions. This is much more advanced than simple on/off buttons. This helps compensate for even the slightest variations in the amount of rice and water, producing consistently cooked rice with less guesswork.

Cleanup: Most rice cookers have removable non-stick inserts that can be cleaned by hand or on the top rack of a dishwasher. We prioritized designs with a removable inner lid, a nonstick pot, clear condensation management, and accessories that are easy to rinse.

How we tested

To test the rice cookers, we used the same grains in each and conducted additional evaluations to compare them. Food writer Su-Jit Lin contributed to earlier iterations of this guide. We judged them on other factors such as:

• Ease of use: We evaluated how easy each rice cooker was to set up, navigate, and operate, including its display and presets.
• Rice and grain quality: We cooked both Nishiki sushi rice and short-grain brown rice in every cooker to compare the performance. Some units were tested long-term over years of ownership, during which have made multiple dishes in them. I love making gingery chicken congee or one-pot dishes like chicken and mushrooms with sticky rice because I can throw everything in at once.
• Keep warm: After cooking, we used the Keep Warm function and checked the rice after 1 hour or more. This was done to assess its texture, moisture, and quality. Basically, was it still fit to serve and hot? I have left it going for longer many times, however. During one session, I made rice thinking I would be home earlier, but overtime at a game made us get home much later. The warm rice was a welcome snack and in great shape.
• Ease of cleanup: We compared the nonstick inner pot coatings, removable inner lids, and condensation collectors to see how easy these were to clean.
• Speed vs. quality: We recorded the cooking time for each rice cooker and compared the finished products.

Meet the expert behind the guide:

Jennifer Zyman: I am a grain enthusiast and have owned and tested numerous rice cookers throughout my cooking career. Our rice cooker is out more often than not, and I use it frequently for everything from sticky rice to oatmeal to Chinese congee.

Rice cooker FAQ

Is a rice cooker worth it?

Yes, a rice cooker is very worth it for people who eat rice and other grains multiple times a week. It is a great tool for cooking rice, other grains, and one-pot meals precisely. And you can also free up a stovetop burner if entertaining. Kitchen tools you can set and forget are always nice, and a rice cooker is just that.

What size rice cooker should I buy?

Buy a size based on how many people you typically cook for and how much they eat. I plan for one cup of uncooked rice per person because I cook for leftovers. Rice cookers are normally advertised by how many uncooked cups of rice they can prepare. If you are between sizes, it is a good idea to size up for flexibility.

What is fuzzy logic?

Fuzzy Logic is a technology that continuously monitors rice-cooking conditions and automatically adjusts parameters such as temperature and timing to ensure perfect cooking. This is good for people who make multiple types of rice or may have mismeasured the liquids. They are typically more expensive than basic models, but they are well worth it.

Can you cook grains in a rice cooker?

Yes, that is one of the best things about them. People often think they just make rice, but you can also make other grains such as quinoa, bulgur, farro, oats, barley, and wild rice. Many rice cookers can also steam vegetables, make soups, and cook one-pot meals with their attached food baskets.

What is the benefit of using a rice cooker instead of the stove?

It is easy to make jasmine rice or plain long-grain rice on the stove in 18 minutes. However, certain varieties, such as sushi rice or short-grain brown rice, require more temperature and environmental control. These benefit from a rice cooker, and they are a convenient addition to weeknight prep because you can set it and literally forget it.

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