If you have been reading my previous advice and reviews, you might have noticed that from time to time I tend to visit the culinary dimension of things.
And that time has come yet again.
For some people, food is just fuel they’re burning but we know very well that it’s in fact much more than that. To have a deliciously prepared lunch or dinner is a treat for the whole family.
However, how is it possible to achieve such a level? In today’s quick and fast-growing society, we only occasionally have time to cook and navigate more towards fast food and restaurants.
Nonetheless, what if I told you that there is a way how you can have a top-quality meal and save a bit of that precious time as well.
One of the key ingredients in our, and to a large extent Asian cuisine, is rice. And that’s the product I will be focusing on.
Best Rice Cooker 2020
Since rice is a nutritious and healthy food that can be prepared several ways or served as a complementary part of a dish. Rice is even great for babies.
There are numerous tips, tutorials, and trick on how to cook the most delicious rice and how to get the most of this miraculous food, but I have something better for you.
How often have you used a stopwatch to be ready in the exact moment you are supposed to get the rice off the stove? Well, worry no more, because modern technology has also thought about this issue and came up with an elegant and efficient solution that will help you with this process.
You have probably guessed it by now, yes, I’m talking about rice cookers. And not any rice cookers for that matter, in this article I will show you the 9 best rice cookers or rice pots, call them whatever suits you better, that are currently for grasp.
These kitchen helpers will certainly represent a great asset to your arsenal of kitchenware and find their regular way into your cooking experience.
- 24 hours timer
- Super simple cooking
- The rubber sealing absorbs the food's smell
- Steam tray
- Handles on the steam bucket don't heat up
- It might take a couple of times to get used to the procedure
- Compact size for smaller kitchen
- Modern design
- Not suitable for bigger families
- Special programs for white and brown rice
- 15-hour timer
- The cleaning process is a bit more complex and includes several steps
- 10 built-in programs for cooking
- Dishwasher friendly
- Recipes
- Size and product dimensions
- Easy cleanup
- Fantastic long-term performance
- Design
- Price
- Great budget version
- Easy settings and operation
- There is no sort of signal to let you know your rice is cooked
- Compact design
- Lightweight
- Dishwasher friendly
- Don’t fill it up all the way to the edge, since this can result into spurts
Please feel free to scroll down and take in all the information that you require for a well-thought-out decision.
1. Instant Pot Duo Mini 7in1
The first steam cooker I’m going to introduce is the Instant Pot Duo Mini 7in1. As the title already suggests it’s a multifunctional kitchen tool that includes several programs to meet your needs.
This means that it’s not only a rice cooker but can also help you with pressure cooking, slow cooking, vegetables, sauté, stew, porridge or even make you a yogurt. All this only one press of a button away
The small and compact size enables cooking virtually anywhere from your home all the way to an RV or boat. In addition, once your meal is cooked this device features an auto keep warm function. As far as portions are concerned, the pot can cook up to 6 cups of uncooked rice, the measuring cup is included, of every kind, be it brown, risotto or sushi rice.
Plus, you can delay the cooking process and set a timer for as much as 24 hours and therefore, have delicious and warm rice at the moment of your arrival home. The performance of 700W will let you reach pressure quickly and once the work is done the lid and cooking pot can be simply put into a dishwasher.
Features
Product Weight: 8.65 pounds
Product Dimensions: 11.8 x 10.5 x 11 inches
- Terrific in preparing main as well as side dishes.
- Makes cooking super easy and simplifies your life.
- Gives you a big variety of meals you can actually make yourself.
- The rubber sealing absorbs the food’s smell.
2. Aroma Housewares ARC-743-1NGB Pot-Style Rice Cooker
The rice cooking ability of this cooker is 2 to 6 cups of rice which can be easily prepared at home. But that’s not all, you can also use it to prepare and steam meat and vegetables while simultaneously cooking rice underneath.
And let’s be honest, food preparation on steam is a healthier option (study here) than the usual pan.
The operation isn’t complicated at all either, you will set everything with a few touches, plus when the cooking is finished the automatic keep warm function kicks in and preserves your food warm and tasty. In the package, you will find a steam tray, which gives you the before-mentioned ability to cook meat, veggies and other dishes at the same time, a rice measuring cup and a serving spatula.
The pot and all additional equipment are dishwasher friendly which saves another couple of minutes you can use to enjoy a healthy meal which has just been cooked with the help of this product.
Features
Product Weight: 3.7 pounds
Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 10.4 x 8.1 inches
- It makes really good quality rice.
- The handles on the steam bucket don’t heat up which is a big plus and a safety measure.
- The cooker is powerful and able to feed a family of four.
- It might take a couple of times to get used to the procedure, but once you have practice it should be a piece of cake.
3. BLACK+DECKER RC514 Rice Cooker
The Black and Decker rice cooker is a high-quality kitchen companion which can squeeze in up to 6 cups of rice but make sure that you are using the provided measuring cup. The rice you can cook in this device is versatile, in the sense that it can be a main dish, for example, sushi or rice balls, but can also serve as a side dish or a smaller meal.
The keep warm function is of course also present and fulfills the same role as above once the 20-30-minute cooking process is over. The pot itself has a nonstick layer which makes it easier to clean and reuse after it’s out of the dishwasher. Moreover, you will also find a food steaming bucket which is a terrific part of the rice cooker because it creates the possibility to steam veggies, fish, meat and much more.
But that isn’t all, the measuring cup and spoon are included as well. The latter of these two will help you avoid scratches on the bottom of the pot.
Features
Product Weight: 4.54 pounds
Product Dimensions: 10 x 9 x 7.5 inches
- The rice cooker is compact and small in size but nonetheless gets the job done.
- Even if you take out the rice 15 minutes after the cooking, it is still fresh and delicious.
- Suitable for quick breakfasts as well.
- A bigger family might need to use it more than once during dinner preparations.
4. Aroma Housewares ARC-914SBD Rice Cooker
Next up, we have the second Aroma rice cooker which is able to prepare up to 8 cups of rice, but once again we are talking about the measuring cup which is included in the package.
It’s also possible to prepare other food types such as meat and vegetables by means of steam and at the same time cooking your side dish below. The overall operation of the product is simple, mainly thanks to the digital controls which are on it.
In addition, there is a special white and brown rice program and the automatic keep warm function. Nonetheless, with this houseware, you can also prepare soups, jambalaya, and chili. It really represents a multifunctional piece of technology that can even split cooking time in half when the flash rice function is used.
If you need to plan things out, the 15-hour timer is also quite convenient. All in all, you will receive the rice cooker itself, a steam tray, rice measuring cup, serving spatula and a collection of recipes. Also, be sure to check out the user manual provided before cooking your first pot of rice.
Features
Product Weight: 4.2 pounds
Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 9.3 x 8.7 inches
- Gives you the opportunity to steam and cook at the same time.
- Great results for both white and brown rice.
- This device represents a hybrid solution between small and large cookers.
- The cleaning process is a bit more complex and includes several steps.
5. Instant Pot LUX Mini 6in1
Another rice maker on my list is the Instant Pot Lux. However, it’s not only this; it can actually help you with as much as 6 kitchen and cooking activities, such as pressure cooking, slow cooking, steaming, sauté preparation etc.
Similar to others, the main advantage is that it does its job easily and quick, almost 70% faster than your average cooking pot. This electric rice cooker is filled with the newest technology among which you can find 10 built-in programs, a 24-hour timer for a delayed start, an automatic keep warm function and as much as 3 levels of temperatures while preparing sauté and slow cooking. As far as the material is concerned, the pot is made of stainless steel with a non-chemical coating and 3-ply bottom part that ensure better heat circulation.
All of this makes sure that the flavors, vitamins, and nutrients stay inside the cooker and therefore, inside your food. Moreover, thanks to its compactness it’s ideal for usage outside as well.
Features
Product Weight: 8.5 pounds
Product Dimensions: 11.5 x 10.5 x 10.5 inches
- The stainless inner pot is easy to disassemble and fits in nicely into the dishwasher.
- The food prepared in this cooker is moist and flavored.
- The recipes which are included with the device serve as a little inspiration.
- Once you have mastered all the recipes you might need to get creative.
6. Zojirushi NS-TSC10
This next device features the micro computerized fuzzy logic technology and is able to prepare up to 5.5 cups of rice or 1 liter of soup. This Zojirushi rice cooker is a tremendous help in the kitchen and includes 4 cooking settings you can choose from.
The first two are focused on rice. The white rice setting and the brown rice setting make sure that your rice-based dish will have its fluffy quality. Then there is the steam menu setting which is an excellent solution for vegetables.
This might surprise you a little bit, but you can also bake a cake in this electric cooker by selecting the cake setting. In the package, you will find an inner lid, a nonstick cooking pan, and a steam basket. The automatic keep warm function is also included and even extended together with the reheating cycle.
The operation LCD display is understandable and easy-to-read, plus you can even change the melody and beeping sound of the rice cooker, if necessary.
Features
Product Weight: 9.5 pounds
Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 8.5 x 14 inches
- Fantastic long-term performance.
- Saves energy and provides deliciously cooked crisp rice.
- Easy cleanup.
- If you do not follow instructions properly you might break or damage the parts.
7. Tiger Corporation JBV-A10U-W Rice Cooker
One of the big advantages of the Tiger rice pot is the so-called “tacook” function, in other words, synchro-cooking, which enables you to simultaneously treat the main dish as well as the side dish.
The entire cooking process can be kicked off by pressing only one button.
A variety of 4 cooking options is at your disposal, the synchrony-cooking, plain rice, brown rice, and slow cooking. The after-cooking cleaning is very easy, mainly thanks to the non-stick coating and removability of the other parts.
Apart from the obvious equipment you will also receive a spatula, a cooking plate together with its special design which ensures that the rice’s flavor and texture aren’t affected by the food above, a measuring cup, which should be used at all times, and a collection of recipes specifically aimed at the synchro-cooking setting.
Features
Product Weight: 5.7 pounds
Product Dimensions: 13.9 x 10.6 x 8.4 inches
- The rice does not get dry or hard when using it for sushi for example.
- Good price for value ratio.
- Super easy settings and operation with the use of one button.
- There is no sort of signal to let you know your rice is cooked.
8. Oster Red Rice Cooker
You can be certain that among the best rice cookers you will find at least one Oster rice cooker and my list is no exception. Even with its slick design and dimensions, it’s able to cook up to 6 cups of rice. The controls are once again very simple; just one easy press of a button is enough to start it up.
Apart from rice, it can also be used for soul or fondue, as well as for steam cooking of vegetables and fish thanks to the steamer tray. If you sometimes worry about the state of things, you can always check the progress through the glass lid on the electric rice cooker.
Once the cooking is over, the automatic keep warm function kicks in to maintain the heat. In addition, there is an auto shut-off feature which limits possible danger together with the power indicator light. This Oster model contains a measuring cup and a rice paddle in terms of additional equipment. All the parts are of course dishwasher friendly.
Features
Product Weight: 3.44 pounds
Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 10.2 x 9.5 inches
- Beautiful, sturdy and compact design makes sure this product fits into your kitchen.
- Very easy to clean.
- Can prepare quality rice in about 20 minutes.
- Don’t fill it up all the way to the edge, since this can result into spurts.
9. Aroma Housewares ARC-150SB
The last entry I will be talking about is the third and last of the Aroma rice cookers. This model is part of one of the most successful brands on the market and can be used to cook 20 cups worth of rice. It’s of course not its only function; on the contrary, it’s also a steam cooker and therefore, creates an opportunity to prepare veggies and meals in a healthy way while cooking rice underneath.
The controls can be programmed and include the keep warm feature and other 5 functions you can select from (white rice, brown rice, steam, flash rice, slow cook). If you know beforehand that a busy day awaits and want to plan everything to perfection, the 15-hour delay timer will cut your cooking time exceptionally and help you get through the day with ease knowing that deliciously cooked rice will be waiting at home.
The package of this digital rice cooker has a steam tray, a measuring cup and a serving spatula to offer.
Features
Product Weight: 5 pounds
Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 11.2 x 10.8 inches
- It does a fantastic job cooking rice, but also other ingredients such as beans, vegetables etc.
- Cleaning the rice cooker is fairly simple.
- The timer is a great help when you want to have everything ready just in time for dinner.
- You should not let the rice in the inner pot for too long since the quality declines with time. It is best to eat it once it is cooked.
Best Rice Cooker 2020
So, have you already made up your mind? Do you know which one of these products is the best rice cooker for you?
I am certainly not making pressure, just the opposite, be my guest and go through the individual descriptions and devices once again. However, you can also dive deeper into this summary of information which might actually point out the basics. So, what should you look for in a rice cooker?
Multiple functions
Well, there are a couple of aspects that are crucial in this matter, such as quality. I would say that all of these rice cookers are truly capable of producing top-quality rice and as a matter of fact even more. If you have read carefully, you might have noticed that these kitchen helpers are first and foremost rice oriented, but that doesn’t even begin to cover all their functionalities. Many of them, or I rather dare say all of them, have several functions and offer multiple ways to prepare dishes.
The most common one is steam cooking which is often combined with the rice being cooked underneath or above the vegetables or meat you are steam cooking. This combination of features is an excellent time and effort saver and in addition, a healthy way how to prepare your chicken or fish.
To top this off, several ones even grant you the possibility to make oatmeal and yogurt which, let’s be honest, can save valuable minutes in the hasty morning routine.
Keep-warm function
There is also the keep-warm function which is essential to keep your food fresh and warm even several minutes after it has been cooked. So, if you like an additional scoop of rice, it will be as fresh as the first one.
Timer
Many rice cookers on my list have also a timer which can truly bring joy to those of you who like to plan things out. You can simply set it up in the morning to start cooking at your desired hour and continue with whatever activity you have been doing previously, be it cleaning your apartment or spending time with your kids.
Nonetheless, probably the greatest asset of them all is the fact that these rice cookers are fast, efficient and time-saving devices which will surely quickly become an internal part of your kitchen.
Size
Furthermore, their size and compactness nicely compliment the overall usability. However, please pay special attention to manuals and instructions since they play a key role during the first couple of uses, cleaning, and maintenance. Moreover, each one of these electric cookers comes with a separate measuring cup whose volume is referred to in manuals and recipes as well and is basically a benchmark for the correct usage of the device.
