The Aroma Housewares 8-cup Digital Cool-contact Rice Cooker is our favourite choose overall.
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– Our top picks
– Reviews
– Our favorite
– Elements to think about
– The Tests
– Robust Contenders that didn’t make the checklist
– Our Expertise
Food & Wine / Marcus Millan
If you happen to desire cooking rice in a rice cooker as an alternative of on a stovetop, you understand the importance of the machine. Most of all, it is going to prevent time by allowing you to cook your rice forward of time. Whereas this could appear like a easy order, you’d be surprised what number of tremendous fancy machines with all the latest expertise battle with these essential duties. The most effective rice cooker will make fluffy rice, prevent scorching, retain moisture in the course of the heat cycle, and be easy to scrub. As a lot as we love Zojirushi rice cookers, there could be another equally nice possibility for you, relying in your kitchen wants.
We spoke with James Beard Award-successful chef Ming Tsai and different professionals about the importance of rice cookers and the way to buy for one. “I’ve all the time used rice cookers in all of my eating places,” mentioned Tsai. “Why? Because you push a button and have quality rice in 30 to forty minutes.” Because different types of rice require totally different cooking styles, Tsai recommends evaluating your wants earlier than buying a cooker. “The key is to decide on primarily based on what kind of rice you’re cooking, and always ensure that it has a ‘keep-heat’ operate,” he mentioned.
Irrespective of how large your household is or your consolation level with these appliances, you are certain to seek out the best software amongst the highest-rated rice cookers we examined. Our best Overall winner, the Aroma Housewares 8-Cup Digital Cool-Touch Rice Cooker, scored perfect marks throughout every take a look at, and the value is not dangerous both.
Aroma Housewares 8-Cup Rice and Grain Cooker
Professionals: We appreciated how the show consists of how much time is left in the cook cycle, and it yielded completely fluffy rice.
Cons: The directions note the inner pot may present cosmetic modifications if put into the dishwasher.
The Aroma Housewares 8-Cup Digital Cool-Contact Rice Cooker is a simple and affordable stainless steel cooker for any household. You may delay the start time if you happen to want it to start cooking when you are out. The machine also has a “quick rice” operate when time is restricted, and it’s tremendous straightforward to clean. The results of the moisture content material and texture have been consistent throughout all grains, making it essentially the most versatile and dependable tool we tried. We beloved how the show panel is clearly labeled and has excellent features like telling you how much time stays in the cook cycle, allowing you to plan meals higher. Its eight presets, corresponding to slow cook, sauté, and steam, make this an affordable workhorse that goes beyond just making rice. The clear directions made it easy for us to discover ways to cook quinoa in the machine.
Price at time of publish: $30
Uncooked capacity: Four cups
Dimensions: 9.3″W x 8.6″D x 8.5″H
What’s included: Serving spatula, rice measuring cup, and a steamer basket.
Finest Overall Runner-Up
Tiger JBV-A10U Rice Cooker
Execs: Each batch of rice in our exams constantly got here out gentle and fluffy.
Cons: There was some clumping in the bowl, but it was easy to fluff and break up.
Tiger Multi-Useful Rice Cooker cooked each type of rice to a gentle and fluffy texture with none gumminess. The cooker comes with detailed instructions, which were helpful when measuring out the proper ratio of liquid to grains. We have been particularly impressed with the keep heat operate, which works so well that the texture was no totally different on our jasmine rice from when it first finished cooking. The presets are simple, with features for white rice, brown rice, steaming, and warming. We particularly like the handle on the highest of the rice cooker that makes it incredibly straightforward to move in and out of storage. When the cook cycle is complete, there isn’t any timer or alert, however the light switches from purple to orange. Whereas there aren’t any good capabilities, it switches to the warming mode mechanically after cooking. The rice cooker is hand-wash only, however we found it extremely straightforward to wash with a sponge.
Value at time of publish: $Ninety nine
Uncooked capacity: 5.5 cups
Dimensions: 13.9” W x 10.6” D x 8.4” H
Accessories included: Nonstick spatula, measuring cup, and cookbook.
Greatest Compact/small portions
Muji Rice Cooker
Muji
Pros: The rice cooker is compact, making it suitable for smaller kitchens because it has a smaller footprint.
Cons: There was some clumping, however the grains have been distinct and never gummy.
The Muji Rice Cooker shouldn’t be only a joy to behold due to its design, however it additionally makes glorious rice and grains. The compact design takes up little space on the countertop and is extremely lightweight. One of the useful design features is the spatula relaxation constructed into the lid. While the settings are restricted, the timer function is handy, and we like how the machine automatically switches to keep warm when the rice is completed cooking. So even when you miss the beep, the rice will still be hot and completely cooked. To open, you click on a push button on the highest of the cover. The lid is super straightforward to unlock and clicks routinely whenever you push it close. The alert beep can be onerous to listen to from one other room, however the cooker mechanically switches to the “Keep Warm” setting as soon as it’s performed. Another of our favorite house-saving options is the retractable energy cord which makes its overall footprint even tidier.
Worth at time of publish: $288
Uncooked capability: 3 cups
Dimensions: 8.2″W x 10″D x 7.3″H
Equipment included: Spatula, spatula holder, measuring cup, cooking plate, and cookbook.
Finest Value
Hamilton Beach Rice Cooker & Food Steamer
Execs: We love the way it comes with a rinsing basket that additionally doubles as a steamer.
Cons: The beep signaling cooking is over can sometimes be arduous to hear from the opposite room.
The Hamilton Beach Digital Programmable Rice Cooker performed nicely in all our checks. Sometimes the keep warm operate would dry out a bit of the rice on the perimeter of the interior pot, nevertheless it was straightforward to combine in with the supplied spatula and not noticeable when consuming. The lid is connected, easy to open at the push of a button, and makes a satisfying clicking sound whenever you shut it. This instrument can be an ideal present for newlyweds, a household member who is not tech-savvy, or somebody who’s searching for easy features. We like how straightforward the rice cooker is to use. All of the grains we cooked, from sushi rice to sealed oats, had the desired consistency and texture. We recommend studying the instructions to get an accurate water ratio to rice. The rice cooker has no dishwasher-secure elements, so wash it with hot soapy water to sanitize and dry it effectively earlier than reassembling it.
Price at time of publish: $Forty
Uncooked capability: Four cups
Dimensions: 8.2″W x 9.7″D x 9.9″ H
Accessories included: Steam and rinse basket, measure cup, and spatula.
Zojirushi Induction Heating System Rice Cooker & Warmer
Execs: The cost comes from the induction heating, which ensures all the pieces cooks evenly.
Cons: Every little thing needs to be hand-washed, so if you want something dishwasher-secure, this isn’t for you.
The Zojirushi Induction Rice Cooker is the right model for somebody that eats rice day by day or professional cooks in search of fancier features. Since this rice cooker makes large quantities of rice, it is not the only option for someone with limited countertop area or storage. The rice cooker comes with many presets on its clear show panel: white or sushi, quick, mixed porridge, Candy, Brown, cake, and steam. We discovered the rice texture saved constant during the keep heat perform, which lends additional credence to the machine’s temperature regulation thanks to induction heating. The show might be difficult for less savvy customers, however the directions make it simple to make use of.
Price at time of publish: $358
Uncooked capability: 5.5 cups
Dimensions: 10″W x 14″D x 8″H
Equipment included: Steam basket, measuring cup, spatula, and spatula holder.
Greatest Fuzzy Logic/Sensible/Tech
Zojirushi NS-TSC18 Micom Rice Cooker and Hotter
Professionals: It has a excessive yield capacity making this a wonderful alternative for larger households.
Cons: Its cost is prohibitive until you’re a tough-core rice cooker consumer who values know-how.
The Zojirushi Micom 10-cup Rice Cooker is one among our favorite Zojirushi machines for any family. It’s foolproof and creates excellent rice with distinct grains that are not mushy. It is simple to use around the house because of its massive carrying handle and retractable cord. Some folks may discover the capability an excessive amount of for common dimension households, however the brand has a smaller mannequin, which is also cheaper and excellent for a family of 4. The handbook incorporates useful diagrams and illustrations on every part from setup to how to make use of it. Even the warm perform is distinctive because the rice from jasmine to basmati was just nearly as good as recent in our checks. No a part of the cooker is dishwasher-protected, however the interior pot is genuinely nonstick and simple to wipe out.
Price at time of publish: $195
Uncooked capability: 4 cups
Dimensions: 11.8″W x 9.1″D x 7.5″H
Accessories included: Spatula, spatula holder, and measuring cup.
Our favorite
We use our rice cookers quite a few instances per week as a result of they are a time saver and permit you to make perfect rice, grains, and other dishes. It has the streamlined functionality of knowledgeable system, and it’s tremendous inexpensive besides. We examined many machines, but our favorite is Aroma’s Skilled Rice Cooker.
Elements to contemplate
Some rice cookers are more technologically superior than others, and the extra intelligent they’re, the better they’re to use. These features can shift the price of a cooker upwards exponentially, but in addition they make them a foolproof unit to make use of. Certainly one of the top-rated manufacturers makes use of “fuzzy logic” to determine when rice is cooked to perfection, adjusting robotically for environmental circumstances like sizzling days or rice that is cooking sooner, in addition to customized settings for different types of kinds of rice like brown or sushi, and even preferences on ranges of rice doneness.
The best rice cookers are designed to cook rice and different grains, however not the rest. Some will tout other functions, although typically at the price of not being great at those or not being nice at rice. If you happen to need an appliance that cooks rice with other options like steaming, it’s possible you’ll go for a multi-cooker with a rice cooking feature as an alternative of a rice cooker. The most effective options to search for are completely different settings for different kinds of rice and grains, a very good “keep heat” characteristic, dishwasher-safe elements for straightforward cleanup, and a transparent and straightforward-to-use interface.
Rice cookers for house use are available in sizes as small as three cups and as large as 12 cups or extra. Figuring out the appropriate measurement for your own home is as simple as knowing the quantity of rice you undergo in a single typical meal. A three- or four-cup cooker is likely all you need if you’re single or a pair. In case you have a larger household or entertain a lot with rice, you’ll likely need something like a six- to eight-cup cooker. You possibly can estimate the typical person consuming a few cup of rice as a side dish for one meal or two cups as the idea of an entrée. The benefit of a rice cooker is quick, straightforward, foolproof rice anytime you need, so there isn’t a have to make extra at once than you want for that meal or that day.
– How lengthy does it take to cook rice in a rice cooker?
“As short as half-hour, after you press a button, you do not must do something, and it’s finished,” says chef Sawako Okochi of Shalom Japan in Williamsburg, New York, who finds a rice cooker indispensable for home cooks.
– What do you look for in a rice cooker?
“I recommend a brand that is not arduous to make use of,” says Okochi. “It should not be too complicated to cook rice in a machine. It ought to come with a rice measuring cup and an insert bowl with strains for water level after you set rice, so you’ll be able to pour water to the road corresponding to the number of cups of rice you set.”
– Is a rice cooker worth it?
From the standard of the rice to the time it saves, a rice cooker is worth investing in. “Typically, rice cookers can free up your burner and your arms so as to focus on cooking other stuff to go with it,” Okochi says.
– How do you have to season rice in a rice cooker?
“Most of the time, I don’t add any seasoning, but if you wish to season your rice, sea salt is most easy, and you’ll elaborate with dashi instead of water, soy sauce, mirin, and cooking sake for Takikomi Gohan. I would add some protein or seaweed and start cooking. If including inexperienced vegetables, comparable to inexperienced peas or asparagus, I add them blanched after the rice is cooked and fluff them collectively,” says Okochi.
– What else are you able to cook in a rice cooker?
Rice cookers may be versatile, according to Okochi. “You can sluggish-cook meat resembling rooster or pork or some beans. Some elaborate machines have a softer or tougher texture setting, it may cook porridge, cook brown rice higher with a pressure setting, and keep rice warm with out drying it. Some may even cook cakes,” she says.
The Tests
So as to test how effectively the rice cookers carried out, we used them over a 3-week testing interval. We did every little thing you’ll do, so you do not should. We evaluated how evenly the rice cooker performed by cooking various kinds of rice and grains. We appeared to see if the rice was scorched or dry from cooking or throughout an prolonged time using the heat function if obtainable.
Robust Contenders that didn’t make the checklist
– Cuckoo Strain Rice Cooker (CRP-P1009SB) ($280 at Amazon)
– Panasonic 5-Cup One-Contact Fuzzy Logic Rice Cooker ($91 at Amazon)
– Black + Decker Rice Cooker ($21 at Walmart)
– Instant Pot Zest Rice Cooker ($50 at Amazon)
Our Experience
Jennifer Zyman is a Senior Commerce Author for Meals & Wine and a former restaurant critic with a culinary faculty degree and over 15 years of food writing experience. Her work has appeared in Atlanta Magazine, Bon Appetit, Eater Atlanta, The Kitchn, Native Palate, Nationwide Geographic, Simply Recipes, Southern Residing, and Thrillist. To write down this story, she used market analysis, results from our in-house testing, and research conducted by Meals Editor Katie Macdonald and Stacey Ballis, a contract writer.
