The 4 Best Rice Cookers That Yield Perfectly Cooked Grains

Forbes

19-05-2025

It's true you can make rice on the stovetop—but a dedicated rice cooker takes the guesswork out of the cooking process, delivering tender, fluffy grains every time. Even better, these hands-off devices free you up to focus on other dishes, simplifying meal prep. For most home cooks, our top pick overall is the Zojirushi Micom Rice Cooker, which consistently yields perfectly cooked batches of rice, from white to brown to basmati.
While rice cookers aren't totally foolproof, they make it significantly easier to prepare grains that are neither crunchy nor mushy. 'For the most part, rice cookers make perfect rice every time," says Diane Phillips, cooking teacher and author of The Everyday Rice Cooker. They can also reduce the time you spend in the kitchen, she adds, as "you don't have to time them or watch them on the stovetop.' If you're thinking of adding one of these handy appliances to your kitchen lineup, first consider the size of your household, as models have varying capacities, plus the types of rice and grains you typically cook and your budget. Ahead, here our expert-backed picks for the best rice cookers in 2025.
Dimensions: 14 x 10.13 x 8.5 inches | Weight: 9 pounds | Capacity: 5.5 cups uncooked (about 10 cups cooked) | Accessories included: Steamer basket, rice paddle, measuring cup | Dishwasher-safe: No | Settings: White/sushi, brown, steam, cake, mixed, porridge, quick
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Zojirushi is one of the most trusted names in the rice cooker space, and this model is especially popular—with good reason. Capable of preparing up to 10 cups of cooked rice, this bestseller is equipped with the brand's smart 'Fuzzy logic' technology, which automatically adjusts the time and temperature as the rice cooks to deliver consistent results every time.
The control panel has an old-school feel but is highly intuitive, with settings for different rice types like brown and sushi, as well as a timer and 'keep warm' button. (The latter can maintain the same temperature for up to 12 hours.) In addition, there are helpful markings in the bowl that help you determine how much water to add for different rice types. Plus, the machine comes with a steam basket, which you can use to steam vegetables—even as your rice is cooking.
The main downside of this model? It takes longer to cook than all others on this list, though the added time serves a purpose. When you press the start button, the machine first lets the rice pre-soak before cooking begins; once the rice is almost finished, it gives the grains extra time to steam. While you do have to plan ahead more when using this machine, that additional time helps your rice achieve the ideal texture. And if you're ever in a rush, there's a convenient quick-cook setting that can reduce the cook time by about 20 minutes.
Dimensions: 8.6 x 9.3 x 8.5 inches | Weight: 3.6 pounds | Capacity: 4 cups uncooked (about 8 cups cooked) | Accessories included: Steamer basket, rice paddle, measuring cup | Dishwasher-safe: Yes | Settings: White rice, brown rice, steam, flash rice, keep warmBest for:
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If you want a simple rice cooker that gets the job done (and does it well), this popular model from Aroma is inexpensive yet reliable. Ideal for home cooks on a budget, it can prepare up to 8 cups of rice at a time, and the grains it yields are fluffy with the right amount of chew.
Though it might not be quite as technologically advanced as our top pick overall, this model also tracks the progress of rice as it cooks and automatically adjusts the settings to ensure each batch comes out just right. What's more, it offers the most essential controls—including a 'keep warm' setting and a delay timer—and comes with a handy steamer basket that allows you to steam food as rice cooks below. One last perk: Cleanup is a breeze. The included cooking pot—which has a nonstick coating—can go in the dishwasher, while the stainless steel exterior can be wiped down with a damp towel.
Dimensions: 9.8 x 13.5 x 8.9 inches | Weight: 10.5 pounds | Capacity: 8 cups (cooked) | Accessories included: Nonstick ceramic pot, steamer basket | Dishwasher-safe: Yes | Settings: Short grain brown, long grain brown, short grain white, long grain white, basmati, jasmine, wild rice, sushi rice, steel cut oats, rolled oats, couscous, quinoa, pearled barley, hulled barley, farro, black beans, red beans, kidney beans, pinto, chickpeas, lentils
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If you want an advanced model that does all the heavy lifting for you, KitchenAid's Grain And Rice Cooker is a kitchen workhorse. To start, its design is unlike all others on this list: It has a built-in scale that measures the amount of grains that have been added to the cooking vessel, as well as a built-in water tank that dispenses the ideal amount of liquid based on the selected setting and volume of rice. In other words, you don't have to pull out the measuring cup when making rice with this machine—just add your grains and choose the appropriate setting, and the machine does the rest. (And like most models on this list, it also comes with a steamer basket.)
In terms of cooking functions, you have quite a few to choose from: There are settings for eight rice varieties, seven grains (including oats, farro and barley) and six bean types. The sleek touchscreen display guides you through all of the available options, from cooking presets to timers and scheduling. In terms of downsides, this machine really only has one big one: The attached water tank makes it quite large, so it's wise to double-check that you have adequate space to store this before making the commitment.
Dimensions: 11.5 x 7.9 x 8.6 inches | Weight: 6.4 pounds | Capacity: 3 cups uncooked (6 cups cooked) | Accessories included: Measuring cup, rice spatula | Dishwasher-safe: No | Settings: White, brown, multigrain, quinoa, multicook, oatmeal
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For those with limited kitchen counter and storage space, this popular model from South Korean brand Cuckoo is charmingly compact. Also, it's not that small—it can yield up to 6 cups of cooked rice at once, which should be plenty for single folks or couples. And like our top pick overall, it uses 'Fuzzy logic' technology to ensure consistency.
It features a sleek design with an intuitive control panel on the top of the machine, where you can toggle between different cooking presets—there are settings for sticky, soft and savory rice, as well as grains like quinoa and oatmeal. In addition, the machine includes a 'quick' mode to churn out a batch in 30 minutes, as well as 'keep warm' and 'auto-clean,' the latter of which which uses steam to clean the interior of the machine. And for deeper, more thorough cleans, the nonstick cooking vessel is a breeze to wash.
Whether we're covering countertop appliances like food processors or smaller staples like chef's knives, Forbes Vetted's home and kitchen team conducts meticulous, thorough research to bring you product recommendations you can trust.
To determine the best rice cookers, we performed painstaking research, following guidance from our experts, and analyzed top-rated models from trusted brands.
'I would invest in a high quality one that is made in Japan or Korea,' says Rao. In particular, she recommends looking at 'reliable' brands including Zojirushi (her personal favorite), Tiger and Cuckoo, which she estimates can last over a decade.
Phillips echoes this sentiment. 'Since the Japanese invented these machines, I would go with a Japanese brand,' she says. 'When I was testing recipes, I kept the Zojurushi Neuro Fuzzy machine since I loved it the most.'
If you don't know where to start, Phillips suggests considering "how many people you'll be serving, then price, then features." A rice cooker with large capacity would make sense for a bigger family, for example, while people who live alone would likely be fine with a more compact model.
Also, keep in mind there are different types of rice cookers. The most common types include what Phillips calls 'on-off machines' (models with basic controls), "fuzzy-logic machines" (which adjust the cook time and temperature as they works) and multicookers.
This is highly dependent on the size of your household. 'Think about how many people are in the mix,' advises Phillips. If you live alone or with your partner, you can probably get away with a 3- to 4-cup model. 'Buying a 6- to 8-cup model would be a waste of money, since you probably wouldn't ever use it to its potential,' she adds. For large families and frequent entertainers, a high-capacity rice cooker would make sense.
You should also consider how much counter or cabinet space you're willing to give up for the machine, as some are naturally larger than others—regardless of capacity.