The best rice cookers for gloriously fluffy grains at home: nine tried and tested favourites

The Guardian

14-03-2025

How often do you eat rice? Even if it's not a daily staple in your house, it's safe to say most Britons cook and eat rice at least a few times a week. And while it may seem a simple thing to cook, it can be surprisingly difficult to get it right.
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From long-grain to quick-cook, brown basmati to jasmine, different rice grains have different cook times, different rates of absorption and varying starch levels, which can all affect the result. Instead of fluffy, individual grains, you may find your rice burnt, stuck to the pan or with a claggy, chalky or overly glutinous texture. Dinner ruined.
That's where a specialist rice cooker comes in. They're a common kitchen appliance in Asia, and the best rice cookers guarantee perfect rice every time. Many machines intuitively set up the cooking time and guide you to add the correct ratio of rice to water depending on the variety. Many have a delay function, or can safely keep the rice warm for up to 24 hours – so you'll always have dinner ready and waiting. Today's technology has also seen some rice cookers become multifunctional, with the ability to slow cook, sear and stir, too. At the other end of the spectrum are basic microwave rice cookers – we tested this variety too.
Best overall rice cooker:
Yum Asia Bamboo rice cooker£189.90 at Yum Asia
Best budget rice cooker:
Russell Hobbs large rice cooker£26.49 at Amazon
Best multi-cooker rice cooker:
Ninja Foodi 8-in-1 PossibleCooker£119 at Amazon
Best microwave rice cooker:
Sistema rice steamer£7.99 at Amazon
Best mini rice cooker:
Yum Asia Panda mini rice cooker£94.90 at Yum Asia
I've been testing kitchen goods, recipes, food and drink for newspapers and websites for a decade, so I have a good grasp of what's really useful to have in your cupboard, and whether something is good value for money.
I enjoy cooking but am far from an expert, so I approach these appliances just like any other home cook would. I cook for my family every night and understand how much of a tricky balance it can be to make tasty, nutritious food without spending hours in the kitchen. Ultimately, I'm looking for gadgets that are easy to use, give good results and can make your life easier.
I tested 10 rice cookers, each of which was either personally recommended, well-reviewed or from a well-known kitchen appliance brand. Most were new to me, although a few I had tested years previously, and one appliance was still in play from my recent slow cooker testing.
To test each machine, I cooked a cup of basmati rice, following the manufacturer's instructions where provided or using the ratio suggested on the rice packet if not. Next, I cooked a cup of sushi rice using the same method; few appliances gave guidelines for cooking sushi rice, so I used the on-pack instructions. If the appliance performed well during both these tests, I then experimented with brown rice and jasmine rice. Some appliances had further functionality that needed testing – where there were risotto programs, for example, I made risotto following recipes provided by the manufacturer.
In the interests of safety, I also used an external temperature sensor to record the temperature of the appliance at the end of the rice cooking program; none of the machines posed a hazard and were all fairly cool to touch.
Some of the rice I cooked wasn't edible and had to be thrown away, but the vast majority of rice cooked was good quality – so I have eaten rice every which way over the last month. Luckily, if food safety guidelines are followed carefully, it's perfectly fine to freeze cooked rice, so I've had a useful supply of fluffy basmati, fragrant jasmine, sticky sushi rice and creamy risottos on hand. My family and I are now at peak rice consumption levels, thanks to the weekly poke bowls, Indian banquets, egg fried rice and everything in between.
The rice cookers sourced for this article are either being sent back to the manufacturers or donated to a community hub in Barnet, where they will find useful new homes or be used in a community kitchen.
£189.90 at Yum Asia£199.90 at Amazon
The Yum Asia Bamboo rice cooker uses 3D induction heating technology – whereby the rice is surrounded by heat to cook evenly – and its 'AI Smart Brain' microprocessor to analyse the weight of the rice, water volume and other factors to cook rice using a wide range of settings. Choose from white/long grain, short, brown, crust, quick cook, 'yumami' and gaba (germinated), add the specified amount of water to well-rinsed rice and away you go for enough rice for up to eight people. Other settings are accessed on the easy-to-use LED display panel: steam, porridge, slow cook and cake, all cooked within the same ceramic-coated inner bowl or using the steam basket supplied.
Why we love itYum Asia is a master of rice cooking, with an unparalleled understanding of how to cook different types of rice to perfection. I've never made sushi rice as perfect as in this machine, and it churned out variety after variety of the same quality. One cup takes about 35 minutes to cook, although the gaba setting – which claims to germinate brown rice to increase its nutritional value – takes a bit longer. I'm someone who has never particularly enjoyed brown rice, but I do now.
The machine automatically keeps warm once the rice is cooked and has a delay function, as you'd expect. It's large enough to be useful, but not too large for easy storage, and it operates with just a low whirring noise and no excessive steam. I also like the cool handles to lift out the pot; others should take heed. A standout machine.
It's a shame that … I have no criticism to make of the Yum Asia Bamboo: it's perfect – if you can afford it.
Time to cook one cup of basmati rice: 35minsDimensions: 27 x 37 x 24cm (WDH)Capacity: 1.5 litresExternal temperature at end of cook: 21C
£33 at AO£26.49 at Amazon
A large-capacity, budget-friendly, no-frills rice cooker from Russell Hobbs that performs better than you'd expect. The instructions are light on the ground, as is its functionality – there are no different programs or guidelines for different types of rice, nor any timer function.
Why we love itTo my surprise, the Russell Hobbs rice cooker handled every type of rice well. Basmati, sushi, brown and jasmine rice all cooked quickly and evenly without any fuss, sticking or mess. It was also the only machine that didn't stipulate that rice should be washed first, so I didn't. The rice was still great and took between 10 and 20 minutes, depending on the variety, and the machine switched to keep-warm mode automatically after cooking. This large-capacity cooker would be ideal for any family.
It's a shame that … there's no estimated time for how long your rice will take to cook. You'll learn this over time, but the first few times you'll need to stand over the cooker until it's done. Especially as I wouldn't recommend leaving this one on the keep-warm mode for too long: the rice dries out fast.
Time to cook one cup of basmati rice: 20mins
Dimensions: 32.2 x 24.5 x 22.6cm (WDH)Capacity: 2.8 litresExternal temperature at end of cook: 45C
£119.99 at Argos£119 at Amazon
The Ninja Foodi 8-in-1 PossibleCooker doesn't bill itself as a rice cooker, but it's hard to define it as any one thing with this much functionality. I held on to this one after our recent test of the best slow cookers so that I could put it through its paces against designated rice-cooking appliances.
Why we love itI wasn't surprised to find it did well – Ninja appliances can rarely be faulted in my experience. I used the steam function to cook the rice, but you'll get all the other functions too: slow cook, sear, braise, simmer, bake, prove and keep warm. With one of these, there's no need for a separate rice cooker.
Ninja suggests a recipe for risotto, which turned out beautifully. You'll need to scour the internet to find guidelines for other types of rice, but I made a guess at a ratio and cook time (one cup of basmati rice to two cups of water, 10 minutes on steam function and a five-minute rest) and it was successful – no sticking, scorching or excess starch. I cooked sushi rice equally successfully using the same method, and I increased the water by half a cup and cooking time by five minutes when dealing with brown rice, which worked well.
It's a shame that … it's very large. But with this many settings, it can replace so many other appliances in one.
Time to cook one cup of basmati rice: 15mins
Dimensions: 28 x 29 x 42cm (WDH)Capacity: 8 litresExternal temperature at end of cook: 45C
£7.99 at Currys £7.99 at Amazon
A microwave rice steaming bowl is nothing new, but it's probably not something most of us own. And why not? It's inexpensive with a simple, failsafe design, offering quick, mess-free convenience. This Sistema version has a large 2.6-litre capacity, suitable for feeding a family, and uses a pressure-chamber tray to draw away overflow liquid for perfect steamed rice and couscous. It's also dishwasher- and freezer-safe.
Why we love itI wasn't anticipating this to compare favourably with the expensive electric rice cookers I tested, but it actually does. Using its suggested ratios and timings, my basmati emerged after 15 minutes with individual fragrant grains, with no starchiness or chalky middle. Other rice varieties weren't mentioned in the instructions, but sushi rice worked well using the same method. For brown rice, I added another five minutes and was successful. If you're nervous about cooking rice in a pan, then I highly recommend trying one of these. It guarantees results without having to put your hand too far into your pocket. For anyone concerned about Pfas – the 'forever chemicals' in some plastics – this cooker is made from safe polypropylene.
It's a shame that … it gets so hot. It's been in the microwave for 10 to 15 minutes, so there's no getting around this. Much is made of the 'easy lift handles', but you'll still need oven gloves to handle the container until it cools.
Time to cook one cup of basmati rice: 15mins
Dimensions: 21.6 x 21.6 x 16.4 (WDH)Capacity: 2.6 litresExternal temperature at end of cook: 85C
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£94.90 at Yum Asia £99.90 at Amazon
Yum Asia's cute mini rice cooker isn't just a pretty face. Despite its diminutive size, it can cook rice for up to three people and has four rice-cooking functions, plus another four settings: porridge, slow cooking, cake and steaming. It can also be set in advance and has an automatic keep warm setting. Yum Asia says the machine cooks rice using 'advanced fuzzy logic' technology, which means it gauges the weight, content and water volume of your cook to adjust the temperature, steam level and rest time accordingly.
Why we love itYum Asia has done it again with this rice cooker. You can't fail to turn out the best rice you've ever made with one of these on your worktop. Basmati, sushi, brown rice and jasmine were all fantastic, cooking silently and mess-free with minimal steam escaping. It's brilliant.
It's a shame that … it takes quite a long time. One cup of basmati takes about 40 minutes, which is longer than most of the other rice cookers on test.
Time to cook one cup of basmati rice: 40minsDimensions: 22.5 x 30 x 21cm (WDH)Capacity: 0.6 litresExternal temperature at end of cook: 36C
£135 at Sous Chef£166.60 at Amazon
Best for: sticky rice
Cuckoo is a premium Korean brand that has been making rice cookers for more than 40 years. This model uses an intuitive four-step process of soaking, heating, steaming and resting rice based on the type selected. You can choose from eight settings including various types of rice, congee and slow-cooked stews, with enough capacity for up to three people.
It didn't make the final cut because … I found it cooked sushi rice well, but some longer-grain varieties were slightly overcooked, with a lot of rice sticking to the pan. The instructions also seem to have been badly translated, and as a result, they're confusing. It looks very cool on your worktop, though.
Time to cook one cup of basmati rice: 40mins; dimensions: 20 x 29 x 22cm (WDH); capacity: 0.5 litres; external temperature at end of cook: 27C
£34.99 at Lakeland £34.99 at Amazon
Best for: using on the go
Lightweight and compact, this 500ml affordable rice cooker is ideal for taking to work for lunchtime-ready rice or walking in to creamy porridge ready for you in the office. It's easy to use, cooks in 30 minutes and switches to keep-warm mode automatically. It's not as sturdy or well-made as many of the other cookers on this list, but it does the job. It's a good machine for a first foray into rice cooking.
It didn't make the final cut because … starch kept bubbling out of the steam vent and it gave off a burning smell even though the rice was fine.
Time to cook one cup of basmati rice: 30mins; dimensions: 16.5 x 14.5 x 19cm (WDH); capacity: 0.5 litres; external temperature at end of cook: 41C
£78.99 at Robert Dyas£79.99 at Debenhams
Best for: quick cooking
This imposing German-made rice cooker is great for quickly preparing large amounts of rice. With a minimum two-cup capacity, this machine is best for catering for several people at a time, or batch cooking. It cooked my basmati rice in 15 minutes and gave good results, despite not having guidelines for any particular rice varieties. It also works as a steamer and cooks porridge, although you'll need to stir throughout and stick to only water to cook it.
It didn't make the final cut because … at this size and price, I'd like more functionality.
Time to cook one cup of basmati rice: 15mins; dimensions: 31 x 29 x 29cm (WDH); capacity: 5 litres; external temperature at end of cook: 27C
£200 at GreenPan£200 at Currys
Best for: feeding a crowd
GreenPan makes an outstanding slow cooker, so I was excited to try its Omni Cooker. It has lots of settings – sear/saute, stir-fry, sauce, simmer, steam, white rice, brown rice, grains, soup and keep warm – and a sizeable 5.6-litre capacity, perfect for family dinnertime. The rice programs take 50 minutes or more and are best for cooking large quantities. The basmati rice towards the bottom tended to crust and some was unevenly cooked, but the top layers fared better. This machine would be best used as a one-pot-meal maker – I'd suggest cooking plenty of rice layered with veg and a protein on top.
It didn't make the final cut because … the rice cook was uneven and took a long time.
Time to cook one cup of basmati rice: 50mins; dimensions: 22.5 x 34.8 x 21.5cm (WDH); capacity: 5.6 litres; external temperature at end of cook: 43C
If you can't get to grips with cooking rice in a pan, are keen to master different types of rice, or simply eat a lot of the stuff, then a rice cooker is a sensible investment. And while multi-cookers are extremely tempting, not all of them have nailed the rice cooking aspect in the way that dedicated appliances have done – proceed with caution.
If you haven't got cash to splash, then a machine for about £30 will do the trick perfectly well – or consider a microwave rice cooker to see how much you actually use it. Otherwise, I'd point you to one of the Yum Asia machines – real rice cooking mastery awaits.
Joanne Gould is a freelance food, drink and lifestyle writer with a decade of experience. As well as enthusiastically eating her way through London's best bars and restaurants, she's also a keen home cook and can often be found trying a new recipe or kitchen gadget, while taste-testing anything from South African wines to speciality coffee or scotch. Luckily, she also enjoys walking, running and keeping fit and healthy in her spare time – for balance