The best rice cookers for fluffy and delicious rice every time
Rice is such a staple of so many meals, it almost feels self-flagellating to cook it on the stovetop. Getting a rice cooker is really the way to go.
But we understand if there's still a voice inside your head saying, Wait, do I really need another appliance to make something I can theoretically do myself?
But here we offer another, louder voice: do you really want to eat sub-par rice for the rest of your life?
This MVP appliance will cook your rice without the variables that can send it south. No more keeping an eye out if it's boiling, or having to cover it at the right time, or running the risk of burning the bottom.
Just rinse, add to the pot, press a few buttons and let the cooker do its job. Bliss. Using a rice cooker will give you consistently good results no matter what type of grain (or no matter how many times you forget it's in there).
Here's our permission to give in: just buy a rice cooker. You deserve it.
What to look for when buying a rice cooker
While they all deliver our favourite cooked starch, there are many differences between the brands and models of rice cookers on the market. Before you buy yours, consider the following:
- How big does it need to be? Is it for you and your partner, or for you and your 10-person family?
- Are additional functions important to you? Think: time delay options, ability to cook different types of rice, fast cook. Or are you happy to keep it simple?
- And of course, how much are you willing to spend?
With these questions in mind, here's a round-up of the rice cookers we'd recommend and why.
NOTE: Prices are accurate at time of publishing.
The best rice cooker on the market
Breville The Smart Rice Box Cooker
Using The Smart Rice Box Cooker from Breville, you can select between white, brown and sticky rice as well as fast cook, reheat, keep warm and steam. You can also program it to cook a wide range of foods like soup, porridge and cake. It's built with a five-layer ceramic-coated cooking bowl to distribute and retain heat.
The Smart Rice Box has a digital timer on the LED display that can be set 15 hours ahead of cooking time and keep your rice warm for up to 24 hours. To ensure your rice is cooked perfectly, it will automatically adjust the temperature as it runs.
Best rice cooker for feeding the family
Russell Hobbs Turbo Rice Cooker
With its 3.6L capacity, no one will be left hungry with the Russell Hobbs Turbo Rice Cooker. Along with the ability to make a whopping 20 cups of cooked rice, this rice cooker has a dishwasher-safe pot AND comes with a steamer basket so you can steam other foods while you cook your rice. It's also one of the most affordable options, currently selling on Amazon for 27 per cent off.
Best multifunctional rice cooker
Tefal Easy Rice & Slow Cooker Plus
With its 11 pre-programmed settings, you'll be able to cook rice in an almost clinical way with the Tefal Easy Rice & Slow Cooker Plus. This 2-in-1 appliance also lets you create your favourite stews and slow-cooked meals – hello, extra cabinet space. It also has settings to slow cook, reheat and keep warm.
The rice cooker is built with a spherical-shaped pot for even heat distribution and a function to delay the cooking start time by up to 24 hours.
READ MORE: Feed the family with a slow cooker for every budget
The easiest-to-use rice cooker
Kambrook Rice Master Rice Cooker
The Kambrook Rice Master Rice Cooker has a five-cup uncooked rice capacity and a non-stick removable cooking bowl, with water level markings for easy use and cleaning. Completely uncomplicated, just fill it with your rice, set with the control lever and it will be ready in no time.
READ MORE: Top rated and reviewed air fryers on Amazon under $150
Best induction rice cooker
Panasonic Induction Heat Rice Cooker
Regular rice cookers get their heat from the base temperature plates. Induction rice cookers get theirs from a heating wire circling the pot, meaning heat circulates all through the appliance to ensure the rice is cooked evenly.
Using sensors and an inverter, the Panasonic Induction Heat Rice Cooker is able to create the exact temperature needed to cook the rice of your choosing. You'll be able to choose from 11 cooking functions for different types of rice including white, brown, long-grain and multigrain as well as quinoa and low-sugar rice.
It also separates the starch water from the grain, leading to a lower sugar content in the final cup of rice (if that's your thing).
Best rice cooker for sealing in moisture
Breville The Rice Box Cooker
Pre-programmed to cook steamed rice, crispy rice, sushi rice, porridge, congee and soup, the Breville Rice Box Cooker has a 10-cup capacity and comes with a steam tray to cook the rest of your meal. The lid is designed to minimise condensation build-up within the cooker so that the moisture is retained within the rice and helps it get its irresistible fluffiness.
Best rice cooker for every meal of the day
Panasonic Premium Rice & Multi Cooker
This 2-in-1 rice cooker is able to cook up to 10 cups of rice including white, brown, jasmine and multi-grain, as well as quinoa and sticky rice. It also operates as a multicooker and has 16-preset functions to cook a large range of foods and meals.
These cooking pre-sets include three styles of white rice, soups, porridge, cakes and bread – so if you wanted to, you could cook with it all day and never have to use another appliance. All your meals will be sorted. It works through its six-layer pan that stores the heat created and evenly cooks your rice.
Best rice cooker to prevent food waste
NutriBullet Everygrain Cooker
The Nutribullet brand is known for its high-quality creations of healthy foods and beverages, and its Everygrain Cooker is no exception. It has five cooking functions to make white rice, brown rice, quinoa, grains and oats and has rice-to-water ratios on the cooking pot to cook the exact amount needed for your meal, so there's no food wastage.
Best rice cooker for the perfectionist
Breville The Set & Serve Rice Cooker
The Breville Set & Serve Rice Cooker is able to make 14 cups of cooked rice and comes with a glass lid to monitor your cooking and a removable bowl for simple serving in group settings.
Best rice cooker for a three-course meal
Sunbeam Rice Cooker
Able to make up to 14 cups of cooked rice, the 1.8L Sunbeam Rice Cooker can also be used to sauté ingredients to add to your meal and comes with a steam tray, so your entree, main and side dishes are all accounted for. It has a jar-style lid used to seal in the steam and ensure every grain is cooked perfectly. After your rice has finished cooking, it will automatically switch to the 'keep warm' setting until you're ready to start eating.
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