The 5 Best Rice Cookers of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

Our Favorite Rice Cooker

We use our rice cookers numerous times a week because they are a time saver and allow you to make perfect rice, grains, and other dishes. We tested many machines, but our favorite is the Zojirushi 5.5-Cup Induction Rice Cooker and Warmer, which has the most reliable and precise rice cooking functionalities that kitchen professionals stand by. For a more affordable pick, we recommend the Aroma Housewares 8-Cup Rice Cooker. 

How We Tested Rice Cookers

Over the course of three weeks, we incorporated these rice cookers into our regular cooking routines, noting our thoughts on a few aspects: 

• Ease of use: We examined how the displays worked, how easy the controls were to manipulate, how useful the instructions were (if at all), and how well those attributes translated to using the tool.
• Rice cooking test: We were sure to test each cooker with at least two cups of three different types of rice, including sushi rice, long grain rice, and wild rice (ensuring that we rinsed the rice before cooking for consistency). We also looked to see if the rice was scorched or dry from cooking or after an extended time using the warm function, if available.
• Non-rice grain test: Some rice cookers offer extra functions, like preset options for oatmeal or porridge. We tested them for those, too, noting their effectiveness on grains other than rice.
• Cleanup: Cleanup was also an essential element of our tests, and we rated the machines on how easy they were to store and clean. Many rice cookers do not contain dishwasher-safe elements, so wepaid attention to how nonstick the interiors were. If there were any internal elements that had any stubborn residue, we took note.
• Long-term testing: We continued to gather data on the appliances for months after initial testing to see if the rice cookers had longevity in performance and wear.
• Value: As testing neared completion, we also determined whether or not the rice cookers were worth their prices. The ricer cookers ranged from $19 to $365, averaging about $115. Most editors thought the rice cookers were appropriately priced for their performance, as long as you expected to use the more expensive appliances to their full potential.
  

What We Learned About the Best Rice Cookers

Convenience is most important overall. Some rice cookers are more technologically advanced than others, and the more intelligent they are, the easier they are to use. The top-rated brands use "fuzzy logic" to determine when rice is cooked to perfection, adjusting automatically for environmental conditions like hot days or rice that is cooking faster, as well as custom settings for different types of rice like brown or sushi, and even preferences on levels of rice doneness. These features can shift the price of a cooker upwards exponentially, but they also make it a foolproof unit to use.

The best rice cooker doesn't need to be a multicooker. The best rice cookers are designed to cook rice and other grains, but not anything else. Some will tout other applications, though often at the cost of not being great at those or not being great at rice. If you need an appliance that cooks rice with other features like steaming, you may opt for a multi-cooker with a rice cooking feature instead of a rice cooker. The best features to look for are different settings for different kinds of rice and grains, a good "keep warm" feature, dishwasher-safe components for easy cleanup, and a clear and easy-to-use interface.

Knowing your ideal grain volume is key. Rice cookers for home use are available in sizes as small as three cups and as large as 12 cups or more. Determining the right size for your home is as easy as knowing the amount of rice you go through in one typical meal. The benefit of a rice cooker is fast, easy, foolproof rice anytime you want, so there is no need to make more at once than you need for that meal or that day. You can estimate the average person eating about a cup of rice as a side dish for one meal or two cups as the basis of an entrée. A three- or four-cup cooker is likely all you need if you are single or a couple. If you have a larger family or entertain a lot with rice, you will likely want something like a six- to eight-cup cooker.

Other Rice Cookers We Tested

These rice cookers are still decent options if there's a good discount available or you feel strongly about these particular brands. However, we found these lacking in a few features, such as a very quiet done signal, more difficult-to-clean pieces, and some slightly dried-out rice after using the keep warm function (not ideal but not a dealbreaker, depending on how particular you are about your rice). The best small rice cooker we tested is no longer available at retailers.

Zojirushi Neuro Fuzzy Rice Cooker (NS-ZCC10) ($243 on Amazon)

This rice cooker is a good value for regular rice eaters and those who want a machine to do all the work. It cooks short-grain white rice well, but it can take over an hour to cook a batch of rice.

Zojirushi Micom Rice Cooker and Warmer (NS-TSC10) ($233 on Amazon)

This rice cooker is a good option for families who need a larger capacity rice cooker. It is also a good choice for those who want a rice cooker with various features, such as a timer setting and a warming function.

Hamilton Beach Digital Programmable Rice Cooker (37518) ($40 on Amazon)

This is an excellent budget-friendly option, but it has few features for more advanced users. It is easy to use and cooks rice well, so it is a better choice for households that want to cook basic rice dishes.

Instant Pot Zest Rice Cooker ($50 on Amazon)

This rice cooker is a good option for those who only want to cook rice or quinoa regularly. It is also a good choice for those who wish to have an easy-to-clean rice cooker.

The Best Rice Paddles

Traditionally made of wood, the shamoji or rice paddle is designed to fluff rice without damaging the grains. After the rice is cooked, use a shamoji to gently mix and fluff the rice, releasing any trapped moisture. Many have rows of bumps on both sides, which enables you to gently scrape the rice layer by layer, which yields fluffier rice than a fork. This will prepare the rice for serving without smashing it together. Many modern rice paddles are made from plastic or wood since rice cooker bowls are often non-stick and can scratch. They're also just good to have on hand for prepping, as they are a dream for mixing up a tuna salad or coleslaw.

Crate & Barrel Acacia Rice Paddle ($13 at Crate & Barrel)

This rice paddle is made from sustainable acacia wood and has a wide, flat design with rounded edges, making it ideal for scooping, stirring, and serving rice. It's also heat-resistant to 500 degrees Fahrenheit and safe for use with non-stick cookware.

Williams Sonoma Prep Tools Rice Paddle ($15 at Williams Sonoma)

This rice paddle is made from embossed silicone, which prevents food from sticking. It's versatile and can scoop and serve grains, risotto, and hot cereal. The slip-resistant handle is ergonomically shaped for comfort and ease of use.

Inomata Rice Paddle ($4 at Amazon)

This set of two plastic rice paddles is dishwasher-safe and made in Japan. The surface makes it easy to serve rice, and they are easy to replace at the price. Having two means one is always available if the other is in the wash.

Our Expertise

• Jennifer Zyman is a Testing Editor for Food & Wine and a former restaurant critic with a culinary school degree and over 15 years of food writing experience. Her work has appeared in Atlanta Magazine, Bon Appetit, Eater Atlanta, The Kitchen, Local Palate, National Geographic, Simply Recipes, Southern Living, and Travel & Leisure. To write this story, she used market research and results from our in-house testing.
• Stacey Ballis also contributed to this article. She is a novelist, cookbook author, and food writer with 20 years of experience. She has been cooking for over 45 years, and writing in the culinary space has been central to her work. Ballis has published 10 novels and a cookbook called "Big Delicious Life," in addition to ghostwriting, recipe development, and recipe testing for chefs.
• Ming Tsai also lent his expertise. Chef Tsai is a James Beard and Emmy Award-winning chef, philanthropist, TV personality, and entrepreneur. He has created award-winning restaurants, written five cookbooks, and is currently the host/executive producer of PBS-TV's Simply Ming. In 2022, Chef Tsai became Iron Chef Tsai as he joined the cast of five world-class chefs in the Netflix series Iron Chef: Quest for an Iron Legend. 
• Chef Sawako Okochi of Shalom, Japan, in Williamsburg, New York, and her husband, Aaron Israel, also contributed their rice cooker knowledge to this roundup.
  
• Food & Wine Updates Writer Dillon Evans updated this article. He's a lifelong home cook and baker whose work can also be found in EatingWell. Dillon's rice cooking experience started with stovetop pots filled with starchy mush, and now he swears by prepping grains correctly and using a rice cooker for the best results.