Initially, I believed that rice was just rice, whether cooked in a standard pot or a fancy appliance. However, rice-cooker enthusiasts strongly disagree.
They insist, “A rice cooker will change your life.” As someone who owns nearly every other healthy kitchen gadget, I finally decided to listen. All I can say is, wow. The set-it-and-forget-it nature of a rice cooker is far superior to the precarious task of hovering over a pot. Rice cooker rice is consistently perfect—moist, fluffy, and weightless, unlike the dense, dry rice I knew before.
If you’ve ever searched for a rice cooker, you’re probably aware that there are hundreds on the market. Among them, the Zojirushi often tops the list. However, there are plenty of other brands that get the job done, depending on your preferences. Even professional chefs like Cassidee Dabney, Executive Chef of The Barn at Blackberry Farm, use rice cookers for their dishes.
Table of Contents
ToggleTop Picks for Every Need
- Best Overall: Zojirushi NS-LGC05XB Micom Rice Cooker & Warmer ($136)
- Best Non-Toxic Rice Cooker: GreenPan Elite 8-Cup Induction Rice Cooker ($290)
- Best Budget-Friendly Rice Cooker: IMUSA USA GAU-00011 Electric Nonstick Rice Cooker ($24)
- Best Multi-Function Rice Cooker: Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker ($100)
- Best Small Rice Cooker: GreenLife Healthy Ceramic Nonstick 4-Cup Rice Cooker ($49)
- Best Large Capacity Rice Cooker: Aroma Housewares 20 Cup Cooked (10 cup uncooked) Digital Rice Cooker ($64)
- Best High-End Rice Cooker: Zojirushi NP-NWC10XB Pressure Induction Heating Rice Cooker & Warmer ($460)
- Best Microwave Rice Cooker: Anyday The Large Deep Dish Microwave Rice Cooker ($45)
Why These Rice Cookers Stand Out
Zojirushi NS-LGC05XB Micom Rice Cooker & Warmer
Google “rice cooker” and you’re bound to find Zojirushi at the top of any list—for good reason. The Japanese manufacturer makes some of the best rice cookers on the market, thanks to its easy-to-use design and multifunctionality. This model’s 3-cup capacity and pre-programmed buttons are ideal for various types of rice and even steel-cut oats, achieving the perfect texture no matter what grain you toss inside.
Notable Features:
- Capacity: 3 cups
- Triple heater (bottom, side, and lid) for even cooking and warming
- Advanced fuzzy logic adjusts to make perfect rice every time
- Detachable and washable inner lid
- Removable steam vent cap
GreenPan Elite 8-Cup Induction Rice Cooker
You already know we love GreenPan’s non-toxic cookware, and the same goes for its rice cooker. Made with the same ceramic nonstick coating as its pots and pans, you can rest assured your rice will be free of PFAS, PFOA, lead, and cadmium. The device uses induction technology to heat the entire bowl evenly, ensuring perfectly cooked food every time.
Notable Features:
- Capacity: 8 cups
- Thermolon Volt healthy ceramic nonstick
- Free of PFAS, PFOA, lead, and cadmium
- Fuzzy logic automatically adjusts to make your rice better
- Soup, delay timer, & keep warm functions
- Dishwasher-safe parts for easy cleanup
Reishunger Rice Cooker & Steamer with Keep-Warm Function
When you want to test the rice cooker waters, but don’t want to commit to an investment buy, look to Reishunger’s non-toxic rice cooker. Its inner pot is made non-stick with ceramic coating rather than harmful PFAS, keeping your rice safe from toxins. It has a minimal, one-button design with the ability to cook husked rice and whole-grain rice, while also steaming vegetables, fish, and meat with the same single setting.
Notable Features:
- Capacity: 5 cups
- Keep warm function up to 8 hours
- Non-toxic ceramic-coated inner pot
- Steams vegetables, fish, and meat
- Includes rice cooker spoon, steamer insert, and measuring cup
Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker
If you don’t already own an Instant Pot, this is your reminder to buy one. It combines seven appliances into one space-saving footprint: pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, yogurt maker, steamer, sauté pan, and food warmer. It also has 13 customizable Smart Programs for various dishes, and the inner cooking pot is made of food-grade stainless steel, which is non-toxic and safe for food.
Notable Features:
- Capacity: 6 quarts
- Combines 7 appliances into 1
- Non-toxic food-grade stainless steel inner pot
- Pressure cooks for faster meals
- Fingerprint-resistant, stainless-steel sides and dishwasher-safe lid, inner pot, and accessories
- Includes over 10 safety features, plus overheat protection and safe-locking lid
GreenLife Healthy Ceramic Nonstick 4-Cup Rice Cooker
This rice cooker may be small, but it sure is mighty. Made with a healthy ceramic non-stick coating, it’s easy to clean, heats fast, and is free from PFAS, PFOA, lead, and cadmium. The no-guess presets make the job even easier—just press the button for white rice, brown rice, beans, or steel-cut oats, and let it do its thing.
Notable Features:
- Capacity: 4 cups
- Non-toxic healthy ceramic nonstick coating
- Free of PFAS, PFOA, lead, and cadmium
- Presets for white rice, brown rice, beans, and steel-cut oats
- Fuzzy logic automatically adjusts to make your rice better
- Cool-touch exterior for added safety
- Dishwasher-safe parts for easy cleanup
Aroma Housewares 20 Cup Digital Rice Cooker
Need to cook enough carbs for a high school track team? Aroma Housewares’ 20-cup rice cooker is made for you. This thing cooks so much rice, it’s comical. This rice cooker’s large capacity also comes in handy when meal-prepping for the week. Just toss the extra in the freezer to keep it from going bad before you can consume it.
Notable Features:
- Capacity: up to 20 cups (cooked)
- BPA-free
- Easy-to-use, programmable digital controls and automatic Keep Warm mode after each cycle
- Presets for white rice, brown rice, steam, flash rice, and slow cook
- Steam meat, vegetables, and more in steam tray while rice is cooking
- Sensor Logic Technology automatically controls the internal temperature throughout the cooking cycle for optimal texture and flavor
- Includes rice measuring cup, serving spatula, and steam tray
Zojirushi NP-NWC10XB Pressure Induction Heating Rice Cooker & Warmer
The Zojirushi is so good, we had to add another model to the list. This high-end version is exactly what rice enthusiasts will go crazy for once they’ve graduated from the original. With a larger capacity and easy-to-use presets for everything from soft to hard white rice, mixed grains, sushi rice, rinse-free, quick cooking, and more, this rice cooker is the next high-tech gadget you need to make space for.
Notable Features:
- Capacity: 5.5 cups
- Presets: white (regular, softer, or harder), umami, mixed, sushi/sweet, Jasmine, porridge, congee, brown, GABA brown, steel-cut oatmeal, rinse-free, and quick cooking
- Advanced fuzzy logic technology with AI “learns” and adjusts the cooking cycle to get perfect results
- BPA-free
- Includes pressure induction heating rice cooker, rice spatula, spatula holder, and 2 measuring cups
Anyday The Large Deep Dish Microwave Rice Cooker
Microwaves were made for convenience, and so was this microwaveable rice cooker. When you just don’t have the time or space for a traditional rice cooker, or you need to reheat frozen rice in a pinch, try Anyday’s Microwave Rice Cooker. It’s made of non-toxic glass, silicone, and stainless steel (not plastic), making it both microwave safe and oven safe. Plus, it doubles as food storage.
Notable Features:
- Capacity: 8 cups
- Made of non-toxic glass, silicone, and stainless steel, not plastic
- Microwave- and oven-safe
- Doubles as stackable food storage
Additional Resources
For more information on rice cookers, check out our detailed guide on best Japanese rice cookers and our comprehensive review of rice cooker vs instant pot.