Are you looking for a rice cooker but you are on a tight budget? If so, then you may be pleased to find out that there are rice cookers on the market that are pocket-friendly and, in fact, as you will see below, it’s actually possible to find a decent one for under $20.
Having a rice cooker is really handy if you eat rice on a regular basis, no matter how many members are in your family.
Rice cookers come in lots of different shapes and sizes and have capacities that start at two cups of uncooked rice and go up to ten cups. Those that have a bigger capacity than ten cups are usually used in commercial kitchens. You certainly won’t find any of those in the sub $20 bracket!
The good thing is that cheaper rice cookers because they don’t have a huge array of fancy technology, are really easy to use. Almost anyone can use a cheaper rice cooker if they know how to measure the amount of rice and water and use an on-off switch.
Although you won’t find any self-cleaning functions at this price point, the cleaning process is still straightforward as most of the sub $20 rice cookers we checked out have anti-stick coatings and removable cooking pans.
Note: Cleaning should be done after every cook because you do not want to get sick from the mold that can grow due to the moisture produced during the cooking process.
So, let’s take a look at some of the best rice cookers for under $20 on the market right now.
Table of Contents
Proctor Silex Rice Cooker & Food Steamer, 8 Cups Cooked (4 Cups Uncooked)
With a power consumption of 300 watts, the Protor-Silex 37534NR allows you to cook up to 8 cups of rice and keeps it warm and ready to serve.
These actions are controlled by the two easy-to-use settings, “Cook” and “Warm”. The switch from the “Cook” mode to the “Warm” mode takes place automatically, and the current state is indicated by one of the two indicator lights on the front of the cooker.
In order to make life easier you don’t have to be stuck in the kitchen checking these lights because this cooker also features a handy beep that will you know when the rice is done. We also love the fact that it comes with a glass lid so you will be able to see the whole process of cooking, from the beginning to the end.
Another great feature of this device is the non-stick surface of the bowl that is easily removable and it simplifies the job of cleaning it.
Its high-quality finish and nonstick cooking pot make it seem like a much more expensive model and it even comes with a handy steam basket that lets you cook fish and vegetables to create a complete meal in moments.
- also cooks grains and hot cereals
- 8 rice cups cooked capacity (4 rice cups uncooked)
- automatic keep warm. Nonstick removable cooking pot
- cooking pot, lid & accessories are top rack dishwasher safe
- 1 rice cup (6 ounce) is not equal to 1 us cup (8 ounce); please use provided measuring cup; capacity may vary depending on type of rice
Aroma Housewares ARC-363-1NGB 3 Uncooked Rice Cooker
This product comes in a trendy, hard-wearing black finish that will look great in any modern kitchen and is produced by the number one selling brand in the US – Aroma. It’s not too bulky, coming in at (10.4 x 11.1 x 8.1 in) and weighing about 3.7 lbs.
The 3 cup version is available for around the $20 mark but there are also 8, 14, and even 20 cup models available and, while they are more expensive (so I couldn’t put them into this review) they are still very competitively priced. This rice cooker is a great home cooking appliance that is also a food steamer and can be used to cook different types of meals. This model also has a feature that will allow the finished result to be kept warm after the cooking process.
You will be able to enjoy a warm meal at any time, which is cool because nobody likes a cold meal. The appliance comes with a steam tray, a measuring cup that you can use to measure the rice and the water, and of course, a spatula for serving.
- Multi-Functional Use – Whether you’re in the mood for a hearty jambalaya, steamed veggies and rice, or a belly-warming soup, you can accomplish it all with your rice cooker. The possibilities are as creative as you are.
- One-Touch Operation – This cooker is a proud member of our “set it and forget it” mentality. The one-touch operation is fool-proof – just fill it, power on, and cook! BPA free
- Simultaneous Steaming – With the included steam tray, steam foods above while rice, soup, or any other meal simultaneously cooks below, allowing you to save time without sacrificing quality.
- Automatic Keep Warm – Switches to Keep Warm mode automatically once the cooking cycle is completed to keep your foods at perfect serving temperatures.
- Convenient Cooking & Cleaning – With the included nonstick inner pot, you can rest assured that cooking will be a breeze. When the cooking is completed, the inner pot can be safely and conveniently cleaned in the dishwasher!
Elite Gourmet ERC-003 Electric Rice Cooker
This device from Elite Gourmet is unbelievable value for money. Recently, I’ve seen them for sale for as little as $13 and when you consider that they can cook up to 6 cups of rice, soup, or stir fry with just one touch of a button and feature a warm mode, then you will appreciate how good value this model is.
The ERC-003 also includes a removable non-stick pot, a tray that you can use for steaming, a glass lid that has a vent included, a measuring cup that you can use to measure the exact amount of rice and water that you want, and a paddle that you can use to mix everything. It’s awesome value.
- COOK MOUTH-WATERING & FLUFFY RICE EVERY SINGLE TIME without wasting your time over the pot! The Elite Cuisine ERC-003 pro rice cooker is here to help you cook up to 3cups (6-cups uncooked) of your favorite jasmine, basmati or brown rice effortlessly! No more waiting for the water to boil, no more watching and guessing if the rice is cooked! Our innovative rice cooker will make your life easier and cooking for your family 100% hassle-free!
- WANT PERFECTLY COOKED RICE? JUST SET IT & FORGET IT! Sick and tired of undercooked or overcooked rice? The Elite Cuisine professional rice cooker will evenly cook your rice and then automatically switch to “Keep Warm” function, which will make sure that your delicious rice is fresh and warm for hours before serving! Take all the guesswork out of cooking your sushi or black rice and enjoy your favorite Indian or Chinese recipes effortlessly!
- NON-STICK ALUMINUM INNER POT! ! Save your precious time and effort, since our inner pot is super-easy to clean and can endure any abuse without skipping a beat! And the best part? You can remove it and serve your yummy rice straight from the cooker!
- THE ALL-INCLUSIVE HOUSEWARMING GIFT IDEA for a hassle-free cooking experience! The cool-touch side handles will prevent accidents while the tempered-glass lid will allow you to check on your rice anytime! Plus, our rice cooker comes with 2 BONUS accessories: a handy measuring cup so you can stop guessing the right amount of rice and a convenient serving spatula! Spoil your rice-loving friends or family with the Elite Cuisine all-in-one rice cooker!
- CONVENIENT PERSONAL CAPACITY cooks up to 6 cups of cooked rice for the families and more! This rice cooker holds up to 3 cups of raw rice and 6 cups of cooked rice – enough for multiple servings.
Conclusion
Hopefully, you can see that you do not have to go on a huge spending spree in order to get a good quality rice cooker. The rice cookers presented in this article are some of the best that you can find on the market at a budget price.
Last update on 2025-06-22 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
