We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. The 7 Best Rice Cookers of 2026, According to Our Tests These time-savers make moist, fluffy rice every time without scorching and are easy to clean. By Jennifer Zyman Jennifer Zyman As Food & Wine's Testing Editor, Jennifer's work focuses on finding the best tools for all sorts of cooks. She's vetted hundreds of products, from can openers to salad spinners and tortilla presses, and has written about food and restaurants for over 15 years. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Updated on June 3, 2026 In This Article View All In This Article Top Picks Reviews How We Tested Rice Cookers What We Learned About the Best Rice Cookers FAQ Other Rice Cookers We Tested The Best Rice Paddles Our Expertise Credit: Food & Wine While cooking rice may seem like a simple task, doing it on the stovetop often delivers inconsistent results. Even the pros rely on machines to do the job. "I've always used rice cookers in all of my restaurants," says James Beard Award winner and Iron Chef Ming Tsai. "Why? Because you push a button and have quality rice in 30 to 40 minutes." But even the fanciest, most technologically advanced rice cooker can struggle with its most essential task. That's why we tested more than 20 of these machines, evaluating their performance across different types of rice and other grains. Here are the seven best rice cookers for every kitchen. Our Favorite Rice Cooker The Zojirushi Induction Heating System Rice Cooker took our top spot for its versatility and ease of use; we loved all the presets and settings. Top Picks Best Overall Rice Cooker: Zojirushi Induction Rice Cooker at Amazon $387 Jump to Review Best Value Rice Cooker: Aroma Housewares 8-Cup Rice Cooker at Amazon $37 Jump to Review Best Compact Rice Cooker: Zojirushi Induction Heating Rice Cooker & Warmer at Amazon $333 Jump to Review Best Pressure Rice Cooker: Cuckoo Rice Cooker at Amazon $280 Jump to Review Best Smart Rice Cooker: SALE KitchenAid Grain and Rice Cooker at Amazon $400 $260 Jump to Review Best Rice Cooker for Brown Rice: Our Place Rice Cooker at Amazon $139 Jump to Review Best Large-Capacity Rice Cooker: Cuckoo Micom Rice Cooker at Amazon $120 Jump to Review Best Overall Rice Cooker Zojirushi Induction Rice Cooker Credit: Amazon $387 at Amazon $420 at Target $420 at Williams Sonoma Pros This rice cooker is the perfect not-too-big size for almost any cook, and we love that it's loaded with effective presets and features — it couldn't be easier to use. Cons This machine didn't do well with brown rice, and none of the parts are dishwasher-safe Zojirushi is a big name in rice cookers, and this model is the brand's best. It's right for a family that eats rice multiple times per week, or for cooks looking for fancier features. This rice cooker has many presets on its clear display panel: white rice, quick cook, mixed porridge, sweet rice, brown rice, cake, and steam. The display might be tricky for less savvy users, but the instructions make it easy to use once you read them. It made great rice, and we noticed no gumminess or scorching during tests. However, our batch of brown rice was way too mushy, and it took a staggering 90 minutes. We found that the rice texture remained consistent during the keep warm function in all of our rice tests, lending further credence to the machine's temperature regulation via induction heating. The bowl is not dishwasher-safe, so wash it with mild soap and dry it before storing it in the unit. Uncooked capacity: 5.5 cups | Dimensions: 10 x 14 x 8 inches | Interface: Digital with arrowed buttons for setting adjustments | Accessories included: Steam basket, measuring cup, rice paddle, paddle holder Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Best Value Rice Cooker Aroma Housewares 8-Cup Rice Cooker Credit: Amazon $37 at Amazon $38 at Wayfair $55 $37 at Walmart Pros We liked how easy the display was to navigate, and you can't beat the price for this level of performance. Cons Some parts of this machine feel cheap and flimsy. The Aroma Housewares 8-Cup Digital Cool-Touch Rice Cooker is a simple, affordable stainless steel cooker for any household. We love how the display panel is clearly labeled and offers excellent features, like showing how much time remains in the cook cycle, which helps you plan meals better. During testing, we really appreciated the pared-down simplicity; even a total beginner would find this machine easy to use. Its eight presets, such as slow cook, sauté, and steam, make this an affordable workhorse that goes beyond just making rice. You can delay the start time if you need it to begin cooking while you are out. Plus, the machine also has a "quick rice" function when time is limited, and it’s super easy to clean. The clear directions made it easy for us to learn how to cook quinoa in the machine. We also found that the moisture content and texture results were consistent across all grains. If you're on a budget, this is an excellent choice as you get a lot of features for the price. During testing, we did note that some of the parts felt cheaply made and wondered about their long-term durability. Uncooked capacity: 4 cups | Dimensions: 9.3 x 8.6 x 8.5 inches | Interface: Digital with plus and minus setting adjustment buttons | Accessories included: Rice paddle, measuring cup, steamer basket Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Best Compact Rice Cooker Zojirushi Induction Heating Rice Cooker & Warmer Credit: Zojirushi $333 $300 at Amazon $400 at Target $400 at Williams Sonoma Pros This small model is easy to use and yields perfect rice. Cons It takes a very long time to cook. The Zojirushi Induction Heating Rice Cooker & Warmer is sleek, black, and more modern than some of the others we tested. It has presets for every type of rice or grain, including jasmine, congee, sushi, brown, steel-cut oatmeal, and quinoa, as well as a steam option for the included steamer basket. Our biggest issue in testing was the time this cooker took to make rice. White rice took an hour, and brown rice took a frustrating 90 minutes. However, the rice was worth the wait as every grain was fluffy and perfectly cooked. The nonstick interior of the bowl makes it easy to clean, although it is not dishwasher-safe. The brand advises you to use its included spatula to fluff and serve the rice so you don't scratch the interior. The bowl's measurements are easy to read, and this compact cooker can make batches as small as half a cup. Uncooked capacity: 5.5 cups | Dimensions: 9.25 x 12.25 x 7.8 inches | Interface: Digital with arrowed buttons for setting adjustments | Accessories included: Steam basket, measuring cup, rice paddle, paddle holder Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Best Pressure Rice Cooker Cuckoo Rice Cooker Credit: Amazon $280 $240 at Amazon $280 at Wayfair $241 at Target Pros This machine delivered consistent results, quickly, with a large capacity. Cons Its size might make it inconvenient for some, and there are no smart capabilities. Once we switched the default language from Korean to English, we were off to the races with this large-capacity pressure rice cooker. Pressure rice cookers prepare rice much faster than traditional rice cookers and offer more versatile cooking functions. This model from Cuckoo has 13 fully customizable menu options, a reheat option for leftovers, and a keep-warm function. Among its several presets is one for sprouted grains (aka GABA rice), which can be more complicated for most rice machines to cook correctly. During testing, all three rice styles we tried were cooked thoroughly and consistently in record time, and the warming function worked well without scorching. This model's high-volume output is excellent for households that consume a lot of rice each week. It's also incredibly sleek and premium-looking, though it lacks smart features, which one might expect at this price and level of design. It's also not small — at over a foot wide, we wouldn't recommend this for small spaces. Uncooked capacity: 10 cups | Dimensions: 11.6 x 14.2 x 10.2 inches | Interface: Digital with low-profile buttons and a pressure lock knob | Accessories included: Rice paddle Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Best Smart Rice Cooker KitchenAid Grain and Rice Cooker Credit: Amazon $400 $260 at Amazon $400 at Williams Sonoma $400 at Walmart Pros This is the most advanced and modern rice cooker we tested. Cons It's expensive and takes up a lot of space. The KitchenAid Grain and Rice Cooker might be the most advanced rice cooker on the planet. We've tested multiple versions of this cooker against countless others, and it's always the most tech-forward. It features a built-in water tank and scale and can hold up to eight cups of rice, making it one of the larger models we tested. We like its sleek appearance, slip-resistant base, and touchscreen panel — the technology made cooking effortless. However, all the top-of-the-line settings come with a higher price; this machine is almost $400, making it one of the most expensive we tested. It is an interesting machine because it has a water reservoir and dispenses only the amount needed for the weight of the grains you choose. It also allows you to create as small a batch as three-quarters of a cup of rice, adding to its versatility. We observed no scorching during rice tests, and the results were of exceptional quality. The machine is easy for beginners, but offers more advanced functions if you want to dial in more. Cleanup is easy since you can put most parts in the dishwasher. The bowl's interior is coated with ceramic and is nonstick, making cleaning even more straightforward. If you prefer to keep your appliances hidden, this larger, slightly bulkier model might not be for you. Uncooked capacity: 4 cups | Dimensions: 13.5 x 9.75 x 8.88 inches | Interface: Digital with plus and minus setting adjustment buttons | Accessories included: Rice paddle, rice measuring cup, steamer basket Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Best Rice Cooker for Brown Rice Our Place Rice Cooker Credit: Our Place $139 at Amazon $139 at Our Place Pros Every batch of grains we made, including brown rice and quinoa, came out perfectly in this compact machine. Cons This cooker includes a measuring cup that must be used each time for the correct ratios. Most rice cookers can make a passable batch of white rice, but many struggle with other grains. One of the most difficult can be brown rice; it has the bran and germ intact, which take much longer to break down, but the soft grain inside can overcook if not handled properly. In our tests, we were extremely pleased with the fluffy, perfectly al dente brown rice this machine produced. It wasn't too sticky or gummy, and we didn't have any issues with inconsistent cooking — something some other cookers we tested struggled with. This cooker also excelled with our quinoa test, making this the right choice if you cook alternative grains even somewhat often. Our white rice was also more than satisfactory; all-around, this rice cooker gave a stellar performance. Like many rice cookers, the Our Place Rice Cooker comes with a measuring cup. This cup is specifically designed to complement how the cooker works and must be used every time for the best results. Things got complicated during testing because the measuring cup is not equivalent to standard cups, which made figuring out ratios a headache. Thankfully, Our Place includes a comprehensive manual with the right ratios, but having to consult the booklet each time you cook, rather than relying on the ingredient packaging or common knowledge of ratios, is definitely annoying. The Our Place Rice Cooker can cook up to 6 cups of grains, which is ideal for most mid-sized households. We'd also recommend it for cramped kitchens as it has a smaller footprint and is easy to store. Uncooked capacity: 3 cups | Dimensions: 8 x 9 inches | Interface: Digital with tactile buttons | Accessories included: Rice paddle, measuring cup, removable lid liner Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Best Large-Capacity Rice Cooker Cuckoo Micom Rice Cooker Credit: Amazon $120 $105 at Amazon $120 at Wayfair $120 at Williams Sonoma Pros This versatile machine has a massive 12-cup capacity but can also make a 1-cup batch effectively. Cons This machine can't display an estimated cook time until about 30 minutes into cooking. For large families, meal-preppers, or just plain rice-lovers, a large capacity rice cooker is a must. This cooker from Cuckoo can produce a whopping 12 cups of cooked rice in a single batch. It also includes 13 different cooking modes for quinoa, brown rice, porridge, and more for added versatility. One thing we really appreciated during testing was that it automatically turns to the keep warm setting after cooking is finished. During our cook tests, we did notice a minor frustration. The screen does not display an estimated cooking time until about half an hour has already passed. This cooker uses a variable-cooking method, so it senses the water level and other factors and adjusts the cook time accordingly. Many other machines we tested work this way, but, for some reason, this Cuckoo model isn't able to predict a cook time until roughly 30 minutes in. This could be a major annoyance if you're trying to time other elements of a meal to be done at the same time as your rice. That aside, we were impressed with how well the rice turned out, especially given the Cuckoo's ability to cook 1 cup of rice in the smallest batch and 12 cups in the largest. Many of the other rice cookers we tested had a smallest batch size of two cups and struggled with smaller batches — not the Cuckoo Micom. We determined that this rice was the most moist of that testing day and thought it was perfectly cooked overall. Uncooked capacity: 6 cups | Dimensions: 12.7 x 9.37 x 8.5 inches | Interface: Digital | Accessories included: Rice paddle, measuring cup Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine Credit: Food & Wine How We Tested Rice Cookers Food & Wine We tested more than 20 rice cookers in a combination of lab and real-world tests to find the best in every category. All of our tests are designed to assess ease of use, ease of cleaning, design, and performance. Not every rice cooker was subjected to the exact same tests, but all underwent tests to assess the same qualities. We started with most rice cookers in our lab, putting them through side-by-side tests to compare them to one another. Then, we took some into our home for long-term, real-world testing. We incorporated them into our regular cooking routines to see how they held up to everyday wear and tear and how they performed over time. Before each test set, we collected subjective insights. We examined how the displays worked, how easy the controls were to use, how useful the instructions were (if at all), and how well those attributes translated to the machine's use. Rice cooking test: We were sure to test each cooker with at least 2 cups of several different types of white rice. We followed the manufacturer's instructions for the type of rice used, and once the cooker was finished, we fluffed the rice and tasted it, noting texture and doneness.Other grain tests: Some rice cookers offer extra functions, such as preset options for other types of rice, grains, or porridge. In several lab tests, we used brown rice; in one, we used quinoa; and in our home tests, we used a variety of grains including wild rice, sushi rice, and oatmeal.Keep warm test: Most rice cookers come with a keep warm function. After cooking, we inspected the rice and then engaged the keep warm setting for at least 2 hours. After that, we looked for differences in the rice, noting any dryness, gumminess, overcooking, or scorching.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 we paid attention to how nonstick the interiors were. If there were any internal elements with stubborn residue, we took note. After each round of testing, the final step was to determine whether the rice cookers were worth their price. We revealed the price only after testing to get an unbiased value rating. At the time of testing, the rice cookers ranged from $20 to $365, averaging about $115. Food & Wine 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, automatically adjusting for environmental conditions like hot days or faster-cooking rice, as well as custom settings for different types of rice like brown or sushi, and even preferences for levels of rice doneness. These features ca increase the price of a cooker, but they also make it foolproof. The best rice cooker doesn't need to be a multi-cooker. The best rice cookers are designed to cook rice and other grains, but not anything else. Some will tout other applications, though the basic rice-cooking functions can suffer if the machine does too much. If you need an appliance that cooks rice and offers other features like steaming, you may opt for a multi-cooker, like an Instant Pot, with a rice-cooking function instead of a rice cooker. The best features to look for are different settings for different types of rice and grains, a reliable "keep warm" feature, dishwasher-safe components for easy cleanup, and a clear, easy-to-use interface. Knowing your ideal grain volume is key. Rice cookers for home use can handle batches under a single cup of uncooked rice and as large as 6 cups or more. Determining the right size for your home is as easy as knowing how much rice you use in a typical meal. The benefit of a rice cooker is that it makes fast, easy, foolproof rice anytime you want, so there is no need to make more than you need for that meal or that day. Half a cup of cooked ride is a good estimate for a single side-dish serving, or a cup as part of a main course. 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 6- to 8-cup cooker. Frequently Asked Questions How does a rice cooker work? A rice cooker works essentially the same way as cooking rice on the stove, by simmering rice and water in a covered pot. But a rice cooker is automated, able to monitor and control temperatures precisely to ensure that the grains cook thoroughly without burning. Most rice cookers also have a keep warm mode that turns on automatically when cooking is complete, which can keep the cooked rice hot and fluffy for hours without drying out or getting mushy. How long does it take to cook rice in a rice cooker? "As short as 30 minutes. After you press a button, you don't have to do anything, and it's done," says chef Sawako Okochi of Shalom Japan in Williamsburg, New York, who finds a rice cooker indispensable for home cooks. However, larger models take longer, especially for brown rice. A batch of brown rice is likely to take an hour or more. What do you look for in a rice cooker? "I recommend a brand that's not hard to use," says Okochi. "It shouldn't be too complicated to cook rice in a machine. It should come with a rice measuring cup and an insert bowl with lines for water level after you put [in the] rice, so you can pour water to the line corresponding to the number of cups of rice you put." Is a rice cooker worth it? From the quality of the rice to the time it saves, a rice cooker is worth investing in. "In general, rice cookers can free up your burner and your hands so that you can concentrate on cooking other stuff to go with it," Okochi says. Many high-end cookers offer other features, such as steaming or the ability to make porridges and more. These extra features can be worth it if you make these dishes often. How should you season rice in a rice cooker? "Most of the time, I don't add any seasoning, but if you want to season your rice, sea salt is most simple, and you can elaborate with dashi instead of water, soy sauce, mirin, and cooking sake for takikomi gohan," Okochi says. "I'd add some protein or seaweed and start cooking. If adding green vegetables, such as green peas or asparagus, I add them blanched after the rice is cooked and fluff them together." What else can you cook in a rice cooker? Rice cookers can be versatile, according to Okochi. "You can slow-cook meat, such as chicken or pork, or some beans. Some elaborate machines have a softer or harder texture setting, which can cook porridge, cook brown rice better with a pressure setting, and keep rice warm without drying it out. Some can even cook cakes," she says. Some rice cookers come equipped with a steamer basket so you can also cook veggies or dumplings right in the rice cooker, saving you extra dishes and effort. Other Rice Cookers We Tested Strong Contenders Cosori 5-Quart Rice Cooker ($100 at Amazon) We loved the versatility of this cooker; not only does it have tons of settings for every type of grain imaginable, but it also offers steam, sauté, and slow-cooking functions. We didn't love that plain white rice took almost an hour, and we wouldn't recommend it for smaller households — the minimum batch size is 2 cups of uncooked rice. Zojirushi Micom Rice Cooker and Warmer ($267 at Amazon) This rice cooker is the right fit 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, but we found it difficult to clean. Zojirushi Neuro Fuzzy Rice Cooker ($245 at 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 make a batch. Food & Wine Hamilton Beach Digital Programmable Rice Cooker ($50 at Amazon) This is an excellent budget-friendly option, but it can't do much more than cook plain white rice. If you're looking for a super straightforward rice cooker, this is a good choice, but anyone looking to branch out will likely be a bit disappointed. Food & Wine Instant Pot Zest Rice Cooker ($55 at Amazon) This rice cooker is a good option for those who only want to cook rice or quinoa; it failed to cook other types of rice and grains adequately and was a particular letdown with the oatmeal setting. The instructions indicate different ratios than the packaging of the grains we tried, and the cook times varied greatly. However, all the pieces were easy to clean, and the plain rice was perfectly cooked and fluffy. What Didn't Make the List Over many rounds of testing, we found some rice cookers that just did not meet our standards. Some were lacking in a few features, such as a very quiet done signal. Others were burdened with design flaws like difficult-to-clean pieces or cramped interfaces. Others failed at cooking; a few dried out our rice after using the keep-warm function, and others delivered over- or under-cooked rice. Several strong contenders and others that didn't make our list have gone out of stock or been discontinued since the time of testing. Cuckoo Heating Pressure Twin Pressure Rice Cooker, 6-cup ($340 at Williams Sonoma) Zojirushi 5.5 Cup Micom Rice Cooker NS-TSC10A ($230 at Target) Dash Mini Ceramic Rice Cooker ($25 at Amazon) Toshiba Rice Cooker, 6-Cup ($150 at Amazon) Zojirushi Rice Cooker, 3-Cup ($60 at Amazon) Hamilton Beach Digital Programmable Rice Cooker and Food Steamer ($67 at Amazon) Aroma Rice Cooker, 3-Cup ($24 at Amazon) Zojirushi Micom Rice Cooker, 3-Cup ($190 at Amazon) 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, enabling you to gently scrape the rice layer by layer, yielding fluffier rice than a fork. This will prepare the rice for serving without smashing it together. Many modern rice paddles are made of plastic or wood because rice cooker bowls are often non-stick and prone to scratching. They're also just good to have on hand for prepping, as they are a dream for mixing up a tuna salad or classic coleslaw. Crate & Barrel Acacia Rice Paddle ($17 at Crate & Barrel) This rice paddle is made from 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°F and safe for use with non-stick cookware. Williams Sonoma Prep Tools Rice Paddle ($20 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 ($6 at Amazon) This set of two plastic rice paddles is dishwasher-safe and made in Japan. The textured surface makes it easy to serve rice, and the low price is easier to swallow if you have to replace them. Having two means one is always available if the other is in the wash. Our Expertise Jennifer Zyman is the former testing editor for Food & Wine and a restaurant critic with a culinary school degree and over 15 years of food writing experience. Her work has appeared in Atlanta Magazine, Bon Appétit, and Eater Atlanta. 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. Food & Wine updates writer Dillon Evans updated this article. He's a lifelong home cook and baker whose work also appears in EatingWell. Dillon's rice-cooking experience started with stovetop pots filled with starchy mush, and now he swears by properly prepping grains and using a rice cooker for the best results. Explore more: What to Buy Appliances Small Appliances Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit