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The best rice cookers you can buy, tried and tested at home
Why do we all need a rice cooker in our kitchen arsenal? Because the best bowl of fluffy rice can transform a meal from a quick stomach-filler to dinner party perfection. Plus, it’s all too easy to undercook or overcook rice, leaving it gloopy or crunchy rather than fluffy. Luckily, we’ve found the best rice cookers by gobbling our way through sack-loads of grains, from sushi rice to risotto, Buddha bowls to brown rice.
Preferably, rice cookers should be simple to use, and consistent at producing the best grain, every time. But does spending more mean better-tasting rice? Or do budget brands which follow the techniques of generations of Asian homecooks prove simplicity works? We’ve answered those questions in the FAQ section at the bottom.
Below you’ll find reviews of the latest rice cookers from leading brands Yum Asia, Russell Hobbs, Ninja, Tefal and more. But if you’re in a hurry, here’s a quick look at five approved buys:
The best rice cookers: At a glance
How to choose a rice cooker
Firstly, consider what size of rice cooker would work best for your household. Most of the appliances measure rice in cups, with a ratio of one cup of rice to one cup of water. So the mini rice cookers generally make one to two portions. “Investing in a rice cooker ensures you get perfect and consistent rice with zero effort,” says Rahel Stephanie, the chef behind Indonesian supper club Spoons.
There is some crossover with other kitchen gadgets; some chefs like using a slow cooker to prepare rice. Or those short on cupboard space can, of course, also use quality frying pans or saucepans to prepare a risotto with just the right bite too.
Basic rice cookers will have a single on/off switch while more advanced models have a range of settings for white and brown rice, and other grains, plus a “delayed start”. Multi-cookers with a rice-cooker function can prepare your grains whilst simultaneously steaming fish, chicken or vegetables, for example, to create an entire meal.
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How we test rice cookers
