The best rice cookers according to real reviews

**Best rice cooker with no stick
**

This mini rice cooker is ideal for those with minimal kitchen workspace or couples who don't need a huge gadget. It comfortably makes enough rice for 1-3 people (0.63 litres) and can tackle white rice, long-grain rice, sushi rice, porridge and more. Reviewers love the way it looks and the timer function, plus it cooks rice to perfection and doesn't leave a sticky residue on the bowl.

Reviews:
"This little rice cooker is pleasing on the eye and looks smart and modern in our kitchen. It’s very... very simple to use and can be cleverly utilised to do far more than rice, for example, I’ve so far made several cakes using it, pasta bakes, sushi nigiri, curry, salmon, chicken... etc. Above all else, we are using it several times a week because it is so useful and hassle-free. Every minute saved is a plus with a 10-month-old!"

Pros:
• Compact and takes up little space
• Can be used to cook a number of dishes
• Doesn't leave rice stuck to the bowl
**
Cons:**
• Small capacity

**Best rice cooker for best design
**

When it comes to aesthetic, this rice cooker from Reishunger is the clear winner. Just look at all those colourways! It isn't just a pretty face, though. It's simple to use and delivers perfect rice, plus has a useful timer and keep warm function. It will feed 3 people (0.6 litres) and buyers state that it can also be used to steam vegetables and is a great size, but some noted that a countdown timer would be a nice addition.

Reviews:
"This rice cooker works really well and is easy to use with different settings for types of rice. I like the fact that the bowl is ceramic and there’s a little plastic “cup” in the back to catch the water running down from the top cover when you open the lid. Can’t say anything bad about it at all."

Pros:
• Different design options
• Built in modes for different types of rice
• Comes with steamer
**
Cons:**
• No countdown timer

**Best rice cooker for versatility
**

If you have a big family, the Bamboo rice cooker is for you. It can hold enough rice to feed up to 8 people (1.5 litres), tackles all kinds of rice, has some cool functions like a Yumami setting (making the rice extra tasty) and the ability to cook porridge and cakes. It has a timer, keep warm function and stay-cool handles for extra protection. Reviewers like that it handles tough types of rice like risotto and brown rice well and that it's simple to clean after each use. Some noted that it does take a while to cook (but you can't beat perfection) and that it isn't really suited to smaller quantities.

Reviews:
"This rice cooker works really well and is easy to use with different settings for types of rice. I like the fact that the bowl is ceramic and there’s a little plastic “cup” in the back to catch the water running down from the top cover when you open the lid. Can’t say anything bad about it at all."

Pros:
• Consistent and makes perfect rice every time
• Can be programed to cook in advance
• Large capacity
**
Cons:**
• Expensive

**Best rice cooker for best value
**

While this isn't technically a rice cooker (it's a multi cooker), it gets our award for the best value as you can do so much with it. It has 15 preset menu options, including meat, vegetables, slow cook, broth, curry, soup, chilli and, of course, white rice and brown rice. The large 5.5L capacity is enough to feed the whole family or for entertaining. It has an easy-to-use control panel, delay start, pressure indicator and automatic keep-warm function. Reviewers enjoy the intense flavours this cooker creates, but one reviewer noted that if you plan to stray from the preset options, you need to give the instruction booklet a good read and play around with the settings to get it right.

Reviews:
"Could have used some better or rather more in-depth instructions, but that could just be my lack of experience using any type of pressure cooker at electric or otherwise. It's still a learning curve for me but so far I'm very pleased with it and I think it's very good value for money. I have so far only used 2 settings on it, manual and sauté but the fact that it's also a slow cooker and a rice cooker is fantastic. Overall an excellent product though it would definitely (for people like me with no idea what they were doing) benefit from a dummy's guide to use, and some recipes to get you started. Oh, and it's huge. I don't know what I was expecting but it was definitely bigger than imagined."

Pros:
• Large capacity
• Ideal for cooking anything
• Perfect for gatherings
**
Cons:**
• Instructions aren't totally clear

Best rice cooker for simplicity

If you want something without all the bells and whistles, opt for a rice cooker for the microwave. This one from Joseph Joseph is comprised of a two litre cooking pot, colander, measuring cup and multi-purpose rice paddle, is dishwasher safe and so simple to use. It isn't a timesaver - rice will cook in the same amount of time it does on the hob - but reviewers like that you can just set it to work and get perfectly cooked rice once it's done.

Reviews:
"Best kitchen equipment I ever bought. It is the simplest and probably best solution on how to cook rice. It is not electric so there is little chance this will break. I prefer this solution to some cheap electric rice cooker that takes up lots of space. This is very nicely designed and also easy to store. I have used it twice with different types of rice and it works perfectly. Finally, I didn't overcook or burn the rice."

Pros:
• Simple and affordable
• Not having to check on it constantly
• No use of electricity
**
Cons:**
• Colander could be of better quality

**Best rice cooker for one person
**

This personal rice cooker is unobtrusive, simple to use and will feed one or two people (0.3 litres). It does what it says on the tin, is easy to clean, gives you ideal portion sizes and has an automatic keep-warm function. With a non-stick inner pot, you can cook with confidence knowing your ingredients will be evenly and thoroughly cooked. It also prevents food from becoming stuck for easy cleaning.  

Reviews:
"I've been looking for a one-person rice cooker for about a decade without success. Finally, a small rice cooker which can cook a single portion. It does seem reasonably robust - not quite as robust as my previous Judge rice cooker but feels like it should last. The lid comes right off which is good for cleaning and the handle makes it easy to move around. It has an on-off switch on the side which prevents accidental operation. Overall extremely pleased with it. I have seen sort of snack rice cookers coming from China for one person but they don't seem like 'proper' kitchen ones, this one is a pretty robust 'proper' rice cooker."

Pros:
• Easy to clean
• ON/OFF function
• Compact, robust and portable
**
Cons:**
• May take longer to cook than its competitors

**Best rice cooker for steaming
**

We couldn't finish this list without a Sistema addition, could we? The kitchen juggernaut has created a simple, microwavable rice cooker with a steam release vent for splatter-free cooking. It doesn't come with any instructions so you will still have to get the measurements right, but it's an affordable way to ensure you get delicious, fluffy rice.

Reviews:
"I've never been able to make rice properly, I'm not even a very good cook..... even when I watch the pan like a hawk it always seems to, in the blink of an eye, spill over the pan, and onto the stove and rice water makes such a mess. So I gave up trying. This is such a game-changer. No dirty microwave, the actual Sistema cooker cleans like a dream and there's even a spoon included! I didn't even have to check whilst it was cooking it. ....I'm still convinced there's magic involved."

Pros:
• Convenient
• Fuss-free, no mess and easy to clean
• Easy to use once you've perfected your ratios
**
Cons:**
• Dimensions bigger than expected