The best rice cookers
Fluffy rice without watching the pan: five rice cookers compared, from one-switch basics to fuzzy-logic cookers with a setting for every grain.
A rice cooker does the watching for you: rice and water in, switch on, and it moves itself to keep warm when the rice is done. Toshiba put the first automatic one on sale in Japan in 1955, and a thermostat switched it off once the water had boiled away.
Capacity is where makers differ most. Some give cups of uncooked rice, measured with the cup in the box, some give servings of cooked rice and some the size of the pot, so the table shows each maker’s own figure. One-switch cookers are simple and cheap; fuzzy-logic ones adjust the heat as they go and add settings for brown rice, sushi rice, porridge and more, plus a timer to have rice ready when you walk in.
What matters
- Capacity: cups of uncooked rice, servings, or the size of the pot.
- Programmes: one switch, or fuzzy logic with a setting for each grain.
- A delay timer, to have rice ready when you get home.
- The inner pot: ceramic-coated or non-stick, and how to look after it.
#1 of 5
Best overall
Yum Asia Panda Mini Rice Cooker (3.5 cups)
£75–£100 Price range
Fuzzy logic adjusts the heat through seven cooking stages, with separate settings for long grain, sushi and brown rice, in a 2mm, five-layer ceramic-coated bowl. Sized for one to three people and a small kitchen.
What owners say: Owners say it turns out the same good rice time after time from simple menus, and fits neatly on a small worktop.
Heads up: Rinse the rice in a sieve rather than in the bowl, and keep metal spoons and the dishwasher away from it, as Yum Asia’s manual advises: the ceramic coating lasts longer that way.
A closer look: Measure with the cup that comes with it rather than a mug, since the lines inside the bowl are marked in those cups. Stir and loosen the rice as soon as it finishes to let the excess steam out. The cake and slow cook settings make it a small multicooker as well.
- Advanced fuzzy logic
- 8 functions, including cake and slow cook
- 5-layer ceramic-coated bowl
- 24-hour preset and keep warm
- Steam basket, ladle and spatula
Best for: Rice for one to three
- Capacity (maker’s figure)
- 3.5 cups (0.6L)
- Power
- 350W
- Programmes
- 8 functions
- Delay timer
- 24 hours
- Steamer
- Basket
- Inner pot
- Ceramic coated, 5-layer
#2 of 5
Best premium
COSORI 5L Rice Cooker (10 cups)
£119.99 RRP
Room for a family meal and leftovers at 10 cups of uncooked rice, with fuzzy logic, nine rice presets and eight more functions, from steaming to slow cooking and sautéing. Quick Rice runs at the full 1,000W.
What owners say: Owners find it handles a small pot of rice as well as a big one, and like having room for a full meal with leftovers.
A closer look: The sauté setting softens onions or garlic in the pot before the rice goes in, for a pilaf or risotto without a second pan. The inner pot, basket, paddle and cup all go in the dishwasher. At 5 litres it takes more worktop than the small cookers here, so it earns its space in a family kitchen.
- 10 cups uncooked, 5L
- Fuzzy logic
- 9 rice presets and 8 more functions
- Delay timer and keep warm
- Stainless steel steam basket
Best for: Families and batch cooking
- Capacity (maker’s figure)
- 10 cups (5L)
- Power
- 1,000W
- Programmes
- 17 functions
- Delay timer
- Yes
- Steamer
- Steel basket
- Inner pot
- Ceramic coated
#3 of 5
Best budget
Geepas 1L Rice Cooker and Steamer (GRC35017UK)
£26.99 RRP
One switch and two lights: it cooks, then moves itself to keep warm, and the glass lid shows how the rice is getting on. A steam tray comes with it for vegetables or fish.
What owners say: Owners find the rice comes out right with no fuss, the pot wipes clean easily, and it steams greens such as broccoli and courgettes well.
A closer look: Put the rice and water in, press the switch and leave it: the second light comes on when it moves to keep warm. Beyond rice, the pot takes stews, chilli and risotto. It suits a small kitchen, or anyone who wants plain rice without any menus to learn.
- 450W
- Cook, steam and keep warm
- Non-stick inner pot
- Glass lid
- Steam tray, measuring cup and spatula
Best for: Plain rice with no fuss
- Capacity (maker’s figure)
- 1L pot
- Power
- 450W
- Programmes
- One switch
- Delay timer
- No
- Steamer
- Tray
- Inner pot
- Non-stick
#4 of 5
Best value
Bear Small Rice Cooker with Steamer (4 cups)
£30–£50 Price range
Six functions, from white and brown rice to porridge and soup, and a 24-hour preset, so the rice can be ready when you get home. A temperature probe steers the cooking through seven steps.
What owners say: Owners like the straightforward controls, use it for soups and curries as well as rice, and say the pot lifts out for an easy clean.
A closer look: Brown rice takes longer than white, over an hour, so start early or use the preset. Steam fish, vegetables or dim sum in the tray while the rice cooks below, and keep warm holds the lot until everyone sits down. It’s sized for one to four people.
- 350W
- 6 functions, including porridge and soup
- 24-hour preset
- Steamer tray
- White rice in 35–49 minutes
Best for: Timed rice and one-pot meals
- Capacity (maker’s figure)
- 4 cups (2L pot)
- Power
- 350W
- Programmes
- 6 functions
- Delay timer
- 24 hours
- Steamer
- Tray
- Inner pot
- Non-stick
#5 of 5
Russell Hobbs Medium Rice Cooker (27030)
£35.99 RRP
Up to six servings from one switch, with a steamer basket for vegetables, and the bowl, glass lid and basket all go in the dishwasher. When the rice is done it clicks over to keep warm for anyone eating late.
What owners say: Owners say rice is usually ready in 15 to 20 minutes, and that it's compact enough for a student kitchen and cheap to run.
A closer look: Once the switch clicks over to keep warm, leave the rice to rest for about ten minutes before serving, as Russell Hobbs suggests. The manual has a steaming chart, so vegetables, fish and chicken can go in the basket with the right timings. Six servings covers a family meal with rice on the side.
- 6 servings of cooked rice
- 300W
- Automatic keep warm
- Dishwasher-safe bowl, lid and basket
- 2-year guarantee, 3 if registered
Best for: Simple family rice
- Capacity (maker’s figure)
- 6 servings
- Power
- 300W
- Programmes
- One switch
- Delay timer
- No
- Steamer
- Basket
- Inner pot
- Non-stick
How they compare
| Feature | #1Yum Asia Panda Mini | #2COSORI 5L | #3Geepas 1L | #4Bear 2L | #5Russell Hobbs 27030 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Best premium | Best budget | Best value | ||
| Picked Rating | 9.4 | 9.1 | 8.7 | 8.6 | 8.5 |
| Price | £75–£100 Price range | £119.99 RRP | £26.99 RRP | £30–£50 Price range | £35.99 RRP |
| Capacity (maker’s figure) | 3.5 cups (0.6L) | 10 cups (5L) | 1L pot | 4 cups (2L pot) | 6 servings |
| Power | 350W | 1,000W | 450W | 350W | 300W |
| Programmes | 8 functions | 17 functions | One switch | 6 functions | One switch |
| Delay timer | 24 hours | Yes | No | 24 hours | No |
| Steamer | Basket | Steel basket | Tray | Tray | Basket |
| Inner pot | Ceramic coated, 5-layer | Ceramic coated | Non-stick | Non-stick | Non-stick |
| Best for | Rice for one to three | Families and batch cooking | Plain rice with no fuss | Timed rice and one-pot meals | Simple family rice |
| Check price | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon |
Swipe sideways to see all 5.
Photos are illustrative. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. How we pick · How this works.
