How usually do you eat rice? Even when it’s not a every day staple in your home, it’s secure to say most Britons cook dinner and eat rice at the least just a few instances every week. And whereas it could appear a easy factor to cook dinner, it may be surprisingly troublesome to get it proper.
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From long-grain to quick-cook, brown basmati to jasmine, totally different rice grains have totally different cook dinner instances, totally different charges of absorption and ranging starch ranges, which might all have an effect on the outcome. As an alternative of fluffy, particular person grains, chances are you’ll discover your rice burnt, caught to the pan or with a claggy, chalky or overly glutinous texture. Dinner ruined.
That’s the place a specialist rice cooker is available in. They’re a standard kitchen equipment in Asia, and one of the best rice cookers assure good rice each time. Many machines intuitively arrange the cooking time and information you so as to add the right ratio of rice to water relying on the range. Many have a delay operate, or can safely maintain the rice heat for as much as 24 hours – so that you’ll all the time have dinner prepared and ready. In the present day’s expertise has additionally seen some rice cookers grow to be multifunctional, with the power to gradual cook dinner, sear and stir, too. On the different finish of the spectrum are primary microwave rice cookers – we examined this selection too.
At a look
Why it’s best to belief me
I’ve been testing kitchen items, recipes, food and drinks for newspapers and web sites for a decade, so I’ve a great grasp of what’s actually helpful to have in your cabinet, and whether or not one thing is sweet worth for cash.
I take pleasure in cooking however am removed from an skilled, so I method these home equipment identical to every other house cook dinner would. I cook dinner for my household each evening and perceive how a lot of a tough stability it may be to make tasty, nutritious meals with out spending hours within the kitchen. Finally, I’m in search of devices which can be straightforward to make use of, give good outcomes and might make your life simpler.
How I examined
I examined 10 rice cookers, every of which was both personally really useful, well-reviewed or from a widely known kitchen equipment model. Most had been new to me, though just a few I had examined years beforehand, and one equipment was nonetheless in play from my gradual cooker testing.
To check every machine, I cooked a cup of basmati rice, following the producer’s directions the place supplied or utilizing the ratio instructed on the rice packet if not. Subsequent, I cooked a cup of sushi rice utilizing the identical methodology; few home equipment gave pointers for cooking sushi rice, so I used the on-pack directions. If the equipment carried out nicely throughout each these exams, I then experimented with brown rice and jasmine rice. Some home equipment had additional performance that wanted testing – the place there have been risotto packages, for instance, I made risotto following recipes supplied by the producer.
Within the pursuits of security, I additionally used an exterior sensor to file the temperature of the equipment on the finish of the rice cooking program; not one of the machines posed a hazard and had been all pretty cool to the touch.
A number of the rice I cooked wasn’t edible and needed to be thrown away, however most of it was good high quality – so I ate rice each which approach over the month-long testing interval. Fortunately, if meals security pointers are adopted fastidiously, it’s completely advantageous to freeze cooked rice, so I had a helpful provide of fluffy basmati, aromatic jasmine, sticky sushi rice and creamy risottos readily available. My household and I reached peak rice consumption ranges, because of the weekly poke bowls, Indian banquets, egg fried rice and every little thing in between.
The rice cookers sourced for this text are both being despatched again to the producers or donated to a neighborhood hub in Barnet, the place they are going to discover helpful new houses or be utilized in a neighborhood kitchen.
One of the best rice cookers in 2025 within the UK
Finest rice cooker total: Yum Asia Bamboo rice cooker
The Yum Asia Bamboo rice cooker makes use of 3D induction heating expertise – whereby the rice is surrounded by warmth to cook dinner evenly – and its “AI Sensible Mind” microprocessor to analyse the load of the rice, water quantity and different elements to cook dinner rice utilizing a variety of settings. Select from white/lengthy grain, brief, brown, crust, fast cook dinner, “yumami” and gaba (germinated), add the desired quantity of water to well-rinsed rice, and away you go for sufficient rice for as much as eight folks. Different settings are accessed on the easy-to-use LED show panel: steam, porridge, gradual cook dinner and cake, all cooked inside the identical ceramic-coated internal bowl or utilizing the steam basket equipped.
Why we love itYum Asia is a grasp of rice cooking, with an unparalleled understanding of the best way to cook dinner several types of rice to perfection. I’ve by no means made sushi rice as good as on this machine, and it churned out selection after number of the identical high quality. One cup takes about 35 minutes to cook dinner, though the gaba setting – which claims to germinate brown rice to extend its dietary worth – takes a bit longer. I’m somebody who has by no means notably loved brown rice, however I do now.
The machine mechanically retains heat as soon as the rice is cooked and has a delay operate, as you’d count on. It’s massive sufficient to be helpful, however not too massive for simple storage, and it operates with only a low whirring noise and no extreme steam. I additionally just like the cool handles to elevate out the pot; others ought to take heed. A standout machine.
It’s a disgrace that … I’ve no criticism to make of the Yum Asia Bamboo: it’s good – for those who can afford it.
Claimed variety of parts: eightTime to cook dinner one cup of basmati rice: 35minsDimensions: 27 x 37 x 24cm (WDH)Capability: 1.5lExternal temperature at finish of cook dinner: 21C
Finest funds rice cooker: Russell Hobbs massive rice cooker
A big-capacity, budget-friendly, no-frills rice cooker from Russell Hobbs that performs higher than you’d count on. The directions are mild on the bottom, as is its performance – there are not any totally different packages or pointers for several types of rice, nor any timer operate.
Why we love itTo my shock, the Russell Hobbs rice cooker dealt with each sort of rice nicely. Basmati, sushi, brown and jasmine rice all cooked rapidly and evenly with none fuss, sticking or mess. It was additionally the one machine that didn’t stipulate rice needs to be washed first, so I didn’t. The rice was nonetheless nice and took between 10 and 20 minutes, relying on the range, and the machine switched to keep-warm mode mechanically after cooking. This massive-capacity cooker can be splendid for any household.
It’s a disgrace that … there’s no estimated time for the way lengthy your rice will take to cook dinner. You’ll be taught this over time, however the first few instances you’ll want to face over the cooker till it’s achieved. Particularly as I wouldn’t advocate leaving this one on the keep-warm mode for too lengthy: the rice dries out quick.
Claimed variety of parts: 12Time to cook dinner one cup of basmati rice: 20minsDimensions: 32.2 x 24.5 x 22.6cm (WDH)Capability: 2.8lExternal temperature at finish of cook dinner: 45C
Finest multi-cooker rice cooker: Ninja Foodi 8-in-1 PossibleCooker
The Ninja Foodi 8-in-1 PossibleCooker doesn’t invoice itself as a rice cooker, nevertheless it’s onerous to outline it as anybody factor with this a lot performance. I held on to this one after our take a look at of one of the best gradual cookers in order that I might put it by means of its paces in opposition to designated rice-cooking home equipment.
Why we love itI wasn’t shocked to search out it did nicely – Ninja home equipment can not often be faulted in my expertise. I used the steam operate to cook dinner the rice, however you’ll get all the opposite features too: gradual cook dinner, sear, braise, simmer, bake, show and maintain heat. With one in all these, there’s no want for a separate rice cooker.
Ninja suggests a recipe for risotto, which turned out superbly. You’ll have to scour the web to search out pointers for different varieties of rice, however I made a guess at a ratio and cook dinner time (one cup of basmati rice to 2 cups of water, 10 minutes on steam operate and a five-minute relaxation) and it was profitable – no sticking, scorching or extra starch. I cooked sushi rice equally efficiently utilizing the identical methodology, and I elevated the water by half a cup and cooking time by 5 minutes when coping with brown rice, which labored nicely.
It’s a disgrace that … it’s very massive. However with this many settings, it might probably change so many different home equipment in a single.
Claimed variety of parts: eight massive portionsTime to cook dinner one cup of basmati rice: 15minsDimensions: 28 x 29 x 42cm (WDH)Capability: 8lExternal temperature at finish of cook dinner: 45C
Finest microwave rice cooker: Sistema rice steamer
£7.99 at Currys £7.99 at Amazon
A microwave rice steaming bowl is nothing new, nevertheless it’s in all probability not one thing most of us personal. And why not? It’s cheap with a easy, failsafe design, providing fast, mess-free comfort. This Sistema model has a big 2.6-litre capability, appropriate for feeding a household, and makes use of a pressure-chamber tray to attract away overflow liquid for good steamed rice and couscous. It’s additionally dishwasher- and freezer-safe.
Why we love itI wasn’t anticipating this to match favourably with the costly electrical rice cookers I examined, nevertheless it really does. Utilizing its instructed ratios and timings, my basmati emerged after quarter-hour with particular person aromatic grains, with no starchiness or chalky center. Different rice varieties weren’t talked about within the directions, however sushi rice labored nicely utilizing the identical methodology. For brown rice, I added one other 5 minutes and was profitable.
If you happen to’re nervous about cooking rice in a pan, then I extremely advocate attempting one in all these. It ensures outcomes with out having to place your hand too far into your pocket. For anybody involved about Pfas – the “endlessly chemical compounds” in some plastics – this cooker is created from secure polypropylene.
It’s a disgrace that … it will get so scorching. It’s been within the microwave for 10 to fifteen minutes, so there’s no getting round this. A lot is fabricated from the “straightforward elevate handles”, however you’ll nonetheless want oven gloves to deal with the container till it cools.
Claimed variety of parts: three to fourTime to cook dinner one cup of basmati rice: 15minsDimensions: 21.6 x 21.6 x 16.4 (WDH)Capability: 2.6lExternal temperature at finish of cook dinner: 85C
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Finest mini rice cooker: Yum Asia Panda mini rice cooker
Yum Asia’s cute mini rice cooker isn’t only a fairly face. Regardless of its diminutive measurement, it might probably cook dinner rice for as much as three folks and has 4 rice-cooking features, plus one other 4 settings: porridge, gradual cooking, cake and steaming. It can be set prematurely and has an automated maintain heat setting. Yum Asia says the machine cooks rice utilizing “superior fuzzy logic” expertise, which implies it gauges the load, content material and water quantity of your cook dinner to regulate the temperature, steam stage and relaxation time accordingly.
Why we love itYum Asia has achieved it once more with this rice cooker. You’ll be able to’t fail to prove one of the best rice you’ve ever made with one in all these in your worktop. Basmati, sushi, brown rice and jasmine had been all unbelievable, cooking silently and mess-free with minimal steam escaping. It’s good.
It’s a disgrace that … it takes fairly a very long time. One cup of basmati takes about 40 minutes, which is longer than a lot of the different rice cookers on take a look at.
Claimed variety of parts: threeTime to cook dinner one cup of basmati rice: 40minsDimensions: 22.5 x 30 x 21cm (WDH)Capability: 0.6lExternal temperature at finish of cook dinner: 36C
One of the best of the remainder
Cuckoo electrical rice cooker CR-0351F
Finest for: sticky rice
Cuckoo is a premium Korean model that has been making rice cookers for greater than 40 years. This mannequin makes use of an intuitive four-step means of soaking, heating, steaming and resting rice primarily based on the kind chosen. You’ll be able to select from eight settings, together with numerous varieties of rice, congee and slow-cooked stews, with sufficient capability for as much as three folks.
It didn’t make the ultimate reduce as a result of … I discovered it cooked sushi rice nicely, however some longer-grain varieties had been barely overcooked, with loads of rice sticking to the pan. The directions additionally appear to have been badly translated, and because of this, they’re complicated. It appears to be like very cool in your worktop, although.
Claimed variety of parts: three; time to cook dinner one cup of basmati rice: 40mins; dimensions: 20 x 29 x 22cm (WDH); capability: 0.5l; exterior temperature at finish of cook dinner: 27C
Lakeland mini electrical rice cooker
Finest for: utilizing on the go
Light-weight and compact, this 500ml inexpensive rice cooker is good for taking to work for lunchtime-ready rice or strolling in to creamy porridge prepared for you within the workplace. It’s straightforward to make use of, cooks in half-hour and switches to keep-warm mode mechanically.
It’s not as sturdy or well-made as lots of the different cookers on this listing, nevertheless it does the job. It’s a great machine for a primary foray into rice cooking.
It didn’t make the ultimate reduce as a result of … starch saved effervescent out of the steam vent, and it gave off a burning odor although the rice was advantageous.
Claimed variety of parts: two; time to cook dinner one cup of basmati rice: 30mins; dimensions: 16.5 x 14.5 x 19cm (WDH); capability: 0.5l; exterior temperature at finish of cook dinner: 41C
Gastroback Rice Cooker Professional 62518
Finest for: fast cooking
This imposing German-made rice cooker is nice for rapidly making ready massive quantities of rice. With a minimal two-cup capability, this machine is greatest for catering for a number of folks at a time or batch cooking.
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