The Best Rice Cooker

Rice is incredibly versatile, and a great cooker makes it even better. After 150+ hours testing 275 pounds of rice, we recommend the Zojirushi Neuro Fuzzy NS-ZCC10 for perfect white and brown rice.

Everything we recommend

The Zojirushi Neuro Fuzzy NS-ZCC10 uses smart tech to adjust for errors, delivering perfect rice where others fail. Compact and easy to clean, it features a removable lid and a pot with handles. Though slower than some models, its results are worth the wait.

The Cuckoo CRP-P1009 excels at sushi rice, delivering chewy, perfectly cohesive grains, and cooks faster than other models. It’s great for quick brown rice but may need water adjustments for softer results. While long-grain rice can turn out mushy, it’s ideal for frequent large-batch short- or medium-grain rice cooking, though its high price and 10-cup size may not suit everyone.

The Hamilton Beach Rice and Hot Cereal Cooker delivers good white rice quickly and affordably, outperforming many pricier models. Though not as tender as the Zojirushi or Cuckoo, it cooks white rice in just 35 minutes and includes delayed cooking and brown rice modes, though brown rice may be slightly underdone.

How we picked

A good rice cooker should consistently make fluffy, flavorful short- and medium-grain rice, be sturdy, easy to use, and simple to clean, handling both large and small batches well.

We reviewed hundreds of models from top brands like Zojirushi, Cuckoo, and Tiger, as well as options from Asian superstores. Our testing focused on cookers with brown-rice and quick-cook settings, interviewing chefs and food experts for insights.

We narrowed our picks to midrange cookers ($100–$300) and budget options under $100, excluding pricier models that don’t justify their cost. Here’s our criteria for selecting the top rice cookers:

Capacity: Most rice cookers range from 3 to 10 cups (uncooked). We focused on 6-cup models for their versatility, though larger 10-cup models suit families or entertainers, while smaller options are ideal for singles or dorms. Check if capacity refers to uncooked or cooked rice, as some brands differ.

Even cooking: A great rice cooker produces consistent, fluffy rice without crispy edges or mushy centers, whether cooking a single cup or full capacity.

Keep-warm and quick-cook settings: A keep-warm mode is handy for flexible mealtimes, while quick-cook functions save time but may slightly impact texture.

Multiple grain settings: Good rice cookers handle various types, like brown rice, jasmine, or basmati, beyond standard white rice.

Fuzzy logic: Found in pricier models, this technology adjusts for errors like too much water or environmental factors, ensuring better results.

Speed: While slower than stovetop cooking, a rice cooker should still be efficient. Models taking over an hour for white rice were excluded.

Nonstick pot: Nonstick coatings ease cleanup and reduce stuck-on rice, common in aluminum or stainless steel inner pots.

Plastic paddle: A nubby paddle prevents rice from sticking and protects the nonstick pot.

Alerts: A tone or alert helps you know when your rice is ready, a feature often missing in budget models.

We’ve also tested rice cookers with advanced features, though they’re not essential for great rice:

Induction heating: This technology heats the entire pot for even cooking, and some high-end models pair it with pressure cooking for faster, better results. However, these models can be pricey ($400+).

Mobile app: Some top models offer app control, but we haven’t tested these features extensively, and some apps, like the Cuckoo app, are outdated.

Voice navigation: Helpful for those with visual impairments, but most cookers with this feature default to Korean and are tricky to switch to English.

How we tested

For our 2013 review, we tested cookers with home cooks and conducted a formal taste test with chefs from Ken Ken Ramen in San Francisco. In our 2018 update, we compared our top three picks against seven models using medium-grain sushi rice, then tested them with brown and basmati rice, as well as sushi rice on the quick-cook setting.

For the 2020 update, we tested our top three picks against seven new cookers using Thai jasmine and medium-grain sushi rice. After testing rice flavor, texture, and cooking time, we also evaluated brown rice and basmati. We rinsed the sushi and jasmine rice three times before cooking, using a Japanese rice cooker cup (roughly ¾ cup or 6 ounces in US measurements).

Test 1 – Sushi Rice: We cooked 3 cups of Nishiki medium-grain sushi rice, following the cooker’s instructions for water and setting.

Test 2 – Jasmine Rice: We cooked 3 cups of Thai jasmine rice, following the cooker’s instructions.

Test 3 – Brown Rice: We cooked 2 cups of Lundberg short-grain brown rice, using both the standard water ratio and a 1:1.5 ratio based on Lundberg’s advice.

Test 4 – Basmati Rice: We cooked 2 cups of Lundberg basmati rice using a 1:1.5 ratio and selected the appropriate setting for white or mixed rice.

We looked for cooked rice that held its shape (white and long-grain rice) and plump, intact grains for brown rice.

Our pick: Zojirushi Neuro Fuzzy NS-ZCC10

The Zojirushi Neuro Fuzzy NS-ZCC10 is the most versatile rice cooker we tested, producing excellent white rice across all grain types and good brown rice (though our upgrade pick may be better for brown rice lovers). Its inner pot handles make it easier to lift, and its computer chip adjusts cooking for consistent results. The rice it cooks is firm, plump, and perfectly cooked, with basmati turning out especially light and fluffy. Compared to the Cuckoo CRP-P1009, the Neuro Fuzzy delivers superior long-grain rice without excess moisture.

The Neuro Fuzzy is the only cooker that still makes good rice with nearly double the recommended water, thanks to its advanced fuzzy-logic chip, which adjusts for user error. It’s available in two sizes: a 5½-cup model for smaller households and a 10-cup model for larger families. Compared to the Cuckoo, which only comes in a 10-cup size, the Neuro Fuzzy has a smaller footprint, making it ideal for limited counter space.

The Neuro Fuzzy is one of the easiest cookers to clean, thanks to its removable inner lid that allows for thorough washing. Its plastic handles make it easy to transport the hot pot or transfer rice to a pan. It also includes all the features we wanted, such as a 12-hour keep-warm function, a cheerful tune when cooking is complete, and a one-year warranty.

How the Zojirushi Neuro Fuzzy has held up

Senior staff writer Joel Santo Domingo, who’s used the Neuro Fuzzy since 2022, says it makes rice “better than a restaurant.” While it’s slower than a cheaper 5-cup Zojirushi model, which cooks faster but results in firmer rice, Joel prefers the Neuro Fuzzy’s texture. He often uses the quick cook setting, which is faster than regular but not as quick as the cheaper model. Despite the slower cooking time, he appreciates its quality, especially for jasmine rice.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

The Zojirushi Neuro Fuzzy is slow, taking 44–46 minutes for white rice and 1 hour 38 minutes for brown rice, much longer than the Hamilton Beach or Cuckoo. While the extra time results in excellent rice, if you cook brown rice often, you might prefer the faster Cuckoo CRP-P1009. In tests, the Neuro Fuzzy produced great brown rice, but the process required some tweaking. Its quick-cook setting made firmer white rice, though not as good as the others. For those who prioritize quality, the extra time is worth it.

Upgrade pick: Cuckoo CRP-P1009S

For faster, top-quality rice, we recommend the Cuckoo CRP-P1009S. Though pricey, it makes exceptional sushi rice with perfectly plumped grains and cooks fast—short-grain white rice in just 27 minutes, and brown rice in about 50 minutes, much quicker than other models. Its pressure-cooking technology allows for faster cooking and perfectly cooked rice throughout.

The Cuckoo CRP-P1009S features an easy-to-remove inner lid for quick cleaning, similar to the Zojirushi. While it excels at sushi rice, its long-grain white rice can be a bit mushy, and its brown rice may be too firm for some. It only comes in a 10-cup size, which may be bulky for smaller households. The cooker includes fun features like real-time updates, audio alerts, and LED animations, though these don’t affect rice quality. Despite its higher price, the Cuckoo’s pressure-cooking technology makes superior rice compared to models like the Instant Pot. It also comes with a one-year warranty.

How the Cuckoo CRP-P1009 has held up

Budget pick: Hamilton Beach Rice and Hot Cereal Cooker

The Hamilton Beach Rice and Hot Cereal Cooker delivers excellent value with great functionality at a low price. It cooks sushi and jasmine rice as well as models three times more expensive, and it’s the second-fastest cooker we tested, taking just 34-37 minutes for jasmine rice. Its 7-cup capacity is larger than many others in its price range, and its compact design saves counter space. It also includes advanced features like brown rice and quick-cook settings. While it can’t match the Zojirushi or Cuckoo in rice quality, it’s an excellent budget option, though it struggles with brown rice.

The Hamilton Beach Rice Cooker offers more features than typical low-price models, including an insulated lid to retain steam and keep food warm, along with settings for brown rice, quick-cook, and a delayed start. It can also slow-cook and steam vegetables, meats, and soups. With a 7-cup capacity, it can feed a large family, yet its 9-inch diameter is more compact than the larger Zojirushi and Cuckoo models.

The Hamilton Beach rice cooker has some design flaws, such as inaccurate timers and starchy water bubbling through the steam vent. The lid opens from left to right, releasing hot steam if opened with your left hand, and the condensation collector doesn’t work well, causing water to spill. It has more plastic parts and a thinner interior pot than the Zojirushi or Cuckoo, but it comes with a standard one-year warranty.