Japanese rice cookers are wildly popular among chefs and experts, and we can see why — they're consistently reliable and make perfect rice of all types. (Amazon)(Amazon)
I'm capable of cooking many things well and a few things not so well. Much to my dismay, rice is one of the latter. Even though I'm a culinary school grad who has worked in restaurants, the rice I make is either burned on the bottom or a pot of mush. If you love a bowl of rice but hate the unpredictability of cooking it in a regular pot, a rice cooker may be the answer. Many of these gadgets take longer to cook rice than on the stovetop, but you can't beat the predictability of the resulting fluffy grains. The best rice cookers of 2025 will consistently produce excellent rice that stays warm until you're ready to serve it. They're easy to clean and many are programmable so you can set them to align with your schedule.
To find the models that perform best, we asked chefs what they use and recommend. The Japanese brand Zojirushi took most of the top honors, which isn't a surprise: The company has been around for more than 100 years and is famous for its consistent, foolproof rice cookers (it currently makes more than 20 models).
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When choosing a rice cooker, chef and author Jet Tila, who has a cookware line with HSN, says key factors include capacity and functionality. "What’s the average number of people you are cooking for? Remember, cooked rice yields three times the dry amount, and the amount the average person eats per serving is about a half-cup dry or 1.5 cups cooked," he explains. "So an 8-cup rice cooker is going to give you 24 cups cooked. You probably need less capacity than you think." He also likes bells and whistles: "Rice cookers should be multitaskers. Look for one that doesn’t just cook rice. Common grains for the rice cooker should be brown rice, porridge, quinoa, grits and more. Certain units are great steamers, too."
No matter how many people you're serving, there's a rice cooker that will suit your needs. We're fans of any kitchen appliance that falls into the set-it-and-forget-it category!
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Capacity: 5.5 cups uncooked rice | Size: 14" D x 10.13" W x 8.5" H | Functions: Cooks various types of rice and oatmeal | Accessories included: Rice spatula, spatula holder, steamer basket and measuring cup
"I’ve never worked with a rice cooker that didn’t put out good quality cooked rice. The challenge is how versatile each cooker is depending on the rice you want to make," says Collin Hilton, the chef de cuisine at Cunningham Restaurant Group in Indianapolis, Ind. "Some aren’t as user-friendly or all-encompassing, but this is my personal favorite."
Marc Spitzer, chef and partner at Okaru, in Roslyn, N.Y., also counts this Zojirushi model as his go-to. "It's easy to use and cooks perfect rice each time — nice and even with no scorched spots."
Though Hilton acknowledges this gadget is pricey, he values its versatility and reliability. "It’s not necessarily the best entry-level cooker in price. But in terms of ease of use, multiple functions and always putting out great, consistent rice, I love it!"
This 5.5-cup capacity cooker has added functions for making sweet rice and porridge, steaming foods like vegetables or fish and baking cakes. It also features a retractable power cord, a removable inner lid and an easy-to-clean nonstick cooking pan. If you often cook for four people, this is a good choice.
Capacity: 5.5 cups uncooked rice | Size: 10" D x 9.45" W x 10" H | Functions: Cooks various types of rice and steams | Accessories included: Measuring cup, rice spatula and steamer basket
If you're not ready to commit to a pricier rice cooker, this affordable model from Toshiba is a solid pick. "I have always loved Toshiba brand rice cookers — I love the dual cooking method from top to bottom and that you can steam veggies or the odd dumpling or two inside also (frozen dumplings on top of the rice)," says Sophina Uong, chef and owner of Mister Mao in New Orleans, La. "It's non-stick so it makes cleanup sensational and the warm button is clutch.”
With only two buttons to choose from — cook and warm — this is the ideal rice cooker for anyone who craves simplicity. It features a non-stick inner pot, a detachable inner lid, a detachable condensation collector and a steamer basket. The power cord is detachable and the parts come clean easily with a damp cloth.
Capacity: 3 cups uncooked rice | Size: 11.8" D x 9.1" W x 7.5" H | Functions: Cooks various types of rice and oatmeal | Accessories included: Measuring cup, rice spatula and spatula holder
Several pros, including Teerawong "Yo" Nanthavatsiri, executive chef at BKK New York in New York City, swear by the Zojirushi NS-LGC05. "It’s the ideal size for a cozy New York apartment," he says. Nanthavatsiri also advises that when choosing a rice cooker, "focus on the size that fits your needs, depending on how much you want to cook at once. Choose one that can do both cooking and warming." If you're cooking for two, a 3-cup capacity is perfect.
This compact cooker features a detachable and washable inner lid, a removable steam vent cap that allows for high-temperature cooking without overflow, a fold-down handle for transporting and a retractable power cord. The nonstick rice pot is easy to clean by hand in warm, soapy water.
The user-friendly display features a menu button that allows you to scroll through grain types and choose one before pressing start. The options include white/mixed rice, sushi rice, brown rice, GABA brown (aka sprouted) rice, long-grain white rice, steel-cut oatmeal and quick-cooking grains. There are automatic warming and reheating cycles and a programmable delayed cooking feature — just set the time you want the rice to be ready, and the machine calculates when to begin cooking on its own.
Capacity: 5.5 cups uncooked rice | Size: 14" D x 10" W x 8" H | Functions: Cooks various types of rice and porridge | Accessories included: Measuring cup, rice spatula and spatula holder
This pricey rice cooker from Zojirushi relies on induction heating (a mechanism that generates heat within the inner pot, not just from a heating element at the bottom). It's a feature-packed model that's a favorite of Nadia Liu Spellman, founder of Dumpling Daughter. She says it works perfectly but is even better if you wash the rice first. "I like to wash, soak and drain rice two to three times until the water comes out clear. This helps remove starch that will cause the rice to stick together when cooked."
With settings for white rice (regular, softer or harder), jasmine white rice, mixed rice, sushi rice, porridge, sweet rice, brown rice, GABA brown rice and quick cooking, this gadget lets you do it all. The bright LCD control panel has a clock and a timer and is easy to read and the nonstick inner pot is a breeze to clean.
More than 3,600 shoppers have awarded it a five-star review, raving about its durability, ease of use and the texture of the rice. "If you love yourself and want to feel like royalty, get this rice cooker, I'm begging," wrote one very enthusiastic fan.
Capacity: 5.5 cups uncooked rice | Size: 13" D x 10.1" W x 8.1 "H | Functions: Cooks various types of rice and porridge | Accessories included: Two measuring cups, rice spatula and spatula holder
"Hands down, I’m obsessed with the Zojirushi Neuro Fuzzy. It’s like the gold standard of rice cookers — it’s smart (it uses 'fuzzy logic' to adjust cooking times and temps), super reliable and makes perfect rice every single time," raves Peter Som, lifestyle expert and cookbook author. "Whether I’m making jasmine rice, brown rice or even porridge, it just gets it right. Plus, it keeps rice warm for hours without drying it out or getting that weird crusty bottom. It’s a bit of a splurge, but it’s one of those appliances you’ll use all the time and wonder how you lived without."
The Neuro Fuzzy is exceptionally smart: It's equipped with a computer chip that automatically adjusts the cooking time and temperature based on how the rice is cooking, whether there is too much or too little water and the level of heat and humidity in the air. This technology is found in many Zojirushi cookers.
Along with settings for white rice (regular/sushi, softer or harder), mixed rice, porridge, sweet rice, semi-brown rice, brown rice, rinse-free and quick cooking, there's an LCD clock and timer, a retractable cord and a nonstick inner pot with stay-cool handles.
Spitzer offers this advice: "Buy the best rice cooker you can, as opposed to trying to save money and ending up with a rice cooker that burns out quickly or, even worse, burns the rice or has uneven cooking." Keep the following factors in mind:
Capacity: Before buying one of these gadgets, assess your needs, specifically the quantity of rice you cook most often. "These appliances are designed to perfectly cook a certain amount of rice, and perform the best when that is followed. Too much or too little and your results may vary. Sizes range from 3 to 10 cups for most home models," says Rick Mace, chef and owner of Tropical Smokehouse in West Palm Beach, Fla. You shouldn't get a 6-cup rice cooker if you regularly need only 3 cups.
Convenience: When it comes to appliances, you want an intuitive display and a machine that knows how to adjust cooking time and temperature as needed. Products that easily wipe clean or have parts that can go in the dishwasher are best so you don't need to worry about stuck-on food.
Features: Do you want a rice cooker that simply cooks rice and keeps it warm or one that also makes porridge, steams fish and vegetables and bakes cake? These added features can be nice to have, but they also usually cost more.
We consulted with eight professional chefs for their tips and product recommendations. If they use a specific model in their own homes or in their restaurant kitchens, we wanted to hear about it! We then researched each appliance, checking its specs, price and reviews from real-life shoppers. All the products here come highly rated and deliver great value for the money.
Which rice cooker is better, Zojirushi or Cuckoo?
This is debatable as both brands offer high-quality rice cookers and have many fans with strong opinions. Cuckoo rice cookers tend to have more settings and offer more control over how you cook a particular type of rice, while most Zojirushi cookers are more user-friendly. Both brands will produce excellent rice, though we should note none of the chefs we spoke to named Cuckoo cookers as their favorite.
How long should you cook rice in a rice cooker?
Always consult the appliance instructions and settings and use them as your guide when determining how long to cook rice.
What is the perfect water-to-rice ratio?
The perfect ratio of water to rice depends on the type of rice you're using. You may have heard the rule of 1:1 or one cup of water to one cup of rice. This works well with long-grain rice, but heartier grains like brown rice may require more water and jasmine rice may require a bit less. Many rice cookers provide a measuring cup for rice and have water fill lines on the inside of the cooking pan to offer guidance. For best results, follow the instructions that come with the rice cooker for the type of rice you are making.
Collin Hilton, chef, Cunningham Restaurant Group
Rick Mace, chef/owner, Tropical Smokehouse
Teerawong "Yo" Nanthavatsiri, chef, BKK New York
Peter Som, lifestyle expert and cookbook author
Nadia Liu Spellman, founder, Dumpling Daughter
Jet Tila, chef, author and cookware designer
Sophina Uong, chef/owner, Mister Mao
The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
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