The 7 Best Rice Cookers in 2025

When it comes to the 'Best Overall' category, the Instant Pot Pro stands out, mainly due to its impressive 10-in-1 functionality. From pressure cooking to slow cooking, making yogurt, and even baking cakes, it offers a versatile range that can accommodate a myriad of cooking needs. It's particularly popular for larger families, thanks to its capacity to cook for up to eight people.

One of the noteworthy features of the Instant Pot Pro is its customizable cooking programs. With 28 preset options, it's a joy for both kitchen novices and seasoned chefs who like to experiment. Additionally, having five programmable settings for personal recipes means users can tweak their meals to perfection.

Safety-wise, it boasts 11+ proven safety features, including a gentle steam release mechanism that not only reduces noise but keeps your kitchen mess-free. While the included accessories might seem average, the extra sealing ring and stainless-steel steamer rack offer practicality that home cooks appreciate. Overall, its blend of versatility, capacity, and safety makes it a deserving choice in its category.

When it comes to high-end rice cookers, the CUCKOO CRP-LHTR0609FW is a standout performer, offering a blend of cutting-edge technology and thoughtful design. Its most impressive feature is the 16 versatile cooking modes, accommodating everything from classic white rice to health-conscious GABA/brown rice, as well as more intricate modes for veggie rice and baby food. This flexibility makes it a versatile companion for any kitchen, catering to a wide variety of dietary preferences.

Another highlight is its dual cooking pressure selections, allowing choices between high-pressure and non-pressure cooking. This ensures rice can be perfectly sticky or fluffy, depending on culinary needs. Additionally, the induction heating technology optimally surrounds the inner pot resulting in faster and more efficient cooking processes.

The appliance is crafted with premium-grade materials, featuring a robust 304 food-grade stainless steel inner pot coated with a nonstick black finish. While some included accessories are rather standard, like the rice spatula and measuring cup, the addition of a steam plate demonstrates its comprehensive design approach. Overall, this rice cooker exemplifies high-end performance with its thoughtful features and reliable construction.

The 'COMFEE' CRS5010BS stands out in the 'Best Value For Money' category, offering a robust performance that caters well to various cooking needs. This rice cooker boasts eight digital cooking programs, making it an incredibly versatile kitchen companion. Whether you're preparing brown rice, quinoa, or even oatmeal, this device has you covered with its multifunctional capabilities. A key highlight is its ultra capacity, accommodating up to 20 cups of cooked rice, which is a boon for larger families or social gatherings.

User-friendliness is another strong point, thanks to the intuitive digital panel and LED display. The one-touch programs and a clever 12-hour keep-warm and delay timer make meal planning a cinch. Cleanup is equally hassle-free, with a non-stick inner pot and stainless steel housing, both being dishwasher-friendly.

While the safety features, including a cool touch handle and overheating protection, add peace of mind, the one-year warranty provides an extra layer of assurance. All these features combined, make it a solid, cost-effective choice for anyone in need of a reliable rice cooker.

The Zojirushi NP-GBC05XT stands out brightly in the 'Best Precision Heating' category, thanks largely to its innovative Induction Heating system. This technology is designed to provide remarkable temperature accuracy, which translates into perfectly cooked rice every time. It’s a boon for those who are particular about their rice texture, ensuring that each grain is prepared to perfection, whether you're cooking white rice, brown rice, or even sushi rice.

The rice cooker also offers a host of cooking settings, which is impressive given its compact size. With options like porridge and quick cooking, it’s a versatile tool for small households or singles who enjoy variety. The automatic keep warm feature and two delay timer options are convenient additions that cater to busy lifestyles, allowing you to sync your meals with your schedule effortlessly.

While its LED control panel and detachable features add to user-friendliness, the compact 0.54L capacity might be modest for larger families. Nevertheless, for a small household seeking precise heating and excellent results, this model is a stellar choice.

The KitchenAid KGC3155BM is a standout in the category of smart kitchen appliances, offering features that cater to both convenience and culinary precision. One of its remarkable highlights is the integrated scale and water tank, which collectively streamline the cooking process. By automatically sensing the amount of grains, rice, or beans, this smart device calculates and dispenses the perfect water-to-grain ratio, ensuring your dishes are perfectly cooked every time.

Adding to its versatility, the appliance offers 21 preset options, covering various grains and legumes, which makes exploring different whole grains an effortless adventure. Its intuitive touchscreen display simplifies navigation through cooking modes, making meal preparation a breeze even for those new to the kitchen.

The delayed cook option is another thoughtful addition, providing flexibility by allowing you to schedule cooking up to 24 hours in advance. While these smart features shine, the performance in other areas is average but functional, including the dependable non-stick ceramic pot and steam basket. Overall, the KGC3155BM effectively enhances modern meal preparation with its impressive array of intelligent features.

The Zojirushi NHS-06 makes a strong contender in the 'Best Compact' category, primarily due to its simplicity and user-friendly design. It's a straightforward appliance with a single switch control, embodying an effortless cooking experience ideal for those who value convenience. The see-through glass lid, coupled with a stay-cool knob, allows users to monitor their rice really easily during the cooking process without letting the steam escape, a feature that's both practical and thoughtful.

Moreover, the rice cooker's stay-cool handles make transporting the unit safe and easy, preventing any accidental burns. Its durable nonstick inner cooking pan not only ensures easy cleaning but also enhances the overall cooking experience by preventing rice from sticking or burning. Although its capacity is based on smaller, 6-ounce cups, this size is perfect for individuals or small households. The included plastic measuring cup is a considerate addition that complements the overall functionality of this compact rice cooker.

When it comes to budget-friendly rice cookers, the Black+Decker RC506 shines as a solid choice for those who prioritize efficiency and simplicity. With its 3-cup capacity, it strikes a balance between preparing small meals and handling enough for those family dinners. One of the best things about this model is the automatic keep-warm function, which ensures your rice is ready to serve whenever you are, without any fuss.

The inclusion of a measuring cup and spoon is a pleasant touch, taking the guesswork out of portioning the perfect amount of rice every time. The food steaming basket adds versatility, transforming it into more than just a rice maker—it's an opportunity to prepare healthy sides of vegetables or fish with ease.

While it may not have all the bells and whistles of high-end models, its straightforward design and dishwasher-safe nonstick pot make cleanup a breeze, rounding out a package that's hard to beat at its price point.