Rice Cooker buying guide
A good rice cooker can make life easier, here are some top tips on how to buy a rice cooker that can make perfect rice every time.
Key takeaways
Discover which Rice Cooker is right for you with The Good Guys’ Rice Cooker buying guide. Learn about Rice Cookers and choose the perfect one for your lifestyle, space and budget based on size, maintenance and modern features.
Which Rice Cooker is right for you?
When selecting a Rice Cooker, it's essential to consider your specific needs, lifestyle, and budget to find a model that best suits you. Different types of Rice Cookers and Steamers serve different households and functions, from the basic on/off cooker to cookers with multiple functions for those who need more versatility.
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Types of Rice Cookers
There are various types of Rice Cookers, ranging from simple on/off models all the way up to advanced fuzzy logic technology appliances. This guide is here to help you pick the perfect option for your home, budget, and lifestyle.
On/Off Rice Cookers
If you are simply looking to cook the occasional batch of rice, then an on/off cooker should be more than enough. An on/off rice cooker simply detects when water has been absorbed and flicks from 'on' to 'keep warm' once done cooking.
Fuzzy logic technology
Rice Cooker fuzzy logic technology allows you to select a range of different programmable settings, rather than just on/off. This works by using computer chips to calculate timing and temperature to achieve the best cooking performance based on the type and amount of rice and water you put into your cooker.
Steamers
Steamers not only steam vegetables, but they can steam rice too! If you're looking to steam a variety of ingredients as well as rice, a Steamer might be for you.
Multicookers
If you're looking to up your cooking game even more, a Multicooker is a great solution. Many Multicookers are able to cook rice as well as perform other functions like saute, slow cook, pressure cook, stew and more.
What to look for when buying a Rice Cooker
Batch size
Rice cookers have different pan sizes to determine how much rice can be completed in a single batch. When looking at capacity, remember that the figures quoted often refer to uncooked rice, but rice tends to double in size when cooked. This means a 5 cup model will actually produce 10 cups of cooked rice in each batch.
Easy to clean
An important feature of any rice cooker is non-stick coating on the pan, which makes it much easier to clean and maintain. Inexpensive models come with a plastic or aluminium shell, while pricier products often have durable stainless steel for more damage resistance.
Cooking brown rice, sushi and soup
Cooking brown rice or rice for sushi and soup is a task for a fuzzy logic cooker. Not only can you choose different rice texture settings – such as soft or firm – the technology involves computer chips to adjust cooking time and temperature as needed.
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Rice Cooker technology glossary
We’ll break down all the tech talk and acronyms that you need to know.
Batch size: The amount of rice a cooker can make at one time. This is usually measured in cups of uncooked rice.
Keep Warm function: A setting that automatically turns on after cooking finishes to keep rice warm without overcooking it.
On/Off Rice Cooker: A basic rice cooker with one main cooking mode. It switches from cooking to “keep warm” automatically when the rice is done.
Fuzzy logic technology: Advanced technology that uses computer chips to adjust cooking time and temperature based on the type and amount of rice and water. This helps achieve better results than simple on/off cookers.
Programmable settings: Pre-set cooking options that let you choose different types of rice or textures (such as soft or firm) instead of manually controlling the cooker.
Non-stick coating: A special surface on the inner pan that prevents rice from sticking, making cleaning easier.
Inner pan: The removable pot inside the rice cooker where the rice and water are placed.
Rice Cooker FAQs
To make rice in a Rice Cooker, measure your rice. Typically, 1 cup of uncooked rice = about 2 cups of cooked rice. Then, rinse the rice, add it to your rice cooker and add water.
White rice: 1 cup rice : 1½–2 cups water
Brown rice: 1 cup rice : 2–2½ cups water
Place the inner pan into the rice cooker, close the lid and press 'Cook' on an on/off model, or select the correct rice setting on a fuzzy logic or multicooker.
Cooking brown rice in a Rice Cooker is similar to cooking white rice, it just needs a bit more water and time. Measure your rice - 1 cup uncooked brown rice = about 2–3 cups cooked rice - rinse the rice and add it to the inner pan. Add water: 1 cup brown rice: 2 to 2½ cups water, and start cooking. Brown rice takes longer to cook than white rice, about 40-50 minutes.
To make coconut rice in your Rice Cooker, gather 1 cup white rice (jasmine works best), ¾ cup coconut milk (canned, well shaken), ¾ cup water, ½ tsp salt (optional: 1 tsp sugar or a small piece of pandan leaf). Rinse the rice, add everything to the cooker and start cooking. Let it rest, fluff and serve.