Mastering the art of perfectly cooked rice can be a culinary challenge, but the right appliance can eliminate the guesswork. After extensive testing in a real kitchen, we have identified the top-performing rice cookers that deliver consistently fluffy and delicious results, saving you both time and energy in the process.
Our Top Picks for the Best Rice Cookers
The first crucial factor when choosing a rice cooker is capacity. A compact model holding less than 1 litre is ideal for solo cooks or small households, while families will need a larger appliance with up to a 2-litre capacity. Modern rice cookers often boast extra functions for preparing porridge, quinoa, other grains, steaming vegetables, and even slow cooking. Other key features to consider include a non-stick inner pot for easy cleaning and convenient keep-warm settings.
To compile this definitive list, we rigorously tested a wide range of electric and hob-based models, assessing their ease of use, performance, cleaning, and overall value for money. Here are the six standout appliances that can make dinner both easier and tastier.
1. Nutribullet Everygrain Cooker: Best Overall
With a price of £69.99, the Nutribullet Everygrain Cooker earned the top spot for its superb all-round performance. This model features five presets for brown rice, white rice, oats, quinoa, and grains, delivering super consistent results every time. During testing, it produced perfectly even, fluffy white rice with no burnt patches at the bottom.
It cooked white rice in about 25 minutes and brown rice in approximately 45 minutes. The effective keep-warm function maintained the rice's temperature without drying it out, and the handy delay start function is perfect for meal prep. While the lid can be tricky to clean, its excellent cooking performance and versatile features make it our number one choice.
2. Morphy Richards Eight-Cup Rice Cooker: Best Budget Buy
For those seeking simplicity and value, the Morphy Richards eight-cup rice cooker, priced at £39, is a strong contender. Its generous 1.5-litre capacity is well-suited to larger households. It performed reliably with both white and brown rice, though testers noted it required slightly more water than the instructions indicated to avoid dry patches.
The appliance is very straightforward to use with a single switch and includes an automatic keep-warm function. A minor drawback is that it can be messy, with water splashing onto the worktop during cooking. However, its dishwasher-friendly lid and capable performance make it excellent value for money.
3. Lakeland Mini Electric Rice Cooker: Best for Small Households
Ideal for solo cooks or couples, the compact Lakeland mini electric rice cooker costs £34.99. This basic but highly effective appliance cooks fluffy white rice in under 20 minutes and brown rice in just 30 minutes. It features a delay timer and an automatic keep-warm function that maintained rice perfectly for up to three hours during testing.
A helpful LED light indicates when there are six minutes of cooking time remaining. Its small 0.5-litre capacity and removable inner pan make it a fantastic, space-saving choice for smaller kitchens.
4. Cosori Rice Cooker: Most Versatile
If you want an appliance that does more than just rice, the £120 Cosori rice cooker is a superb multi-cooker. It offers presets for two rice types, three grains, and functions for slow-cooking, steaming, and sautéing. Its non-stick ceramic inner pot ensured some of the fluffiest rice sampled in our tests.
While its 'quick rice' function wasn't particularly fast (over 35 minutes for white rice), its excellent keep-warm function allows for advance cooking. Despite a large 10-cup capacity, the design remains relatively compact, and clean-up is very easy.
5. Staub La Cocotte Rice Cooker: Best Stovetop Model
For those who prefer hob cooking, the beautifully made Staub La Cocotte, priced at £169, produced exceptionally fluffy rice. Its cast iron construction and special lid with a 'chistera' drip structure provide constant condensation for moist results. It works with all hob types, including induction, and was the fastest cooker tested, preparing white rice in just 12 minutes.
It requires more monitoring than electric models but is incredibly versatile, doubling as a pot for steaming, casseroles, or even baking bread. With a 1.5-litre capacity, it suits both individuals and families and is surprisingly easy to clean.
6. Ninja Foodi 6L PossibleCooker: Best for Large Households
For big families or batch cooking, the £119.99 Ninja Foodi 6L PossibleCooker is an ideal 8-in-1 solution. Its substantial 6-litre capacity handled large volumes of rice perfectly, cooking white rice within 35 minutes and brown rice in about 55 minutes.
Beyond rice, it excels as a multi-cooker, with impressive functions for steaming, sautéing, slow-cooking, and even cooking pasta via a dedicated preset. The automatic keep-warm function works for up to 12 hours, and the non-stick inner pot is dishwasher safe, making clean-up simple.
Expert Testing and Key Considerations
Our testing process, conducted by home appliance expert Rachael Penn, involved cooking various types of rice and using additional functions where available. Key criteria included cooking performance, speed, ease of use, capacity, and cleaning. Only the models that produced well-cooked, consistent results have been included in this guide.
When considering energy efficiency, dedicated rice cookers are generally more efficient than using a standard hob. Their compact size and high wattage allow for quick cooking with minimal wasted heat, ensuring even results.
Ultimately, whether you need a simple device for perfect porridge and rice or a versatile multi-cooker for the whole family, investing in a quality rice cooker can transform a everyday kitchen task into a reliably delicious result.
