For our rice cooker test, our editors tested 14 rice cookers based on different aspects: build quality, performance, ease of use and the automatic cooking programmes. Based on this test, we made a selection with 8 best rice cookers of 2023. In doing so, we took everyone’s budget and requirements into account.
As lovers of cooking, we believe that a rice cooker is indispensable in the kitchen. The big advantage is that you don’t have to worry about it and can do other things in the meantime.
TOP-10 best rice cookers of 2023
Below is our selection of the 8 best rice cookers we have tested for you. We hope this will make your choice easier. Still can’t decide? Feel free to send us a message.
Besides rice cookers, you will also find 2 multicookers in our selection of the best rice cookers.
The best rice cooker in the test
The Instant Pot Pro 6 litres is the number one in our test. With this multicooker, you don’t just get a rice cooker, but a versatile kitchen appliance with many automatic cooking programmes. This Instant Pot product serves as: pressure cooker, slow cooker, sous-vide, saute pan, steriliser, yoghurt maker, food warmer, baking and steamer.
You can’t think of anything and this centipede will do it for you. The possibilities are endless, as you can set the temperature and time yourself. This spacious multicooker has a capacity of 8 litres which makes it suitable for medium to large families.
The Instant Pot Pro 6 litre is an excellent choice for larger families looking to save space and time while eating healthier. At first, it takes some figuring out what you can do with it, but there are plenty of recipes and videos online for inspiration. This appliance is less suitable for 1-2 person households, people on a budget or a household looking for a simple rice cooker.
The best buy 2023
For less than 100 euros, get the Tefal RK8121 45-in-1 Rice and Multicooker. This multifunctional rice cooker you can also use for: Steaming, stewing, baking, roasting, boiling and even slow-cooking. Its performance is similar to the number one in our TOP-10, but it looks a little less stylish and has a smaller capacity of 5 litres.
The Tefal RK8121 45-in-1 Rice and Multicooker allows you to set the time and temperature between 40 and 160 degrees yourself. With other multicookers, you are sometimes stuck with pre-programmed cooking programmes which makes the appliance less versatile compared to the Tefal RK8121 45-in-1 Rice and Multicooker.
In our opinion, the Tefal RK8121 45-in-1 Rice and Multicooker has the best value for money. For a relatively low price, you get a luxury multicooker. However, it is one that you will want to put away as soon as possible after using it: after all, you don’t buy it for decoration. However, it is an appliance with excellent build quality.
The best no-fuss rice cooker
At number three is a real rice cooker that specialises in cooking rice to perfection. The Tefal Classic RK1038 is a solid rice cooker at a very affordable price. This rice cooker has a removable pan of 1.8 litres which is enough for a household of up to 4 people.
The inner pan is made of aluminium and has a non-stick coating, which unfortunately cannot be put in the dishwasher. Fortunately, the non-stick coating makes it easy to rinse the inner pan under the tap. After cooking, this Tefal rice cooker automatically jumps to the keep-warm function.
The Tefal Classic RK1038 is a simple, no-fuss rice cooker that puts rice on the table within 20 – 30 minutes. A rice cooker with an excellent price/quality ratio that does what it is supposed to do. Looking for a good and affordable rice cooker? Tefal Classic it is!
The best rice cooker for a small kitchen
The Russell Hobbs 27020-56 came out of our test as the best small rice cooker: perfect for a small kitchen and/or for a 1-2 person household. This compact rice cooker has an inner pan with a capacity of 0.6 litres.
The inner pan of the Russell Hobbs 27020-56 has a non-stick coating. Luckily, you can simply put this inner pan in the dishwasher after use. After cooking the rice, this Russell Hobbs rice cooker automatically jumps to the keep-warm function.
The Russell Hobbs 27020-56 is a robust rice cooker with good build quality. Its small size makes this rice cooker suitable for smaller kitchens and easy to store. Other than that, you don’t have to expect miracles. It just does what it is supposed to do and on top of that, this rice cooker has an excellent price.
The best rice cooker for a large family
Do you cook a lot of rice at once and/or are you with a large family? Then a large rice cooker comes in handy. The Severin RK 2425 came out of our test as the best large rice cooker. This rice cooker has a capacity of 3 litres, which is equal to 15 portions of rice. This makes this rice cooker suitable for a large family of up to 8 people.
Severin is a German brand that has been a reliable producer of affordable kitchen appliances for years. And this is immediately reflected in the build quality of this rice cooker, which is commensurate with its retail price. The exterior is stainless steel which feels sturdy and is easy to clean.
You don’t only use the Severin RK 2425 for cooking rice, but with the included steam cooker it is also possible to steam vegetables, fish, potatoes and meat. Handy, that way you can steam your vegetables or meat while the rice is cooking.
The Severin RK 2425 is a solid and reliable rice cooker as we are used to from our eastern neighbours. The spacious 3-litre capacity makes this rice cooker suitable for a large household or when you have a party. Very handy is the included steam cooker for steaming food. In short, a purchase you won’t regret.
The best rice cooker with smartphone app
Anyone who thought Chinese Xiaomi only produced smartphones is wrong. In fact, Xiaomi is also a dominant player in the smart kitchen appliance market. You control the Xiaomi – Smart Rice Cooker via the Xiaomi Home app. This is convenient, as it ensures that the rice is ready immediately when you get home (don’t forget to fill it with food in the morning).
The Xiaomi – Smart Rice Cooker not only wins the award as best smart Xiaomi, but also wins the beauty award. At the editorial team, we all agreed: the white and minimalist design looks sleek and makes it the prettiest rice cooker in our test.
Anyway, what makes this rice cooker so clever? Firstly, you can control it via smartphone. This rice cooker cooks 3,000 different types of rice to perfection without the rice caking. Finally, you use the Xiaomi rice cooker not only for boiling rice, but also for steaming, stewing, boiling and you can even bake cakes with it.
The best rice cooker for the catering industry
As a restaurant owner, you’re not going to get by with a 5-litre rice cooker. The best rice cooker for restaurants and catering companies is the Combisteel Professional Catering Rice Cooker This rice cooker has a capacity of no less than 14 litres which equals 60 servings of rice.
The inside is aluminium and the outside is stainless steel. The Combisteel Professional Catering Rice Cooker feels and looks sturdy which promises a long service life.
The Combisteel Professional Catering Rice Cooker is specially designed for the catering industry. It is a hefty appliance with a diameter of almost half a metre. This rice cooker is mainly intended for cooking rice. After cooking, the device automatically jumps to the keep-warm function. In short, a durable rice cooker suitable for restaurants and catering companies.
The best cheap rice cooker
Do you cook rice occasionally and don’t want to pay the top price? No problem, as a rice cooker does not have to be expensive. The Proline rice cooker RC18X is the cheapest rice cooker we tested, costing less than 2 tens.
Despite the low price, we found the quality of both the rice cooker and the results to be very good. Within 20 – 30 minutes, the rice is on the table and the results are very consistent. With a capacity of 1.8 litres, this rice cooker is suitable for a medium to large household. When the rice is ready, it automatically jumps to the keep-warm function.
Thanks to the included steamer basket, it is also possible to steam vegetables, poultry or fish while cooking rice. Healthy and time-saving!
A rice cooker doesn’t have to cost a fortune. With the Proline rice cooker RC18X, you get a reliable rice cooker for less than 20 euros. Should you not use the rice cooker often or are just looking for a budget option, the Proline rice cooker RC18X is the best option.
Overview of the 8 best rice cookers from our test
Other rice cookers we tested in 2023:
- Tristar RK 6127 (€29.99). The Tristar RK 6127 can cook up to 7 servings of rice. The work of this rice cooker is limited to cooking rice. This rice cooker has a glass lid. Handy, this way you can follow the entire cooking process.
- Tomado TRC1001S (€22.50). This rice cooker is a keen offer and is praised for its excellent value for money. The Tomado TRC1001S has a capacity of 1 litre (5 servings). However, this model does not have a glass lid and has a lower power rating of 400 watts.
- Solis Rice Cooker Duo Programm (€65). Great if you want to go a bit deeper into the pocket. You can simultaneously cook rice (6 portions) and steam vegetables, meat or fish. Handy feature is the timer, which you can set up to 15 hours in advance. The steamer is dishwasher-safe.
- Inventum rk140zw the Inventum rk140zw is a simple and affordable rice cooker from Inventum. The Inventum RK140ZW cooks rice for 7 servings (1.4 litre capacity).
- Crock Pot CRR029 the US brand Crock Pot is mainly known for slow cookers, but the Crock Pot CRR029 rice cooker is an exception in this. This Crock Pot has special functions for white and brown rice, a keep-warm function and a steam cooker.
What is a rice cooker?
A rice cooker is an ideal solution for anyone who wants to cook rice quickly and efficiently, without looking after it. As soon as the rice is cooked, the rice cooker switches off automatically. With a more luxurious rice cooker, you can also cook vegetables and fish.
How does a rice cooker work?
Rice cookers are easy to operate and cooking rice takes little effort. In a few simple steps, you cook rice to perfection: The steps are as follows:
- Fill the rice cooker with the desired dose of rice. Realise that 100 grams of rice will yield about 250 grams of cooked rice.
- Add water to the rice cooker. The amount of water depends on the type of rice you are going to cook.
- Place the lid on the rice cooker and turn the appliance on.
- The rice cooker turns off automatically after the rice is done. You scoop the rice directly from the rice cooker or keep it in the pan with the keep-warm function.
Why buy a rice cooker?
- The results are always consistent
- Time-saving : after starting
- Safer: pouring off glowing hot water is a thing of the past.
- The water never overflows again
- Very easy to use
Things to bear in mind
- A rice cooker takes up extra space
Rice cooker recipes
Anyone who thinks you can only cook rice with a rice cooker is wrong. A rice cooker can be quite a versatile device, provided you have enough inspiration for dishes you can cook in the rice cooker.
If you have visited our site before, you will know that we are big fans of cooking. Through our blog, we regularly share recipes for which you can use a rice cooker. Below you will find some of these recipes for inspiration:
- Chili with black beans
- Salmon dishes
- Pasta-Farfalle with tomatoes and basil
- Mac ‘n cheese
- Banana bread
On our blog, we mainly focus on quick daily meals that are healthy and delicious. With the right kitchen equipment, cooking becomes more fun, faster and healthier. Don’t want to miss a test or a recipe? Then sign up for our newsletter.
Rice cooker or multicooker?
A rice cooker can do more than just cook rice. For instance, you can use a rice cooker to cook grains like quinoa, as well as oatmeal. Some rice cookers have a baking function should you want to cook a complete meal in one go.
A multicooker is an all-in-one solution. This kitchen appliance cooks, roasts, fries, deep fries and can be used for steaming food. In short, a versatile appliance that saves you space as you no longer need other kitchen appliances such as a slow cooker, rice cooker and pressure cooker.
Buying a rice cooker, what do you look for?
A rice cooker is less common in a Dutch kitchen, although they have become increasingly popular in recent years. Could you use some tips when buying a rice cooker? To get a better idea of the different rice cookers, we look at the following factors:
- Size
- Inner pan and lid
- Material
- Functions
- Controls
Size
Our TOP-10 recommends small and large rice cookers. Rice cookers come in many shapes and sizes: from rice cookers with a capacity of 0.6 kg to large rice cookers for the catering industry with a capacity of 25 kilograms.
Tip: always check the dimensions. It is convenient if you have enough space to store the rice cooker as you do not use it daily.
Inner pan and lid
- Glass lid: this is handy. So you can see at a glance how the rice is doing.
- Removable inner pan: this is practical for cleaning and maintaining the rice cooker. Note: not all inner pans are dishwasher-safe.
- Non-stick coating: this is a must. This makes it easy to keep the inner pan clean when the rice is caked once.
Housing material
- Material inner pan: aluminium, stainless steel, plastic and ceramic.
- Housing material: stainless steel, plastic
Materials such as aluminium, plastic and ceramic are durable and last longer than plastic.
Functions
Most rice cookers have only a few functions:
- Timer: most rice cookers do not have a timer, as the rice cooker automatically jumps to the keep-warm function when it has finished cooking.
- Heat function: actually, all rice cookers do have a heat function. This function is indispensable.
- Steam function: some rice cookers include a steam cooker. This is a basket you can place in the top of the rice cooker. This way, you not only cook rice, but you can also steam fish, poultry and/or vegetables at the same time. Healthy and time-saving!
If you want more functions, options and automatic cooking programmes, we recommend a multicooker. Besides boiling rice, you can use a multicooker for roasting, frying, baking, slow-cooking and pressure cooking. The number of cooking programmes varies from one multicooker to another. A big advantage of an all-in-one appliance is that it saves space, time and money.
Operation
Since most rice cookers have few functions, operation is not very exciting. Some rice cookers have a digital screen, but you don’t actually need it. Most rice cookers have an on-and-off button. If you buy a rice cooker with multiple functions or special cooking programmes (multicooker), then a digital screen does come in handy.
Conclusion: what is the best rice cooker for you?
What is the best rice cooker for you depends on what you want to do with it and how many people you want to cook rice for. If you only want to cook rice and nothing else, then there are three good choices: the Tefal Classic RK1038 for the average family, the Russell Hobbs 27020-56 for 1- and 2-person households and the Severin RK 2425 for large parties.
However, if you want to do more with your rice cooker, we first recommend our test winner, the Instant Pot Pro 6 litres rice cooker. You can also use that as a pressure cooker, slow cooker, sous-vide, saute pan, steriliser, yoghurt maker, food warmer, baking oven and steamer.This multifunctional appliance is expensive, though. A cheaper alternative with similarly many features is the Tefal RK8121 45-in-1 Rice and Multicooker
If you have really little money to spend, even then a good rice cooker is still within your reach. The Proline rice cooker RC18X makes rice for 3 to 4 people within half an hour that never fails. You can even steam vegetables, fish or chicken while preparing rice with this 1.8-litre appliance, which costs less than 20 euros.
How do we test?
When testing products, we use some products, interview users and experts on kitchen appliances.
Hi, I’m Thomas!
Passion for food and writing
Together with my friend Laura – the foodie on our team – we review kitchen appliances to make the choice easier for you. This way, you know which appliances are good and we save you a bad buy!
Frequently asked questions
Every day we receive questions from our visitors about kitchen appliances. Here are the frequently asked questions:
A rice cooker is an appliance that – as the name suggests – allows you to cook rice. The advantage of a rice cooker is that the results are always consistent and you don’t have to worry about anything else.
A rice cooker is more efficient, easier and safer than boiling rice in a pan. The water never boils over and you don’t have to drain the hot water yourself. The biggest advantage is that you don’t have to worry about it, so you can get on with other things.
With a rice cooker, you prepare more than just rice. For inspiration, visit our blog with recipes. Besides cooking rice, use a rice cooker for steaming vegetables, poulangerie and chicken.
The best rice cooker in our test is the Instant Pot Pro 6 litres. This is an all-in-one multicooker that you use as a rice cooker, frying pan, slow cooker and pressure cooker, among other things.
Yes, all types of rice can be cooked in a rice cooker. In addition, a rice cooker is suitable for grains such as quinoa and oatmeal.
This varies per rice cooker and the type of rice you cook, but on average it takes 20 – 30 minutes.