Best rice cookers for perfect, fluffy rice

You don't need to worry about the pan boiling over or ending up with mushy rice if you have a good rice cooker.

With the best rice cookers, you'll enjoy perfectly fluffy, tasty results. Others will undercook the rice, dry it out or it will end up sticking to the bottom.

We've tested rice cookers from Argos, Asda, Russell Hobbs, Tefal, Yum Asia, Zojirushi and more, costing from £20 up to a hefty £250. We've also included small rice cookers for feeding one or two people, plus a model designed to be used in the microwave. 

We've found four Best Buys that were a cut above the rest, as well as two Great Value options. 

The best rice cookers from our tests

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A selection of the rice cookers we tested are listed in alphabetical order below.

Only logged-in Which? members and free account owners can view the best rice cookers from our tests.

Argos Cookworks 1.5L Rice Cooker

Available from Argos (£17)

Most recently tested November 2020

Size and weight 26 x 34 x 26cm (HxWxD); 1.95kg

Capacity Maximum 8 cups of rice; minimum 2 cups of rice

Cooking times Log in to instantly reveal.

Need to know Comes with a plastic serving spoon, 180ml measuring cup and non-stick cooking pot; not dishwasher-safe; fill lines are labelled; one-year guarantee

Asda George Home Rice Cooker

Available from Asda (£20)

Most recently tested November 2020

Size and weight 22.5 x 27 x 24cm (HxWxD); 2.13kg 

Capacity Maximum 6 cups of rice; minimum 2 cups of rice

Cooking times Log in to instantly reveal.

Need to know Comes with a plastic serving spoon, 180ml measuring cup and non-stick cooking pot; dishwasher-safe cooking pot; fill lines are labelled; two-year guarantee

Joseph Joseph M-Cuisine Microwave Rice Cooker

Most recently tested February 2025

Size and weight 13.5 x 22 x 18cm (HxWxD); 535g

Capacity Maximum 2 cups of rice; minimum 0.33 cups of rice

Cooking times Log in to instantly reveal.

Need to know Comes with a cooking pot with lid, colander, 250ml measuring cup and rice paddle; dishwasher-safe; suitable for use in microwave ovens up to 900 watts; two-year guarantee

Lakeland 2 Portion Mini Electric Rice Cooker

Most recently tested November 2020

Size and weight 19 x 16.5 x 14.5cm (HxWxD); 1.2kg

Capacity Maximum 2.66 cups of rice; minimum capacity not stated

Cooking times Log in to instantly reveal.

Need to know Comes with a plastic serving spoon, 135ml measuring cup and non-stick cooking pot; can be used to cook porridge; delay-start timer of up to 12 hours; not dishwasher-safe; fill lines are labelled; three-year guarantee

Russell Hobbs Rice Cooker and Steamer 19750

Most recently tested November 2020

Size and weight 24.5 x 28 x 32cm (HxWxD); 2.56kg

Capacity Maximum 10 cups of rice; minimum capacity not stated

Cooking times Log in to instantly reveal.

Need to know Comes with a plastic serving spoon, 180ml measuring cup, steamer tray and non-stick cooking pot; can be used to steam meat and vegetables; not dishwasher-safe; fill lines are labelled; two-year guarantee

If you want to fully kit out your kitchen, then look at our guides on the best pressure cookers, multi cookers and air fryers.

Sage Risotto Plus

Most recently tested February 2025

Size and weight 26 x 23 x 25cm (HxWxD); 3.67g

Capacity Maximum 10 cups of rice; minimum 2 cups of rice

Cooking times Log in to instantly reveal.

Need to know Comes with a stainless steel steaming tray, 180ml measuring cup, serving spoon and non-stick cooking bowl; cooking bowl is dishwasher-safe; can be used to sear, sauté, slow-cook, steam food and make risotto; automatic keep-warm function; two-year guarantee

Tefal Cool Touch RK1568UK Rice Cooker

Most recently tested November 2020

Size and weight 23.5 x 31 x 31.5cm (HxWxD); 2.4kg

Capacity Maximum 10 cups of rice; minimum 4 cups of rice

Cooking times Log in to instantly reveal.

Need to know Comes with a plastic serving spoon, 180ml measuring cup, steamer tray and non-stick cooking pot; can be used to steam meat and vegetables; not dishwasher-safe; fill lines are labelled; two-year guarantee

VonShef 0.3L Personal Rice Cooker 13/342

Most recently tested November 2020

Size and weight 25.8 x 18 x 18cm (HxWxD); 1.53kg

Capacity Maximum 1.5 cups of rice; minimum 0.5 cups of rice

Cooking times Log in to instantly reveal.

Need to know Comes with a plastic serving spoon, 135ml measuring cup and non-stick cooking pot; not dishwasher-safe; fill lines are labelled; two-year guarantee

Yum Asia Sakura

Most recently tested February 2025

Size and weight 26 x 32 x 41cm (HxWxD); 5.05kg

Capacity Maximum 8 cups of rice; minimum 1 cup of rice

 Cooking times Log in to instantly reveal.

Need to know Comes with a rice spatula, soup ladle, 180ml measuring cup, steam basket and non-stick inner bowl; not dishwasher-safe; fill lines are labelled; can be used to cook porridge and cake, slow-cook, steam food, make yoghurt and prepare crust (tahdig); two-year guarantee.

Zojirushi NS-TSQ10 fuzzy logic

Available from Yum Asia (£249.90)

Most recently tested February 2025

Size and weight 21.5 x 25.5 x 35.5cm (HxWxD); 3.6kg

Capacity Maximum 5.5 cups of rice; minimum 0.5 cups of rice

Cooking times Log in to instantly reveal.

Need to know Comes with a plastic serving spoon, soup ladle, 180ml measuring cup, steaming tray and non-stick cooking pot; not dishwasher-safe; fill lines are labelled; can be used to cook porridge and cake, slow-cook and steam food; two-year guarantee

More rice cookers from our tests

Here are the rest of the rice cookers we've tested, listed in alphabetical order.

How we test rice cookers

To find the best rice cookers, we select models from top brands sold in key UK retailers.

We regularly revisit the rice cookers on sale to see if there are any more popular models that need testing, and when we find them, we do so.

Brands can't buy their way into our tests – we don't accept freebies. We pay for every rice cooker we test.

Plus, how we test and our testing results are verified via a panel of our own research experts to ensure we're being thorough and fair when bringing you the very best rice cookers. 

Ease of use and cleaning

• We assess how simple each rice cooker is to set up for the first time and how helpful the instructions are. We also look at the advice given on capacities, cooking times and water-to-rice ratios.
• We look for useful indicator lights for when the rice cooker is cooking or on the keep-warm setting. These are a plus.
• We note how easy it is to clean the cooking pot and lid of each rice cooker, looking for any stuck-on bits or any nooks and crannies that are difficult to get into during cleaning.

Great rice cookers take the guesswork and pain out of cooking, while the worst leave you wishing you'd just cooked your rice in a saucepan on the hob.

Rice quality

• We rinse and cook supermarket own-brand white basmati rice and wholegrain rice in each rice cooker, always following the rice cooker's instructions on water-to-rice ratios where given.
• If there are no instructions, we do 1:1 for basmati rice and 1:2 for wholegrain rice, as these are the widely accepted ratios for these rice types.
• We also measure how hot rice is kept on a cooker's keep-warm setting. Bacteria thrives in 40-60°C temperatures, but no rice cookers we've tested so far slip into the danger zone.
• We also rate the rice after it has been left for an hour on the keep-warm setting.

The best rice cookers make rice that's flavourful, separates easily and has a fluffy texture. We mark down rice that's dry, mushy, clumped, crunchy or starchy.

Heat and steam control

• We check how well each rice cooker manages heat and steam during cooking. 
• A well-designed rice cooker should control moisture effectively without spitting out excess water or leaking steam from anywhere other than the designated vent.
• We also assess how hot the lid and sides get during cooking. While some warmth is expected, excessively hot surfaces could be a burn risk.

The best rice cookers keep steam and heat where they should be – inside the pot. The worst can leave worktops damp and kitchens steamy, or be too hot to touch.

Why you can trust us: at Which? we're free from manufacturer and retailer influence. Find out more about our impartiality and how your support helps us to stay editorially independent

How to use a rice cooker

• Read the instructions This is a step you may be tempted to skip, but it's very important as no two rice cookers are the same. We've found that the method you use with one can be different for another.
• Rice-to-water ratios vary As you'll find from reading the instructions, rice cookers have varying requirements for rice-to-water ratios. Several of the models we tested had different ratios for the same types of rice.
• The crispy layer at the bottom of the pan is common Rinsing your rice before cooking is a useful way of removing excess starch and reducing the chances of your rice sticking together or crisping up at the bottom. However, in our tests almost every rice cooker had at least a thin layer of rice like this.
• Portions and cups are not the same Rice cookers always measure rice in cups, as it's a more straightforward way to work out rice-to-water ratios. But cups are often much bigger than portions – one cup is 150-180g of rice, while Bupa recommends that 75g of rice is one portion.
• Dishwasher-safe labels are debatable As rice cookers are electrical appliances, none of them are entirely dishwasher-safe. Some of the cooking pots and lids are. But we wouldn't recommend that you clean them in the dishwasher as it will dull the non-stick material over time. Handwash with warm, soapy water and a sponge instead.
• The keep-warm setting will impact the quality of your rice Although the drop in quality was miniscule with the best models we tested, there was always at least a slight drop in the quality of the rice. The rice will likely be drier and need some fluffing before you serve it.

How to cook rice in a microwave cooker

Cooking rice in the microwave can be a convenient alternative to traditional methods. You could cook rice directly in a microwave-safe bowl or use a specialised microwave rice cooker. 

We've tested a microwave rice cooker – to see how it performed compared with other dedicated rice cookers, log in or register for free.

Using a microwave rice cooker

1. Rinse your rice under cold water to remove excess starch. 
2. Put your rice into the cooking pot, and add the amount of water specified in the instructions for your microwave cooker. Generally these come with a measuring cup, and the ratio will be around one cup of white rice to 1.5 cups of water, but these ratios will vary depending on the cooker and the amount of rice you're cooking. 
3. Secure the lid, ensuring any steam vents on the lid are not covered.
4. Cook on high power, adjusting the time based on the instructions and your microwave's wattage. It takes approximately 12 minutes for a cup of white rice and 30 minutes for a cup of wholegrain. 
5. After cooking, let the rice stand for five minutes. Then, use a rice paddle or fork to fluff and serve.

Cooking rice in the microwave

It will be difficult to get as good results from a microwave as you would from a dedicated rice cooker, but all you'll need is a microwave-safe bowl and a loose fitting lid or plate. 

• For white basmati rice, rinse one cup of rice, add 1.5-2 cups of water, and microwave uncovered on high until boiling (about for to six minutes in a 900W microwave). Stir, cover loosely, and microwave on medium power (50%) for 10-12 minutes. Let it sit for five minutes, then fluff with a fork.
• For wholegrain (brown) rice, use one cup of rice to 2.5 cups of water. Microwave on high for 10 minutes uncovered, then stir, cover loosely, and cook on medium (50%) for 20 minutes. Let it rest for 10 minutes, then fluff.
• If too dry, add a splash of water and microwave for another minute. If too wet, leave uncovered for a few minutes or microwave in short bursts. To prevent boil-overs, use a large bowl and don’t seal the lid too tightly.

Find out how to choose the best microwave and see our Best Buys

Can you cook rice in a slow cooker?

Yes, a slow cooker is a hands-off way to cook rice, and most will have a keep-warm setting, too. It does take longer than a dedicated rice cooker or microwave, though. 

How to cook rice in a slow cooker

1. Prevent sticking by lightly greasing the slow cooker before adding ingredients.
2. Rinse the rice to remove excess starch and prevent clumping.
3. Add water. Use one cup of rice to two cups of water for white rice, or one cup to 2.5 cups for brown rice.
4. Cook on low. Cover and cook on low for two to three hours (white rice) or three to four hours (brown rice). Avoid lifting the lid, as this releases steam and slows cooking.
5. Fluff and serve. Let the rice rest for 5-10 minutes, then fluff with a fork. To keep it warm without overcooking, switch to keep-warm mode if your slow cooker has one.

See our guide to the best slow cookers

Is a rice cooker worth it?

If you have the counter space – and if rice is a staple that you struggle to get right on the hob – then absolutely. Rice cookers can be a very convenient and stress-free way to get rice the way you like it, time after time.

If you're very particular about your rice, you will have to be patient at first. You'll have to experiment with your rice-to-water ratios before your rice turns out the way you like it.

For rice cookers that don't have timers, like the ones we tested, you'll also have to learn the cooking times through experimentation. Amounts of rice and water, and which rice cooker you have, all make a difference.

Is reheated rice dangerous? 6 food safety myths busted