This rice cooker is simple, chic, and very easy to use. It's at its best when used for cooking traditional white long rice. You get the basic accessories and it can cook porridge and even curry. Fans of Muji's sleek kitchen kit will like it, but it's pricier than some. It cooks and keeps warm, and that’s it, but simplicity may be what you want after a busy day. If it is, nab yourself one of these and you’ll be laughing. The most advanced rice cookers use fuzzy logic to work out optimal cooking times and can make automatic adjustments for the best results. They may also feature programmes for cooking other foods. Rice cooker FAQs

First of all, make sure you rinse the rice to remove excess starch before adding it to your cooker. Next, either add water to the cooking pan with the measuring cup included or add water to the indicated fill level inside the pan, depending on your model cooker. Ideal for one to three people, it has a 24-hour timer, a keep-warm function, and it can be used to cook sushi rice, as well as other foods like porridge and even cake. If you’re more of a microwave maven and cooking means nothing more to you than a means to stay alive, then fret not, as we have something for you too. The GABA setting is another unique cooking option that supposedly releases additional nutrients from brown rice by germinating the grain. We couldn’t ascertain whether the rice was more nutrient-dense during testing, but its texture was noticeably softer and it certainly had a slightly different taste. There’s also a porridge setting, which can be used to make congee and a crust setting for Persian Tahdig. You can also steam, bake cakes and slow cook in the Bamboo Induction, making it a truly multifunctional cooker. It’s worth remembering that cooking times can vary – especially with the processor-controlled “fuzzy logic” models as these will adjust cooking times automatically as needed. Even so, our results should give you an idea of what to expect. Even if cooking times are long, this isn’t necessarily a disadvantage – some of the models with the longest cooking times also produced the best quality rice. Plus, that time can be used to cook the rest of your meal or attend to other household tasks.

How does a rice cooker work?

The best rice cookers make a useful addition to your kitchen if you find you can't cook rice the way you'd like it on the hob. Will a basic model suit you? Do you want an appliance that creates perfect risotto or paella? Do you host dinner parties every week, or is the ping of the microwave your timer of choice? For a little extra peace of mind, the rice cooker also comes with a 2-year standard guarantee, so for any unexpected breakdowns or issues, the company has you covered. Cookworks Filter Coffee Maker. If you cannot start off your day without a dose of caffeine, this cheap coffee maker can do wonders for you. Get to prepare your daily coffee fix without any hassle. This features a semi-permanent water tank and a permanent filter. It has all the basic features of a coffee maker that usually costs more. A great find below ten pounds.

We offer a variety of models - from budget-friendly to high-end options - with loads of different modes and settings to suit your rice-making needs. If you're after healthy cooking with consistent results, we have the product for you. This pressure cooker adjusts temperature, pressure and time so it can cook your meals up to 70% faster. The lid handle is nice and grippy but there aren’t any handles on the base, making moving it about a tad awkward. No parts are dishwasher-safe, either, so you’ll have to argue over who does the washing up. It comes with all the usual accessories – a removable pot, toughened glass lid, measuring cup and spoon – and it makes perfect fluffy white and brown rice every time. This cooker has a whopping 2.2L capacity, so is perfect for larger family gatherings or dinner parties.For such an affordable and compact appliance, this impressed us with its performance. It cooks traditional white rice well, and comes with the basic accessories you'll need. The generous 1.5L capacity allows you to cook for up to eight people. It is ideal for those who are on a budget and don’t have much kitchen space. Be careful, though, as the vent releases quite a lot of steam during cooking so never take the lid off without the aid of an oven glove or tea towel. With basically two settings – cooking and 'keep warm' – it’s certainly not fancy but it does the job. It allows you to cook rice or steam veg without having to watch over it to ensure it doesn’t boil dry. Cookworks Kettle. This kettle doesn’t have fancy built-in features but it surely gets the job done and the water boiling. This cordless kettle has a generous capacity of 1.7L. Imagine how many cups of tea this can prepare in one go. Students or anyone on a budget will love this little rice cooker that cooks all rice, bar brown, surprisingly well for the bargain price tag. The instructions are very limited, and there’s no timer, but it’s smartly designed to slot into tight spaces, with non-slip feet to keep it stable during cooking. Another Yum Asia model, this smaller version of the Bamboo compact rice cooker has a digital timer, can make cake and porridge, and a 24-hour preset option. It's best for cooking easy-cook long white rice as it produces fluffy, light and flavourful results. One flaw is that it doesn't cook basmati rice well, though.

If storage is an issue and you’re willing to splurge on jazzy functions, consider this mini rice cooker that’ll serve up to three people. Its digital display makes it easy to keep an eye on your cooking and it produces light and flavoursome white rice, but our basmati rice emerged a little tough. Even the simplest of microwave rice cookers will cook grains such as quinoa and sometimes pasta as well as rice. In electric models, look out for extra cooking settings. These may include ones for specialist rice, including risotto, brown and wild, porridge, pasta, yoghurt and even cake! Rice cookers that are essentially multi-cookers will have all this. Plus 'slow' and 'fast' cook functions. We wanted to create a 'sensory-balanced' workspace that was both socially sustainable and adaptable' If you eat rice frequently, or you enjoy different types of rice dishes, such as sushi, risottos and paella, then a rice cooker can be a great addition to your kitchen. Are rice cookers dishwasher-safe? Functions: Most rice cookers keep things fuss-free and will simply cook your rice and keep it warm. The two Yum Asia models on our roundup are more expensive but they offer a much wider range of functions, including steaming, slow cooking and preparing porridge. How we test

What is a rice cooker?

There are rice cookers to suit all budgets, so a bit of thought before buying means you will end up with the best rice cooker for your needs. What are the best rice cooker brands? Settings: 3, preset timer: no, keep warm function: yes, capacity: 2.2litres Where to buy rice cookers in the UK? White rice sold in the United States is required by law to be enriched with powdered iron, niacin, thiamin, or folic acid; these vitamins and minerals are usually removed by washing.