The author tested rice cookers in three categories: small, affordable devices, midrange multicookers, and specialized, high-end rice cookers. In the small category, mini rice cookers like the Imusa 3-cup, Dash mini 2-cup, and Black & Decker 3-cup offered decent servings of white rice, with the Dash taking a long time to cook. The Oster and Zojirushi 6-cup rice makers performed well, making perfect white rice and good brown rice in a short time. The Hamilton Beach 8-cup rice cooker and Zojirushi’s 3-cup option were inconsistent in their rice results. Cuisinart and Black and Decker’s rice cookers were messy and leaked during cooking.
The midrange multicookers, including an 8-cup Aroma rice cooker, Instant Pot’s Zest cooker, and a 5-cup Panasonic, offered various functions on their interfaces but produced overcooked, mushy rice due to slow cooking. Cuisinart’s larger Rice Plus Multi-Cooker produced decent batches of white and brown rice but took over an hour and a half to cook. While these multicookers may be good for cooking a variety of grains, there are better options available specifically for rice. True multicookers with pressure cooker functions may offer more value for those looking for versatility.
In the higher-end category, specialized rice cookers from Tiger and Zojirushi were impressive, with carefully calibrated settings. Zojirushi even allows for personalization in how white rice is cooked, which is beneficial for households with varying preferences. The Tiger rice cooker cooked rice extremely well and faster than others, making it a top choice. While the Zojirushi offers more customization options, the Tiger is less expensive and still provides excellent results, earning it the top overall choice for 2024. Overall, the author recommends the Oster and Zojirushi rice makers for a solid space-saving option, while cautioning against messy and inconsistent rice cookers in the midrange category.
