What Rice Cooker 2023

We're currently using a Ninja Foodi which is expensive (especially if it's just going to be used to make rice) but does better rice than the rice cooker did, with less mess.

I'd assume a cheaper pressure cooker would do the same job?

9 mins in this.

I was looking for a small rice cooker just for one or two portions and couldn’t find many in the shops apart from a Muji one that was about 100 quid, so I just got a cheap Chinese one from Amazon. Has worked fine so far - the Chinese seem to know about cooking rice. My sister got one from Lakeland that also has a porridge setting, but takes an hour to cook porridge. WTF?

Isn't porridge what the microwave is for?

We’re currently using a Ninja Foodi which is expensive (especially if it’s just going to be used to make rice) but does better rice than the rice cooker did, with less mess.

Ours is a Ninja 9-1 but not a current model, still don't understand why we bought one over an air fryer, rice is dead easy to make. It also works as a slow cooker, and has lasted well, so can't really complain... other than to moan about the lack of air fryer in our household!

still don’t understand why we bought one over an air fryer,

This Russell Hobbs has been doing fine for us, rice 3-4 days week for quite a few years: https://uk.russellhobbs.com/rice-cooker-steamer-19750

They really don't need to be fancy, there's not much to them. I'd go smaller if it's just for 1-2 people, ours is a good size for 4-6 portions.

We have an instant pot (and just got a new one that's also an air fryer) but usually if we're having rice we're also having something made in the instant pot so easier to have separate things.

Microwaves aren't just for porridge...

Rince rice thoroughly (this is a given, we all should do this), then put in a pan filled with approx the same depth again of water (ie, if the rice is 2cm deep, fill so the rice is covered with another 2cm over the top of water). Bring to a boil with a lid on and, when the steam starts to slow (showing that the water has mostly boiled off), take off the heat and leave to stand for 10 mins then serve.

I find that covering with a few teatowels keeps it hot for ages (as in up to an hour or so) so it can be made a bit in advance of whatever else you are cooking it with.

I have been doing it like this for years and years and it is so simple.

Saucepan. As johndoh says a tea towel will keep it warm and it will also absorb any remaining moisture in the rice if you stick it in the plate warming oven.

Rince rice thoroughly (this is a given, we all should do this)

Never do that, and it's never been a problem.

Never do that, and it’s never been a problem.

It's not a problem - it just removes excess starch so the grains separate properly. It won't kill you if you don't, it just makes better rice if you do.

Genuine question: what does a rice cooker do that a pan doesn't?

It's taken me bloody ages - like, years - to get rice right but I've sussed it now. Rinse / soak the dried rice until the water runs clear; add to a pan with about 2.5 times the volume of water to rice; add a bit of salt and whatever spices you want; bring to the boil then drop the heat to a gentle simmer; stir, then lid it; knock off the heat when the water's almost all absorbed and leave for a few minutes more to steam quietly to itself.

Genuine question: what does a rice cooker do that a pan doesn’t?

It’s taken me bloody ages – like, years – to get rice right

... ie, pretty much what johndoh just posted whilst I was writing that. I use measuring cups though, rather than doing it by eye in the pan. 1/3 cup of rice and almost a full cup of water per person is about right.

Never do that, and it’s never been a problem.

It makes it less likely that you'll accidentally make rice pudding. Not rinsing it is what makes 'sticky rice' sticky (which of course is absolutely fine if that's what you're aiming for).

@simon_g thank you for the link, looking now. Really dumb question for you or others who own a rice cooker, I assume it will cook long grain, basmati and jasmine rice all fine? its not limited to just long grain/plain white rice?

Genuine question: what does a rice cooker do that a pan doesn’t?

I'm hoping it will make rice dishes easier to cook when jugglging a busy house or getting back from something and needing to eat but also unload or shower.

Yes, you just change water ratio - all the rice cooker is doing is bringing it to boil then when it dries out (and the temp rises) it knocks it down to keep warm.

And that's the main benefit @Cougar - wash rice, bung in the right amount of water then leave it till you're ready to eat. Same goes for the instant pot really, once it's going there's no need to fiddle with it and the food will keep warm for as long as you need. I can stick dinner on then go and pick up the kids so it's ready when we get home.

Gotta wonder how people that find cooking rice in a pan challenging ever manage to cook anything to go with the rice....

Do you people have egg boilers and teasmades for those other tricky culinary challenges?

I have a tiny one from VonShef that does 1 or 2 portions at a time. Wouldn't work for a family but takes up very little space.

As to why, it's just convenient if you want to eat rice a lot. Why have a toaster or a kettle?

For those people dissing rice cookers - some input from a nation that eats a lot more rice than you

And that’s the main benefit @Cougar – wash rice, bung in the right amount of water then leave it till you’re ready to eat.

That's exactly what I do with a pan. Just need to keep half an eye on it to switch off the heat when it's done. Shutting off and keeping warm sounds useful.

Gotta wonder how people that find cooking rice in a pan challenging
exactly, how on earth can it be difficult, have you all struggled to cook potatoes and pasta as well?
Risotto is slightly more tricky as you have to have the right amount of water to rice ratio, and time it with the other ingredients as well.
boiling rice in a pan you can just drain off the excess water when it's ready.

boiling rice in a pan you can just drain off the excess water when it’s ready.

Clearly you find cooking rice challenging then - there shouldn't be excess water to drain off if it's cooked in a pan properly 😉

boiling rice in a pan you can just drain off the excess water when it’s ready.

Wet mush, lovely.

It's not hard to do in a pan, but it does need your attention else you'll burn it when it dries out.

As said, you can also make your toast under a grill, or boil water for your tea in a saucepan so why own a dedicated gadget for those jobs? Anyone I know who cooks rice more than once a week has a rice cooker and it's because they make rice really well every time with a minimum of faff.

Do you people have egg boilers

Yes, it's brilliant. Rice is just water:rice at 2:1 ratio (1/3 cup of rice per portion), cover pan with lid and simmer until water is absorbed. Remove and allow to finish for a few minutes before serving. No rinsing required. Washing the rice before simmering is also possible. This is basically what a rice cooker is doing.

Anyone I know who cooks rice more than once a week has a rice cooker

We have rice two or three times a week most weeks (I buy big 10kg bags as mentioned in the sketch above) and always in a pan. If it's just me eating (if I have worked late) I often use the microwave pouches, but if it's me and my wife or the whole family eating then it's the pan every time (whether it be plain boiled rice or seasoned).

I looked at a rice cooker a couple of years ago but decided I didn't cook enough rice to warrant one, ended up getting one of these instead https://www.johnlewis.com/joseph-joseph-m-cuisine-microwave-rice-cooker/p2152410

Not really any easier than just using a saucepan but IMO a bit less hassle, effectively times itself and doesn't use space on the hob I might need for other stuff I'm cooking

Do I get a ban for confessing to using a pan and boil in the bag rice. At least when we are cooking from scratch and not just doing a packet of Aldi 60 second microwave rice

Although I will confess to cooking a batch of rice and then freezing it because I'm lazy on a week night (and have a freezer full of frozen curries and chilies).

how on earth can it be difficult, have you all struggled to cook potatoes and pasta as well?
Risotto is slightly more tricky as you have to have the right amount of water to rice ratio, and time it with the other ingredients as well.
boiling rice in a pan you can just drain off the excess water when it’s ready.

The culinary equivalent of saying you don't understand the point of rear suspension because the stabilizers stop it moving anyway.

For those people dissing rice cookers – some input from a nation that eats a lot more rice than you

Thanks for that, he's really funny. I'll check out more of his work.

I've lived in Japan and have a stepmother who knows a little bit about cooking rice (she is a trained sushi chef).

Rice cooker every time here.

As above, Mrs Davy90 hails from SE Asia, we have two rice cookers, both fairly cheap from Amazon, one little one which just about feeds the four of us when brim full and one big one which I've never seen full.

Do these really do anything more than a saucepan?

How did they cook rice in olden days before rice cookers!?

Do these really do anything more than a saucepan?

Does a toaster do anything more than a grill?

I use to live next door to Chinese students and every year we would get new students and every one of them had a rice cooker. If you eat a lot of rice they are worth getting.

Do these really do anything more than a saucepan?

Does a toaster do anything more than a grill?

Does a hob do anything more than just making a fire under your pan 😉 ?

We've got a reishunger, on the recommendation of many folks, and it's great! Handy basket inside for steaming veg over the rice too which makes it even more convenient. Mid-price, about £45 I think, and while I thought Mrs E was buying yet another pointless gadget to clutter the kitchen (see George foreman grill, ice cream maker, popcorn maker etc. for past examples...) I'm a concert.

Does a toaster do anything more than a grill?

well mine does both sides of the bread at the same time, so yes. 😉

We don’t eat enough rice to justify a specific device. Equal volume of rice and water, small pinch of salt (small because you be eating it all) bring to the boil then set the induction hob to simmer (lid ON) for 10mins then it switches itself off. The residual heat keeps it warm for more than long enough.

I'm Chinese and no one cooks rice in a pan. Rice cooker will give you perfect rice every time. Once you've washed the rice and put the correct amount of water in, you can walk away and never ever get shit rice in minutes. I used a £15 Ikea rice cooker for 8ish years, gave it to a friend when my mum gave me slightly posher one.

All this talk of saucepans for cooking rice makes me laugh. Just spend 20 quid and stop faffing with them. Do you ever see Chinese restaurants or take aways using saucepans???? FFS.

Damn it....now I'm going to have to buy a rice cooker!

stop faffing with them

But it isn't a faff. In fact, I would wager it would be more faff getting a rice cooker in and out of the cupboard where it would be stored (if you are anything like me and hates clutter on worktops). But I love gadgets – we have a slow cooker, breadmaker, soup maker, panini press, vegetable steamer, smoothie maker, crepe maker, doughnut maker, candyfloss maker (fair enough, the last few are the kids). Still, I do not personally see the point of a rice cooker when a pan and a pan lid do it just as well.

But it isn’t a faff. In fact, I would wager it would be more faff getting a rice cooker in and out of the cupboard where it would be stored (if you are anything like me and hates clutter on worktops). But I love gadgets – we have a slow cooker, breadmaker, soup maker, panini press, vegetable steamer, smoothie maker, crepe maker, doughnut maker, candyfloss maker (fair enough, the last few are the kids). Still, I do not personally see the point of a rice cooker when a pan and a pan lid do it just as well.

Every Asian is laughing at you if you don't get why you should have a rice cooker. 😂

Every Asian is laughing at you if you don’t get why you should have a rice cooker.

Good on them. I couldn't give a stuff what anyone else thinks - I can make boiled rice in a pan that tastes exactly the same as boiled rice from a Chinese takeaway and I have saved £50 on a rice maker. Who's laughing now?

Do you ever see Chinese restaurants or take aways using saucepans???? FFS.

if I cooked rice at that frequency or volume then yes but I only have it twice a month so I’ll stick with the pot.

As for Asians laughing at us, are rice cookers as common in India…

I'm questioning the taste of the people who think pouches of microwave rice are a good alternative. Probably costs more than a rice cooker after about 10 meals too.

Been using a basic cookworks rice cooker for some years now,cooks perfect basmati rice and you can add veg too. £12 from asda at the time, around £20 now.

We’ve got a reishunger, on the recommendation of many folks, and it’s great! Handy basket inside for steaming veg over the rice too which makes it even more convenient. Mid-price, about £45 I think, and while I thought Mrs E was buying yet another pointless gadget to clutter the kitchen (see George foreman grill, ice cream maker, popcorn maker etc. for past examples…) I’m a concert.

Rice and accompanying music, fantastic!

Cheapest Tesco one, keep the box and put the receipt in it. When it breaks in less than a year (as it will) take back and exchange for a new one. Same scheme works for their kettles and toasters too #RiceCookerForLife

But it isn’t a faff. In fact, I would wager it would be more faff getting a rice cooker in and out of the cupboard where it would be stored (if you are anything like me and hates clutter on worktops). But I love gadgets – we have a slow cooker, breadmaker, soup maker, panini press, vegetable steamer, smoothie maker, crepe maker, doughnut maker, candyfloss maker (fair enough, the last few are the kids)

You're happy to pull all that shit out of the cupboard but a rice cooker is too much hassle? Do you leave your pan out constantly?

How did they cook rice in olden days before rice cookers!?

Rice was cooked in a pot with low heat, steamed in the wok or cooked/steam in bamboo.

This simple £22.00 Cookworks 1.5L Rice Cooker should be sufficient. Nothing fancy.

Mine is a Taiwanese Tatung Rice Cooker, exactly as shown below, that I have use almost everyday for nearly 20 years. Looks nothing fancy but it can last for many years. I have a spare one too,

The only cooking appliance I need is my Tatung rice cooker

This is the most reliable rice cooker I have ever used. It looks cheap but beat most rice cookers hands down. It does not have moving parts apart from the heat plate contact. The outer part of the rice cooker is just simple steel, the inner part of the rice cooker is aluminium but the container to put rice in is 304 stainless steel, and Not some cheapo aluminium. The usage is also slightly different from the above Argos version, as this version requires to pour a bit of water into the inner aluminium bowl before you put in the rice. It actually half steamed and boil the rice.

The model shown above is the red traditional version but they do have many fancy versions too but expensive. However, if you are going to use it for 30 to 40 or even more years, get one.

Crikey, I just saw the online retail price for Tatung in the UK. But if you happen to visit Thailand for holiday they sell them there too so get one or get three.

Also if you fancy some digital ones just check out all the Japanese rice cookers.

@Cougar Just in case you haven’t found him.  Highly recommended.

https://youtube.com/@mrnigelng

Rice cookers are ace. you only need one thats like that russel hobs. pour in rice, add water, it clicks off and you transfer the pot to the table. perfect rice every time, and so simple you don't think about it.

as previously said, every family from a culture where rice is the staple have one.

Asia uses National rice cookers. National became Panasonic now Asia uses Panasonic rice cookers.

A Zojirushi Rice Cooker here.

It's supposedly for short grain rice as it's primarily designed for sushi rice, but it'll do long grain perfectly well. Plus when you turn it on, it plays Frere Jacques (obviously)

Because It makes rice that's rice, not a white wet mush, that's why.

I can’t recommend the nutribullet every grain rice cooker enough , it’s £80 but does quinoa and porridge too.

I use one because I always seem to burn the rice to the pan but this cooks it perfectly

I guess the equivalent is that conversation we (as MTBers) occasionally have with the public. Invariably the convo will come round to how much your bike cost, and you sigh inwardly and tell them, and they say a variation of something like "I've got a mountain bike, and it only cost me £150, it's just as good as yours, it has suspension and loads of gears" and you nod politely.

This is the same.

A Zojirushi Rice Cooker here

@nickc with the rice cooker flex 😎

I've got a National one, it's got a fetching 70s flower pattern on the side and it must be older than me.

@nickc with the rice cooker flex 😎

It was a wedding gift. I looked up the price of them, and then closed the page quite quickly. It makes great rice, the rendition of Frere Jacques, less so.

Reishunger rice cooker purchased!

But it isn’t a faff. In fact, I would wager it would be more faff getting a rice cooker in and out of the cupboard where it would be stored (if you are anything like me and hates clutter on worktops). But I love gadgets – we have a slow cooker, breadmaker, soup maker, panini press, vegetable steamer, smoothie maker, crepe maker, doughnut maker, candyfloss maker (fair enough, the last few are the kids)

You’re happy to pull all that shit out of the cupboard but a rice cooker is too much hassle? Do you leave your pan out constantly?

I thought the same, why would it be more hassle to take a rice cooker out of the cupboard than a saucepan. (Mine's still boxed on top of a cupboard so IS more hassle to use, but it's out once or twice a week. 😀 )

The arguments that people make for and against gadgets are very weird aren't they. Of that list ^ I would argue that I've never found a bread maker that makes bread anywhere near as nice as made by hand; soup makers are pointless - I can make a fresh soup in a pan in 25 minutes; a veg steamer is a metal perforated pan that sits over another pan. Or a rice steamer!; and who needs a crepe maker - it's so easy in a frying pan that my 12 year old daughter makes crepes (or pancakes) every few days. But gadgets, innit. 😀

Btw to those still using pans, boiled rice from a pan doesn't have the same consistency that properly steamed rice does. Both are nice but boiled rice is not steamed rice.

Reishunger rice cooker purchased!

Seems they do a digital rice cooker. No use to me, I've never even seen digital rice.

I'm not sure that I was aware that rice cookers were even a thing before seeing this thread!

It's some sort of Rule 34 corollary, isn't it. "If it exists, there will be a gadget for it."

Very true!

I’m Chinese and no one cooks rice in a pan

Hmmm, 50% of that is evidently not the case though is it....

Lady at my local Korean restaurant said buy Cuckoo when I asked the question: https://www.cuckoousastore.com

Seen them pop up at local Chinese supermarkets a few times even though they are Korean. Bought one for £60, seems pretty good.

Recently I've been cooking rice in the microwave.
Pop washed rice into a microwavable receptacle, 1 part rice, 2 parts water, cook for 3 mins, stand, cook another 3 mins stand, then another two minutes, stand for 2 mins with the lid on. It seems to turn out well.

Rince rice thoroughly....

Rice cooker:
Rinse, add, water switch on. No need to remember to switch off, no need to worry about boiling over. You can use a saucepan to make tea but a kettle is more convenient.

Edit: wife is Chinese so we eat a lot of rice (too much rice 🙄

Same here. It’s just too convenient not to use. Put rice in put water in close lid press button. Don’t have to think about it anymore, don’t need extra pan on in the stove , don’t need to check it to see if it’s done, don’t need to drain it.

I know you can do all those things in a pan. Rice cooker just means I don’t need to and I still get perfect rice everytime

The porridge setting isn't for oat porridge, it's for congee

Thanks to this thread I bought the cheap and small Argos cooker. Its excellent.
Tonight's meal is jerk pork loins with rice and beans, onions and herbs.
At minimum quantity it makes enough rice to have enough for stirfry the following day.

Nice one.

Fun tip (though my stepmum would kill me for it) - get some miso paste and stir it in with the rice & water before cooking. Yum!