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The 9 best rice cookers for perfect fluffy rice every time

We tested 22 models to find the best

By
VerifiedTested by Homes Testing Manager
best rice cookers
Good Housekeeping UK

Rice is one of the most versatile ingredients in your kitchen cupboard and its simplicity is what makes it so integral to cuisines all over the world. But, as even the best of chefs know, cooking it to perfection can be a challenge.

If you’re sick of mushy, starchy grains or getting it stuck on the sides and bottom of your pan, you may want to consider a rice cooker.

The best rice cookers will produce beautiful, consistent results without any need for supervision, allowing you to crack on with the rest of the meal. Some models will even prepare the whole dish for you. From a colourful, fragrant Spanish paella to a rich, flavourful risotto, dinner times can be transformed with this easy-to-use counter-top appliance.

To help you find the best rice cookers on the market, the Good Housekeeping Institute experts put the leading models to the test. You’ll find their favourites below but scroll on to find out how each one performed in our rigorous testing.

What is the best rice cooker in 2025?

How we test at the Good Housekeeping Institute

Here at the Good Housekeeping Institute, we take cooking rice seriously – after all, it’s a mealtime staple so you want to get it just right. To find the very best on the market, we put 22 rice cookers to the test, assessing the performance, ease of use and design of each.

To test their rice prep skills, we cook up white long-grain, easy-cook, brown and basmati rice. We also check for safety features, checking whether the appliance spits while cooking, and if the rice sticks to the sides or bottom.

Finally, we assess how easy the cooker is to clean, noting whether the pot is dishwasher safe and if there are any sneaky dirt traps.

1
Best rice cooker

Russell Hobbs 19750 Rice Cooker

UK Approved(Esquire,Red,HB,GH,Country Living,Prima)
19750 Rice Cooker

Pros

  • Lid handle stays cool during cooking
  • Easy to fit and remove the pot from the base 

Cons

  • Some spitting when cooking brown rice

Score: 85/100

With a generous 1.8L capacity, the Russell Hobbs 197500 Family Rice Cooker is ideal for busy dinner times. It comes equipped with all the basic accessories – a measuring cup and spatula – as well as a steam tray so you can cook vegetables too.

It barely dropped a mark in testing, producing beautifully fluffy rice every time, and our testers liked that it has a glass lid so you can sneak at a peep every now and again.

While it's not dishwasher-safe, testers found it super easy to clean with a damp cloth, even when given the task of tackling dirt traps around the rim. Priced at under £40, you really can’t go wrong with this rice cooker.

Key specifications

AccessoriesMeasuring cup, spatula, steamer tray
Capacity1.8L
TimerNo
Weight2.56kg
2
Joint runner-up

Instant Rice Cooker and Steamer

UK Approved(Esquire,Red,HB,GH,Country Living,Prima)
Rice Cooker and Steamer

Pros

  • Handy ‘keep warm’ function
  • Easy and intuitive to set up

Cons

  • Countdown timer only appears towards the end of the program, making it difficult to plan other elements of your meal
  • No handles on the bowl

Score: 83/100

Our (joint) runner-up rice cooker's USP is that it assesses the weight of the rice and water, then adjusts the cooking time and temperature to create perfect results every time. This proved effective on test; our rice had a great colour and texture regardless of the type we cooked. Basmati took longer than boiling it on the hob though.

Our experts also tried out the machine's sauté and slow cook functions to create a fantastic French onion soup. Its 2.8-litre capacity makes it a great pick for large families, and the intuitive controls and dishwasher-friendly pot make it easy to use from start to finish.

Key specifications

Accessories Measuring cup and rice spoon
Capacity 2.8L
Timer Yes
Weight 3.7kg
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3
Joint runner-up

Cosori Rice Cooker

UK Approved(Esquire,Red,HB,GH,Country Living,Prima)
Rice Cooker
Now 29% Off

Pros

  • Pot is dishwasher safe
  • Detailed instructions

Cons

  • Can be awkward to get the inner pot out as there aren’t any solid grips
  • Takes longer than the traditional hob method

Score: 83/100

Not only is this cooker capable of delivering beautifully fluffy rice, but it’s also equipped with functions for slow cooking, sauteing, steaming, baking cake, and making jam…and they worked well too. When taste-testing slow cooked beef, our expert noted the meat was soft and tender, without completely falling apart – that’s two thumbs up from us.

Onto the rice, and this easy-to-use cooker performed best with brown rice. Despite taking 55 minutes, our grains were light with great flavour and no mushiness. It was a similar story across the board – cooking took longer than with the traditional method.

The rice did have an excellent texture though, and you don’t have to watch your rice on the hob. Plus, with a handy timer and ‘keep warm’ function, your rice will be hot and ready to serve whenever you need it to be.

Key specifications

Accessories Measuring cup and two rice spoons
Capacity 5L
Timer Yes
Weight 4.45kg
4
Best for ease of use

Judge Horwood JEA10 Family Rice Cooker

UK Approved(Esquire,Red,HB,GH,Country Living,Prima)
Horwood JEA10 Family Rice Cooker

Pros

  • Lid locks securely in place and becomes a carry handle
  • Easy ‘one touch’ controls 

Cons

  • Can’t remove lid from the main body, making it difficult to clean

Score: 81/100

The Judge rice cooker performs best when used for easy-cook, long grain white rice, which it made perfectly, locking in both flavour and texture. The fact it automatically switches to the ‘keep warm’ function once cooked and has a large 1.8L capacity, makes this a great choice for busy cooks who often have to make large portions.

It did leak slightly when cooking brown rice and it’s quite bulky, so it’s not the most attractive appliance to have out on your countertop. However, if you have sufficient storage and are after an efficient, non-stick appliance, this is a solid pick.

Key specifications

AccessoriesMeasuring cup, spatula
Capacity1.8L
TimerNo
Weight3.2kg
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5
Best for a range of grains

Nutribullet EveryGrain

UK Approved(Esquire,Red,HB,GH,Country Living,Prima)
EveryGrain

Pros

  • Well-insulated with cool-touch lid
  • Every programme delivered tasty results

Cons

  • Non-stick cooking pot and base are not dishwasher-safe
  • Testers noticed some bubbling around the lid at times, so worth using on a waterproof surface

Score: 81/100

This compact rice cooker preps quinoa, oats, and grains as well as rice (hence the name, ‘EveryGrain’). At 2.3-litres, it comfortably makes enough rice for a family and its self-explanatory controls were a big hit with our testers.

Out of all the rice tests, basmati was best; it was notably tastier than when cooked on the hob. This one also turned out tasty white, easy-cook and brown rice. All portions were light, fluffy and flavoursome, but none of them were ready more quickly than the hob.

Our testers used the ‘delay timer’ and ‘keep warm’ settings to whip up porridge in time for breakfast, and it was just right when we were ready to eat – we’re sure even Goldilocks would be impressed.

Key specifications

Accessories Measuring cup, spatula and steam basket
Capacity 2.3L
Timer Yes
Weight 4.2kg
6
Best for versatility

Yum Asia Bamboo Rice Cooker

UK Approved(Esquire,Red,HB,GH,Country Living,Prima)
Bamboo Rice Cooker
Now 20% Off

Pros

  • Has lots of accessories, including measuring cup, soup ladle, spatula and steam basket
  • Beeps when cooking is finished

Cons

  • Wasn’t the best at cooking sticky basmati rice

Score: 81/100

This is a pricier option, but you do get four multi-cooker features for the money, including cake baking and porridge making functions. It produces fluffy, delicious results every time, particularly when it comes to sticky white rice.

The handy digital timer shows you how long your rice has left to cook but if you’re not quite ready to serve when the timer is up, the ‘keep warm’ function will keep it at the perfect temperature. Just bear in mind that it's a large model, so you'll need sufficient storage and countertop space.

Key specifications

AccessoriesMeasuring cup, soup ladle, spatula and steam basket
Capacity1.5L
TimerYes
Weight6.2kg
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7
Best for design

Tefal RK1568UK Cool Touch Rice Cooker

UK Approved(Esquire,Red,HB,GH,Country Living,Prima)
RK1568UK Cool Touch Rice Cooker

Pros

  • Automatically switches to ‘keep warm’ setting after cooking
  • Comes with accessories including a measuring cup, spatula and steamer tray

Cons

  • No timer 

Score: 77/100

Its sleek, smart appearance earned this Tefal rice cooker some extra brownie points from our experts. It also features a cool-touch exterior wall, so you won’t burn your fingers while cooking. In fact, the exterior only reached 44 degrees during use – this is handy as the base doesn’t have handles, so you’ll need to touch the cooker if you want to move it while it’s on.

Testers found this model best suited for easy-cook long-grain rice, but it does do a good job with basmati, too. Just note that it struggles to cook brown rice evenly and has a tendency to spit a little during the cooking process.

Key specifications

AccessoriesMeasuring cup, spatula, steamer tray
Capacity1.8L
TimerNo
Weight2.4kg
8

Cookworks 1.5L Rice Cooker

UK Approved(Esquire,Red,HB,GH,Country Living,Prima)
1.5L Rice Cooker

Pros

  • Has a ‘keep warm’ function
  • Easy to clean with a damp cloth

Cons

  • Spat a little during cooking
  • No timer or indicator to show it was finished 

Score: 76/100

For such an affordable and compact appliance, this impressed our testers with its performance. It cooks white rice well, and comes with the basic accessories you'll need.

The generous 1.5L capacity allows you to cook for larger groups, too. It's ideal for those who are on a budget and don’t have much kitchen space.

Key specifications

AccessoriesMeasuring cup and spatula
Capacity1.5L
TimerNo
Weight2.12kg
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9
Best small rice cooker

Yum Asia Panda YUM-EN06

UK Approved(Esquire,Red,HB,GH,Country Living,Prima)
Panda YUM-EN06

Pros

  • Compact design makes it great for small kitchens
  • Includes accessories such as a measuring cup, spatula and soup ladle

Cons

  • No quicker than cooking rice in a pan
  • Bowl isn’t dishwasher safe

Score: 73/100

Another Yum Asia model, this version also has a digital timer and the same cake and porridge-making capabilities as the Bamboo model, as well as a 24-hour preset option. It’s smaller, hence the lower price point, which means it’s ideal for those cooking for one to three people. It performed best when making easy-cook long white rice, which comes out light and fluffy.

Basmati rice was a little tricker – the grains were still quite hard after cooking. Our testers also spotted some dirt traps around the lid, which required extra scrubbing.

Key specifications

AccessoriesMeasuring cup, spatula and soup ladle
Capacity0.63L
TimerYes
Weight3kg
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What is a rice cooker?

A rice cooker is a simple kitchen appliance that’s designed to boil rice (surprise, surprise). It will sense when the rice needs to simmer, and then lower the heat so it doesn’t overcook – just like magic. As well as producing fluffy grains, they can keep it at the right temperature (approximately 65C) until you’re ready to serve.

As with any kitchen appliance, there is a wide range of models out there, and generally, the more premium they are, the more sensors and settings they’ll have, with some acting more like the best multi-cookers.

While you can buy a basic cooker for under £20, you'll have to spend extra for programmes that cook specific types of rice, such as sushi and congee, and for models that will cook your morning porridge oats too.


How to use a rice cooker

Cooking rice in one of these handy appliances is meant to be as simple as possible. All the models in our list come with a measuring cup so you can gauge the right amount of rice to add depending on how many you’re feeding.

When it comes to the best ratio of grains to water, it will depend on the cooker and the specific type of rice you’re using, as white, brown and basmati rice will all cook at different speeds and require varying amounts of water.

It’s best to follow the advice on your particular model, but following the instructions from our winner, the Russell Hobbs 19750 Family Rice Cooker, the general rule of thumb is to add 1.5 cups of water to every cup of rice.

For ease:

  • 2 cups of raw rice = 3 cups of water
  • 4 cups of raw rice = 6 cups of water
  • 6 cups of raw rice = 9 cups of water

What features should a rice cooker have?

All the models on this list come with a measuring cup and spatula as standard, and some have handy extras such as a tray for steaming vegetables. They can also keep your rice warm until it’s ready to serve and some have a digital display timer so you can see how much cooking time is left.

Before buying a rice cooker, think about how many people you'll be cooking for. A 1.8 litre capacity cooker can make enough rice for eight to ten people, while a more compact model with a 0.5 litre capacity can serve around three to four people.


The verdict on the best rice cookers

Our winner, the Russell Hobbs 19750 Family Rice Cooker, put in an excellent performance on test and would make a handy addition to your kitchen. It has a large capacity and is great value for money for less than £30 (currently).

But if you’re only cooking for a few people or lack storage space, we recommend the Yum Asia Panda YUM-EN06, which is more compact with a 0.63-litre bowl. It also makes porridge, bakes cakes, and steams vegetables, so you’re getting a lot of functionality for your money.


Why you should trust the Good Housekeeping Institute

Having tested products for over 100 years, we have high standards when it comes to kitchen appliances at the Good Housekeeping Institute. We use our wealth of knowledge and experience to create rigorous protocols that test products against their claims, helping us find the best on the market.

Our expert team, led by homes testing manager, Blossom Boothroyd, reviews products as you would use them at home, which means cooking up multiple batches of different types of rice, assessing ease of use and checking how easy each rice cooker is to clean (because no one wants to be scrubbing burnt grains of their machine late at night).

Megan Geall, our senior homes and lifestyle writer, has written about hundreds of kitchen appliances and keeps her ear to the ground to make sure we're testing the latest launches. She knows all the right questions to ask to ensure our reviews tell you everything you need to know before buying.


22 March 2025: This article was updated to reflect the latest prices and deals and check stock levels. We also adjusted the headlines and added links to relevant Good Housekeeping content.

23 June 2025: We added our review of the Cosori Rice Cooker, our a new runner-up.

Headshot of Megan Geall
Megan Geall
Senior Homes and Lifestyle Writer

Megan is the Good Housekeeping Institute’s senior homes and lifestyle writer. She loves diving into the latest product releases to find the very best buys on the market and has written hundreds of product reviews on everything from the best vacuum cleaners and coffee machines to the best ice cream makers and robot window cleaners.

When she’s not writing about the newest gadgets and gizmos for your home and garden, you’ll find her running every distance from 5km to 100km or relaxing at home with her cat – there really is no in between. 

Megan has an MA in Magazine Journalism and has previously written for Stylist, Glamour, Women's Health, TimeOut, SquareMeal, and YOU magazine. You can find Megan on Instagram @meganlouisegeall.

Headshot of Blossom Boothroyd
Tested byBlossom Boothroyd
Homes Testing Manager

Blossom is passionate about finding the best home products and appliances for GH readers. As head of the homes testing team, she has led reviews across multiple categories, from pizza ovens, and smart plugs to portable fans and hobs. She enjoys delving into the intricacies of products and refining testing protocols to ensure we’re testing them against their claims. Her aim is to find the top-performing products on the market, to help take the hard work out of housework. Blossom’s most notable accomplishment in the lab has been toasting 528 slices of bread in her quest to find the best toasters money can buy. In her free time, she openly admits to being a music geek and indulges her creative side through crocheting, baking, singing and writing.  

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