We all know that getting your rice on point can be a bit hit and miss, but there is a way you can get the perfect fluffy rice every time.
Yep, the best rice cookers will automatically boil, simmer and keep your rice at the ideal heat while you focus on getting the rest of your meal ready. Many will have a digital display so you can see how much time is left to cook, and some will have steaming trays so you can whip up other items in there too, like veg and fish.
Whether you’re looking to cook up a curry or paella or need a space-saving compact rice cooker or a larger capacity for a big brood, we’ve got you covered.
Keep scrolling for our pick of the best rice cookers below for seamless, stress-less food making… You won't know what you did without one.
Hello fluffy grains, goodbye burnt, messy or mushy rice...
Best rice cookers for 2021
1. Cookworks 1.5L Rice Cooker
Pop your rice on and leave it to do its thing with this Cookworks rice cooker that will do all the work for you.
There's a removable pot, non-stick bowl and 1.5L capacity (enough for four or five portions), as well as a keep-warm button if the rice is ready before you are.
One customer said: "Really impressed with my small rice cooker. I am Bangladeshi, rice is the main food, and this little kit does the right job for me. Most importantly, there is no water spreading around the cooker which is the most common problem of rice cookers present in the market. Very happy!"
Price: £22.99, Argos - buy here now
2. Wilko 1.8L Rice Cooker
Love nothing more than whipping up a big chilli for the whole family? This large capacity 1.8L rice cooker will make enough for up to eight people - all at a very purse-friendly price.
Using it couldn't be simpler, with one easy switch-on button and a light that comes on when it's finished and keeping your rice warm for you. There's a measuring cup included for easy portion control, as well as a steaming basket, perfect for steamed vegetables. A nifty little number that won't break the bank.
Price: £18, Wilko - buy here now
3. Reishunger Rice Cooker and Steamer
The perfect size for a family of four, this rice cooker is an Amazon bestseller.
It ensures an even cook, no burning, and automatically switches to keep-warm mode when the rice is ready. It's perfect for wholegrain and white rice, so think your sushi rice, aromatic rice, jasmine rice and basmati rice.
What's more, it comes with a spatula, measuring cup and steamer so you can cook your veg in it too.
Price: £40.99, Amazon - buy here now
4. Russell Hobbs 19750 1.8L Rice Cooker and Steamer
This large capacity rice cooker is ideal for bigger families, perfect for eight people.
The keep-warm function is ideal if you're not great at getting everything ready at the same time, or for any latecomers. It comes with an additional tray for steaming vegetables of even fish, and a handy spatula and measuring cup.
The non-stick removable bowl is easy to clean, as is the stainless steel exterior.
Price: £24.99, Amazon - buy here now
5. VonShef 1.8L Rice Cooker & Steamer Pot
Another great larger 1.8L option is this highly rated VonShef rice cooker, perfect for cooking all types of rice for up to eight people.
It's really simple to use with a one-touch control panel switching from a cook function to keep-warm with an indicator light. It comes with a measuring cup and serving spoon as well as measurement and water guidelines. Does the job on the tin, and very nicely indeed.
Price: £32.99, Vonhaus - buy here now
6. Tefal Cool Touch RK1568UK Rice Cooker
Keep meal times easy and stress-free with this rice cooker for gorgeous grains every time.
All you have to do is put your hard rice and water in the cooker and wait for the perfectly fluffy rice to emerge.
There's a keep-warm function so it's ready whenever you are, as well as a spoon, measuring cup and steam basked, which is also ideal for veg. The 1.8L capacity also makes it excellent for big family dinners.
Price: £28.99, Currys PC World - buy here now
7. Breville ITP181 1.8L Rice Cooker and Steamer
Take your rice straight to the table with the handy removable bowl that comes with this rice cooker, then pop it directly into the dishwasher. Easy.
This Breville number keeps things simple with two settings: cook and keep-warm. It also comes with a measuring cup, spoon, and some recipes for meal inspiration. And there's a steaming tray for fish and vegetables too. What more could you want?
Price: £29.99, Argos - buy here now
8. Lakeland 2 Portion Mini Electric Rice Cooker
If you live on your own, are a single parent, or there's just the two of you, this compact rice cooker is ideal.
Simply add your grains and recommended amount of water and press the rice button for simple one-touch cooking. There's an LED timer display as well as beep that will let you know when it's ready, but the automatic keep-warm function will ensure your food stays ready to serve for hours.
Bonus? There's also a porridge cooking button for the perfect creamy porridge at breakfast time. And, if you use the delay time feature, you can even wake up and your porridge will be good to go.
The cord is also removable so you can carry your cooked rice straight to the table, making less pots to wash. We love.
Price: £32, Lakeland - buy here now
9. Sage the Risotto Plus
If you're looking for a multi cooker to make all of the harder cooking tasks a complete breeze, we'd recommend this one. With a host of advanced features, prepare perfect fluffy rice and the rest of your meals with this nifty appliance.
Featuring programmes for slow cooking, risotto and fluffy rice every time, there's also a sear/saute function and handy steam tray for fish and veggies too.
When the rice and slow cooking settings are used, the multi cooker automatically switches to keep warm for up to five hours and will then switch itself off. Saving you another job in the kitchen, what's not to love about that?
Price: £90, John Lewis - buy here now
10. Yum Asia Bamboo Rice Cooker with Induction Heating
It's definitely a pricier option, but if you're keen to enjoy perfect rice for a lifetime, this Bamboo Rice Cooker from YumAsia is the one to keep on your radar.
There's an eight cup capacity, which will serve up to eight people, perfect for those with large families.
In a first for Europe, the smart machine uses Umai Induction Heat, which a highly advanced cooking system, with the perfect results to match. There's also pre-programmed functions perfect for slow cooking, baking and steaming foods.
There's quite a few rice settings including options for brown and white rice, long grain or short grain, as well as speciality rice dishes.
Included in the set you'll get a rice cooker, steaming basket, measuring cup, rice spatula and soup ladle.
Price: £189, Amazon - buy here now
11. Drew&Cole CleverChef 14-in-1 Intelligent Digital Multi Cooker
Feeding the five thousand? For large families or for events where you'll need to cook a lot, the CleverChef from Drew&Cole is a top pick, well worth the asking price.
Boasting an very generous 5 litre capacity, not only is it ideal to feed the family, if you're into meal prepping you can achieve all of your meals for the week in next to no time.
The multi cooker has 17 pre-programmed settings ideal for steaming, roasting, poaching, slow cooking and many more cooking styles. There's even a DIY function to customise your personal preferences.
Thanks to flavour locking technology, food is bursting with flavour and moist. With a keep warm function and 24 hour delayed timer, so even if you aren't quite ready, the food certainly will be.
Price: £56, Amazon - buy here now
12. Joseph Joseph M-Cuisine Microwave Rice Cooker
If you're pressed for space in the kitchen, a microwaveable rice cooker is a good alternative to some of the bulkier models.
This 2 litre cooking pot and lid from Joseph Joseph M-Cuisine is nice and compact, even with it's large capacity.
It also comes with a colander, measuring cup, and a multi-purpose rice paddle that locks the lid closed for cooking and also provides two carry handles for when you're done. How's that for ergonomic design?
Price: £22, John Lewis - buy here now
Any appliance that makes light work out of the time consuming and difficult cooking tasks, is an appliance we can all get behind. A rice cooker is a great piece of kit to start out with.
If you're interested in creating quick and healthy meals for the whole family, check out our roundup of the best food steamers and best soup-makers to buy.
