Best Rice Cookers 2026
Here are the best rice cookers for 2026 — 6 rice cookers ranked from the best overall to the best value and the best compact picks. This list mirrors the full product set from Good Housekeeping’s 6 Best Rice Cookers roundup (updated March 8, 2023), keeping each cooker’s original award, so you can compare the top rated rice cooker options side by side and pick the one that fits your kitchen.
How this list was built: the 6 cookers below are the complete set from Good Housekeeping’s tested roundup. Awards and specs follow that roundup; these cookers were not re-tested by us. Prices change, so check the retailer’s page for the current price.
Our Top 3 Picks
- Best Overall: Zojirushi 10-Cup Micom Rice Cooker and Warmer — the most consistent white rice in testing.
- Best Value: NutriBullet EveryGrain Cooker — excellent brown rice and an easy control panel.
- Best Compact: Black + Decker 6-Cup Rice Cooker and Food Steamer — simple one-button cooking for small kitchens.
Rice Cooker Comparison
| Product | Award | Capacity | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zojirushi 10-Cup Micom Rice Cooker and Warmer | Best Overall | 10 cups | Micom |
| NutriBullet EveryGrain Cooker | Best Value | 10 cups | Digital multifunction |
| Black + Decker 6-Cup Rice Cooker and Food Steamer | Best Compact | 6 cups | Basic |
| Instant 20-Cup Rice Cooker | Best Large Capacity | 20 cups | Digital multifunction |
| Toshiba Rice Cooker | Best for Brown Rice and Grains | 12 cups | Induction |
| Greenpan Ceramic Nonstick 8-Cup Rice Cooker | Easiest to Use | 8 cups | Induction |
1. Zojirushi 10-Cup Micom Rice Cooker and Warmer — Best Overall
Zojirushi 10-Cup Micom Rice Cooker and Warmer
Zojirushi has been making rice cookers for over a century, and it shows. This Micom (micro-computerized) model uses fuzzy logic to think for itself, adjusting temperature and…
Zojirushi has been making rice cookers for over a century, and it shows. This Micom (micro-computerized) model uses fuzzy logic to think for itself, adjusting temperature and timing as the rice cooks. In testing, it turned out white rice that was fluffy and tender with a nice bite, and quinoa cooked up well too. It comes with presets for white, brown, sweet, and mixed rice, the lid detaches for easy cleaning, and the power cord retracts for storage.
Pros
- Perfectly cooked white rice
- Retractable plug cable
Cons
- Longer cook times than other models
2. NutriBullet EveryGrain Cooker — Best Value
This is the pick for anyone who wants a do-everything cooker without the fuss. It offers eight settings with dedicated presets for brown rice, white rice, oats, quinoa, and other grains, plus a steam preset. In testing it produced brown rice that was tender without being mushy, and the control panel was straightforward to use. The steaming basket, spatula, and measuring cup are all dishwasher safe.
Pros
- Perfectly cooked brown rice
- Intuitive control panel
Cons
- Control panel does not display remaining cook time
3. Black + Decker 6-Cup Rice Cooker and Food Steamer — Best Compact
If you want the simplest possible rice cooker, this is it: one button, two settings (cook and warm), and a glass lid so you can watch the rice without lifting it. Testing showed nice, fluffy white rice that released from the pot easily. It’s small, lightweight, and easy to store, which makes it a natural fit for dorm rooms, first apartments, and small kitchens. All removable pieces are dishwasher safe.
Pros
- Affordable
- Glass lid to monitor cooking progress
Cons
- Foaming and spillover when cooking brown rice
4. Instant 20-Cup Rice Cooker — Best Large Capacity
From the maker of the Instant Pot, this cooker is built for big batches: it can yield up to 20 cups of cooked rice and keep it warm for up to 10 hours. It has eight settings covering white rice, brown rice, carb reduce, quinoa, mixed grains, slow cook, sauté, and steam. In testing it cooked faster than other models of its size and still handled a single cup of rice well. The stainless steel steam basket, spatula, and measuring cup are all dishwasher safe.
Pros
- All detachable pieces are dishwasher-safe
- Cooked faster than other models of its size
Cons
- Cook time countdown is only for the last minute
5. Toshiba Rice Cooker — Best for Brown Rice and Grains
Toshiba launched the first automatic electric rice cooker back in 1955, and this induction model carries that experience forward. In testing, quinoa came out perfectly on the multigrain setting and brown rice cooked up nicely with no sticking on the bottom. A thoughtful touch: the buttons have Braille markings alongside the labels. It also has a handle for carrying the cooker and a cook-time countdown on the control panel.
Pros
- Cook time countdown on control panel
- Handle for carrying rice cooker
Cons
- Longer cook times
6. Greenpan Ceramic Nonstick 8-Cup Rice Cooker — Easiest to Use
Made with GreenPan’s signature diamond-infused ceramic nonstick coating, this induction cooker is the most straightforward machine in the lineup. The digital control panel lays out all the presets — white rice, brown rice, quinoa, steel-cut oats, soup, keep warm, delay cook, and an adjustable timer — and shows the cook time remaining. It also uses fuzzy logic, and in testing it finished white rice in about 25 minutes, faster than many of the others.
Pros
- Cook time countdown on control panel
- Adjustable timer
Cons
- Hard to read markings on the interior of pot
How to Choose a Rice Cooker
Start with capacity: a 6-cup cooker suits one or two people, while 10 cups and up make sense for families or anyone who batch-cooks. Next, look at the type. Basic cookers have a single switch that flips from cook to warm. Digital cookers add a display and programmable timer. Micom (micro-computerized) models go further, using fuzzy logic to adjust temperature and timing on the fly. If you want to cook more than rice — oatmeal, quinoa, steamed vegetables — look for a model with steaming and sauté functions. Finally, check the cleanup: a detachable inner lid and dishwasher-safe accessories make a real difference day to day.
FAQs
What is the best rice cooker overall?
In the Good Housekeeping Institute’s testing, the Zojirushi 10-Cup Micom Rice Cooker and Warmer earned top marks thanks to consistently fluffy, tender white rice and a retractable power cord that keeps storage tidy.
Which rice cooker is best for a small kitchen or a beginner?
The Black + Decker 6-Cup Rice Cooker and Food Steamer. It’s compact, lightweight, and runs on a single button, with a glass lid that lets you check on the rice without lifting it.
Can these cookers handle more than plain rice?
Yes. Most of the models above have presets for brown rice, quinoa, oatmeal, and mixed grains, and several include a steam basket for vegetables.
What does Micom mean?
Micom stands for micro-computerized. A Micom rice cooker uses fuzzy logic to adjust the temperature and cooking time automatically, rather than simply boiling until the water is gone.
What is the best rice cooker?
The Zojirushi 10-Cup Micom Rice Cooker and Warmer is the best overall rice cooker in this lineup.
What is the best value rice cooker?
The NutriBullet EveryGrain Cooker is the best value rice cooker in this lineup.
What is the best compact rice cooker?
The Black + Decker 6-Cup Rice Cooker and Food Steamer is the best compact rice cooker in this lineup.
What is the best rice cooker for brown rice?
The Toshiba Rice Cooker is the best for brown rice and grains pick in this lineup.
What is the best large capacity rice cooker?
The Instant 20-Cup Rice Cooker is the best large capacity rice cooker in this lineup, and the Greenpan Ceramic Nonstick 8-Cup is the easiest to use pick.
Conclusion
The right rice cooker comes down to how you eat. For the most consistent rice across the board, the Zojirushi 10-Cup Micom is the one to beat. If brown rice and grains are your staples, the NutriBullet EveryGrain or the Toshiba will serve you well. Small kitchens and beginners should look at the Black + Decker 6-Cup, big families at the Instant 20-Cup, and anyone who wants the simplest controls at the Greenpan. Any of the six will cook better rice than a pot left to its own devices.
