Rice cookers not only make a perfect pot of rice but they have a versatility that goes beyond their name.
They’re compact, which makes them friendly to small kitchens and dorm rooms. They’re great for making steaming bowls of steel-cut oatmeal, soups, beans and other foods in a fraction of the time of a slow cooker. Websites are devoted to home chefs stretching the boundaries of what this appliance can do.
I tested four brands of rice cookers, focusing on models that had settings for various types of rice or other functions, rather than just simple on/off buttons.
All of these machines turned out restaurant-quality rice, whether brown or white rice, never burning the grain. Steel-cut oatmeal also turned out great, making a hot breakfast a reality on a weekday.
The “keep warm” function for rice cookers allows home chefs to cook rice right away and hold it warm, while the delay timer is programmed to start cooking and have rice freshly finished by a chosen time of day.
Aroma 20-Cup Rice Cooker, Food Steamer and Slow Cooker
$39.99, target.com
Pros: Has several specific function buttons, such as “saute then simmer” and “slow cook,” in addition to settings for white rice, brown rice and steam. “Keep warm” function lasts up to 12 hours, and the delay timer function is programmable for up to 15 hours. “Saute then simmer” is a nice feature for cooks who want to make complete one-pot meals, which I used to saute onions and garlic before adding rice. A nonstick coating made cleanup a breeze. Good for bigger families.
Cons: Few. Because of its size, you have to cook a minimum of two cups of dry rice (which turns out to be four cups cooked), which may be too much at one time for smaller households.
Hamilton Beach Digital Simplicity Deluxe Rice Cooker/Steamer
$49.99, hamiltonbeach.com
Pros: Has a special “boil/simmer” button, which does a good job for tasks like cooking beans or soups, both of which turned out well and finished faster than they would have in a slow cooker. Has special white rice and steam setting, along with a whole grain, which is suitable for brown rice or other long-cooking grain. Includes a “keep warm” function, and delay timer is programmable up to 15 hours. Nonstick coating makes it another easy-to-clean machine. Good for bigger families.
Cons: Few. The large 20-cup capacity means you need to cook a minimum of two cups of dry rice. Fewer special function buttons compared to other machines.
Vitaclay 2-In-1 Rice N’ Slow Cooker
$89.99, vitaclaychef.com
Pros: Made of Chinese Zisha clay, it’s an alternative for people concerned about nonstick metal cookware, and it looks great sitting on the table (with a pot holder underneath). For people who like their rice with a little crust but still cooked through, the Vitaclay delivers. There are just four buttons: “rice” — or white rice — “brown rice,” “soup” and “stew.” Soups came out great even in the “keep warm” setting, and I could use my stick blender to puree right in the pot without worrying about scratching metal. The 8-cup model can cook as little as one cup of rice at a time. Good for smaller families.
Cons: Minor. Rice and oatmeal did stick to the bottom, but not as much as I anticipated. As with any breakable pot, you have to take extra care with this, like letting it cool before cleaning it (soaking it for a bit helped release all stuck-on rice). This model has a “keep warm” mode for up to 12 hours, but the manual does not recommend keeping rice this way for more than two hours as it may cause stress to the pot, unless extra liquid is added because the clay absorbs liquid.
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Zojirushi Micom Rice Cooker and Warmer
$139.85, amazon.com
Pros: Several settings for specific types of rice such as white/sushi, mixed, sweet and brown, plus two different 13-hour delay timers, a porridge, steam and cake — yes, cake — setting. I made a cheesecake in the cooker that exceeded my expectations. The porridge setting gave Zojirushi a slight edge in making oatmeal overnight. Special features include an extended “keep warm” and a reheating cycle. The smaller size allows as little as one cup of rice at a time. Pot is clear-coated stainless steel and cleaned up easily. Good for smaller families.
Cons: Few. This particular size may be too small for bigger families that want to cook more than just rice.