Finding a rice cooker that makes perfect rice every time is easy, and you can find them anywhere from 1300 Rupees up to 4000 Rupees and more. However, when it comes to finding the absolute best that money can buy, it’s a little more complicated.
The truth is, while inexpensive rice cookers will work just fine regardless of the brand most of the time, some brands are just far better than others.
In this post, we’re going to go over the 4 best rice cookers america’s test kitchen in the rice cooker game to help you narrow your search down when looking for the perfect rice cooker.
Best Rice Cooker America’s Test Kitchen 2023
The brands we list aren’t in any specific order. They’re all at the top of their class for their own reasons, and whether or not one is a better option than another is completely based on your own specific needs.
1. Tiger Rice Cookers
Tiger is a respected brand from Japan, and they’re known for having a large selection of models to choose from, fair prices, and high-end build quality.
To be more specific, Tiger’s smallest model holds just half a liter of rice, and each model gets larger up until its largest, 2.4-liter option. This means the brand has a little bit for everyone, and each model is made to extremely high-quality standards.
However, Tiger doesn’t innovate its technology as often as some other brands. This means that you won’t find a lot of high-end features such as secondary cooking modes, fuzzy logic systems, or stuff like that. You do get one of the most reliable rice cookers on the market, though.
Pros
- Various size options
- Most models have aesthetic floral designs
- High build quality
- High-quality basin coatings and shell durability
- Known for its reliability
- Some affordable options in the lineup
Cons
- Doesn’t utilize most of the latest technology
- Not a lot of sub-20-Rupee options
- Functions are limited to rice-cooking only
2. Aroma Housewares Rice Cookers
Aroma has a reputation for packing their higher-end models with luxury features, and they’ve been around long enough to build an impressive lineup of options for you to choose from.
This is the brand you want to look at if you’re interested in using your rice cooker to make other recipes such as soups, oatmeal blends, and other similar dishes. Models with steaming features can also be used to steam fresh vegetables to make more complex dishes, or just to eat on their own.
Safety features such as detachable cords and waterproofing are also very common with Aroma brand rice cookers, and warranties are offered through most purchasing outlets.
One of the most impressive features found in newer Aroma models is the “delayed start” feature. This allows you to set up your rice cooker, program it to start cooking at a certain time, and it will start up automatically. This is great for when you want to set up a meal in the morning to save time around dinner.
However, all of these high-tech features drive up the manufacturing cost, and Aroma rice cookers tend to be more expensive due to that. Some of the small models are still within the budget-friendly price range, though.
Pros
- Models include high-tech features
- Ability to cook non-rice foods
- Plentiful safety features in all available models
- High build quality and excellent non-stick coatings
- Delayed cooking
Cons
- High price tag
- Non-rice features aren’t necessary for everyone
- More difficult to operate than standard rice cookers
3. Panasonic Rice Cookers
Panasonic is a huge Japanese brand that makes a wide variety of high-quality, well-known, and reliable electronics. That includes rice cookers.
Due to Panasonic’s extensive background with electronics, the company typically includes the latest technological upgrades in its rice cooker line. This includes fuzzy logic. Fuzzy logic allows the rice cooker to make judgment calls for when rice is done, almost done, or raw. This makes it capable of making up for your mistakes with timing and other common minor issues.
Panasonic also offers a wide variety of rice cookers in various sizes, and all their build quality ratings are fairly high. While Aroma and even Tiger tend to feel higher-end, the Panasonic lineup can still compete in the same price ranges as they do.
Pros
- Reliable, multi-product brand
- Latest technological improvements
- Good components are put together well
- Various price ranges available
- Extremely user-friendly
Cons
- Not focused on luxury features with higher-end models
- Not a lot of budget options available
- Some models lack safety features and high-quality basin coatings
4. Butterfly Rice Cookers
Butterfly makes some of the highest quality budget options available, and they have options available in a range of sizes.
Butterfly doesn’t focus on fancy features. It focuses on making rice well, being easy to use, and keeping its designs simple and modern.
Butterfly makes several sub-2000-Rupee options via its Butterfly Wave series, and all of them tend to include non-slip feet, detachable cords, waterproofing in key areas, and warming modes to keep your rice warm if you don’t eat it all at once.
Some of the brand’s cheapest models have had quality control issues with the non-stick coating, but the brand offers a reasonable warranty and top-notch customer service. So, it’s easy to have a minor issue resolved.
Pros
- Affordable for almost everyone
- Perfects the basic features
- Various sizes, colors, and overall models to choose from
- Super easy to use due to simple, one-switch operation
Cons
- You won’t get the latest tech with Butterfly
What the Brands are Judged On
Of course, we can’t start listing off the best brands if we don’t have any criteria for the various rice cooker brands to meet. So, we’ll go over our general categories now. When we start listing brands, some will excel in some categories, while they lack in others. Choosing the best brand for you will depend on what criteria are more important for your needs.
General Price:
Most brands have rice cooker models available in a variety of price ranges, but we’ll be judging the brand as a whole off the general price of its most popular and reliable models.
Build Quality:
The build quality of a rice cooker refers to how well it’s put together, the quality of the components, and the overall craftsmanship of the entire product. Rice cookers don’t see a lot of abuse like pans and utensils, so they don’t need to be built to the highest standards to function properly and last. However, they do need to be durable, and having a higher build quality just makes for a higher quality product. Try to buy from a brand that has a premium feel to it.
Value:
Every brand needs to make a profit, but some can do so while providing higher quality and more features than others in the same price range. This is how much value you get from a certain brand, and it’s something to consider.
The build quality is quite good for the price, but it lacks in comparison to higher-priced product lines
Choose the Brand that Suits You
The rice cooker market is more varied than ever, and different brands offer vastly different experiences. Now that you know our top brand choices, you can look through each brand’s product lineup to find the perfect rice cooker for your needs and budget.
Leave a Reply