Best Microwave Rice Cookers

Best Microwave Rice Cookers

Casey Thaler, NASM-CPT, FNS

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Casey Thaler, NASM-CPT, FNS
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Rice is a staple of nearly every popular dietary approach. However, it can be ore than a bit tricky to cook perfectly. That’s where the best microwave rice cookers come in.

These cookers not only making cooking rice a breeze – they are epically fast. You can usually cook about a cup of rice in just 15 minutes – start to finish.

This makes cooking large amounts of rice very easy, which can save you lots of time, if you properly utilize this time-saving benefit for meal prep. There are thousands of rice cookers on the market, but we aggregated millions of customer reviews, tested the top models, and can easily recommend the best microwave rice cookers on the market today.

Our Top Pick

Joseph Joseph Microwave Rice Cooker

This extremely reliable and easy-to-use rice cooker is our top pick. It has thousands of five-star customer reviews, comes in at a great price point, and cooked every batch of rice we tried – absolutely flawlessly.

While you can certainly spend more to get either a machine with other functions, or a more deluxe rice cooker – we think this is the model that most people will want. It is also very reliable, and holds up well over time. Our highest recommendation.

Other Great Picks

Prep Solutions Microwave Rice Cooker

This microwave rice cooker from Prep Solutions costs barely more than a Big Mac – but it performs absolutely flawlessly. Additionally, it worked great with the past we tested it with, meaning you get even more value (even though you’ll spend almost nothing to buy this machine).

In terms of value, this is probably one of the best products we’ve ever reviewed – in any category. If you want a perfect way to cook rice or pasta – but you also want to the least amount of money possible – make sure you grab this machine. Two thumbs (way) up.

Sistema Microwave Rice Cooker

This well-designed rice cooker is made from virgin plastic, and is also completely BPA-free. We tried cooking couscous in it, as well as rice, and both came out flawless.

While it is not the most deluxe machine (and also not the most expensive) – this appliance is a great budget pick. With thousands of great user reviews, the unanimous decision is that this is a near-perfect kitchen appliance to pick up. A definite recommendation.

Dash Mini Rice Cooker

This cute mini cooker from Dash also has great performance. In addition to testing its ability to cook rice, we also tested out how this machine would cook oatmeal – and we were not disappointed with the results.

The food ended up moist, warm, and perfectly cooked. If you want to cook lots of diverse foods, but don’t want to spend a ton of money – this is a perfect solution. Another solid choice.

Home & Appliances Rice Cooker

With thousands of great customer reviews, and a very easy-to-use interface – we highly recommend this machine. We were able to cook 2 cups of rice in just over 12 minutes, and the results were nearly perfect.

One word of caution though – this machine gets very hot. We weren’t as familiar with this brand before testing this appliance, but were definitely pleasantly surprised with the results.

Black And Decker RC506

Black and Decker is well known for their kitchen products, and this is yet another winner. If you don’t mind spending a few more dollars, we recommend opting for the 14 cup cooker, as it provides even greater value.

Plus, with a 14 cup capacity, you can have enough rice for one or two weeks, cooked completely – in almost no time. With tens of thousands of great customer reviews, and a near-perfect score, it’s almost impossible to top this appliance. Another absolutely fantastic pick.

Instant Zest Rice Cooker

With the ability to cook quinoa, oatmeal, as well as both brown and white rice, this affordable rice cooker from Instant Pot is yet another solid selection. Of course, Instant Pot is most known for their multi-cookers, but this stripped down model works just as well as their flagship products.

If you strictly want a rice cooker, opt for the slightly more expensive models – which will provide far greater capacity. However, if you want the ability to cook lots of other foods as well, opt for the more traditional Instant Pot. No matter which model you choose, the performance will be top notch.

Hamilton Beach Oatmeal And Rice Cooker

Hamilton Beach is one of our favorite kitchen appliance manufacturers. Their products are always well-made, well-tested, and reasonably priced.

This oatmeal and rice cooker is no exception. We got great results for both our rice and oatmeal tests, and would truly recommend this machine to anyone. Another winner from Hamilton Beach.

Lekue Microwave Rice Cooker

This modestly priced quinoa and rice cooker from Lekue worked great in all of our tests. While you can certainly spend more to get a machine that cooks even more types of food, if you’re looking for a reliable rice cooker – this is a great selection.

The stellar user reviews that you can cook vegetables with this machine as well, but we only tried it with quinoa and rice. So try experimenting with different types of food, to get the most value out of this fantastic kitchen appliance.

Fasta Pasta Microwave Cooker

This highly affordable cooker from Fasta Pasta is another winner. With the ability to easily cook your favorite types of pasta, in addition to rice, it will save you both time and money.

We recommend trying to cook spaghetti with it, as our results were mouth-watering. If you love your starches and carbs, this is truly a must-have kitchen appliance. Highly recommended.

What Is A Microwave Rice Cooker?

A microwave rice cooker is a device meant for cooking your favorite foods quickly. Simply put water and rice in the device, and then place it in the microwave.

In just minutes, you’ll have a finished dish. The more expensive microwave rice cookers come with lots of other ways to cook different foods, so be sure to consider your needs, before making a purchase.

Can You Make Popcorn In A Microwave Rice Cooker?

This will depend on your specific model, as some machines allow you to cook popcorn with no issues – while others highly recommend not doing this. If you plan on cooking a lot of popcorn, be sure to choose a model that specifically allows for this.

Of course, you can also choose microwave popcorn, which will only require you to utilize your microwave to cook the corn. Microwave rice cookers are often able to cook lots of other foods, so look carefully at a machine’s specifications before you purchase one, if you want the ability to do this.

How Do I Cook 1 Cup Of Rice In The Microwave?

If you want to use your normal microwave to cook rice, there are only a few steps you need to follow. First, make sure you are using a microwave safe bowl (or cooker).

Next, make sure you mix the rice with water. In our tests, a 2 to 1 ratio of water to rice, led to near-perfect results every time.

You can modify your own recipe with butter, salt, or anything else you can dream up, of course. We like to mix in a tiny bit of grass-fed butter after cooking rice in the microwave, about 1 tablespoon tastes best – at least in our opinion.

How Long Do Rice Cookers Last?

Budget models of rice cookers typically last 2-3 years (sometimes longer), while more deluxe models can last 10 years (or more). If you want to cook rice on a daily basis, we strongly suggest opting for a premium model.

Not only do these machines typically last longer, they will be able to cook a wider variety of foods. Unless your budget is very limited, or you plan on only sparingly cooking rice, we think that everyone will be better suited with a more deluxe machine.

Are Cheap Rice Cookers Good?

More affordable rice cookers will still cook your food, but they may be lacking in more advanced features. It really comes down to how often you think you might use your machine.

If you only plan on using your rice cooker sparingly, a cheaper model may be all you need. If you’re going to use it daily, then we’d highly recommend you choose a premium model, that is built more to that sort of heavy duty use.

Can Basmati Rice Be Cooked In A Rice Cooker?

Yes, basmati rice can be easily cooked in a rice cooker. Most rice cookers can also handle other foods, like grains, quinoa, porridge, and other types of food with similar textures.

The cook times may not be that different, though you should still check your owner’s manual, for exact instructions. The level of water required will likely also vary, so be sure to carefully read any instructions that come with your specific machine.

Why Are Japanese Rice Cookers So Expensive?

At first glance, there doesn’t seem to be a reason why some rice cookers would be 10 times more expensive than other models. However, once you peek under the hood, it’s clear to see the difference.

Upscale devices will have microchips that can detect the type of food you’re cooking, and the temperature that it needs to be cooked at. There is even a specific type of technology, called fuzzy logic, that will be present in more expensive models.

In less expensive models, this technology will be absent. It’s the reason why Instant Pot multi-cookers can handle all different types of food, and still cook them flawlessly.

Cheap rice cookers will still cook your food, but the quality may be slightly lower. You may notice uneven cooking, or excessive dryness (or wetness) in some grains of rice.

Do Rice Cookers Go Bad?

This is one of those occasions where spending more on a premium model, usually guarantees a longer lasting product. While the more expensive models can last up to 10 years (or more), if you regularly use a cheaper model, they can sometimes only last for 2 or 3 years, in some cases.

Our advice is to consider how often you plan on using your rice cooker. If it’s going to be daily use, we highly recommend investing in a premium model.

If you think you will rarely need your cooker, a budget model may be a better option for you. While spending more doesn’t always guarantee a device that will last forever, for rice cookers, this axiom seems to be fairly accurate.

Extra Features For Microwave Rice Cookers

If you want the best microwave rice cooker, you’ll want to look for other, additional features. This can be simple features like handles on the cooker itself, or a rice paddle to help stir your food.

A measuring cup is another good feature to look for, as well as extra spoons, lids, and bowls. If you opt for a more deluxe model, extra features can include microchips that detect the type and temperature of the food you are cooking.

These chips will automatically make adjustments – often while the cooking is already under way. This results in food that is perfectly cooked, with no extra wetness, dryness, or uneven spots.

If you can afford it, we highly recommend getting a more expensive rice cooker. That’s because these machines offer a ton of value, at still-affordable prices.

Instant Pot is one of the best multi-cookers on the market, and not only can these machines cook rice – they can typically cook any other type of food you can imagine. If you only need a simple rice cooker, however, we recommend spending $20, and opting for one of our budget machines – you won’t be disappointed.

The Best Microwave Rice Cookers

There you have it – our top picks for the best microwave rice cookers. Whether you want a bare bones machine, or a complete deluxe package, we have you covered.

Rice cookers are a unique kitchen appliance, and they are often worth a good investment. If you liked our review of these appliances, be sure to check out some of our other kitchen product reviews.

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