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Rice Cooker Battle: Zojirushi vs. Instant Pot vs. Tiger vs. Cuckoo?

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Rice Cooker Battle: Zojirushi vs. Instant Pot vs. Tiger vs. Cuckoo?

Rice is a staple of Asian cuisine and common to all Asian cultures, and there is a growing interest in cooking it properly. Preparing the ideal fluffy rice can be tricky, especially given the precise cooking times, measurements and ratios to really get a good consistency and texture. That's where a rice cooker can come in handy - it helps you make perfect rice with the push of a button every time.

Rice cookers come in many varieties, from the basic one-touch that cooks simple white rice to more high-tech options with multiple buttons with different functions to cook grains like quinoa and oatmeal, and even steam vegetables. They can also vary in price, from as low as $20 to $250, according to the experts we spoke to.

Experts divide rice cookers into two categories: traditional rice cookers and smart computer rice cookers. Traditional rice cookers tend to be very easy to use - you just add ingredients and push a button to get started. These are cheap and cook fast - some have additional features like heating.

Smart rice cookers, on the other hand, use fuzzy logic to determine the best way to cook rice, and make small adjustments on their own to achieve this, even if you screw up the ingredient ratios or leave the rice out for too long. While smart rice cookers often provide the best cooking results, they are often more expensive than traditional rice cookers, sometimes costing more than $500 or $600.

You can also find rice cooker options in popular kitchen appliances like pressure cookers (including the Instant Pot) and slow cookers (like the Crock Pot). Looking for an appliance with a rice cooker function can save you money and counter space in the long run, but experts tell us to keep in mind that even a rice cooker itself can serve a variety of purposes - some have the ability to steam vegetables and dumplings, or slow Cooker function for meat.

So, what are the best rice cookers in the world?

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Best Rice Cookers 2024

#1. Zojirushi Neuro Fuzzy Rice Cooker

Best overall rice cooker

($230.99 FROM Abt Electronics - Save 12% & Get Up To 4% Cash Back)

The Zojirushi Neuro Fuzzy consistently had the best results in all of our cooking tests. It cooked perfectly fluffy rice every time and has handy features that make it a must for people who cook and eat rice regularly.

After producing consistent and delicious brown rice, short grain white rice and jasmine rice, this Zojirushi rice cooker is our top choice. It's the only cookware with side handles on the inner pot, which makes removing rice easier and safer.

It incorporates "fuzzy logic," which means a microchip inside the device can adjust the temperature and cooking time to compensate for any wrongly measured water-to-meter ratio.

Zojirushi provides convenient presets for most rice types, and when combined with the machine's "fuzzy logic", cooks brown rice, porridge, sushi rice and more to perfection. Its retractable power cord and plastic folding handle also make it easy to transport and store. Assembled in Japan, this rice cooker is sturdy and durable, and its brand name guarantees durability.

While we love its presets, we found this cooker's control panel to be less than intuitive. In order to successfully select the correct menu option and start cooking, we had to hold the rice cooker with one hand and press it hard for it to respond. However, this little inconvenience didn't stop us from liking this Zojirushi, as it was consistently the highest quality rice in our tests.

#2. Zojirushi NS-TSC18 MICOM Rice Cooker and Warmer

($209.99 FROM Abt Electronics - Save 10% & Get Up To 4% Cash Back)

Zojirushis is the Tesla of rice cookers. They're high-tech, stylish, and not cheap.

But if you're looking for the best, it's the Zojirushi NS-TSC18 MICOM, Zojirushi is the best - they're best known for their rice cookers.

Specifically, the 10-cup model "has a digital control panel, fuzzy logic technology, [and] it's insulated," but it also offers "different settings and programs, like a delay timer, which allows you to put your Soak the rice too. You just have a chance to do more with it.

Featuring interchangeable melody and beep signals, reheat cycles, and automatic and extended keep warm, this advanced countertop appliance utilizes a microcomputer chip (hence the name "MICOM") to determine the cooking process based on what you're preparing. In addition, It's a breeze to use and clean thanks to its convenient 6 oz measuring cup, removable nonstick inner pot, clear coated stainless steel casing, built-in retractable cord, and nonstick rice spatula and spatula holder.

But wait, this gadget is more than just convenience and versatility. In the Good Housekeeping Institute road test, the NS-TSC18 MICOM consistently produced perfect, even rice. It's soft, fluffy, and better than any other machine-made rice they've tested.

#3. Cuckoo CR-0655F Rice Cooker

Budget pick

($89.99 FROM Home Depot - Save 10% & Get Up To 7% Cash Back)

The Cuckoo CR-0655F cooked rice that was delicious and a big upgrade from stovetop rice, though not on the same level as the Neuro Fuzzy. It also has similar features such as "Quick Cook" and "Keep Warm," and it costs considerably less than the Zojirushi, making it the perfect rice cooker for people who want to spend less.

#4. Instant Pot Duo Plus

($79.99 FROM Home Depot - Get Up To 7% Cash Back)

They say variety is the spice of life, and if you want to get the most out of your rice cooker, the Instant Pot Duo Plus will maximize your counter space and kitchen appliance budget.

Featuring 15 customizable smart programs, this gadget offers all the classic one-touch Instant Pot cooking functions—including slow cooker, rice cooker, and steam—plus a few extras like boil eggs and bake cakes , sous-vide and sterilization.

P "The Instant Pot's rice function heats it to the right temperature, and the pre-programmed setting cooks it for about 11 minutes, then lets you know it's done," Papantoniou said. "But unlike a rice cooker, it doesn't cook based on sensors, it cooks based on time, so when the appliance finishes cooking, your rice is done."

While the Duo Plus lacks the preheat and poultry settings of more enhanced Instant Pots, we still appreciate its user-friendly anti-rotation design, 10 safety features (including overheat protection and a safety locking lid), and a steam release switch when you close the lid , it will reset automatically.

#5. Tiger Micom 5.5-Cup Rice Cooker

$80.17 AT AMAZON

The Tiger rice cooker was another top pick, but was eliminated by Zojirushi because the white rice in the Tiger rice cooker is a bit dry (great for fried rice), has only 4 cooking functions, and has the largest footprint. Compared to all other rice cookers we've tested, the Tiger cooks the best brown rice yet. With a specific brown rice cooking function, cooked for an hour, the result is tender grains. If you are a brown rice lover, this rice cooker is for you. This rice cooker has a special feature called Simultaneous Cooking, which is a special recipe designed to cook the main course and rice at the same time. See the manual and Tiger's website for more recipes.

Rice Cooker Battle: Zojirushi vs. Instant Pot vs. Tiger vs.Cuckoo?

	Zojirushi Neuro Fuzzy	Zojirushi NS-TSC18	Cuckoo CR-0655F	TIGER JBV-A10U	Instant Pot Duo Plus 9-in-1
Editor's review	Who it's for: People looking for a fuzzy logic rice cooker with all the bells and whistles. Who it isn't for: People looking for a faster rice cooker.	If you cook a lot of rice or many different types of rice, this high-end model may be worth the investment.	If you don't mind paying a premium for style, this rice cooker offers a lot of features and a modern look.	Who it's for: People who primarily make brown rice and people who want to cook their rice and another dish at the same time. Who it isn't for: People who want a more versatile rice cooker.	Who it's for: People who want a multi-functional cooker. Who it isn't for: People who specifically need or want a rice cooker.
Advantage	Makes fluffy rice every time Will never burn on the bottom Wide variety of settings Super easy to clean Sings a song when you start cooking and when the rice is done Will last practically a whole lifetime Top handle for easy moving	Cooks evenly Portable Keeps rice warm for up to 24 hours Wide range of rice types	LCD display with six settings Keeps rice warm for up to 24 hours Nice design Automatic steam cleaning function	Made for making full meals at once Lots of features in addition to rice cooking Makes much better rice than the cheaper options	Seven different cooking functions Cooks very quickly Easy to clean
Disadvantage	The cooking time is a bit slow	Pricey	Cleaning requires removing multiple small parts	Steaming tray is shallow Can only cook vegetables or proteins for one to two people at a time	Doesn't cook rice as well as dedicated rice cookers Somewhat of a learning curve when cooking rice
Details	Model Name Neuro Fuzzy Rice Cooker, Made in Japan Brand Zojirushi Color Premium White Material Stainless Steel Capacity 1 Liters Wattage 680.00 Measures approximately 14 by 8 by 9 inches; 1-year limited warranty, Dimensions (W x D x H) : 10-1/8 x 13 x 8-1/8 inches	Brand Zojirushi Color Stainless Brown Material Stainless Steel Capacity 1.8 Liters Wattage 820 watts Item Weight 11.88 Pounds Electrical Rating:120 volts. Dimensions (W x D x H): 11.12 x 15 x 9.87 inches	Model Name CR-0655F Rice Cooker Brand CUCKOO Color Red/White Material Plastic Capacity 1.08 Liters Wattage 700 watts	Model Name JBV-A10U Brand Tiger Corporation Color White Material Plastic Capacity 5.5 Cups Item Weight 5.7 Pounds Dimensions (inches) : W 10.6 x D 13.9 x H 8.4	Brand Instant Pot Capacity 6 Quarts Material Stainless steel Color Stainless Steel/Black Special Feature Electric Stovetop Compatible Wattage 1000 watts
Ranking	No. 1	No. 2	No. 3	No. 4	No. 5

What brand of rice cooker should I buy?

The Zojirushi from Japan is one of our top models, but it did quite well in our tests. Given its excellent performance in the Jasmine Rice Cooking Test, and its high scores for the way it cooks Japanese rice, we do think that chefs who make a lot of Japanese rice might find this Zojirushi model worth checking out.