So, you’re searching for the best rice cooker in the UK, but with so many options, it’s hard to know where to start. No worries—we’ve got you covered! In this guide, we review the top rice cookers, focusing on performance, ease of use, and value.

Whether you need a high-tech multi-cooker, a compact model, or a budget-friendly option, we’ve tested them all to help you decide.

We spent hours testing rice cookers across multiple categories, from advanced Fuzzy Logic models to simple one-touch designs. Key factors like cooking consistency, versatility, durability, and ease of cleaning were central to our reviews.

Our Editor’s Pick, the COSORI Rice Cooker, Slow Cooker & Steamer, stood out for its 17-in-1 functionality, precision cooking, and user-friendly design—a fantastic kitchen upgrade. Need something compact? The Yum Asia Panda Mini Rice Cooker delivers excellent results in a small, stylish package.

On a budget? The VonShef Small Rice Cooker is a great value with easy, one-touch operation. And the one to avoid? The Quest 35450 2.5L Rice Cooker—messy spills and durability issues make it a pass. Ready for perfectly cooked rice every time? Let’s dive in!

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The Key to Perfect Rice: Features Your Cooker Needs

When investing in a rice cooker, there are certain features and performance standards that should be a given. A good rice cooker should not only cook rice efficiently but also offer consistency, ease of use, and convenience. Here’s what you should expect as standard:

• Even Cooking: A well-designed rice cooker should evenly distribute heat, ensuring no burnt or undercooked grains.
• Automatic Keep-Warm Mode: Once cooking is complete, the cooker should automatically switch to a keep rice warm mode to maintain the perfect temperature.
• Non-Stick Inner Pot: Prevents rice from sticking and makes cleanup much easier.
• One-Touch Operation or Digital Controls: Whether a basic model or an advanced one, controls should be intuitive and user-friendly.
• Clear Water Measurement Markings: Inside the pot for accurate rice-to-water ratios.
• Lid Venting System: Prevents excessive steam buildup and minimises mess.
• Reliable Build Quality: A sturdy exterior and durable inner pot that can withstand regular use.

Design and Build Quality

The design and construction of a rice cooker play a huge role in its longevity and usability. When choosing the best rice cooker, consider the following:

• Material: Stainless steel exteriors are durable and resistant to wear, while high-quality plastic models should feel sturdy and not flimsy.
• Inner Pot Coating: A ceramic-coated pot is more durable and free from harmful chemicals like PTFE and PFOA, while non-stick coatings should be of high quality to prevent peeling.
• Size & Capacity: Choose based on your needs. A 3-cup cooker is ideal for individuals or couples, while a 5-10 cup model is better for families.
• Weight & Portability: If you plan to store the cooker away after use, consider a lighter, more compact model.
• Lid Type: A hinged lid prevents spills and retains heat better than a detachable lid, which is easier to clean.

Smart Additions for a More Versatile Rice Cooker

Beyond the basics, some rice cookers offer additional functions that enhance convenience and versatility. Here are some key extras to look for:

• Fuzzy Logic Technology: Automatically adjusts time and temperature for the best results.
• Multiple Cooking Modes: Options for white and brown rice, sushi rice, porridge, and even soup or cake.
• Quick Cook Function: Reduces cooking time for busy days.
• Delay Timer: Allows you to schedule cooking in advance for fresh rice when needed.
• Dual Cooking & Steaming: A built-in steamer basket lets you cook vegetables or proteins simultaneously.
• Induction Heating: Provides more precise temperature control for perfectly cooked rice.
• Smart Features: Some high-end models come with Wi-Fi connectivity or app control for remote operation.

By considering these factors, you’ll be able to find the best rice cooker that fits your needs, ensuring perfectly cooked rice every time with minimal effort.

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Editors Pick

COSORI Rice Cooker, Slow Cooker & Steamer

The COSORI Rice Cooker is a versatile multi-cooker designed to handle much more than just rice. With 17 functions, it simplifies meal preparation while delivering consistently great results.

Key Features

• Fuzzy Logic Technology: Adjusts temperature and cooking time automatically for perfect white rice, sushi rice, and brown rice.
• Multi-Cooker Functionality: Steam vegetables, slow cook meats, sauté ingredients, make soups, jams, or even cake.
• User-Friendly Controls: The touch interface is responsive and easy to navigate, making meal prep effortless.
• Quick Rice Mode: Cooks white rice in just 35 minutes without sacrificing quality.
• Delay Timer & Keep Warm: Schedule meals in advance and enjoy food that stays warm until ready to serve.
• Easy Cleaning: Dishwasher-safe accessories make post-meal cleanup simple.

The COSORI Rice Cooker is an impressive all-in-one kitchen appliance that delivers consistently excellent results. Rice comes out perfectly fluffy, while the slow cook function produces tender, juicy meats with minimal effort.

The sauté and sear functions work brilliantly (no need for extra pans), and steaming locks in nutrients for healthier meals.

Its 17-in-1 functionality makes it incredibly versatile—ideal for rice, soups, stews, and even desserts. The Fuzzy Logic Technology ensures precision cooking, and the Quick Rice Mode is a time-saver. The Delay Timer and Keep Warm features add convenience, making meal prep effortless.

While it lacks a pressure cook function (so some meals take longer), and timers can’t be adjusted mid-cycle, these are minor trade-offs for such a well-rounded device.

Overall, this is a highly capable, reliable, and well-designed multi-cooker that makes cooking easy and enjoyable. A fantastic addition to any kitchen!

Runner Up

Yum Asia Panda Mini Rice Cooker With Ninja Ceramic Bowl

The Yum Asia Panda Mini Rice Cooker is a compact yet feature-packed appliance designed for individuals and couples. With Fuzzy Logic AI technology, multiple cooking functions, and a durable ceramic-coated inner bowl, it offers a hassle-free way to cook perfect rice every time.

Key Features

• Fuzzy Logic AI Technology: Automatically adjusts temperature and cooking time for white, brown, sushi, and quick-cook rice.
• Multiple Cooking Functions: Supports porridge, slow cooking, steaming, and cake baking in addition to rice.
• Ninja Ceramic-Coated Inner Bowl: A 5-layer, 2mm thick ceramic-coated bowl that is BPA, PTFE, and PFOA-free for safe and even cooking.
• Keep Warm & Timer Function: Keeps rice at an optimal serving temperature for up to 24 hours and allows pre-set cooking up to a day in advance.
• Compact & Space-Saving Design: With a 3.5-cup capacity, it is ideal for small kitchens, individuals, or couples.

The Yum Asia Panda Mini Rice Cooker impressed us with its superb performance and ease of use. The LED display and smart button controls made operation effortless, and the 7-phase cooking cycle consistently delivered perfectly textured rice.

The Ninja ceramic-coated inner bowl prevented sticking, making cleanup quick and hassle-free. Beyond rice, it also handles porridge, steaming, slow cooking, and even cake baking, making it a versatile kitchen companion.

The keep warm and timer functions are especially useful, ensuring fresh, warm rice whenever needed. However, the steaming function is best suited for smaller portions, which may not be ideal for larger meals.

Additionally, the price is higher than basic models, but the quality and precision justify the investment. Overall, if you cook rice frequently and want exceptional results with minimal effort, this rice cooker is one of the best choices available. It’s compact, stylish, and incredibly reliable.

Budget Rice Cooker Pick

VonShef Small Rice Cooker 0.3L – Electric Rice Steamer for 2

The VonShef Small Rice Cooker offers a simple, efficient way to cook perfect rice with minimal effort. Designed for small portions, it’s an excellent choice for individuals or couples who want a hassle-free cooking experience.

Key Features

• Perfect for Small Portions: With a 300ml capacity, this rice cooker is ideal for single servings or side dishes for two, reducing food waste.
• One-Touch Operation: Just add rice and water, press the button, and let it do the work—no complicated settings required.
• Automatic Keep Warm Mode: Once the rice is cooked, the cooker switches to keep-warm mode, ensuring your rice stays hot until you’re ready to eat.
• Compact & Space-Saving: Its small footprint makes it perfect for kitchens with limited counter space, student dorms, and caravans.
• Easy to Clean: The non-stick inner pot prevents rice from sticking and makes cleanup quick and simple. The detachable power cord also helps with storage.

The VonShef Small Rice Cooker is a fantastic choice for anyone looking for a compact, easy-to-use solution for perfectly cooked rice. We tested it with different rice varieties, and the results were consistently fluffy, well-cooked, and delicious.

The one-touch operation makes cooking effortless, while the automatic keep-warm function ensures the rice stays at the perfect temperature until you’re ready to eat.

Its small size is ideal for single servings or side dishes for two (great for reducing food waste), and the non-stick inner pot makes cleanup a breeze. We also loved the detachable power cord for easy storage.

While it doesn’t have an audible alert when cooking is complete, the indicator light is simple to check. The limited capacity makes it best suited for individuals or couples rather than larger households.

Overall, this VonShef rice cooker is a brilliant choice for effortless, space-saving rice cooking with minimal cleanup.

Easy To Use Pick

Lakeland 2 Portion Mini Electric Rice Cooker

The Lakeland 2 Portion Mini Electric Rice Cooker is a compact and efficient solution for cooking perfect rice with minimal effort. Designed for small households, it eliminates the guesswork and delivers consistently fluffy rice every time.

Key Features

• Perfect Portions: Designed for 1-2 servings, reducing waste.
• Effortless Cooking: Just add rice and water, press a button, and let it cook—no need to monitor.
• Consistent Results: Automatically adjusts cooking time for the perfect texture.
• Multi-Functionality: Also prepares porridge with a delay function for overnight soaking.
• Keep-Warm Mode: Maintains the ideal temperature for up to 12 hours.
• Compact & Space-Saving: Small enough for any kitchen counter.
• Non-Stick Removable Pan: Dishwasher-safe and easy to clean.
• Energy Efficient: Uses less power than cooking on a stovetop.

The Lakeland 2 Portion Mini Electric Rice Cooker is a compact and highly efficient kitchen essential. We found it incredibly easy to use—just add rice and water using the included measuring cup, press a button, and let it do the work.

The one-touch LED operation and automatic keep-warm mode make cooking effortless. It’s not just for rice—its porridge function is a game-changer, allowing us to wake up to a warm, perfectly cooked breakfast (a huge time-saver for busy mornings).

The non-stick removable pan makes cleaning a breeze, and its space-saving design is ideal for small kitchens. While we noticed slight steam leakage from the vent, it wasn’t a major issue and was easy to wipe up.

Overall, this rice cooker delivers consistently great results, making it a fantastic choice for anyone who wants perfectly cooked rice and porridge with minimal effort.

Most Versatile Pick

Midea Rice Cooker With Steamer, 5 Litre

The Midea 5L Rice Cooker is a versatile kitchen appliance designed to simplify meal preparation. With its multi-cooking functions, precise temperature control, and user-friendly design, it offers a reliable solution for both everyday meals and special dishes.

Key Features

• Multi-Function Cooking: Cooks rice, steams vegetables, slow-cooks meat, and prepares soups, porridge, and bread.
• Six-Step Cooking Process: Ensures perfect texture, chewiness, and aroma.
• Smart Temperature Control: Prevents spills and optimises heat distribution.
• Large 10-Cup Capacity: Ideal for households of 1-5 people.
• Auto Keep-Warm & Timer: Keeps rice fresh with a 24-hour delay timer.
• Easy to Clean: Removable non-stick pot, detachable lid, and valve.
• Durable & Elegant Design: Sleek, modern, and built to last.

The Midea 5L Rice Cooker impressed us with its versatility and performance. The six-step cooking process consistently produced fluffy, perfectly textured rice, while the auto keep-warm mode kept meals fresh for hours.

Its multi-cooking functions (including steaming, slow cooking, and porridge-making) added incredible convenience, making meal prep effortless.

Cleaning was surprisingly easy, thanks to the removable non-stick inner pot and detachable lid. The intelligent temperature control helped prevent spills, keeping the kitchen mess-free.

One minor drawback is the cooking time, which can be longer than expected for certain dishes (around 40 minutes for rice). Additionally, the unit is fairly large, so it requires ample counter space.

Despite these small concerns, the Midea 5L Rice Cooker remains a fantastic choice for anyone seeking a reliable, multi-functional appliance. With its impressive features, easy maintenance, and sleek design, it’s a valuable addition to any kitchen.

One To Avoid

Quest 35450 2.5L Rice Cooker / Non-Stick Removable Bowl

The Quest 35450 2.5L Rice Cooker may seem like a budget-friendly choice, but after testing it, we found that its performance and durability leave much to be desired. While it does cook rice and offers a keep-warm function, the experience was far from hassle-free.

One of the biggest issues was mess and spillage. The transparent lid allowed for monitoring, but steam buildup caused liquid to spill over, creating a frustrating cleanup process after every use. The non-stick bowl, though removable, showed signs of wear quickly, making it less effective over time.

Rice also stuck to the bottom, requiring extra soaking and scrubbing. Durability was another major concern. While it functioned adequately at first, we noticed inconsistencies in heating after multiple uses, and the overall build felt flimsy. This isn’t the kind of appliance built to last.

The size was also misleading—larger than expected—which could be an issue for those with limited counter space. Although it has some basic functions, the constant maintenance, cleaning hassle, and questionable longevity make this a product we wouldn’t recommend.

If you're looking for a reliable rice cooker, it's worth investing in something with better quality and durability.

How We Tested and Selected the Best Rice Cookers

Finding the best rice cooker isn’t just about cooking rice and calling it a day. We took a deep dive into every aspect that matters, from performance and ease of use to durability and value for money. Here’s how we conducted our tests.

Cooking Performance and Consistency

A great rice cooker should produce perfectly cooked rice every time. We tested white, brown, jasmine, basmati, sushi, and wild rice to assess consistency, fluffiness, and texture. Each type was cooked multiple times to ensure reliable results.

The rice needed to be evenly cooked, moist, and separate without becoming mushy. For models with a quick cook function, we checked if speed affected quality. We also evaluated the keep-warm feature, leaving rice in the cooker for hours to ensure it stayed fresh without drying out or overcooking.

Ease of Use and Controls

A rice cooker should be intuitive and simple to operate. We assessed how easy each model was to unbox, set up, and start cooking. The control panel, display, and preset settings were examined for clarity and responsiveness.

Water measurement markings inside the pot were checked for accuracy, ensuring precise water-to-rice ratios. The lid’s performance was also considered—whether it closed securely and controlled steam release effectively.

Versatility and Cooking Functions

Many rice cookers do more than just cook rice, so we tested their additional functionalities. Models that included slow cooking, steaming, porridge, cake, or soup settings were put through their paces to determine efficiency.

For those with Fuzzy Logic technology, we checked if they automatically adjusted cooking times and temperatures for different rice types. Cookers with steamer trays were tested with vegetables, fish, and chicken to see how well they handled multi-tasking.

Design and Build Quality

Durability and design play a crucial role in a rice cooker’s lifespan and usability. We examined the exterior materials, noting whether they were stainless steel, plastic, or a combination of both.

The inner pot was assessed for coating quality, with ceramic-coated models preferred for their durability and non-toxic properties. We also looked at lid types—hinged lids tend to retain heat better, while detachable lids make cleaning easier.

Portability was another factor, especially for compact kitchens, to see if the cooker was lightweight yet sturdy.

Cleaning and Maintenance

No one wants a rice cooker that’s a hassle to clean. We tested the non-stick performance of the inner pot by cooking sticky rice and checking for residue. Ease of cleaning was assessed by washing the pot, steam vent, and accessories, noting if they were dishwasher-safe or required extra scrubbing.

Models with removable power cords were also considered for better storage convenience.

Cooking Time and Efficiency

Speed and energy consumption were key factors in our evaluation. We measured how long it took each rice cooker to prepare white rice, brown rice, and speciality grains, ensuring efficiency without compromising quality.

Energy usage was also monitored to see if the cooker operated efficiently without overheating or consuming excessive power.

Noise and Steam Output

A rice cooker should work quietly without causing disruption. We checked for excessive noise, especially beeping alerts and fan operation, to ensure they weren’t overly loud.

Steam release was also assessed—some models created excess moisture buildup or splattering, which could lead to countertop messes.

Value for Money

Finally, we compared price versus performance to determine if each rice cooker justified its cost. A budget-friendly model that delivered consistent, high-quality results was ranked highly, while expensive models needed to offer superior features and reliability to make the cut.

Our testing helped separate the truly great rice cookers from those that fell short, ensuring only the best made our list.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What Is the Right Way to Cook Rice in a Rice Cooker?

The right way to cook rice in a rice cooker involves measuring the rice correctly, rinsing it to remove excess starch, and adding the appropriate amount of water based on the type of rice being used.

Once the cooker is turned on, it will automatically cook the rice and switch to the keep-warm mode when done. Letting the rice sit for a few minutes before fluffing ensures the best texture.

Are Induction Rice Cookers Better Than Regular Rice Cookers?

Induction rice cookers are better than regular rice cookers in terms of precise temperature control, even heat distribution, and improved cooking consistency. Unlike traditional rice cookers that use a heating plate, induction models heat the entire pot, leading to better texture and fluffier rice.

However, they tend to be more expensive and may not be necessary for basic cooking needs.

Which Rice Cooker Is Best: Aluminium or Stainless Steel?

When comparing aluminium and stainless steel rice cookers, stainless steel is generally the better choice due to its durability, resistance to rust, and non-reactive surface.

Aluminium cookers heat up faster but may wear down over time, whereas stainless steel offers better longevity and is easier to clean, making it ideal for long-term use.

Should You Wash Rice Before Cooking UK?

Yes, you should wash rice before cooking in the UK to remove excess starch, improve texture, and reduce the risk of rice becoming overly sticky. Rinsing also helps remove potential impurities from processing.

Washing is especially important for varieties like jasmine or basmati, while some enriched rice may not require extensive rinsing.

What Is the Common Problem of the Rice Cooker?

A common problem with rice cookers is uneven cooking, where rice turns out undercooked, overcooked, or soggy due to incorrect water ratios or malfunctioning heating elements.

Other issues include a broken keep-warm function, excessive steam leakage, or non-stick coating peeling over time, all of which can affect performance and longevity.

What Is the Lifespan of a Rice Cooker?

The lifespan of a rice cooker typically ranges from 4 to 10 years, depending on usage frequency, build quality and maintenance. Higher-end models with durable materials and advanced technology tend to last longer, while budget models may wear out sooner.

Regular cleaning and proper care can help extend a rice cooker’s life.

Can I Leave Rice in a Rice Cooker for 24 Hours?

It is not recommended to leave rice in a rice cooker for 24 hours, as it can lead to spoilage, bacterial growth, and an unpleasant texture. While most rice cookers have a keep-warm function, rice is best consumed within a few hours. For longer storage, it is safer to refrigerate and reheat when needed.

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Final Word

Hopefully, you found our Best Rice Cooker UK guide helpful in choosing the right model for your kitchen. With so many great options available, it’s not an easy choice, but for us, there’s a clear winner.

The COSORI Rice Cooker, Slow Cooker & Steamer stands out as our top pick, thanks to its 17-in-1 functionality, Fuzzy Logic precision, and user-friendly design. It delivers perfectly cooked rice every time while offering the versatility to prepare soups, stews, and even desserts.

Of course, we also reviewed other great options, like the Yum Asia Panda Mini Rice Cooker for compact kitchens and the VonShef Small Rice Cooker for those on a budget.

But if there’s one model to steer clear of, it’s the Quest 35450 2.5L Rice Cooker. While it may seem budget-friendly, issues like spillage, inconsistent heating, and poor durability make it more frustrating than functional.

What do you think of our top picks? Have you found the perfect rice cooker, or do you still need time to decide? We’d love to hear your thoughts—drop us a message below!