Top rice cookers for 2026: our picks from budget to high-end

A good rice cooker can simplify weeknight meals and produce consistent results across white, brown and long-grain rice. We tested several models to find the best options for small kitchens, families and serious rice cooks, focusing on taste, texture, ease of use and cleanup. Top pick: Cuckoo 6-cup Micom.

Stylish and compact, this model produced excellent rice across grain types thanks to a microcomputer that adjusts cooking phases. It offers 11 menu options, a nonstick inner pot, automatic keep warm and a preset timer. It’s programmable for custom cycles and priced at about $119. Downsides include a lid that springs open forcefully (risking steam burns) and recessed water markings that require careful cleaning.

Budget choice: Hamilton Beach. An inexpensive introductory option with digital controls, an included steamer basket and machine-washable pot and basket. It delivered satisfactory white, basmati and brown rice, and is quick to cook, but can leave a few slightly overdone spots on the bottom and lacks customizable cooking cycles.

It’s compact and good for small kitchens. Performance pick: Cuckoo twin-pressure model. This higher-end unit produced the best results in testing—very fast cook times and excellent texture—thanks to its pressurized cooking.

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AI, Tech, Kitchen, Appliances, Rice Cookers, Reviews, Cuckoo