When it comes to preparing perfect white rice, an instant rice and grain cooker offers convenience, consistency, and time-saving benefits. From compact countertop models to multifunctional appliances, these devices simplify the cooking process while helping to preserve texture and flavor. This comparison explores key features, ease of use, and performance of top-rated cookers, ensuring you find one that balances quality, capacity, and value to suit your household needs. Whether you’re a busy cook or a rice enthusiast, our guide highlights options designed to streamline mealtime without compromising results.
Editor’s Choice
Best for a specific purpose
- Best for premium features: Instant Pot 20-Cup Rice Cooker
- Best for best budget: Instant Pot Zest 8 Cup One Touch Rice Cooker
- Best for smart technology: KitchenAid Grain and Rice Cooker 8 Cup with Automatically Sensing Integrated Scale + Water Tank
- Best for smart technology: KitchenAid Grain and Rice Cooker 8 Cup with Automatically Sensing Integrated Scale + Water Tank
- Best for best overall: AROMA Digital Rice Cooker
- Best for compact option: Aroma Housewares 4-Cups (Cooked) / 1Qt. Rice & Grain Cooker (ARC-302NG)
- Best for instant rice: IRIS Instant White Rice (10 Pack)
- Best for instant rice: BEN'S ORIGINAL Ready Rice Original Long Grain White Rice
- Best for compact option: Aroma Housewares Aroma 6-cup (cooked) 1.5 Qt. One Touch Rice Cooker
- Best for large capacity: Instant Pot Zest 20 Cup Rice Cooker
Product Comparison: Best Instant Rice And Grain Cooker White Rice
Premium features
Instant Pot 20-Cup Rice Cooker, Rice and Grain Multi-Cooker with Carb Reducing Technology without Compromising Taste or Texture, From the Makers of Instant Pot, Includes 8 Cooking Presets
Instant
- 8 Cooking Functions: Make rice, grains, quinoa, mixed grains, slow-cooked dishes, sautéed meals, steamed recipes, and keep food warm for up to 10 hours—all in one appliance
- User-Friendly Presets: 8 smart cooking programs take the guesswork out of meal preparation.
- CarbReduce Technology: Enjoy rice with up to 40% fewer carbs and sugar* while keeping the taste and texture right where they should be: perfect
- Modern, Space-Saving Design: Sleek matte finish, space-saving shape—looks good, fits anywhere, and keeps your counter clutter-free
- Easy Water Measurement: Built-in level marks inside the CarbReduce steam basket make prep simple and foolproof
- Quick Cleanup: No more fighting about who has to do the dishes. The dishwasher-safe non-stick cooking pot, stainless steel CarbReduce steam basket, and removable lid make clean up a breeze
- Power Packed Performance: 860 watts, 120 V 60 Hz, UL & ULC Listed
- A Little Extra: Includes a rice spoon and measuring cup to keep you ready for anything.
Best budget
Instant Pot Zest 8 Cup One Touch Rice Cooker, From the Makers of Instant Pot, Steamer, Cooks Rice, Grains, Quinoa and Oatmeal, 8-cup cooked/4-cup uncooked, No Pressure Cooking Functionality
Instant Pot
- 4 SMART PROGRAMS: make cooking your favorite rice, oatmeal, and grains to fluffy perfection super-fast and one touch easy!
- STEAM VEGGIES: Easily steam veggies, fish and more!
- DOUBLES AS A WARMER: Keep foods nice and warm during pot lucks, parties, picnics and more!
- 8 CUP CAPACITY: 4-Cup (Uncooked)/8-Cup (Cooked). Its compact capacity is perfect for preparing small individual meals, or meal prep side dishes.
- ACCESSORIES INCLUDED: In addition to the non-stick ceramic coated pot, the Zest Plus also comes with a dishwasher-safe steamer tray, rice measuring cup and rice spoon.
- SAFETY FEATURES: Includes over 10 safety features, plus overheat protection and safe-locking lid.
- DISCOVER AMAZING RECIPES: Includes the free Instant Brands Connect App, where you can find new recipes to create quick favorites and prepare delicious meals, available for iOS and Android.
Smart technology
KitchenAid Grain and Rice Cooker 8 Cup with Automatically Sensing Integrated Scale + Water Tank, KGC3155, Porcelain White
KitchenAid
- Integrated scale automatically senses the amount of grains, rice or beans you've added in order to calculate the ideal water-to-grain ratio for what you're cooking
- Integrated water tank automatically dispenses the right amount of water to match the ideal liquid-to-grain ratio for what you're cooking; removable for easy refilling
- Explore a whole new world of whole grains with 21 preset options for rice, beans, oats, couscous, quinoa, barley, farro and more
- The included steamer basket fits above the cooking pot, making it easy to steam veggies, fish, meats and more to accompany your grains.
- Easy to use touchscreen makes it easy to see and select cooking modes with an intuitive menu that puts options for healthy grains, rice and beans at your fingertips
- Cook on your schedule with delayed cook that lets you add ingredients ahead of time and schedule cooking to begin up to 24 hours later, providing more flexibility for your meal prep routines
- Model KGC3155 Includes (1) Grain and Rice Cooker, (1) non-stick ceramic pot, (1) steam basket
Smart technology
KitchenAid Grain and Rice Cooker 8 Cup with Automatically Sensing Integrated Scale + Water Tank, KGC3155, Black Matte
KitchenAid
- Integrated scale automatically senses the amount of grains, rice or beans you've added in order to calculate the ideal water-to-grain ratio for what you're cooking
- Integrated water tank automatically dispenses the right amount of water to match the ideal liquid-to-grain ratio for what you're cooking; removable for easy refilling
- Explore a whole new world of whole grains with 21 preset options for rice, beans, oats, couscous, quinoa, barley, farro and more
- The included steamer basket fits above the cooking pot, making it easy to steam veggies, fish, meats and more to accompany your grains.
- Easy to use touchscreen makes it easy to see and select cooking modes with an intuitive menu that puts options for healthy grains, rice and beans at your fingertips
- Cook on your schedule with delayed cook that lets you add ingredients ahead of time and schedule cooking to begin up to 24 hours later, providing more flexibility for your meal prep routines
- Model KGC3155 Includes (1) Grain and Rice Cooker, (1) non-stick ceramic pot, (1) steam basket
Best overall
AROMA Digital Rice Cooker, 4-Cup (Uncooked) / 8-Cup (Cooked), Steamer, Grain Cooker, Multicooker, 2 Qt, Stainless Steel Exterior, ARC-914SBD
AROMA
- Easy-to-use programmable digital controls complete with an automatic Keep Warm mode after each cycle
- An array of preset functions for every kind of meal: White Rice, Brown Rice, Steam, Flash Rice
- Steam meat, vegetables and more with the provided Steam Tray all while rice cooks below
- Perfectly prepares 2 to 8 cups of any variety of cooked rice or grains
- Sensor Logic Technology for delicious, fluffy rice and grains every time - automatically controls the internal temperature throughout the cooking cycle for optimal texture and flavor
- Item holds up to 2 to 8 cups of cooked rice. 8 cups is the cooked rice capacity. Rice must be cooked in the cup that comes along with this product.
- Steams meat and vegetables while rice cooks below
- Easy-to-use, programmable digital controls with automatic Keep-Warm and White Rice and Brown Rice functions
Compact option
Aroma Housewares 4-Cups (Cooked) / 1Qt. Rice & Grain Cooker (ARC-302NG), White
AROMA
- Perfectly prepares 2 to 4 cups of any variety of cooked rice
- Simple, one-touch operation with automatic Warm mode
- Easy-to-clean, nonstick removable inner pot
- Full-view tempered glass lid for easy monitoring as food cooks to monitor food as it cooks
- Great for soups, jambalaya, chili and so much more!
Instant rice
IRIS Instant White Rice (10 Pack), Ultra Premium Japanese Short Grain Sushi Sticky Rice, Microwave for 80 seconds (1.2 Minutes), Gluten Free Vegan, Grown Polished and Packed in Japan
Iris Ohyama
- Authentic Japanese Rice: Packed in a food-grade tray, IRIS Microwavable Instant Premium White Sushi Rice is 100% short-grain rice, carefully selected, milled, and polished at low temperatures to maintain its natural sweetness and mild taste.
- Ready in 80 Seconds: Microwave by peeling the film to the dotted line (1,000–1,200 W), or boil the unopened pack for 18 minutes. Enjoy directly from the tray or in your favorite bowl.
- Single Rice Bowl Size: Each single tray size is 6.3oz or 180g; set of 10 trays. Our ready-to-eat sushi rice is a versatile and delicious option for every part of your day, whether it's breakfast, lunch, dinner, or a quick snack.
- On-the-Go Convenience: Perfect for the office, picnics, camping, or dorms. Enjoy a delicious, quick meal anytime without the hassle of undercooked or overcooked rice. Experience the luxury of a home-cooked meal without the time-consuming prep.
- Rice Meal to Your Diet: IRIS Rice is gluten free, vegetarian, and vegan. Enjoy our low fat premium sushi rice however you want. It is perfect for varieties of rice bowl, sushi, fried rice, bibimbap, or as a delightful accompaniment to your favorite soups.
Instant rice
BEN'S ORIGINAL Ready Rice Original Long Grain White Rice, Easy Dinner Side, 8.8 oz Pouch (Pack of 6)
BEN'S ORIGINAL
- Six 8.8 oz rice pouches of BEN'S ORIGINAL Ready Rice Original Long Grain White Rice
- Microwave rice that provides a delicious base for cooked rice meals in just 90 seconds
- Parboiled long grain rice with the classic taste and texture you and your family love
- Pair this white rice with your favorite meats or serve it plain
- Squeeze the rice pouch to separate the grains and microwave for 90 seconds or heat it in a skillet until ready to serve
Compact option
Aroma Housewares Aroma 6-cup (cooked) 1.5 Qt. One Touch Rice Cooker, White (ARC-363NG), 6 cup cooked/ 3 cup uncook/ 1.5 Qt.
AROMA
- Perfectly prepares 2 to 6 cups of any variety of cooked rice
- Simple, one-touch operation with automatic Keep-Warm
- Great for soups, jambalaya, chili and so much more!
- Full-view tempered glass lid
- Easy-to-clean, nonstick removable inner pot
- Includes Rice Measuring Cup and Serving Spatula
Large capacity
Instant Pot Zest 20 Cup Rice Cooker, Steamer, Cooks Rice, Grains, Quinoa and Oatmeal, No Pressure Cooking Functionality
Instant Pot
- Accessories included: Non-stick ceramic coated 20-quart pot plus dishwasher-safe steamer tray, rice measuring cup and rice spoon. Lightweight and easy to store
- The Zest does not have pressure cooking functionality. 5 Smart Programs for one-touch cooking of white rice, brown rice, mixed grains, quinoa and oatmeal.
- Bright, bold display and status indicators let you know exactly where your food is in the cooking process. Built-in protection against overheating
- Doubles as a warmer for foods of all types
- Accessories included: Non-stick ceramic coated 20-quart pot plus dishwasher-safe steamer tray, rice measuring cup and rice spoon. Lightweight and easy to store
- 120 Volt 60 Hertz power supply - Please check your voltage if not in North America
- Extra thick inner pot with non-stick ceramic coating for better, more even cooking
- Stainless steel 18/8 lid interior
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Buying Guide
FAQs
Which rice cooker has the largest capacity?
The Instant Pot 20-Cup Rice Cooker offers the largest capacity.
Which cooker is best for carb-conscious cooking?
The Instant Pot 20-Cup Rice Cooker includes a Carb Reduction feature.
Which models have automatic sensing technology?
The KitchenAid Grain and Rice Cookers (B0FKMWW5Z5 and B0CS6WVLJ7) feature automatically sensing integrated technology.
Which cooker is ideal for small households?
The Aroma Housewares 4-Cup (Cooked) Rice & Grain Cooker (ARC-302NG) is compact and suitable for small portions.
Which cookers offer one-touch operation?
The Instant Pot Zest 8 Cup and Aroma Housewares 6-Cup (cooked) models have one-touch functionality.
Which cooker is best for steaming vegetables?
The Instant Pot Zest 20 Cup Rice Cooker includes a steamer function for grains and vegetables.
Which models are best for quick meal prep?
The Aroma Digital Rice Cooker (4-Cup uncooked) and BEN'S ORIGINAL Ready Rice are designed for fast cooking.