Cooking rice is one of the best options as a side for a big family. But sometimes it’s hard to find the best choice of rice cooker that is at a reasonable price point. We've got the scoop on the best budget rice cooker options!
Pricey high-end rice cookers are not always the best choice for those who might not even know the difference between cooked and uncooked rice. There are so many options when searching the internet for rice cookers.
Price ranges can range anywhere from $20 to $200 for a rice cooker online, and sometimes it is hard to gauge what to look for. There may be needs that one might not think of until one finds them.
There are many different factors and needs that need to be considered when purchasing a new kitchen appliance. Space for the new appliance and functionality will come into play for deciding to buy one over the other.
Some might find portability to be the most important thing for them. Some might just want a simple rice cooker that will keep their rice warm while they cook.
With this article, you should be able to find your top pick of an affordable rice cooker. Here are some basic rice cookers for a good value:
1. Aroma Housewares Pot-Style Rice Cooker
At a very affordable price, you can find a great deal on a slow cooking rice cooker on Amazon! This may not be a Zojirushi model, but it just might be the best budget rice cooker to find.
The $20 price is one of the lowest you will find. So if you’re price sensitive this could be a great option for you, or if you’re just wanting to try out rice cooking but don’t want to spend a ton of money on an expensive rice cooker.
This is a great best budget rice cooker option!
2. DASH Mini Rice Cooker Steamer with Removable Nonstick Pot
For great value, this dash mini rice cooker is ideal for easy transport. This versatile cooker is great for any type of rice that you wish.
The blue with the compact design will be one of your staple kitchen appliances and it won’t take up too much space! The pot is also nonstick and removable for when you’re done cooking and want an easy transfer to a plate.
This also helps with the clean-up process! This is one of the best budget rice cooker options.
3. Aroma Housewares Digital Cool-Touch Rice Grain Cooker
This is the Aroma housewares digital rice cooker! This larger capacity more high-tech rice cooker is great for all different types of rice.
After cooking your perfect rice this cooker should be easy to clean with stainless steel. What’s great about this rice cooker is that there is a brown rice setting button for ease of use!
This cooker is a great versatile cooker that can fit all your needs for a great price! This is one of the best budget rice cooker options.
4. Hamilton Beach Rice Cooker & Food Steamer
This may not be a Zojirushi neuro fuzzy rice cooker but this will get you a pot of rice nonetheless! This larger model allows you to be able to cook a lot of rice.
Comes with a removable steamer basket so you are able to rinse things off easily. It is a great starter rice cooker for a great price. On Amazon, it is rated my customers at a 4.5 which is average for rice cookers!
5. Mishcdea Smart Mini Rice Cooker
A small rice cooker is a great starting appliance. If you want sushi rice for your at-home sushi night, this just might be the option for you because you don’t have to cook much rice!
Some rice cookers can get into over a hundred dollars, so even though this is more expensive on this list in comparison to a lot of options seen on amazon this is budget-friendly.
The brand and overall style might make this the right rice cooker for you. It’s simple but also has the amazing feature of the delay timer so you can easily plan out your meals without having to worry! Also, the pot that is removable is not only non-stick but also dishwasher safe!
6. Mishcdea Rice Cooker
With this price, you get a great size and a steam tray! The non-stick coating in the pot is great for quick cooking and cleaning.
This cooker is fast cooking with only needing 15 to 30 minutes and can keep your rice warm for up to 12 hours. The 5-cup capacity is a great mid-size for a meal for a couple of people. This is one of the best budget rice cooker options!
7. Aroma Housewares Select Stainless Rice Cooker & Warmer
This stainless steel rice cooker is an automatic keep! For it is stainless steel, this might be the best cheap rice cooker for you!
It comes will a lot of useful accessories while still being a simple rice cooker. The tempered glass lid allows you to see your rice cooking inside which a lot of the other rice cookers do not have.
The side handles double as a spatula holder to keep things clean and tidy! And like most other cookers it automatically switches from cooking to the keep warm setting to ensure your rice isn't overcooked and needing constant attention.
8. Aroma Housewares Rice & Grain Cooker
This cute little rice cooker is a great simple staple for your kitchen appliances. Make sure the water level doesn’t go too high!
For the best results, use cold water and leave the warm setting on till the rice cooks. This cheap rice cooker is a great one because it's simple and it also comes with a rice paddle if you don't already have one!
Another feature of this, and most of the other rice cookers, is that you can also cook grain in it as well.
9. Tayama Automatic Rice Cooker & Food Steamer
This cute flowery rice cooker comes with more accessories! Included with this purchase you are given a rice paddle and a measuring cup! What a steal!
After you’re done cooking your rice make sure to put away the rice with a glass lid. This lid clamps down to a secure hold, with an easy handle to take on and off. This is one of the best budget rice cooker options!
10. DCIGNA 1.2L Mini Rice Cooker
This versatile cooker allows for home cooks of all kinds. Overall the cooking process is the same, just be aware of how many cups of uncooked rice your rice cooker can hold.
It's a great travel cooker because you can cook rice and soup all in one. As seen in the picture above, you can see the uses of this small but useful cooker. The lid clamps to the main base of the cooker to secure it down.
11. IMUSA USA GAU-00013 Electric Nonstick Rice Cooker
If you are in the market for a large electric rice cooker this one might pique your interest! Sometimes a need for more rice is the greatest need of all.
One of the biggest cookers on this list, it can feed a whole family by being able to cook up to 16 cups of rice for your meal! The glass lid, measure cup, and mixing paddle are great features of purchasing this item.
For the price that you get, it is a steal of a deal to go with this one! This is one of the best budget rice cooker options.
12. Aroma Housewares Digital Rice Cooker
This Aroma rice cooker has a large capacity for enough rice to make it a main dish! Put as much water as you did cups of rice. This actually has a high star rating of 4.7 out of 5, based on reviews on Amazon.
For the capacity that this rice cooker holds, this is a great deal with the price and the rating it received. This is similar to the aroma cooker above except it has a "flash rice" button.
Flash rice is a big time saver if you are rushing to throw together a meal. This rice cooker is $10 more than the one above because of the time-saving "flash rice" button that it provides, while the other one does not have.
13. TLOG Mini Rice Cooker
This cooker has a steaming tray to keep your food warm while the rest of your food cooks! This size is perfect for your lunch, and what is great about bringing this for your lunch is that it will stay warm and fresh.
What is great about this cooker is that it is not just for rice but also for soup and steaming your veggies. There are buttons with these features to give the perfect time to cook them!
Easy to use and use for more than one thing. It's a great all-in-one package for a reasonable price, though maybe not the cheapest for what it brings you it might be worth it!
14. WHITE TIGER Mini Rice Cooker Portable Travel Steamer
This is a great rice cooker because of its simplicity of it. You’ll know your rice is cooking or just keeping warm based on which indicator lights are shining.
Tiger is a popular rice cooking brand, so this price is a little higher than the others. But remember to put the right amount of water into each of your rice cookers!
For example, for short-grain rice, you need a 1:1 cup ratio but with brown rice, it’s 2.25:1 cup. Every rice cooker has a capacity it can hold, make sure you don’t go over that.
This is one of the best budget rice cooker options!
15. Tayama 1.5 Cup Portable Mini Rice Cooker
This small cheap rice cooker is great for making yourself some rice on the side. It has a simple design that is easy to understand.
By the indicator light, you will be able to see when the rice is cooking and when the cooker is just keeping the rice warm and fresh.
Keeping your rice warm is a great feature of having a rice cooker! The handles fold down for easy storage in your kitchen. And those handles fold up so you can easily transfer your rice cooker from the kitchen to the table, as necessary.
16. Panasonic SR-G06FGL Rice Steamer & Multi-Cooker
This medium-sized multi-functional cooker has a glass lid and a simple design. For a reasonable price, you can get this basic rice cooker that can serve you well for many years in the kitchen.
This is a very basic rice cooker fit for anyone to use no matter their expertise. It will get the job done without worry!
This cooker might seem like a higher price for the feature it has but what it lacks in features it makes up for in the serving size it gives you! Keep in mind this cooker does not have the "warm" function, so make sure you are keeping an eye on your rice!
17. DASH Mini Rice Cooker Steamer
What’s great about this rice cooker is that there is a removable nonstick pan for easy transfer. You won’t be spending time scraping any residue out of this pan!
The mixing paddle even matches the color of the rice cooker that you choose! On Amazon, it is rated highly as an easy-to-use, giftable rice cooker that is easy to clean with an overall 4.5-star rating out of 5.
18. CHACEEF Mini Rice Cooker
This smart rice cooker allows for multiple functions for any of your steaming needs! A great feature of this particular rice cooker is the 24-hour timer delay, so if you have a busy day ahead you can prep your meal in the cooker and time it to cook when you’re ready!
The cooker is also a great staple for travel with the timer delay function and its compact form. This cooker is one of the more expensive cookers but the more complex the features the higher the price goes. It also comes with a mixing paddle!
19. Rice Cooker 4 cups Uncooked, Mini Rice Cooker for 1-2 People
The nonstick inner pan is removable for easy cleaning! This compact versatile rice cooker is a great addition to your travel list needs! A simple design with a swinging handle for portable functions could be a great staple in your kitchen. The many color options allow for your rice cooker to fit your style.
This is one of the best budget rice cooker options!
20. Topwit Electric Hot Pot
This cooker isn’t just for rice! Of course, you can certainly use it for that purpose, but it is multifunctional and can be used for more than the usual rice cooker.
Pasta, soup, oatmeal, and cooking eggs are the advertised multifunction of this cooker! This rice cooker is unique because of the placement of the handle.
This handle makes it a more functional on-the-go cooker that allows for easy pouring out of the contents!
21. 1.2L Rice Cooker with Steamer Non-Stick Cooking
This small compact cooker allows for reduced use of power! Great for one or two people and it’s great if you’re not wanting to have a huge space-wasting kitchen appliance.
This cooker is great for transport with a handle and simple design that provides heat temperature protection for the outside.
You can also cook your noodles or soups, giving them multiple functions that can work for you. The indicator lights will tell you when your food is ready inside. This rice cooker also comes in many different colors so you can choose!
22. 1 Cup Mini Rice Cooker Steamer 12V For Car
This cooker comes equipped with a keeping warm function so it stays good while you’re busy cooking other things. It is also advertised to be able to be used for your car.
And like most the rice cookers you are able to make soup and porridge in this rice cooker as well. If you do not eat a lot and are in the need of a portable small rice cooker for you in your daily life, this might be a great friend to you!
23. TLOG Mini Rice Cooker
Like most of the other rice cookers, there is a heating element in case you have to wait a long time. The sleek and simple design could be a great fit for your kitchen.
Not only for rice, but this cooker can also cook your oatmeal and vegetables. There is also a feature on this appliance for grains!
24. Macook Electric Rice Cooker
Electric rice cookers are great for more than just rice! With its nonstick coating, this is a versatile kitchen appliance that you’ll want in your kitchen. This cooking pot gives you more rice than any other options given! So if the size is a huge factor for you, you might want to give this one a look!
This is a great option as one of the best budget rice cooker!
25. Mishcdea Mini Rice Cooker
This simply classic rice cooker only has a single time. So, unlike some of the other options provided, this one does not have multiple buttons for differing kinds of rice or foods that you may want to use.
It does have a warm mode! This will keep your cooked rice warm while it’s still plugged in. It does provide a steaming basket at this price!
Rice Cookers
If you have more to spend, you can certainly find fuzzy logic rice cookers, Zojirushi NHS-06, and more Zojirushi rice cookers all on amazon.
Keep in mind that your pressure cooker and instant pots also can double as a rice cooker! Cooking time is different for the differing devices! These rice cookers can cook any rice including but not limited to white rice, jasmine rice, and long-grain rice, and will give you the perfect fluffy rice you want.
Each of these rice cookers could be a great fit for you. Each comes with different designs and features. All, of course, perform the basic functions of cooking the rice and most will keep it warm even after it is fully cooked.
If the need for a basic rice cooker at a low price point is your need, there are several options on this list that could be the one. There are also more buttons and features that may pique your interest and sway you to spend a little more to get.
To find the best rice cooker for you and your needs figure out what it is you are in need of from your rice cooker!
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