5 Best Stainless Steel Rice Cookers for Perfect Rice Without the Work

Rice cookers are available in different sizes and price points to suit your needs and budget. They also come in a variety of finishes, but for this article, we will focus on stainless steel rice cookers.

To make it easier to find the right stainless steel rice cooker for you, we’ve compiled a selection of our top picks!

In a Hurry? Here’s Our Quick List of Top Picks

• Tiger JNP-S10U-HU 5.5-Cup Rice Cooker and Warmer
• Tatung TAC-11KN(UL) Multi-Functional Stainless Steel Rice Cooker
• Presto 05813 16-Cup Digital Stainless Steel Rice Cooker
• Zojirushi NP-GBC05XT Induction Heating System Rice Cooker and Warmer
• Aroma Housewares Professional Plus ARC-5000SB 20 Cup (Cooked) Digital Rice Cooker

Rice Cooker Basics

Rice cookers are kitchen appliances designed to automate the process of steaming rice, requiring only the touch of a button rather than the constant attention needed to cook a perfect pot of rice on the stove.

The development of electric rice cookers began in the early 20th Century, and the first automatic electric rice cooker for household use became available in Japan in 1955. You can read more about the history of this appliance on Kids Web Japan.

A rice cooker consists of the outer pot, an inner cooking container, a heating element, and a thermostat. Many rice cookers include accessories like measuring cups and spatulas, and some come with steamer baskets for other foods.

Though using a rice cooker is very simple, the process of making one is quite intricate, as shown in this video:

Why Stainless Steel?

Stainless steel is an alloy of steel, chromium, and carbon that was created to resist corrosion and retain its luster over time.

Stainless steel appliances are sleek and modern, and they can fit into your kitchen no matter what kind of decor and other appliances you have.

Because stainless steel is resistant to rust, it is a long-lasting and durable option that is easy to clean. This finish gives appliances a premium feel at a reasonable price point.

How to Choose the Best Stainless Steel Rice Cooker for You

The best rice cooker for you will depend on your personal needs. The main factors you will want to consider are:

Size

The rice cookers on this list range in capacity from 3 to 11 cups of uncooked rice. Depending on how often you eat rice and how many people you plan to feed, capacity could be an important factor in your decision.

Please keep in mind that some rice cooker names reference the number of cup of uncooked rice you can add to the inner cooking container, while others reference the number of cooked cups of rice the appliance can prepare.

Cost

Rice cookers are available at a variety of price points, and you will most likely consider the cost when deciding which of these products best suits your needs.

Whether you are looking to make an appliance investment or add to your kitchen without spending too much, there is a stainless steel rice cooker on this list to fit your budget!

Function

If you already have plenty of other kitchen gadgets and are only looking for a rice cooker, there are classic models on this list to suit that need.

But if you would prefer an appliance that can also steam veggies or cook other items, we’ve put together some of those options as well!

5 Top Picks for Stainless Steel Rice Cooker

A good rice cooker can simplify your kitchen routine and make sure you get perfect, fluffy rice every time you use it.

Now that you know which factors to consider when deciding which rice cooker is right for you, it’s time to check out each of our top picks!

Tiger JNP-S10U-HU 5.5-Cup Rice Cooker and Warmer

The Tiger JNP-S10U-HU 5.5-Cup Rice Cooker and Warmer is a classic mid-size model from Japanese Tiger Corporation, one of the first companies to sell electric rice cookers.

This model can prepare anywhere from 1 to 5.5 cups of uncooked rice at a time, offering a lot of flexibility if the amount of rice you need varies day-to-day.

After the rice is cooked, the “Keep Warm” function turns on automatically, and rice can be warmed for up to 12 hours.

The Tiger JNP-S10U-HU has a sleek, simple design with one-push operation and a removable steam vent. This model comes with a spatula and measuring cup, and the power cord is retractable for easy storage.

The Tiger JNP-S series of rice cookers are made specifically to cook white rice and will not be effective for other kinds of rice and grains.

This model is made in Japan and comes with a 1-year limited warranty.

Tatung TAC-11KN(UL) Multi-Functional Stainless Steel Rice Cooker

The Tatung TAC-11KN(UL) Multi-Functional Stainless Steel Rice Cooker can prepare up to 11 cups of uncooked rice (22 cups cooked).

This multi-functional rice cooker and steamer can be used to braise and steam vegetables, prepare stews and soups, and of course, cook rice!

The Tatung TAC-11KN(UL) comes with a removable inner pot lid for easy cleaning, a steam plate, a rice spatula, and a measuring cup. Both the inner and outer pot are made from stainless steel.

This model is made in Taiwan and comes with a 1-year limited warranty.

For a demonstration using the Tatung TAC-11KN(UL), check out this video from Tatung Company:

Presto 05813 16-Cup Digital Stainless Steel Rice Cooker

The Presto 05813 16-Cup Digital Stainless Steel Rice Cooker can prepare from 4 to 16 cups of cooked white or brown rice. It can also be used as a vegetable steamer.

When rice is done cooking, this model automatically switches to a warming mode. The WARM setting should not be used for more than eight hours.

A steaming basket, rice measuring scoop, rice paddle, and paddle holder are all included with the Presto 05813.

This rice cooker is the least expensive model featured in this article and could be a great option for a first-time buyer.

Presto offers a 1-year limited warranty for this Digital Stainless Steel Rice Cooker.

Zojirushi NP-GBC05XT Induction Heating System Rice Cooker and Warmer

The Zojirushi NP-GBC05XT Induction Heating System Rice Cooker and Warmer can cook as little as ½ cup of rice at a time and is perfect for preparing individual servings or meals for small families.

This model utilizes induction heating that warms the entire inner cooking pan rather than the traditional heating element at the bottom of the rice cooker. This cooker also has a special setting to activate brown rice for higher nutritional value.

The Zojirushi NP-GBC05XT comes with a rice measuring cup, rinse-free rice measuring cup, nonstick rice spatula, and spatula stand. The power cord is detachable for easy storage.

This model is made in Japan and comes with a 1-year limited warranty.

For a demonstration using the NP-GBC05XT Induction Heating System Rice Cooker and Warmer, check out this video from Zojirushi America:

Aroma Housewares Professional Plus ARC-5000SB 20 Cup (Cooked) Digital Rice Cooker

The Aroma Housewares Professional Plus ARC-5000SB 20 Cup (Cooked) Digital Rice Cooker is a versatile kitchen appliance with a large cooking capacity.

This rice cooker prepares up to 20 cups of cooked rice, or approximately 10 cups uncooked. With quick button settings for multiple types of rice and other grains, it is also a very user-friendly option.

Not only can it prepare massive servings of rice in just 35 minutes; this appliance is also a food steamer and slow cooker with a non-stick interior.

The Aroma Housewares Professional PlusARC-5000SB comes with a rice measuring cup, steam tray, and plastic rice spatula. A 5-year warranty is also included.

This is another affordable option, especially when considering the value added by additional functionalities.

Top Choice for the Best Stainless Steel Rice Cooker

Each of the stainless steel rice cookers on this list could be a valuable addition to your kitchen, and the one that is best for you depends on a variety of personal factors.

Because of its affordability and versatility, our pick for the best overall stainless steel rice cooker is the Aroma Housewares Professional Plus ARC-5000SB 20 Cup (Cooked) Digital Rice Cooker.

This model offers everything you could ask for in a rice cooker, with a large capacity, specialized settings for white and brown rice, a keep-warm function, and a programmable 15-hour delay.

The fact that you can use it to prepare other foods, too, is an added bonus! The user-friendly programming makes all of these functions easy to navigate.

With this rice cooker in your kitchen, you’ll be ready to tackle hundreds of new recipes with the touch of a button!