Even the simplest of microwave rice cookers will cook grains such as quinoa and sometimes pasta as well as rice. In electric models, look out for extra cooking settings. These may include ones for specialist rice, including risotto, brown and wild, porridge, pasta, yoghurt and even cake! Rice cookers that are essentially multi-cookers will have all this. Plus 'slow' and 'fast' cook functions. Rice (White rice vs. Brown rice)– White rice, is rice that has had its husk, bran and germ removed. Unfortunately, refining also strips the rice of nutrients, fibre and minerals. However, brown rice is a whole grain and is rich in essential nutrients like fibre, B vitamins, iron, and magnesium. These nutrients help to lower cholesterol, improves digestion and control blood sugar levels. Crucially, if you’re a fan of fancy rice then this one isn’t for you as it only cooks white rice, but it does cook it very well and was one of the simples to use with the best results. Easy to Use Design– The rice cooker provides all the tools to simply and easily cook perfectly fluffy rice within the microwave. If you eat rice regularly, a rice cooker will take all the stress out of what can be quite a high-maintenance side dish. It’ll mean your rice is taken care of and kept warm until you’re ready to eat it, plus it won’t take up space on the hob while you’re preparing other things. What is the best rice cooker to buy?

It’s worth remembering that cooking times can vary – especially with the processor-controlled “fuzzy logic” models as these will adjust cooking times automatically as needed. Even so, our results should give you an idea of what to expect. Even if cooking times are long, this isn’t necessarily a disadvantage – some of the models with the longest cooking times also produced the best quality rice. Plus, that time can be used to cook the rest of your meal or attend to other household tasks. Mumsnetters have a wealth of wisdom when it comes to the best way to prepare rice, with recommendations for rinsing, water ratios and the ever-controversial question of whether to cover the pan or not. However, most agree that a rice cooker is the best shortcut to perfectly cooked and reliably delicious rice - the kind you’d be served in a restaurant. Another zojirushi owner here. Was expensive but used every day for about 10 years now. Makes family meals much easier and perfect rice every time." - DiDonk Our verdictMost cheap rice cookers can only cook long-grain rice and even then only to a basic standard of quality. Basmati, the curry house staple we’re all familiar with, is a long-grain rice. Pricier rice cookers can handle other types – notably short-grain rice, the type used in risotto as well as Thai and Japanese dishes, and more unusual rice-based dishes using presets chosen from a control panel on the front of the rice cooker. What’s the best feature on a dedicated rice cooker? The least amount of dry weight rice you can cook in this machine is 2 cups, which is about 4-6 portions, making it a great choice for family dinners. If there are just two of you, then you can freeze the remaining rice once it’s cooled. During our research, we vetted each rice cooker, considering quality, ease of use and, of course, the ability to make great rice, to ensure they performed well across the board. About the author

The resulting rice is fluffy and fairly well separated. We used basmati and short-grain and both came out well, although both did form a very thin crust – as do some of the more expensive heat-from-below rice cookers – but it was easy to break up and stir into the rest of the rice. The best rice cookers can produce consistently great high-quality rice in a way that even those skilled with a saucepan couldn’t manage. Though a rice cooker may not be a staple kitchen gadget, for anyone who eats rice regularly – or wants to try cooking a wider range of Asian dishes – it’s an essential item.One feature that every rice cooker has – as everyone will use it – is the “keep warm” feature. Once your rice has finished cooking, the rice cooker will keep it warm for you so you can top up your plate or have a hot dinner on standby for anyone coming home late. If you’re cooking for just one or two, then the former might be more useful. Countertop machines are generally made to cook at least two portions, with some bigger models producing up to 10 portions. What features should I look for? Red Kidney Beans– Red kidney beans are protein and fibre rich. It is also low in fat. Similar to brown rice, consuming red kidney beans helps to lower cholesterol, improve digestion and blood sugar control. However, be careful when consuming red kidney bean because too much may make you ‘gassy’.

verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ Not really, no. Microwave cookers and some less feature-led models will give you well-cooked rice in about the same time as pan cooking. Some fancier models might even take a little longer. This is because they have separate stages to deliver the rice at the optimum texture. The beauty of these machines is not necessarily the speed of the cooking. It's more the fact that you can walk away, safe in the knowledge that the machine is doing the hard work for you. Can I put a rice cooker in the dishwasher? Some models we tried produce rice that has a crunchy, crispy bottom. No, we didn’t burn it, it’s a much-loved dish in many parts of the world. Called Tahdig in Persain cooking, socarrat in Spain and nurungji in Korea. This was, for us, a new taste and texture sensation, and one we’ll be trying again. Will my rice cooker speed up the cooking process? Another vote for the Tefal 8-in-1 cooker. Makes amazing pilau rice. Of course you can do the same in a pan on the hob but with a rice cooker, you throw everything in, switch it on and that’s it, leaving you to focus on making the curry or whatever" - FamilyOfAliens Our verdict With an ergonomic and practical design, the set presents two convenient carry handles on the cooking pot to ensure safe removal from the microwave. The set is fully dishwasher safe for an easy clean up after use. Features and BenefitsA rice cooker allows you to leave the rice cooking unattended and also keep your rice warm, meaning you can leave it covered for a little while without the worry it will go cold or need reheating.