Did you know there are over 200 different rice cookers on the Amazon website? Some of these are premium convoluted machines with multiple settings. Others are more affordable options with a simple design. This article will help you find the best cheap rice cooker.
There are a lot of different options for affordable rice cookers, but my personal recommendation is the Zojirushi NHS-10.
I won’t only talk about the best overall recommended model, though. There are some rice cookers that may be more suited to your needs. Check the table below to see.
| Image | Product Name | Best For | Buy | Star Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
  | Aroma MI Cool Touch Mini Rice Cooker | Portability | CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON | 3.75/5 |
  | Black and Decker Rice Cooker | Lowest Price | CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON | 4.25/5 |
  | Hamilton Beach Digital Simplicity Rice Cooker | Multifunctionality | CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON | 4/5 |
  | Zojirushi NHS-10 | Recommended Best Option | CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON | 4.5/5 |
Why Budget Rice Cookers Are Great
If you’ve arrived here from my guide to Thai cookware, you’ll know why I recommend a cheap, affordable rice cooker above a pricier option. But it’s worth repeating myself in case you haven’t read that page.
The simple truth is that a cheap rice cooker does exactly the same job as one that costs five times as much: it cooks rice well.
It is, for the most part, never worth shelling out extra dollars for premium machines. In fact, it’s often more hassle because the expensive machines have esoteric functions that make them more complicated to use.
In Thailand, and in other Asian cuisines that use rice as the staple, households and restaurant kitchens typically have a durable, affordable, one-switch rice cooker. No extra fancy features needed.
I’m going to highlight some of the main reasons I recommend this Zojirushi model if you need something cheap, durable, and good at its only job; cooking rice properly.
Pros of the Recommended Model
- Comes in 3-cup, 6-cup, or 10-cup sizes, giving you great choices in space versus bulk cooking.
- The Zojirushi effortlessly and automatically keeps your rice warm after cooking is finished.
- Extreme durability: I’ve had my own version for six years and it still works perfectly. One reviewer on Amazon has theirs for 25 years and it still works!
- Easy to use with a single-switch control: no unnecessary fancy features
- You get a measuring cup and spatula with each purchase.
- The inner pan is non-stick, which means cleaning it is a breeze.
- The handles stay cool even if you’ve had the machine on for a long time.
Cons
It would be plain dishonest if I just wrote about the Zojirushi NHS-10 without discussing some negatives.
To me, there are two main disadvantages to this product. It’s worth noting that these disadvantages apply to pretty much any cheap rice cooker:
- The more expensive machines generally keep your rice warmer for even longer.
- You get a lot of steam and bubbling, especially if you don’t rinse your rice.
I don’t know if these cons will be deal-breakers for you. I just wanted to bring them to your attention to help you make a more informed choice.
Alternative Budget Rice Cookers
If you’d rather some more complex models or just something else other than this recommended affordable option, don’t worry, I’ve got your back. I can recommend 3 other models worth checking out:
- Aroma MI Cool Touch Mini Rice Cooker – Best for Portability
- Hamilton Beach Digital Simplicity Rice Cooker – Best Multifunctionality
- Black+Decker RC506 – Best No Nonsense 1 Touch Model
The Aroma Housewares Mini Rice Cooker is an interesting option that is great for single people or those of you who enjoy portability. It’s not the most durable option. though, and several reviewers on commented their models stopped working after just a month or so. My cousin must have been lucky with his one!
The Hamilton Beach Digital Simplicity Rice Cooker is a really solid cheap rice cooker that has great multifunctionality. Not only can you cook good rice with it, but it comes with a fantastic range of other cooking modes for such a cheap option. Go for this model if you wanna cook oats, steam vegetables, or get some rapid rice.
Last but not least, the Black and Decker rice cooker is a very decent no nonsense one-touch rice cooker that simply gets the job done. Moreso known for their focus on home improvement products and power tools, Black and Decker surprised me with their rice cooker but at the price available it’s a really great choice.
A Word on Rinsing
Your Rice
Your Rice
When cooking jasmine rice, which is the type of rice used in Thai food, you absolutely need to rinse it first.
Failing to rinse your rice is a big mistake that will lead to bad results, no matter whether your rice cooker costs $50 or $150.
Rinsing rice before cooking becomes even more important with the more economical rice cookers, though.
What you’ll often find when cooking jasmine rice without rinsing it first is that it spatters and bubbles up a lot during cooking. This can be annoying.
If you want to properly rinse your rice, put it in a bowl and cover it with cold water. Swish it around a few times with your (clean) hands.
The idea is that you’re removing the starchy coating on the rice to ensure better and less volatile cooking. The bubbles and spitting happen due to chemical reactions with the water and the starchy coating of the rice.
Why You Should Buy This Cheap Rice Cooker
Summing up why I recommend this as the best cheap rice cooker for your money, I would simply say that the Zojirushi NHS-10 is simple, effective, and durable.
It is a no-fuss machine that only requires you to get three things right: pre-rinsing your grains, the proper ratio of water to rice, and the ability to press a switch down. If you can do these three things, this appliance will 100% cook your rice well.
Another big plus for me is that the rice rarely ever burns or sticks to the inner pot. When buying the cheaper models, this burning or sticking is always a potential problem.
An additional benefit that may or may not be important to you is that the power chord on the NHS-10 is really quite long. Not every kitchen has optimal plug socket placement, but that’s not a problem with this model.
The final nod of approval I can give is that my Thai partner loves this machine and says it’s great for cooking rice. So, if you want a no-fuss, affordable rice cooker, get yourself a Zojirushi NHS-10 and forget about those ultra-expensive bulky machines that are rarely worth the extra cost.
Where To Buy
Amazon is definitely the handiest place to get this affordable rice cooker. Click that button below for the best deal.