A rice cooker is, for some, a true kitchen essential. For the unconverted, Lauren Graham proposes a traditional Japanese cooker that might just convince you to get on board.
Her pick? A compact, clay pot named the Kamado-san Rice Cooker (available at Jinen) that she uses to cook rice and keep soup hot. Based on her description, we wouldn't be surprised if this were one of the best rice cookers on the market.
'My mother grew up mainly in Tokyo, and probably partially because of that, I love Japan,' she told the Strategist.
'I discovered there’s a store in L.A. called Toiro, and the owner imports all these Japanese pantry items and beautiful clay, and it was sort of on a whim that I bought this. (But it was also because of owner Naoko Takei Moore’s cookbook – she makes so many things.) It’s like an all-purpose pot; the clay gets very hot, so it keeps food hot. But these pots are probably the ones I use the most, to heat things up and to make soup and Japanese rice with the perfect texture: not gloopy, not dry. You can also use it like a big soup pot and put it in the center of the table, and everybody helps themselves. So it’s a rice cooker, but it’s also a party.'
This clay pot cooks rice intricately, with heat reaching every grain for a perfect bowl. The spoon rest is a nice touch.
At $208, it is certainly an investment, but as Lauren describes, it is a multi-purpose kitchen appliance (not to mention very chic in its black-painted, ceramic facade, with a spoon rest to boot). I never thought rice cookers could look so aesthetic, but after seeing Lauren's choice, I confess: This deserves a place on my countertops – and with such a small kitchen, I certainly don't say that very often.
It's also prompted me more to think about other types of rice cookers on the market. To help, I caught up with my colleagues who have tested the other rice cookers worth knowing about. I've rounded up some of their favorites below, so you're covered with good measure. Happy shopping!
Shop our rice cooker picks
This intuitive rice cooker features 21 pre-sets, including beans, oats, couscous, quinoa, barley, farro and more. You can also add ingredients ahead of time and schedule cooking to begin up to 24 hours later.
Our experts say that this Instant Pot Rice Cooker isn't just ideal for cooking rice; it can also steam fish and vegetables, and even slow cook small portions. Plus, it's compact enough to stash in your cupboard without taking up too much space.
This iconic appliance does it all: pressure cooking, slow cooking, rice cooking, yogurt making, steaming, and more. It's intuitive and easy to use, making it a go-to option for those who are challenged in their kitchen and want to upgrade their cooking game.
