Best Small Rice Cookers: Portable, Compact, Efficient and On-the-Go Meals
Cooking rice on the stove, requires lot of time and attention, especially if you have to make small batches of rice for 1 or 2 people. After all nobody wants to eat an overdone or underdone batch of rice.
Sometimes, a large rice cooker just isn’t necessary—especially when space is at a premium or you’re cooking for just one or two people. Small rice cookers are perfect for individuals, students, or those who need a compact, efficient and versatile option for cooking rice. These mini machines may be small in size, but they offer a range of features tailored to fit smaller needs without sacrificing quality or performance.
A small rice cooker is a great solution for individuals or small households who don’t need to cook large quantities of rice.
Whether you’re cooking Basmati, Jasmine, or any other type of rice, a small rice cooker can be a convenient, hassle-free tool.
Despite their size, these compact appliances are powerful enough to deliver perfectly cooked rice without taking up much counter space. In this guide, we’ll explore the best small rice cookers, what to look for when choosing one, and why they’re a must-have.
Our Recommendation
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | DETAILS | |
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Best Small Rice Cooker
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Zojirushi NHS-06 |
-One-touch operation |
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Rice Cooker for Dorms/RVs
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DASH Mini |
-One-touch operation |
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Rice Cooker for Small Spaces
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Aroma |
-One-touch operation |
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Rice Cooker for 1-2 Person
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Black+Decker RC506 |
-One-touch operation |
Features that makes a Small Rice Cooker Ideal
Small rice cookers are not just a machine that cook’s rice, but they are designed to fulfill your requirement and adjust according to your life style.
Portability
Small rice cookers are lightweight and portable, making them perfect for small apartments, dorm rooms, or RVs.
Space-Saving
Small rice cookers are designed to be space-efficient. Hence, they take up minimal space in the kitchen and are perfect for small apartments, dorms, or RVs
Energy Efficiency
Since they’re smaller, they consume less energy, perfect for portability and travel.
Ease of Use
With a simple push of a button, your rice is cooked perfectly without the need to monitor it.
TYPE: Non Stick, Removable Bowl.
DIMENSIONS: 7.5″D x 9.1″W x 7.5″H
CAPACITY: 3 Cups.
OPERATE: single switch control.
MODES: 1 modes. Cook mode only.
ACCESSORIES: Rice measuring cup, nonstick rice spatula.
POWER: 300 Watts. Corded Electric.
Why it is great: The Zojirushi NHS-06 is a 3-uncooked-cup rice cooker with a simple “one-lever” switch and glass lid. The sturdy nonstick inner pan and built-in handles simplify cooking and serving. Its automatic keep-warm function ensures rice stays at the perfect temperature until it is ready to eat.
Best for: For those who prioritize simplicity and durability. It has an easy one-switch operation and auto keep-warm, with no microprocessor controls, perfect for kids and elderly people. Small size makes it ideal for limited kitchen space and easy to store.
User Insights: A simple yet a reliable cooker. User admires its “one-lever” switch, with no complicated presets or timer and still it delivers consistent fluffy rice. Its nonstick inner pan and built-in handles simplify cooking and serving. Some users preferred having a separate “KEEP WARM” function apart from automatic keep-warm function. Other than that, this low-power (300 W) is excellent for small households.
TYPE: Removable Nonstick Pot Rice Cooker
DIMENSIONS: 6.5″D x 8.5″W x 6.3″H
CAPACITY: 2 Cups
OPERATE: One-touch operation, Automatic Keep-Warm
MODES: 2 modes. Cook and Warm mode.
ACCESSORIES: Mixing paddle, Measuring cup, Removable pot and Recipe Book.
POWER: 200 Watts. Corded Electric
Why it is great: The Dash Mini Rice Cooker is a trendy and ultra-compact model, designed for small spaces or single servings. This tiny appliance holds 2 cups of cooked rice and With a simple flip-down one-button operation for “Cook” and “Keep Warm” functions, this appliance is easy to operate making it perfect for cooking small portions for busy persons. Despite its size, it has multiple functions, including the ability to steam vegetables or cook oatmeal and soup.
Best for: The Dash Mini, for its tiny size and light weight, makes it perfect for college dorms, single-person apartments, camper/RV travelling, or for someone who only cooks small portions of rice. Its light weight makes it an ideal portable machine.
User Insights: User loves its removable stainless pot and glass lid that makes it easy to clean. Its simple one-touch cooking automatically switches to warm when cooked, ensuring food stays hot. It does a decent job on plain white rice, though some users noted its uneven cooking.
Overall, users loves its little size and reliability, with a drawback of not having a timer or an alert.
TYPE: Pot-Style Rice Cooker
DIMENSIONS: 8.13″D x 8.9″W x 8″H
CAPACITY: 1.5 quarts = 3 cups uncooked, 6 cups cooked
OPERATE: One-touch operation, automatic Keep-Warm
MODES: 2 modes. Cook and Warm mode.
ACCESSORIES: Rice Measuring Cup and Serving Spatula
POWER: 500 Watts. Corded Electric
Why it is great: Aroma rice cooker features one-touch operation that auto switches to keep-warm. The tempered glass lid and removable nonstick pot allow easy monitoring and cleaning. Nonstick inner pot allows one-pot cooking of grains, soups or stews. Its small size makes it ideal for tight living spaces like dorms or tiny kitchens.
Best for: This is an ultra-compact rice cooker, perfect for small kitchens, dorm rooms, or even travel.
User Insights: Despite its small size, users appreciates its cooking reliability, when it comes to cooking rice, oatmeal or soup. The simple one-touch operation automatically switches to warm ensuring that the food stays warm. But the users noticed that there is no auto shut off. It cooks to turn ON and Warm to Warm Mode.
TYPE: Pot-Style Rice Cooker
DIMENSIONS: 10 x 9.0 x 5.5 inches
CAPACITY: 1 to 6 cups of cooked rice
OPERATE: One-touch operation, Automatic Keep-Warm
MODES: 2 modes. Cook and Warm mode.
ACCESSORIES: Steamer Basket, Measuring Cup and Spoon
POWER: 300 Watts. Corded Electric
Why it is great: The Black+Decker RC506 is known for its simplicity and ease of use. With its one-touch operation it can cook small batches of rice and the keep-warm function ensures the rice stays fresh until you’re ready to eat. It can cook up to 3 cups of uncooked rice, making it ideal for 1-2 people. . It has a removable, non-stick bowl, which makes cleaning easier. It also includes a plastic steamer basket for steaming vegetables. Vegetable steamer tray sits inside the cooker instead of sitting on top of the lid.
Best for: Its compact size and ease of use make it a top choice. It is suitable for those who cook rice occasionally and don’t need advanced features. Its compact design is a plus for small kitchens.
User Insights: Users admires its cooking reliability, even though it is a basic cooker with no extra features. But still it can cook up to 3 cups of cooked rice and steam veggies. The non-stick pot ensures easy cleanup, and its simple operation makes it ideal for busy individuals.
How we selected these Small Rice Cookers
When searching for the small rice cooker, it’s essential to find a model that balances size with functionality.
– Small Kitchen
– College Dorms
– Campers/RVs
– Uniform texture throughout
– No uncooked centre
– No browned crusts at the bottom
– Small household
– 1 or 2 people
– every day serving
– Durability, nonstick surface
– Easy to operate
– Easy to Clean
Best Small Rice Cooker: Zojirushi NHS-06
What we liked: The testers at RiceHub praises Zojirushi NHS-06 for its compact design, while it delivers high performance. During testing it was found that it makes fluffy rice under 30min. Once the rice is done it automatically switches to keep-warm mode. The batch was perfect for 2-4 persons. With no complex presets, the single one-push on/off switch makes it easy for kids and elderly people to operate. Good for cooking Basmati, Jasmine, Brown Rice.
What we didn’t like: The testers at RiceHub observed that it is only good for cooking rice. But every time the rice turns out to be fluffy and aromatic. Unlike digital models, it doesnot have any presets or timer. It automatically switches to warm mode which may, sometimes burn rice at the bottom.
Rice Cooker for Dorms/RVs: DASH Mini Rice Cooker
What we liked: The testers at RiceHub admires its low wattage (200W) and light weight making it ideal for travelling, tiny apartments/dorms and camper/RVs. One touch operation cooks fluffy white rice and brown rice. It also steams vegetables, cook oatmeal and other grains.
What we didn’t like: During testing it was observed that some batches of rice had uneven cooking. After adjusting water to rice ratio, it made fluffy white rice. Overall, it does a decent job on plain white rice. It can cook oats also, but Oats may make a huge mess if not carefully monitored.
Rice Cooker for Small Spaces: Aroma Housewares ARC-363NG
What we liked: User loves its removable stainless pot and glass lid that makes it easy to clean. The automatic switch to warm keeps food warm.
What we didn’t like: While testing, users loved its little size and reliability, with a drawback of not having a timer or an alert.
Rice Cooker for 1-2 Person: Black+Decker RC506
What we liked: During testing many users report perfectly cooked, fluffy rice every time. But few complaint about rice being under or over-cooked. This was resolved after following the instructed water ratios. Some reviewers appreciate about being able to steam veggies or fish while the rice cooks. A simple solution to one-pot meals.
Overall, users loves its one-touch operation. The two basic cook/warm settings make it ideal for kitchen beginners or anyone who wants rice fast and reliably. The steam bucket steams veggies simultaneously making one pot meals simple.
What we didn’t like: Users are unhappy with the strict rice to water ratio. If not followed properly, the rice can turn out overly sticky or mushy, making it frustrating for those who expect simple operations.
Also, leaving rice on warm for too long can cause it to dry and harden around the edges and bottom. Since, there is no beep sound, the cookers automatically switches to “warm” making it unnoticed.
Conclusion
Small rice cookers are an excellent solution for individuals, couples, students, or anyone with limited kitchen space. Whether you’re cooking for yourself or a small group, these compact cookers provide convenience, energy efficiency, and ease of use in delivering perfectly cooked rice without taking up too much room. From basic to no-frills model to ones with extra features like steaming, these compact rice cookers can handle the job with ease.
FAQs
Is cooking time of Small Rice cooker faster than traditional methods?
Since there is no exact cooking time for traditional methods. Many manufactures mention that it takes around 15-20 minutes to cook rice in these small rice cookers, which is quicker than cooking on a stove top.
Can these small rice cookers handle Basmati rice?
Yes, all of the small rice cookers listed can cook Basmati rice. Just ensure you follow the correct water-to-rice ratio and rinse the rice before cooking for the best results.
Do small rice cookers have a “keep warm” function?
Based on the product information. Many small rice cookers come with a “keep warm” function that activates after cooking to keep the rice warm until ready to serve..
Is its inner pot dishwasher-safe for cleaning?
Yes, the inner pot is dishwasher safe for cleaning. The product information states that the removable nonstick bowl is dishwasher safe for easy cleanup.
Can I cook other grains in a small rice cooker?
Yes, most small rice cookers can cook other grains like quinoa, couscous, or even oatmeal, depending on the model.
Can I steam vegetables in a small rice cooker?
Some small rice cookers come with a steaming tray that allows you to steam vegetables or other foods while cooking rice.
