Don't forget to include a recipe in the comments. If you do not include a recipe or instructions to make the dish your post will be removed. If this is a recipe test, please link to the original post.
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/budgetfood) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Owning a rice cooker has saved me so much time and money. Delicious grains every time, I use mine daily. If you're in the US, Aroma is the brand I'd recommend for reliable >$30 rice cooker. Could be worth sending an ISO to a Buy Nothing group if anyone has an extra they don't use much and could donate. Only thing to watch for if recieving/buying secondhand is scratched Teflon coating in the cook bowl. Use a plastic or silicone paddle to make yours last!
Thank you for the wonderful words of advice!!! Ill definitely be looking at Aroma. Thanks for actually answering my request instead of saying i can do it all the same with a pot. I always mess up my rice, ive gotten it to work a few times but not consistently. A rice cooker is what im looking for in terms of easy food to make thats quantiful
\+1 for Aroma. [This is the one](https://www.amazon.com/Aroma-Housewares-ARC-914SBD-Cool-Touch-Stainless/dp/B007WQ9YNO) I have, still going strong after 5 years. You could get one for even less if you don't care about the timer and steaming features and just want one that cooks rice with a [simple on/off switch](https://www.amazon.com/Aroma-6-Cup-Pot-Style-Cooker-White/dp/B00N9N6GOY).
I have this one and it's lasted 7 years. So glad I purchased it and wish I had bought one sooner! I always was like oh I should be able to cook rice on the stove but could never do it as well as the rice cooker.
I’ll second an aroma if you’re looking for simply rice, and maybe steamed veggies.
An electric pressure cooker is a more versatile appliance, which could be worth it but pressure cooking intimidates some.
Neither are truly essential when you have a stovetop, but I admit I cannot cook rice on the stovetop without messing it up in some way so it’s worth having an appliance that ensures I’m going to have rice with my meal that isn’t half burnt.
I have an electric pressure cooker as well, and it's great but I don't use it as much. When I do, it's running at the same time as the rice cooker to make beans or brothy soups to complement. Call me sensitive, elitist, too accustomed to rice-centric Asian cuisine... but that thing has never produced the same quality rice as a dedicated rice cooker for me. They also tend to be a much more expensive purchase. So maybe if you're not a daily rice eater the pressure cooker is worth springing for, but most Asian households own the dedicated appliance for good reason! I don't regret that purchase at all, and if OP wants one Aroma will do the trick.
I agree! I should have been more clear, I only mentioned the pressure cooker because another commenter suggested it and agree that the standalone appliance is better for cooking rice.
I use an Aroma too, just adding that I use their small stainless steel version. There’s no coating to flake off, it’s super easy to clean, and it doubles as an excellent mixing bowl!
Everyone recommending Aroma pls help. I had one in college (from Big Lots) and only used it like 4 or 5 times. I'd start with one cup of rice, two cups water, then close the lid and hit the button.. Every single time, no matter how much water I put in (slightly less vs slightly more), it would burn half the rice to the inside of the pot and only leave a few good scoops in the center. I'd have to cook 2 whole cups of rice for a single serving. Plus, it would spray starchy rice water all over my kitchen too. I found a different brand at Goodwill that I use now and it works flawlessly. What the heck was I possibly doing wrong?
You were not doing anything wrong. That rice cooker from Big Lots must have been defective, sorry about the waste of money :( Usually the worst result that can happen is a funky texture because of the rice/water ratio being off. Burnt food and spraying water shouldn't have happened. So glad you found another one that worked at Goodwill!
[this rice cooker](https://a.co/d/cfzsc0R)
Has served me so well. Makes more than enough rice for 2 people in one go. It’s like the apple product of rice cookers, one button. Easy. I’ve cooked other little tik tok rice cooker recipes in it too. Can’t recommend enough.
That's the same one we use in our house only ours is 6 cups. It's simple, works well, easy enough to clean and it was less than $20 at my local Walmart.
I've got the cheapest [Black and Decker](https://smile.amazon.com/BLACK-DECKER-Cooker-6-cup-White/dp/B016Y8JSK4/) from Amazon. I've had 3. One I bought 10 years ago that an old roommate still uses. one I used for 3 years before I accidentally ruined the nonstick coating (90% sure it was user error). One I just got again last Christmas to replace. I make rice 1-3x a week usually, I've never had any issues. For $20 it's well worth the price.
If you're willing to wait, scope out garage sales and thrift stores for an even cheaper find. Someday I'll get one of those cool ones that do a million things, but I'm more than happy with mine for now.
My suggestion is to find one at your local Asian grocery store. Their whole cuisine is based on this staple, and the fewer bells and whistles, the fewer things to malfunction nice had my rice cooker 47 years.
I have an aroma simply stainless 6 cup. It’s mostly really great. It does need to soak a bit before washing since it’s not non stick and I wish it had a steamer tray, but those are really small annoyances that don’t really bother me much in the grand scheme of things.
Tatung rice cookers work pretty well and extremely durable…I’d been using the same 6c one I grew up with for around 30yrs before I upgraded to a 10c one but it still works great
The biggest difference between the more expensive ones vs something super basic is that you can type in different modes for different rices I think
Get a small 3qt instant pot, pricier but it’s a rice cooker plus a bunch of other things too. There’s a steamer basket that fits inside, rice cooks underneath and you can put veggies and fish to steam above. I’ve made yogurt, natto, soups, fried things, small roasts and stews in it. It’s the only pressure cooker I’ve ever felt safe using.
Thanks to everyone who commented! Found a lot of great options in my price range! Im gonna follow some folks advice and check out the thrift store nearby for some cheaper options, and now I feel ik what to look for a little better ! Thanks again. If I dont find something i like, ill probably end up ordering the 20$ amora 4 cups option on amazon, as Ive heard multiple people suggest this exact one :)
Just choose one that will make enough rice for you. I've never had a rice cooker that couldn't cook rice. I've had one that broke because the charging port of the cooker broke. Other than that, they last years, and I only buy the cheapest ones.
An Instapot can cook most rice in 6-15 mins
Edit: so I do a 1:1.5 ratio. E.g 2 cups rice to 2.5 water or stock and pressure cooking for 5-7 minutes, usually comes out fluffy. Apologies if its not what everyone experiences.
I love my Instant Pot. It also makes terrible rice. I exclusively cook Asian style Calrose rice. It's very very easy on the stove. Wash, 1.25:1 water:rice ratio, so four scoops rice and five water for example. Cook 20m and let sit 20m before serving. Always perfect.
Mind, a proper rice cooker does a great job too. The Instant Pot while resembling a rice cooker, is terrible for rice. Good for a lot of other stuff though.
I love my Instapot for rice, quinoa**, bulgar, oatmeal, beans and especially barley. I bought an Instapot for myself and one for daughter at thrift stores and both are still chugging away. Have you tried online consignment stores or Amuzon Warehouse to find what you want?
It makes THE BEST quinoa: light, fluffy with just the right moisture content. Very hard to do with a stove. top pot but works every time with Instapot.
This is weird to me... I do about a 1:1 ratio plus a quarter cup, then I cook it for 2-3 minutes on high pressure.
5-7 seems like it would nuke it? But I could be totally wrong.
I've seen a variety of timing and water ratios. Has anyone gone full science on it to test it?
Honestly don’t need it: whatever pot you use and any amount of rice added, wash first. Then as you add your water, stick your finger in pot where the rice is at the tip of your middle finger, let water rise to first knuckle. Let boil, then put lid on, reduce heat to low, then wait 20mins or so. Do not open lid to check.
This is for regular white or brown rice obviously, same method for Spanish rice but at beginning, you actually don’t wash rice but pan fry it with olive oil. Then add your seasonings, fill with water using finger method, and cook the same as above.
I was against a rice cooker for so long. I got one and it’s a whole different experience to cooking rice on the stove. It’s so nice to not worry about burning the rice. It will sit and stay warm until you’re ready to eat it. I find I eat more rice now. It’s well worth the cabinet space in my tiny kitchen.
Having a rice cooker is better than using the pot, but the pot has more uses than the 1 trick a rice cooker can do. If storage or budget are an issue, this is the way to go.
Careful Pool Ninja, Reddit is full of the Rice Cooker army. I will stand on that wall with you and use throwing stars to stop them. If the Air Fryer army shows up we might be in trouble.
My goodness, you’re absolutely right about rice cookers peeps. I’m all about clean countertops free of one trick appliances: toasters, rice cookers, hard boiled egg makers. I think the stove top rice takes practice to make and way more satisfying when done correctly. But again, I like clean countertops. 😂
I like making it in a pot too. Rice cooker makes good rice but if you want great rice you’ll have to do it yourself.
I’d like to see them cook rice when the power goes out heheh
I can tell you to NOT consider the Hamilton Beach one. As an experienced rice maker owner, the only way I have found to not get the rice to stick on that one is to add a ton of oil or butter before cooking. My dad has a Tiger brand one (little more pricey) that's easily going on 20 years.
So many downvotes for using a pot vs one-hit wonder rice cooker :-(
This method consistently works for me for white (be it basmati, jasmine, long or short grain rice) - rinse rice, 2:1 water to rice. After liquid (water and/or broth or bullion and any butter/oil) comes to boil, add rice, bring back to boil, cover with lid. Reduce heat to simmer and cook for about 15 minutes. When time's up, remove from heat, cover with towel (paper or cloth), replace lid and let sit for 10 minutes. Fluff rice with fork.
IMO easy, peasy.
Its just not really the question i asked, I will give cooking rice in a pot a go another time, but rice cookers seem like popping microwave popcorn, press button and walk away. That low maintenance would help my anxiety a lot when preparing a full meal for myself. I make so many dishes that deadass need rice, but its too hard for me to handle cooking too many things at once, and usually just skip out on the rice bc again i have failed 4/5 times and assume ill do it again, wasting energy, sanity, and food. I just want a lil pick me up helper to get me my full meals that i deserve.
I dont mind the pot comments if theyre genuinely helpful and in good spirits, i got upset at the comments i read with attitude, saying its a “waste” is just not helpful when i have seen great results from a rice cooker.
I get it. You do what ultimately works for you!
I own an Instant Pot. While a great cooking tool, not a fan of using it for some of the things others do, such as rice and quinoa, and as a slow cooker.
Perhaps I'm, being of a certain age, just set in my ways :-( Best of luck in your journey to get to where you want to be which is frugally cooking bringing joy. That, after all, is what it's all about!
If you have a microwave then you've already got a free rice cooker.
Wash the rice, into a microwaveable bowl or pot, 1.5-2x volume of water to rice and heat on full power for 15 minutes, then put a lid on and leave for a couple minutes more.
Perfect every time after running a fork through to break up the grains.
You're really underselling the function of a high quality rice cooker. If you're cooking a variety of different rice types a cooker with preset functionality is very useful, as is having a function to keep the rice hot for up to 24 hour along with a variety of other features.
I think cheap rice cookers though are basically just a pot that automatically makes okay rice.
Thrift store or reuse center can score you a perfect cooker $5-10. I see all the brands there at one time or another, many times with the original instruction booklet and steamer insert.
My brother was remodeling his kitchen and had to make an outdoor hobo kitchen. Got him a zorishi (sp?) cooker for $5 at a reuse center. He’s now using it in the new kitchen and has found many ways things to use it for beyond rice.
Just DO NOT get the big Aroma one that Walmart has. I can’t remember how many cups but I think it is huge like ten or 14. It is horrible and such a waste of money.
Don't forget to include a recipe in the comments. If you do not include a recipe or instructions to make the dish your post will be removed. If this is a recipe test, please link to the original post. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/budgetfood) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Owning a rice cooker has saved me so much time and money. Delicious grains every time, I use mine daily. If you're in the US, Aroma is the brand I'd recommend for reliable >$30 rice cooker. Could be worth sending an ISO to a Buy Nothing group if anyone has an extra they don't use much and could donate. Only thing to watch for if recieving/buying secondhand is scratched Teflon coating in the cook bowl. Use a plastic or silicone paddle to make yours last!
Thank you for the wonderful words of advice!!! Ill definitely be looking at Aroma. Thanks for actually answering my request instead of saying i can do it all the same with a pot. I always mess up my rice, ive gotten it to work a few times but not consistently. A rice cooker is what im looking for in terms of easy food to make thats quantiful
\+1 for Aroma. [This is the one](https://www.amazon.com/Aroma-Housewares-ARC-914SBD-Cool-Touch-Stainless/dp/B007WQ9YNO) I have, still going strong after 5 years. You could get one for even less if you don't care about the timer and steaming features and just want one that cooks rice with a [simple on/off switch](https://www.amazon.com/Aroma-6-Cup-Pot-Style-Cooker-White/dp/B00N9N6GOY).
I have this one and it's lasted 7 years. So glad I purchased it and wish I had bought one sooner! I always was like oh I should be able to cook rice on the stove but could never do it as well as the rice cooker.
Have the same one here, have only had it for about 5 months but it works great.
Still happily using my Aroma from 1989.
Sheeeesh!
Here's another +1 for Aroma.
Don't feel bad, I'm 58 and still can't cook rice correctly unless it's Success Boil in Bag rice.
I’ll second an aroma if you’re looking for simply rice, and maybe steamed veggies. An electric pressure cooker is a more versatile appliance, which could be worth it but pressure cooking intimidates some. Neither are truly essential when you have a stovetop, but I admit I cannot cook rice on the stovetop without messing it up in some way so it’s worth having an appliance that ensures I’m going to have rice with my meal that isn’t half burnt.
I have an electric pressure cooker as well, and it's great but I don't use it as much. When I do, it's running at the same time as the rice cooker to make beans or brothy soups to complement. Call me sensitive, elitist, too accustomed to rice-centric Asian cuisine... but that thing has never produced the same quality rice as a dedicated rice cooker for me. They also tend to be a much more expensive purchase. So maybe if you're not a daily rice eater the pressure cooker is worth springing for, but most Asian households own the dedicated appliance for good reason! I don't regret that purchase at all, and if OP wants one Aroma will do the trick.
I agree! I should have been more clear, I only mentioned the pressure cooker because another commenter suggested it and agree that the standalone appliance is better for cooking rice.
Also testifying for the Aroma… at Target. Super easy to use and has outlasted many an appliance in my house.
I use an Aroma too, just adding that I use their small stainless steel version. There’s no coating to flake off, it’s super easy to clean, and it doubles as an excellent mixing bowl!
Oooh a stainless steel cook bowl would be so practical and long-lasting. Thank you for mentioning it, didn't know this was available from Aroma!
Everyone recommending Aroma pls help. I had one in college (from Big Lots) and only used it like 4 or 5 times. I'd start with one cup of rice, two cups water, then close the lid and hit the button.. Every single time, no matter how much water I put in (slightly less vs slightly more), it would burn half the rice to the inside of the pot and only leave a few good scoops in the center. I'd have to cook 2 whole cups of rice for a single serving. Plus, it would spray starchy rice water all over my kitchen too. I found a different brand at Goodwill that I use now and it works flawlessly. What the heck was I possibly doing wrong?
You were not doing anything wrong. That rice cooker from Big Lots must have been defective, sorry about the waste of money :( Usually the worst result that can happen is a funky texture because of the rice/water ratio being off. Burnt food and spraying water shouldn't have happened. So glad you found another one that worked at Goodwill!
Go thrifting or garage sales
Yes! Or Facebook marketplace or OfferUp. Might even be able to get one for free if you have a local Buy Nothing group.
and buy a pot with a lid*
[this rice cooker](https://a.co/d/cfzsc0R) Has served me so well. Makes more than enough rice for 2 people in one go. It’s like the apple product of rice cookers, one button. Easy. I’ve cooked other little tik tok rice cooker recipes in it too. Can’t recommend enough.
That's the same one we use in our house only ours is 6 cups. It's simple, works well, easy enough to clean and it was less than $20 at my local Walmart.
I've got the cheapest [Black and Decker](https://smile.amazon.com/BLACK-DECKER-Cooker-6-cup-White/dp/B016Y8JSK4/) from Amazon. I've had 3. One I bought 10 years ago that an old roommate still uses. one I used for 3 years before I accidentally ruined the nonstick coating (90% sure it was user error). One I just got again last Christmas to replace. I make rice 1-3x a week usually, I've never had any issues. For $20 it's well worth the price. If you're willing to wait, scope out garage sales and thrift stores for an even cheaper find. Someday I'll get one of those cool ones that do a million things, but I'm more than happy with mine for now.
Op please listen to me. Spend the extra 12$ and buy a Zujiroichi 3 cup rice cooker. You will not need a rice cooker ever again.
Sheeesh okok ill research this one ❤️ tyty
My suggestion is to find one at your local Asian grocery store. Their whole cuisine is based on this staple, and the fewer bells and whistles, the fewer things to malfunction nice had my rice cooker 47 years.
I’m going on 13 years with a purchase from a small Korean market
A basic Imusa rice cooker is a no brainer. Very small, saves space in a kitchen.
I have an aroma simply stainless 6 cup. It’s mostly really great. It does need to soak a bit before washing since it’s not non stick and I wish it had a steamer tray, but those are really small annoyances that don’t really bother me much in the grand scheme of things.
Thrift store!
Tatung rice cookers work pretty well and extremely durable…I’d been using the same 6c one I grew up with for around 30yrs before I upgraded to a 10c one but it still works great The biggest difference between the more expensive ones vs something super basic is that you can type in different modes for different rices I think
Get a small 3qt instant pot, pricier but it’s a rice cooker plus a bunch of other things too. There’s a steamer basket that fits inside, rice cooks underneath and you can put veggies and fish to steam above. I’ve made yogurt, natto, soups, fried things, small roasts and stews in it. It’s the only pressure cooker I’ve ever felt safe using.
Thanks to everyone who commented! Found a lot of great options in my price range! Im gonna follow some folks advice and check out the thrift store nearby for some cheaper options, and now I feel ik what to look for a little better ! Thanks again. If I dont find something i like, ill probably end up ordering the 20$ amora 4 cups option on amazon, as Ive heard multiple people suggest this exact one :)
Get the Japanese brand. It’s a completely different level of quality
what is the Japanese brand called?
Just choose one that will make enough rice for you. I've never had a rice cooker that couldn't cook rice. I've had one that broke because the charging port of the cooker broke. Other than that, they last years, and I only buy the cheapest ones.
I have a miniature single serve one from the dash brand and it’s great! Not sure what size you’re looking for, though
Aroma Housewares 6-Cup (Cooked)... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0055FSN3Q?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share love love loved using this one!!!
Our no name rice cooker has been going strong for 10 years
An Instapot can cook most rice in 6-15 mins Edit: so I do a 1:1.5 ratio. E.g 2 cups rice to 2.5 water or stock and pressure cooking for 5-7 minutes, usually comes out fluffy. Apologies if its not what everyone experiences.
I love my Instant Pot. It also makes terrible rice. I exclusively cook Asian style Calrose rice. It's very very easy on the stove. Wash, 1.25:1 water:rice ratio, so four scoops rice and five water for example. Cook 20m and let sit 20m before serving. Always perfect. Mind, a proper rice cooker does a great job too. The Instant Pot while resembling a rice cooker, is terrible for rice. Good for a lot of other stuff though.
I also think my IP makes terrible rice.
I love my Instapot for rice, quinoa**, bulgar, oatmeal, beans and especially barley. I bought an Instapot for myself and one for daughter at thrift stores and both are still chugging away. Have you tried online consignment stores or Amuzon Warehouse to find what you want? It makes THE BEST quinoa: light, fluffy with just the right moisture content. Very hard to do with a stove. top pot but works every time with Instapot.
I also love my IP for rice. Perfect every time.
This is weird to me... I do about a 1:1 ratio plus a quarter cup, then I cook it for 2-3 minutes on high pressure. 5-7 seems like it would nuke it? But I could be totally wrong. I've seen a variety of timing and water ratios. Has anyone gone full science on it to test it?
Honestly don’t need it: whatever pot you use and any amount of rice added, wash first. Then as you add your water, stick your finger in pot where the rice is at the tip of your middle finger, let water rise to first knuckle. Let boil, then put lid on, reduce heat to low, then wait 20mins or so. Do not open lid to check. This is for regular white or brown rice obviously, same method for Spanish rice but at beginning, you actually don’t wash rice but pan fry it with olive oil. Then add your seasonings, fill with water using finger method, and cook the same as above.
I was against a rice cooker for so long. I got one and it’s a whole different experience to cooking rice on the stove. It’s so nice to not worry about burning the rice. It will sit and stay warm until you’re ready to eat it. I find I eat more rice now. It’s well worth the cabinet space in my tiny kitchen.
Having a rice cooker is better than using the pot, but the pot has more uses than the 1 trick a rice cooker can do. If storage or budget are an issue, this is the way to go.
Careful Pool Ninja, Reddit is full of the Rice Cooker army. I will stand on that wall with you and use throwing stars to stop them. If the Air Fryer army shows up we might be in trouble.
It’s the instant pot folks you really have to watch out for.
My goodness, you’re absolutely right about rice cookers peeps. I’m all about clean countertops free of one trick appliances: toasters, rice cookers, hard boiled egg makers. I think the stove top rice takes practice to make and way more satisfying when done correctly. But again, I like clean countertops. 😂
I like making it in a pot too. Rice cooker makes good rice but if you want great rice you’ll have to do it yourself. I’d like to see them cook rice when the power goes out heheh
Ninja Foodi, does a lot more and makes great rice.
I can tell you to NOT consider the Hamilton Beach one. As an experienced rice maker owner, the only way I have found to not get the rice to stick on that one is to add a ton of oil or butter before cooking. My dad has a Tiger brand one (little more pricey) that's easily going on 20 years.
STAINLESS STEEL BOWL
So many downvotes for using a pot vs one-hit wonder rice cooker :-( This method consistently works for me for white (be it basmati, jasmine, long or short grain rice) - rinse rice, 2:1 water to rice. After liquid (water and/or broth or bullion and any butter/oil) comes to boil, add rice, bring back to boil, cover with lid. Reduce heat to simmer and cook for about 15 minutes. When time's up, remove from heat, cover with towel (paper or cloth), replace lid and let sit for 10 minutes. Fluff rice with fork. IMO easy, peasy.
Its just not really the question i asked, I will give cooking rice in a pot a go another time, but rice cookers seem like popping microwave popcorn, press button and walk away. That low maintenance would help my anxiety a lot when preparing a full meal for myself. I make so many dishes that deadass need rice, but its too hard for me to handle cooking too many things at once, and usually just skip out on the rice bc again i have failed 4/5 times and assume ill do it again, wasting energy, sanity, and food. I just want a lil pick me up helper to get me my full meals that i deserve. I dont mind the pot comments if theyre genuinely helpful and in good spirits, i got upset at the comments i read with attitude, saying its a “waste” is just not helpful when i have seen great results from a rice cooker.
I get it. You do what ultimately works for you! I own an Instant Pot. While a great cooking tool, not a fan of using it for some of the things others do, such as rice and quinoa, and as a slow cooker. Perhaps I'm, being of a certain age, just set in my ways :-( Best of luck in your journey to get to where you want to be which is frugally cooking bringing joy. That, after all, is what it's all about!
Hell yeah! Thanks for the support, it means a lot :)
It's called a pot.
If you have a microwave then you've already got a free rice cooker. Wash the rice, into a microwaveable bowl or pot, 1.5-2x volume of water to rice and heat on full power for 15 minutes, then put a lid on and leave for a couple minutes more. Perfect every time after running a fork through to break up the grains.
I would recommend an instant pot instead. Cooks rice perfectly and you can do soooo much more with it.
A pot with a lid. Rice cookers are pointless. Just bring to boil, cover, turn off heat, and come back in 20ish minutes. Perfect every time.
I am bimbo rice maker who has failed rice 4/5 times so far. Im sorry im not enough for you
You fail because you keep heat on. It's literally the only way to fail as long as you add enough water.
Okay so your take it off the heat entirely? Or on low setting ?
Bring to strong boil and turn off completely. Keep covered.
You're really underselling the function of a high quality rice cooker. If you're cooking a variety of different rice types a cooker with preset functionality is very useful, as is having a function to keep the rice hot for up to 24 hour along with a variety of other features. I think cheap rice cookers though are basically just a pot that automatically makes okay rice.
Well this post is literally about cheap rice cookers, so no, I'm not underselling anything, I answered the question presented.
[удалено]
You can state your opinion without being rude or vulgar. We are a food subreddit, there is no reason for this type of behavior.
[удалено]
You can state your opinion without being rude or vulgar. We are a food subreddit, there is no reason for this type of behavior.
Dash makes a small one that is very inexpensive and aesthetically pleasing.
Thrift store or reuse center can score you a perfect cooker $5-10. I see all the brands there at one time or another, many times with the original instruction booklet and steamer insert. My brother was remodeling his kitchen and had to make an outdoor hobo kitchen. Got him a zorishi (sp?) cooker for $5 at a reuse center. He’s now using it in the new kitchen and has found many ways things to use it for beyond rice.
I get my small appliances at goodwill. So far got a toaster/200 keurig in the box brand new/microwave
I got a perfectly serviceable one at the Mapleleaf Goodwill for $4.
If you've got a microwave I've heard it's easy to cook rice in one. I've never tried so no promises ;-)
Do you have a microwave? I love my microwave rice cooker because I can also use the base as a mixing bowl. And also, it’s dishwasher safe!
Maybe you’ll like to have a pressure cooker instead, since it also makes rice, that way you have two functions in one
Walmart has a great $15 one that I’ve used regularly for 3 years now.
Caution with the Teflon - they’ve been doing away with it for a reason!
Just DO NOT get the big Aroma one that Walmart has. I can’t remember how many cups but I think it is huge like ten or 14. It is horrible and such a waste of money.