Top pick
The Neuro Fuzzy is one of the most compact rice cookers we tested. It makes sublime rice of all varieties, which is something few other machines can do.
We generally don’t recommend single-use tools for outfitting a small kitchen, but we’ll make an exception for the rice cooker. If rice is a daily staple and quality is nonnegotiable, the Zojirushi Neuro Fuzzy Rice Cooker & Warmer NS-ZCC10 is worth creating space for.
Beloved by many of our staffers, this streamlined rice cooker can prepare short-grain Japanese rice as adeptly as it does long-grain basmati. It can cook up to 5.5 cups at a time, and it has a built-in computer chip, which automatically detects doneness and nullifies human error, unlike traditional, stove-top methods of cooking rice.
Similar to our slow-cooker and multi-cooker recommendations, a rice cooker does its job quietly on your countertop with the push of a button, and it minimizes time spent in the kitchen. This one consistently delivers great results, and it can keep rice safely warm for up to 12 hours. Also, according to our kitchen-team members, this rice cooker is one of the most compact models they tested in their search for the best rice cooker.
Plus, when the Neuro Fuzzy is done cooking, it plays a fun jingle, which is both endearing and practical.
