You might not think a rice cooker belongs in the same class of essential cooking tools as, say, a chef’s knife or cutting board , but think again: If you eat rice on a regular basis, owning one of these appliances will change your life for the better. Here at Bon Appétit , we typically shy away from recommending single-use cooking gadgets, but a rice cooker is an exception to that rule.

After years of testing, I can confirm that there’s simply no easier, more effective way to make a perfect pot of rice—and that no rice cooker will do so better than our top pick, the Zojirushi NP-HCC10 .

Our top picks

Best rice cooker overall: Zojirushi 5.5-Cup Induction Rice Cooker (NP-HCC10)

The rice cooker that punches above its price tag: Hamilton Beach 7-Cup Digital Programmable Rice Cooker

Best small rice cooker: Aroma Mi Digital Cool Touch Mini 3-Cup Rice Cooker

If you're looking for a PFAS-free rice cooker: Tatung Electric 6-Cup Rice Cooker and Steamer

I was introduced to the world of Zojirushi rice cookers in…