Rice is an affordable and versatile grain, used and loved in many cuisines around the world. With so many different varieties, rice can be enjoyed on its own, as a side dish, or serve as the base for many recipes like grain bowls, jambalayas, stir fries, and so much more.

Although the process of cooking rice on the stovetop is fairly easy—after all, it’s just water and rice, usually in a 2-to-1 ratio—it’s also easy to under or overcook your rice. If you’ve ever scorched a pan of rice or wondered why your rice is soft and mushy, you’ve realized cooking a pot of rice requires just-so timing and constant supervision.

Rice cookers allow you to make a pot of perfectly textured, fluffy rice without any guesswork or constant watching. Most models can also be used to cook other grains, such as oats, quinoa, or polenta. You can even use a rice cooker to make a no-stir risotto. Before buying, you’ll want to consider a rice cooker’s capacity and cooking functions for how much rice you eat and which types of rice you eat most often.

What to Look for in a Rice Cooker

Capacity

A rice cooker’s capacity is usually measured in the number of cups of uncooked rice it can hold. Be sure to note, though, that depending on the type of rice, you might end up with twice that amount of cooked rice—so choose an option that’s the right size for you and your family.

Presets

Many rice cookers come with presets for different types of rice, as well as ones that include adjustments for making your rice softer or firmer than usual. Basic cookers, on the other hand, might just have an on/off toggle with no additional settings. Which do you prefer?

Extra Features

Besides being able to cook different types of rice, some units venture beyond grains and can be used as slow cookers or steamers for vegetables or fish. If you don’t cook rice regularly, those extra features might make a rice cooker more useful more often.