6 best digital rice cookers for healthy weeknight dinners

Best for: serious rice lovers

Zojirushi rice cookers have been a cult favourite for many years. Praised for its ability to cook a variety of rice, from white to brown to sushi rice and more. This rice cooker uses Fuzzy logic technology to determine the amount of time needed to cook your rice, and every bowl is cooked to perfection – even brown rice, which is notoriously hard to master.

Key features:

• Fuzzy logic technology
• Made in Japan
• Keep Warm function

Best for: medium – large households

The Smart Rice Box from Breville uses Fuzzy logic to automatically adjust cooking temperatures throughout the various stages of rice cooking, ensuring perfectly cooked rice every single time. It also features a steamer for other recipes, such as steaming rice, porridge, and cake. There are also fast cook, reheat and automatic keep warm functions to ensure this rice cooker works hard for you (and not the other way around).

Key features:

• Fuzzy logic technology
• Ceramic coated cooking bowl with 5 layers of durable and heat conductive materials
• Programmable digital timer
• LED display and simple operation panel

Also available at:

• $159.20 (usually $199), Myer
• $200, Appliances Online

Best for: multi-use options

Slow cook, pressure cook, saute and sear, and more with this highly-rated all-in-one cooker from Philips. If you’re looking for one appliance to do it all, then consider your search over. Featuring an automatic Keep Warm function for 12 hours so you can ensure your rice (or whatever it is you’ve cooked up) is nice and warm when ready to serve. Plus, with its upgraded power technology, this all-in-one cooker heats up 25 per cent faster.

Key features:

• All-in-one appliance
• Durable and nonstick inner pot
• Slow cook with high and low temperatures for up to 12 hours
• Detachable inner lid for easy cleaning

Also available at:

• $329 (usually $349), David Jones
• $199, The Good Guys

Best for: those looking for a compact option

With five auto-cook programs (brown rice, white rice, quinoa, and more), Nutribullet’s Evergrain rice cooker lets you rest easy knowing your favourite grain will be cooked to perfection without you even lifting a finger (almost). It also comes with a steaming basket so you can steam your vegetables at the same time – now that’s what we call, multi-tasking.

Key features:

• Steam basket included
• Easy-to-clean parts
• Compact profile
• 5 preset cooking programs
• Delay start and Keep Warm functions available

Also available at:

• $99, The Good Guys
• $111.75 (usually $149), Myer
• $139, Big W

Best for: small kitchens

Cook rice to perfection or slow cook your favourite dishes for an easy and relatively hands-off cooking experience with the Tefal Easy rice and slow cooker. This all-in-one multicooker is equipped with eight preset programs that will make cooking weeknight dinners a breeze. Plus, with its high-quality non-stick inner pot with multi-layer coating, cleanup is also a non-issue.

Key features:

• 9 preset cooking programs
• 8-in-1 multicooker
• Compact profile
• Removable parts
• Steam tray, bowl and spatula included and top-rack dishwasher safe

Also available at:

• $99 (usually $149.95), Amazon
• $112.46 (usually $149.95), Myer

Best for: those looking for a luxurious option

Tiger is a well-known brand in Japan for making top-of-the-line rice cookers for decades. And this particular model can cook rice in just 17 minutes – so say goodbye to having to cook your rice beforehand. Featuring induction heating technology that draws out the natural sweetness and aromatic flavours of each rice grain, this rice cooker from Tiger is for those who like to call themselves rice connoisseurs.

Key features:

• Made in Japan
• Rice ready in 17 minutes
• Induction heating technology
• Ceramic coating in inner pot

Best for: everyday use

Why are Cuckoo rice cookers so well-loved? Cuckoo is a trusted Korean brand that is renowned internationally for its premium quality rice cookers. With over 45 years in the industry, it’s safe to say the brand knows a thing or two about the art of cooking the perfect bowl of rice. With its multi-functional design (eight menu options, to be precise), easy-to-use LCD display, and premium non-stick inner pot and excess water drainage tray, this small but mighty appliance will do all the hard work for you.

Key features:

• Made in Korea
• 8 preset programs
• LCD display
• Non-toxic and non-stick inner pot