Best Rice Cooker Under 20: Top 9 Candidates You’ll Love in 2025

1. Aroma Housewares Aroma 6-cup ARC-363NG

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Pros

• Simple to use, one-touch operation
• Automatic Keep-Warm
• Easy to clean
• Tempered glass lid for full-view

Cons

• Lack of features

2. Aroma Housewares 4-Cups

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Pros

• Ideal for jambalaya, soups, chili, and more
• Automatic warm mode
• Easy to clean
• Accessories included

Cons

• Very few features

3. Aroma Housewares ARC-363-1NGB

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Pros

• Multi-functional use
• One-touch operation
• Automatic keep warm 
• Compact capacity
• Convenient cooking & cleaning

Cons

• A bit bulky

4. BLACK+DECKER 6-cup Rice Cooker

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Pros

• Great for small or large meals
• Automatic keep warm
• Nonstick rice pot
• Easy to cook

Cons

• Big footprints

5. Aroma Housewares 6-Cup ARC-743-1NGB

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Pros

• Multi-functional use
• One-touch operation
• Automatic keep warm
• Compact capacity

Cons

• Relatively small capacity

6. DASH Mini Rice Cooker

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Pros

• Very easy to use
• Warming feature 
• Easy to clean
• Take up very little space

Cons

• The warming function will dry your rice if you leave it on for many hours.

7. Aroma Housewares ARC-743-1NGR 6-Cup

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Pros

• Affordable
• Steaming tray
• Great for value
• Non-stick inner pot

Cons

• Basic
• Relatively small capacity

8. Good Cook 11 Cup Microwave Rice Cooker

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Pros

• BPA Free
• Dishwasher safe
• 100 % satisfaction guarantee
• Cheap

Cons

• Limited functionality

9. Aroma Housewares 6-Cup ARC-743-1NG

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Pros

• Affordable price
• Compact capacity
• Automatic keep warm
• Non-stick inner pot

Cons

• Small capacity

Capacity

The capacity of a rice cooker is typically measured by the number of cups of rice (uncooked) it can hold. In most cases,  rice will expand to double that amount once cooked.

Presets

Many rice cookers feature presets for various rice types and may include adjustments for making rice firmer or softer than usual. On the flip side, basic cookers might just come with an on/off button without additional settings.

Extra Features

Besides handling different rice types, some devices can be used as steamers or slow cookers for fish or vegetables. So if you do not cook rice frequently, these extra features might make a rice cooker more helpful.

What Can I Make in My Rice Cooker Except for Rice?

A Rice Cooker can handle most grains, including grits, quinoa, farro, and oats. Some models have steaming inserts that can steam meat, fish, and vegetables.

There are also recipes for egg and cake dishes cooked in rice cookers. Some chefs use these devices to steam-cook hard-boiled eggs.

How Can I Clean My Rice Cooker?

Before cleaning this device, ensure it is turned off and cooled down. Then you can remove the cooking insert and detachable lids and wash them by hand or put them in your dishwasher.

Inspect your owner's manual to determine if these parts are dishwasher-safe. If there is food stuck with the lid or pot, you can soak them in hot, soapy water first.

If your device has a lid that doesn't detach from the cooking base, you can use a wet sponge to clean it, but don't submerge your cooker in water. You can also wipe the cooking base's inside and outside with a sponge or damp cloth.

How Can I Use My Rice Cooker?

Using a rice cooker to cook rice is very simple.

Step 1: Measure your uncooked rice

Step 2: Rinse your rice until it runs clear

Step 3: Measure cooking water, put water and rice in your rice cooker

Step 4: Add any additional seasons you desire

Step 5: Set your rice cooker according to the grain or rice you cook.

It's best to check your owner's manual for detailed instructions.

Is A Rice Cooker Under 20 Good?

Of course, they can't match higher-end models. But the products that I mentioned are the best in the cheap segment.

What Size Rice Cooker Do I Need for 4 People?

A 5-cup rice cooker will work well for a 4 - 6 person household.

By choosing a product from this list, you don't need to spend too much on a rice cooker. But you need to remember that buying a product at such a low price means you may have to sacrifice a bit of quality or some features. Anyway, the products that I mentioned are the best under $20.