Collection: Rice Cookers

A rice cooker takes the guesswork out of rice, cooking it evenly and switching to keep warm on its own. A rice cooker steamer also steams vegetables, and multi cookers add slow cooking and other modes. Capacity is measured in cups of uncooked rice, so match it to your household. If rice is a staple in your home, a rice cooker frees up a hob and gives consistent results every time. Think about how much rice you cook and whether you want steaming and extra modes.

How does a rice cooker work?

A rice cooker heats water and rice until the water is absorbed, then automatically switches to keep warm, using a sensor that detects when the temperature rises past boiling point — which only happens once the free water is gone. That's why it doesn't need timing or watching, and why the rice doesn't boil dry or catch. The keep-warm setting holds rice at a safe serving temperature for hours without overcooking. A small rice cooker may have one switch; a digital rice cooker add settings for different rice types, porridge and delayed start.

What size rice cooker do you need?

Rice cooker capacity is quoted in cups of uncooked rice, and one cup of raw rice makes roughly two to three cups cooked, or about two servings. A 3-cup cooker suits one or two people, a 5 to 6-cup cooker suits a family of four, and 10 cups or more suits large families and entertaining. Cookers work best between about half and full capacity, so an oversized one cooking a tiny amount gives poorer results. Size it to the amount you normally cook, allowing for leftovers if you batch cook.

Can a rice cooker do more than rice?

Most rice cookers include a steamer basket that sits above the rice, so vegetables, fish or dumplings steam while the rice cooks below — one appliance, one power point, a whole meal. Beyond that, many cook porridge and oats, quinoa and other grains, and some handle soup and steamed puddings. Multi cookers extend further into slow cooking, sautéing and pressure cooking. For a small kitchen or a share house, a rice cooker with a steamer basket covers a lot of ground. Tip: rinse rice before cooking to remove excess starch and stop it clumping.

Common questions

What size rice cooker do I need?
3 cups suits one or two people, 5 to 6 cups suits a family of four, and 10 cups or more suits large households. Cookers work best between half and full capacity.

How does a rice cooker know when rice is done?
A sensor detects the temperature rising past boiling, which only happens once the water is absorbed, then it switches to keep warm automatically. That's why it needs no timing or watching.

Can you steam vegetables in a rice cooker?
Yes — most include a steamer basket that sits above the rice, so vegetables, fish or dumplings steam while the rice cooks below, giving a whole meal from one appliance.

Should I rinse rice before cooking?
Rinsing removes excess surface starch, which stops the rice clumping and gives a fluffier result. Rinse until the water runs mostly clear, then drain and cook.

Can I pay for a rice cooker with Afterpay?
Yes. You can split it with Afterpay, Zip, Klarna or PayPal Pay in 4. Our rice cookers start from $42, which is four fortnightly payments of $10.50.

Complete your kitchen

A rice cooker works with the rest of the kitchen. Add an air fryer for crisping, a microwave for reheating, and a kettle for the bench.

A $42 rice cooker splits into four fortnightly payments of $10.5 with Afterpay, and Zip, Klarna and PayPal Pay in 4 do the same. Every order ships from our Australian warehouse, dispatched within 1–2 business days, with a 12-month warranty and 30 days to return it. We're a family-run Australian store, going since 2016, rated 4.66 out of 5 across 5,363 reviews.