We Use CookiesWe use cookies to enhance the security, performance, functionality and for analytical and promotional activities. By continuing to browse this site you are agreeing to our privacy policy

10 Best Japanese Rice Cookers 2025 in the UK

How do we rank products for you?

Our technology thoroughly searches through the online shopping world, reviewing hundreds of sites. We then process and analyze this information, updating in real-time to bring you the latest top-rated products. This way, you always get the best and most current options available.

headphones-stars

Our Top Picks

#1

Winner

Yum Asia Panda Mini Rice Cooker With Ninja Ceramic Bowl and Advanced Fuzzy Logic (3.5 cup, 0.63 litre) 4 Rice Cooking Functions, 4 Multicooker functions, LED display, 220-240V (Arctic White)

Rating
9.8
Chosen by1,167
Capacity
Cooking Functions
Heating Technology
Capacity
Despite its compact size, it can produce over 1.2 kilos of cooked rice, which is more than enough for small households.
Cooking Functions
The menu is simple to navigate, covering various types of rice, porridge, cakes, steaming, and time delay options.
Heating Technology
The Yum Asia Panda Mini is a superb piece of kit with top-notch build quality. The fuzzy logic feature ensures perfectly cooked rice every time.
Inner Pot Material
Cleaning is a breeze with the non-stick inner bowl, and although it's not dishwasher-safe, a quick wipe with a sponge does the job.
Keep Warm Function
The keep warm function lasts up to 24 hours, offering flexibility to continue cooking other dishes without worrying about timing.
Ease of Use and Cleaning
Ideal for those who struggle with cooking rice, it simplifies the process, ensuring consistent, delicious results.

The Yum Asia Panda Mini Rice Cooker is a compact and versatile kitchen appliance suited for small kitchens, individuals, or couples. With a 3.5 cup (0.63 litre) capacity, it can cook enough rice for 1-3 people, making it ideal for smaller households. It boasts multiple cooking functions, including settings for white rice, sushi, brown rice, and quick cook, ensuring you can achieve perfect results at the touch of a button.

Additionally, it offers 4 multicooker functions such as steaming, porridge, slow cooking, and cake baking, which adds to its versatility. The advanced fuzzy logic technology and 3D heating surround technology enhance the cooking process, ensuring optimal taste, texture, and aroma of the rice. The high-quality Ninja ceramic coated inner bowl is durable and healthy, and the included accessories like the steaming basket, rice measuring cup, rice spatula, and soup ladle add convenience.

The modern LED display and 'Smart Button' control panel are user-friendly and aesthetically pleasing. Furthermore, the keep warm function and 24-hour preset timer offer flexibility for busy lifestyles. However, its small capacity might be limiting for larger families or gatherings. While the product is easy to clean with a damp cloth, the ceramic bowl might require careful handling to avoid damage. Additionally, it operates at 220-240V, which is suitable for UK households but might require a voltage converter for use in other regions. Yum Asia's reputation as rice cooker experts and the positive reviews indicate reliability and satisfaction among users. Despite the higher price point compared to some other rice cookers, its quality and functionality make it a worthwhile investment for those seeking a dependable and feature-rich appliance.

Rating
9.8
Chosen by1,167
Capacity
Cooking Functions
Heating Technology
Capacity
Despite its compact size, it can produce over 1.2 kilos of cooked rice, which is more than enough for small households.
Cooking Functions
The menu is simple to navigate, covering various types of rice, porridge, cakes, steaming, and time delay options.
Heating Technology
The Yum Asia Panda Mini is a superb piece of kit with top-notch build quality. The fuzzy logic feature ensures perfectly cooked rice every time.
Inner Pot Material
Cleaning is a breeze with the non-stick inner bowl, and although it's not dishwasher-safe, a quick wipe with a sponge does the job.
Keep Warm Function
The keep warm function lasts up to 24 hours, offering flexibility to continue cooking other dishes without worrying about timing.
Ease of Use and Cleaning
Ideal for those who struggle with cooking rice, it simplifies the process, ensuring consistent, delicious results.
#2

Yum Asia Sakura Rice Cooker with Ceramic Bowl and Advanced Fuzzy Logic (8 cup, 1.5 litre) 6 Rice Cook Functions, 6 Multicook Functions, Motouch LED Display, 220-240V UK/EU Power (Black and Silver)

Rating
9.6
Cooking Functions
Keep Warm Function
Ease of Use and Cleaning
Cooking Functions
The rice functions have all been excellent every time.
Keep Warm Function
Automatically switches to 'keep warm' mode which keeps the rice ready to serve for hours.
Ease of Use and Cleaning
Makes beautifully fluffy rice every time and couldn't be easier to use.

The Yum Asia Sakura Rice Cooker is designed for those who appreciate the art of rice cooking, combining modern technology with traditional cooking methods. It boasts a generous capacity of 8 cups, ideal for families or gatherings of up to 8 people. The advanced Fuzzy Logic technology enhances cooking precision, offering 6 specialized rice cooking functions alongside 6 multicook options. This makes it versatile not just for rice, but also other dishes like porridge, soups, and even yogurt.

The ceramic-coated inner pot is a highlight, ensuring durability and even cooking while being easy to clean. The inclusion of a keep-warm feature is convenient for maintaining rice at the perfect temperature for up to 24 hours. The modern Motouch LED display and control panel are user-friendly, offering a step into the future with its intuitive design, though some users might find it slightly complex initially without a thorough read of the manual.

The cooker’s 3D heating technology ensures even heat distribution, optimizing taste and texture. Cleaning is straightforward with its removable stainless steel lid and dishwasher-safe parts, but the unit’s somewhat bulky size might be cumbersome for smaller kitchens. The two-year warranty adds peace of mind for buyers. This rice cooker is a great fit for those who are serious about their rice and seek a device that does more than just cook rice, offering a blend of advanced technology and practicality in a stylish package.

Rating
9.6
Cooking Functions
Keep Warm Function
Ease of Use and Cleaning
Cooking Functions
The rice functions have all been excellent every time.
Keep Warm Function
Automatically switches to 'keep warm' mode which keeps the rice ready to serve for hours.
Ease of Use and Cleaning
Makes beautifully fluffy rice every time and couldn't be easier to use.
#3

Bear 6 Multifunctional 4 Cups(Uncooked) Rice Cooker with Steamer for 1-4 People, Perfect for White/Brown Rice, Porridge, and Soup, White Rice Cooker

Rating
9.4
Capacity
Cooking Functions
Inner Pot Material
Capacity
Compact and 'does what it says on the tin,' the rice cooker is perfect for small households, with easy storage and cleaning.
Cooking Functions
The Bear rice cooker is a 'gorgeous choice' for those seeking perfect rice without stress, offering simplicity with a 3-step function.
Inner Pot Material
Though the non-stick feature could be improved, the overall simple and 'super cute' design makes it a preferred choice.
Ease of Use and Cleaning
The steaming basket is a 'huge bonus,' allowing you to prepare two different foods simultaneously, reducing cleanup.

The Bear 6 Multifunctional Rice Cooker is designed to cater to various cooking needs, from white and brown rice to porridge and soup, making it versatile for small households of 1-4 people. Its compact size is ideal for those with limited space, such as apartment dwellers or students in dorm settings. A standout feature is its intelligent NTC temperature sensor, which efficiently controls temperature to prevent overflow, enhancing the taste and texture of rice and porridge.

This model incorporates a 7-step cooking process, suggesting a focus on precision and quality, crucial for achieving well-cooked rice. The non-stick inner pot simplifies cleaning, which is a boon for those seeking convenience. However, with a capacity of 0.87 litres, it might not be suitable for larger families or gatherings. The automatic cooking function and auto-shutoff add layers of safety and ease to its usage.

While it uses corded electric power, which might limit portability, the 350-watt power consumption is reasonable for efficient cooking. The stainless steel material of the pot is durable, though it might not provide the traditional rice cooker feel some users prefer. With a solid customer rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars, it's generally well-received, pointing to satisfactory brand reputation. This rice cooker is well-suited for small households looking for a multi-functional appliance that prioritizes cooking precision and ease of cleaning.

Rating
9.4
Capacity
Cooking Functions
Inner Pot Material
Capacity
Compact and 'does what it says on the tin,' the rice cooker is perfect for small households, with easy storage and cleaning.
Cooking Functions
The Bear rice cooker is a 'gorgeous choice' for those seeking perfect rice without stress, offering simplicity with a 3-step function.
Inner Pot Material
Though the non-stick feature could be improved, the overall simple and 'super cute' design makes it a preferred choice.
Ease of Use and Cleaning
The steaming basket is a 'huge bonus,' allowing you to prepare two different foods simultaneously, reducing cleanup.

Buying Guide for the Best Japanese Rice Cookers

Choosing the right Japanese rice cooker can significantly enhance your cooking experience, making it easier to prepare perfect rice every time. Japanese rice cookers are known for their advanced technology and high-quality construction. When selecting a rice cooker, it's important to consider various specifications to ensure it meets your needs and preferences. Here are some key specs to look out for and how to navigate them.
CapacityCapacity refers to the amount of rice the cooker can prepare at one time, usually measured in cups of uncooked rice. This is important because it determines how much rice you can cook in one go. Small cookers (3-5 cups) are ideal for singles or couples, medium cookers (5-8 cups) suit small families, and large cookers (8-10+ cups) are best for larger families or gatherings. Choose a capacity based on the number of people you typically cook for.
Cooking FunctionsCooking functions refer to the different settings and programs the rice cooker offers, such as white rice, brown rice, sushi rice, porridge, and more. These functions are important because they provide versatility and convenience, allowing you to cook various types of rice and other dishes with ease. If you enjoy a variety of rice dishes or want to use the cooker for different meals, look for a model with multiple cooking functions. If you primarily cook one type of rice, a simpler model may suffice.
Heating TechnologyHeating technology in rice cookers can vary, with options like conventional heating, induction heating (IH), and pressure cooking. This spec is important because it affects the cooking speed and the quality of the rice. Conventional heating is basic and affordable, suitable for everyday use. Induction heating provides more even heat distribution and better control, resulting in perfectly cooked rice. Pressure cooking further enhances the texture and flavor of the rice. Choose based on your preference for rice quality and cooking speed.
Inner Pot MaterialThe inner pot material can be made from different materials such as non-stick coated aluminum, stainless steel, or clay. This is important because it affects the durability, ease of cleaning, and the cooking performance. Non-stick pots are easy to clean and prevent rice from sticking, stainless steel is durable and scratch-resistant, and clay pots can enhance the flavor of the rice. Consider how often you use the cooker and your preference for maintenance and rice flavor.
Keep Warm FunctionThe keep warm function maintains the temperature of the cooked rice for a certain period, ensuring it stays warm and ready to eat. This is important for convenience, especially if you have a busy schedule or want to serve rice at different times. Basic models may keep rice warm for a few hours, while advanced models can maintain warmth for up to 24 hours. Choose a model with a keep warm function that matches your lifestyle and meal planning habits.
Ease of Use and CleaningEase of use and cleaning refers to how user-friendly the rice cooker is, including the interface, controls, and the ease of cleaning the components. This is important because it affects your overall experience and the time you spend on maintenance. Look for models with intuitive controls, clear displays, and removable, dishwasher-safe parts for easy cleaning. If you prefer a hassle-free experience, prioritize these features.
Brand Reputation and ReviewsBrand reputation and reviews provide insights into the reliability, performance, and customer satisfaction of the rice cooker. This is important because it helps you gauge the quality and longevity of the product. Research reputable brands known for their quality rice cookers and read customer reviews to understand the pros and cons of different models. Choose a brand and model with positive feedback and a good track record to ensure a satisfying purchase.