What defines the best rice cooker under 50? Well, considering the price range, it won’t come as a surprise if I was to say that most of the rice cookers in the range may not be up to the task. But what if I was to tell you otherwise? You can actually get a versatile and durable rice cooker that is Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) free without breaking the bank.
The surest way to get the best rice cooker would be to put them through some tests whatever the budget. Because of this, we invested our time and resources in testing the best of the best from the top brands in the market within the $50 price bracket. Thereafter, we came up with 5 amazing options that we feel will not disappoint whatsoever.
The best thing about these rice cookers is that the cooking process is automated which comes in handy when you need to prepare other meals.
With that being said, let’s dive into what these options are, shall we?
It would be amazing to know how the best of the best hold up when put side by side and as it turns out, there’s no better way to achieve this than listing them on a table like below. Image Name Our Rating's Price Zojirushi NHS-06 3-Cup Dash DRCM200GBAQ04 Rice Steamer with Removable Nonstick Pot Hamilton Beach Digital Programmable Rice Cooker & Food Steamer
The Best Rice Cookers Under 50 – Top 5 Reviews of 2021
If you are not used to being a seasoned chef, you will not go wrong with any of these rice cookers.
1. Zojirushi NHS-06 3-Cups
Since maintenance is paramount when it comes to cooking equipment, this rice cooker features a nonstick inner cooking pan that should be easy to clean.
It comes with stay-cool handles that makes handling and moving it around the table when hot safe, convenient, and easy. Even better, there is a stay-cool knob on the see-through glass lid through which you should be able to see the rice as it cooks and make easy additions into the rice & water mix where necessary.
The added bonus that makes this the best 3 cup rice cooker option is the included 6-ounce measuring cup for utmost accuracy.
2. Dash DRCM200GBAQ04 Rice Steamer with Removable Nonstick Pot
Designed to prevent overcooking or overheating the rice, it comes with the keep warm function which makes it the best option for cooking your rice as part of your healthy meals, and on time. As far as using it is concerned, all you have to do is add water with the rice then press the cook button.
With safety being a priority, there is a removable pot that also comes with a PFOA-free nonstick coating. This way, cleaning should be easy.
3. Hamilton Beach Digital Programmable Rice Cooker & Food Steamer
One of the most striking things on this rice cooker is the pre-programmed settings. You can cook and steam food with just the simple touch of a button. As for the capacity, it can take as little as 2 cups and as much as 8 cups of rice.
It’s not every day that you get versatility with rice cookers, right? Well, with this one, you’ll also be able to handle other whole grains, hot cereal, steamed veggies, and plenty more. Additionally, it has a non-stick pot that is also dishwasher safe.
Last but not least, there is a count down timer and an automatic keep-warm function for when cooking is done.
4. Aroma Housewares ARC-954SBD Rice Cooker
First things first, it is designed to ensure effective meal planning; thanks to the 15-hour delay timer that makes this possible.
Ease of use is also a key feature in its design since it comes with programmable digital controls alongside which is an automatic keep-warm, brown rice, and white rice feature. Additionally, there is a steam and quick rice function both of which give you versatility at its best.
Last but not least, it’s worth mentioning that the cooker is able to prepare as much as 8 cups of any variety of cooked rice.
5. BLACK+DECKER Rice Cooker and Food Steamer
Getting this clean is also quick and easy since it comes with a nonstick bowl that is easy to remove and dishwasher safe. It also keeps the food warm when cooking is done; thanks to the two heat settings.
Since the capacity is 3 to 16 cups of rice, it is amazing for cooking small quick meals or large meals to save as leftovers. Yet another feature that makes this the best rice cooker under $50 is the included steaming basket; with this, you’ll be able to steam fish, vegetables, and more.
What to seek out when buying the best rice cookers under $50
In this section, we’ll be looking into what criteria defines the best budget rice cookers in the market from the size to the automation and ease of use.
The rice cooker’s capacity
Like many other cooking equipment, capacity is anan important consideration when shopping for a rice cooker. In the case of rice cookers, this is measured in the number of cups of uncooked rice that it can hold.
Things could get a little tricky however since there are many different types of rice and you could end up cooking twice as much rice as intended or less even. Because of this, the best way to pick a perfect size would first be researching whether your preferred rice will work well with the cooker first.
Secondly, determine the number of audiences you’ll be cooking for at any given time usually.
Build quality and design
It would not be any good if the capacity were great and the build quality wasn’t just as good, right? As such, you need to ensure that the materials used in construction are safe for cooking.
Since it’s the norm to go for non-stick cooking equipment, ensuring that the same goes for your rice cooker is important. At the same time, however, you should be keen to choose cookers that don’t have PTFE or PFOA which have been associated with Alzheimer’s . It’s also just as important that the non-stick coating be just as durable as it is safe.
Staying with the topic of build quality, pay attention to the cleaning and maintenance instructions from the manufacturers. For starters, stick to using non-scratch utensils on them.
Ensure safety is of paramount and in this regard paying attention to fuse protection is important. Since you’ll not always be able to monitor the cooker, getting one with a fuse built into it for when things get heated up, prevents fire and damage to the cooker itself.
The type of rice cooker
At the end of the day, it all comes down to two options when choosing a rice cooker- multi-purpose rice cookers vs individual rice cookers.
If you want a cooker exclusively for cooking rice, the individual rice cookers should do the trick. The best thing about these is that since they are designed specifically for cooking rice, they normally deliver the best results.
On the other hand, if you need to do handle more than rice cooking, a multi-purpose cooker suits you best. Such rice cookers can also be used to cook other grains, can be used as steamers for vegetables or fish or even as slow cookers. Because of this, the extra features will come in handy especially if you don’t cook rice often.
Auto-warm feature
A basic rice cooker will come with the on and off setting which holds regardless of the rice you are cooking. Though this will get the job done, you’d be better off if the cooker had some additional settings.
One of the most convenient features is the auto-warm functionality. This feature is automatically triggered a few minutes before the cooking is done and there is a beep indication as well. At the same time, the cooker does not turn off automatically so your food will stay warm for long.
Quick cook function
It would be inconvenient if you had to wait too long before the rice is fully cooked. Whereas most rice cookers do not have a workaround for this, some will have a quick cook feature that eliminates the soak cycle and starts the cooking process immediately.
It should be user-friendly
One of the most annoying things would be having to fumble around with the controls each time you need to use the cooker, right? As much as they all come with a manual and it’s important to read the manual, I’d recommend that you choose a cooker whose controls are as easy to use as possible.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
What’s the best rice cooker for me?
We all have our preferences and one size does not fit all. Because of this, the best way to go would be paying attention to the size that suits you best, safety, and ensuring it is easy to use.
What is the best small rice cooker?
Provided it meets the standards of a good enough individual rice cooker, the best should have a capacity of 1.5 cups of rice.
Are rice cookers worth getting?
Yes, they are especially when you’re not a seasoned cook.
What is the best stainless-steel rice cooker?
The Aroma Simply or Aroma Housewares range in our opinion.
Why are Japanese rice cookers so expensive?
They are engineered to handle different types of rice and they are consistent in doing so
Final verdict
It’s time to wrap things up and from what we have looked into, getting the best rice cooker under 50 should no longer be a problem. With the options in our review backed up with the buying guide, you are bound to get the biggest kick for your buck. Most importantly, do observe the recommended care, usage, and maintenance procedures from the manufacturers for longevity and effective operation.
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