Best Rice Cooker For Small Family
Out of all the cooking ventures within the premises of the kitchen, the most daunting task is to prepare a pot of white rice. It’s kind of always a struggle to boil them to the right degree. Just a minute over or under – And the rice become too soft or get stuck to the base of the pot! Or worse, when the pot of rice starts overflowing with steaming hot water for God-knows-what reason! It’s always such a mess. Isn’t it?
Perhaps, there are only two ways to fix this nasty issue. And these include:
- Keep practicing for years!
- Or get yourself a good rice cooker.
Although you can go with the first one if you’ve got plenty of time at hand, we suggest you go with the second. That’s because, given the fast-paced life of today, it’s unwise to spend precious minutes of your time learning how to cook rice perfectly using traditional methods and tools. Instead, you can save yourself time and energy and get the best rice cooker of all time.
With that said, we particularly recommend it for smaller families. That’s because cooking smaller quantities of rice now and then is a much bigger challenge than preparing a pot of rice itself. It requires greater precision and care.
Thus, it’s best to eradicate the entire trouble and opt for a rice cooker instead. It is an automated kitchen appliance that boils or steams rice using electricity. It eases life to a great extent by eliminating the boiling hassle and promising perfectly boiled rice.
On that note, this post aims to bring this phenomenal invention within your reach. So, you will find here all the top seven best rice cooker for small family to buy in 2020. Well, big families can buy these two, but again, the ones mentioned below cook smaller quantities of rice better as compared to larger quantities.
So, without further ado, let’s get straight to it!
- Top 7 Best Rice Cooker For Small Family to Buy in 2020
- 1. Aroma Housewares 2-8 Cups Cool-Touch Rice Cooker
- 2. BLACK+DECKER RC506 6 Cup Rice Cooker
- 3. Hamilton Beach Digital Programmable Rice Cooker
- 4. Zojirushi NS-TSC10 Rice Cooker
- 5. COMFEE’ Rice Cooker
- 6. Aroma Housewares 6 Cup Rice Cooker
- 7. Instant Zest 8 Cup Rice Cooker
- Best Rice Cooker For Small Family (Comparison Chart)
- Final Words
Top 7 Best Rice Cooker For Small Family to Buy in 2020
Last update on 2023-05-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
1. Aroma Housewares 2-8 Cups Cool-Touch Rice Cooker
Aroma Housewares aims to equip all households with the latest tech to ease the basic struggles of life. The company has a reputation for bringing forth innovative tech to assist with day to day chores, especially in the kitchen.
For that very reason, when looking for the best rice cooker for small family to buy in 2020, we first considered the models introduced by Aroma Housewares as of yet. And luckily, we found two models competing with one another as well as with about five other models mentioned in this list with a close margin.
Let us first consider the one that won our heart ultimately, i.e., the Aroma Houseware ARC-914ASD. This phenomenal and compact rice cooker offers a tremendous capacity of boiling or steaming around 8-cups of rice in one go. However, if you want to cook smaller amounts, then you can boil as low as two cups too.
Moreover, it offers versatile functionality. You can practically cook all varieties of rice in this one. Be it white or brown rice. Additionally, you can also prepare soups, oatmeal’s, jambalayas, chili, and several other dishes as you prepare rice.
Fundamentally, the rice cooker comes with a built-in steamer below the boiling compartment. Using this, you can prepare a complete meal in one go, with rice in the upper compartment and your complementing food in the lower one. For example, you can use the steamer tray that comes with it to steam vegetables and meat as the rice cook below.
Such an operation does not only save time, but it also contributes to a healthy diet. That’s because steamed food retains nutrition far much better than food cooked with oil and spices.
With that said, it does not mean that you have to compromise even the slightest bit with your taste preferences. This dedicated cooker also offers Slow Cook options and STS (Saute then Simmer) option, which allows the flavors to penetrate deep and bring forth a rich and finger-licking good meal.
Perhaps, the major highlight of this convenient rice cooker is its delay timer. The cooker allows the user to time cooking for up to 15 hours. So, if you are on-the-go and need to arrange your meal beforehand, this cooker will best serve your needs.
Additionally, it comes with accessories including:
- Rice paddle,
- Non-stick inner pot,
- Rice measuring cup,
- And a steamer tray.
All of these accessories assist in the boiling or steaming process. However, additional accessories also bring with them greater responsibility for maintenance. And so, with every use, you may find yourself cleaning and maintaining the actual rice cooker and its sub-parts.
Constant cleaning and frequent in-depth exposure of cleaning agents with the surface of the cooker and its accessories also shortens the total lifespan of the machine. And so, this rice cooker may not last for years. It will put up through months or even a year, but you should not expect it to remain fresh as new after five years of constant usage.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Versatile
- Comes with a 15-hour delay timer
- Available in four different colors
- Good capacity
Cons
- Durability issues
- Requires maintenance
2. BLACK+DECKER RC506 6 Cup Rice Cooker
So next on our list of best rice cooker for small family is Black+Decker RC506. This Rice Cooker maintains the modish and minimalistic looks of the company. It is half white and half black that looks rather stylish sitting on the kitchen counter. Also, its compact build is easy to store.
This particular rice cooker has a good capacity of 6-cups so, you can cook big batches at once. Using this, you can cook rice for parties and family gatherings.
Plus, it has an automatic warming function that keeps the cooked rice warm. The Black+Decker Rice Cooker also comes with a measuring cup and spoon. While the cup allows accurate measurements, the spoon prevents scratches.
Its internal non-stick rice pot comprises of high-quality materials. It does not let the rice stick to the surface. Hence, making cleaning easier. You won’t have to soak the pot afterward.
The Black+Decker Rice Cooker features a tempered lid so that it remains cool throughout the cooking procedure. You can conveniently touch it whenever you like. Plus, there is also a lid holder. However, there is an outlet in the lid that lets the water spill outside during cooking.
Pros
- Good capacity
- Tempered lid
- Compact
- Easy to use
- Comes with steaming cup and spoon
Cons
- Water comes out of the lid.
3. Hamilton Beach Digital Programmable Rice Cooker
Hamilton Beach takes 3rd position in our best rice cooker for small family reviews. This Digital Programmable Rice Cooker best serves the needs of a family of 2-3 people or even a couple of students living on a sharing basis. It’s the perfect pick when you look forward to saving space, time, and money while not having to compromise on the quality of rice that you devour.
The Hamilton rice cooker features a black-grey exterior with a glossy shine. Hence, the overall look of the cooker is quite a classy one. This feature, coupled with the fact that it’s super compact, and can fit on any nook or corner of your kitchen countertop, makes it an ideal pick for minimalistic yet classy kitchens.
Moreover, you will find all of its touch controls on the front panel. You can easily select your desired settings and monitor the countdown on the display panel. Upon completion of boiling, the rice cooker will also make a beeping sound to notify you. It proves to be handy if one cannot stay around the cooker for the entire time.
Hamilton’s rice cooker resembles the Aroma-Houseware’s rice cookers in terms of its versatility. Like them, you can cook a complete meal in one go, thanks to the accompanying steam basket. In this, you can steam vegetables, poultry goods, hot cereal, whole grains, etc. Plus, once your food gets prepared, this cooker is also capable of keeping it warm with its warm function.
Although Hamilton suggests that this rice cooker can cook up to 8-cups daily, we do not believe so. The intentions of the company might be true to their claim. However, in practicality, they didn’t quite manage to achieve it truly.
At most, this rice cooker can handle about 6-cups when used frequently. By the use of the term frequently here, we mean once every 2-3 days. If used extensively, the cooker may collapse unexpectedly and in a matter of a few weeks.
Also, as per user experience, the rice cooker works fine and timely for 4-6 cups of rice. But if you burden it with 7.5 or 8 cups of rice, then the cooker may take up to 2-hours to fully boil the rice! Now, that’s way too much! For this very reason, we suggest this model to small groups of people who do not consume rice daily.
Pros
- Convenient storage
- Durable
- Easy to use
- Classy design
- Good capacity
- Comes with multiple accessories
- Versatile functionality
Cons
- Not suitable for intensive usage
- Takes time
4. Zojirushi NS-TSC10 Rice Cooker
The Zojirushi Micom Rice Cooker is the perfect solution for some firm, sticky rice to remind you of the Japanese traditions. This amazing rice cooker is a multi-purpose gadget that allows you to cook rice, porridge, and even cake!
It has a large capacity of 5.5-cups so, you can prepare both small and large batches without hassle. There is also a measuring scale present on the inside of the cooker. You will find it quite handy. That is why when we talk about the best rice cooker for small family, Zojirushi is sure to be on the list.
The high-grade stainless steel exterior is compact in build. Hence, one can store it anywhere and anytime. You’ll also find a retractable power chord that enables you to fold it and set aside for better storage.
Plus, the usage of premium materials makes the Zojirushi Micom Rice Cooker long-lasting and durable. The interchangeable beep and melody signal offers you the choice of preference.
All in all, the Zojirushi Micom Rice Cooker is one of the best options available in the market. It will provide you with perfect rice every time. However, it takes approximately 4-hours to cook one batch.
Pros
- Good capacity
- Compact build
- Easy to clean
- Interchangeable signals
- Multi-purpose
Cons
- Takes a lot of time
5. COMFEE’ Rice Cooker
The COMFEE Rice Cooker is an idealistic option when considering the best one. Premium and sturdy, the Rice Cooker has an amazing performance that yields perfect and flawless rice every time.
It has a metallic, cylindrical body with a digital LED display on the front. The display has lots of buttons and control. Although the fundamental aim of the controls is to improve usability, these can make beginners confused. Often, users have reported complaints regarding difficult controls.
Nevertheless, in this COMFEE Rice Cooker, you can cook up to 12-different food items. These include soup, rice, pasts, and even stew.
It has a 20cup massive capacity that allows you to cook in bulk and for the entire family. You can also cook 3 to 6-pounds of meat and chicken in it. Once the food gets cooked, the device automatically switches modes to keep the dish warm for12-hours!
Moreover, it features stainless-steel housing and a non-stick interior. So, the rice does not stick, and it is much easier to clean afterward.
It also comes with a one-year warranty. In case you feel unsatisfied, you can always avail of this facility.
If you are looking for more cheap or expensive rice cookers. Check our other articles
Pros
- Exceptional capacity
- Innovative build
- Multi-purpose
- Easy to clean
- Comes with a 1-year warranty
Cons
- Complex to use
6. Aroma Housewares 6 Cup Rice Cooker
Here comes the second Aroma Housewares rice cooker that we mentioned earlier. Like the model mentioned above, this one also represents the dedication of the brand and truly translates its consumer-oriented vision.
On the outside, this white-colored rice cooker has a rather minimalistic look. The plain exterior happens to be uninterrupted by any unnecessary designs or logos, save for the branding on the front lower panel. As a result, it looks quite classy when placed on the kitchen countertop.
The compact built dominates its extensive height. Thus, it does not look too bulky either. The reason that this kitchen appliance has a greater height, as compared to most other rice cookers is that it comprises two more compartments below its tempered glass lid.
In the bottom-most compartment, you can cook fluffy cakes, prepare steamed veggies or meat stuff. Similarly, in the compartment above that, you can prepare veggies, poultry goods, fish, etc. And in the uppermost compartment, you can boil rice or even prepare oatmeal. Hence, ARC-743-1NG is a rice cooker in which you can prepare the complete meal one-go.
Additionally, it comes with multiple accessories like a non-stick inner pot, rice spatula, rice measuring cup, and an aluminum steam tray. Together these make the use of this rice cooker easier.
In comparison to other models, this rice cooker has a more robust construction. Thus, it will also last longer, even upon intensive usage. You can prepare about 2 – 6 cups of rice in this cooker, which is the right amount for a couple of students or a small family of 2 to 3 people.
The only negative of this rice cooker is that it doesn’t come with a proper timer. You can load the compartments and acquire a complete meal with a single press. However, you cannot time the cooker to prepare the meal at the desired time. It will begin the process of steaming and boiling as soon as you switch it on.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Easy to maintain
- Versatile functionality
- Robust design
- Minimalistic looks
- Available in three colors
- Comes with multiple accessories
Cons
- Doesn’t come with a timer
7. Instant Zest 8 Cup Rice Cooker
Instant Zest 8 Cup rice cooker is the best rice cooker that you can get at under 30 dollars. In such a nominal price, it eases the daily struggles of boiling rice and preparing one-pot dishes simultaneously.
Since it got built from premium quality, top-notch materials, this rice cooker offers impressive durability. Despite costing low, it will last for years, even upon intensive usage. You can prepare about 4-6 cups of rice in this cooker.
Its timer offers the best efficiency. Unlike most others, the timer of this one is accurate to 0.01 seconds. When you set up your cups of rice to boil and press start, you will notice that it boils your rice in only a few minutes with perfection. They will neither be too dry nor too moist. And just as they get done, its timer will go off accurately.
Moreover, you can use the delay start function to time your rice for boiling at a later time. It makes usage convenient and easy. The ceramic coating of the thick inner pot eradicates any possibility of heating up. It also ensures even cooking. Thus, maintaining ideal consistency.
Another aspect that makes it the best rice cooker for a small family to buy in 2020 is its easy maintenance. You will not find yourself scraping the rice off from the bottom or feeling the need to clean it over and over again. Instead, slightly wiping it off after use will clean it proficiently too.
Pros
- Excellent timer function
- Easy to maintain
- Ideal consistency
- Versatile functionality
- Easy controls
- Inexpensive
- Offers convenient dish customization
- Durable
Cons
- Average capacity
Best Rice Cooker For Small Family (Comparison Chart)
| Name | Capacity | Durability | Convenience |
| Aroma Housewares 2-8-Cups Cool-Touch Rice Grain Cooker | 2 to 8 cups | Yes | Requires maintenance with every use. Slow Cook & STS Timer |
| BLACK+DECKER RC506 6 Cup Rice Cooker | 3 to 6 cups | Yes | Yes. Easy to clean, Automatic Warming Function. |
| Hamilton Beach Digital Programmable Rice Cooker | 4 to 6 cups | Yes | Yes Easy to clean |
| Zojirushi NS-TSC10 Micom Rice Cooker | 5.5 cups | Yes | Yes Easy to clean Retractable chord Interchangeable beep |
| COMFEE’ Rice Cooker | 20 cups | Yes | Yes Easy to clean Automatic Warming |
| Aroma Housewares 6-Cup Rice Cooker | 2 to 6 cups | Yes | Yes Easy to clean |
| Instant Zest 8 Cup Rice Cooker | 4 to 6 cups | Yes | Yes Easy to clean Timer |
Final Words
With the diversity of rice cookers available, it can be a challenging situation to pick one. The pressure of investing in the ideal one is difficult to handle, which often leads to the wrong decision. However, equipped with the required knowledge, you can reach your ideal rice cooker easily.
Above, we have provided detailed reviews of the best rice cookers for small families in 2020. Hopefully, you must have found your match up there. In case you have any recommendations or experience, let us know. We’ll be glad to hear!
Thanks for reading our best rice cooker for small family reviews. If you have any questions, let us know in the comment section below.
