Rice cookers are one of the most used kitchen appliances nowadays. The usage of rice cookers increased due to their versatility, easy to use functions, and affordable pricing. However, most people are yet unaware of the rice cooker for microwave.

Unlike the other rice cookers, the rice cookers for microwave aren’t designed to be electrical appliances. Rather, these are pots that you need to insert in a microwave oven. The specialty with the microwave rice cookers is that these ensure that the rice is cooked perfectly and evenly. If you already have a microwave oven and you don’t want to spend the extra cash for getting an electric rice cooker, you can get a microwave rice cooker for yourself! This will not only save money, but it’ll speed up the cooking process as well. 

So, today, we’ll talk about the best rice cookers that you can use in a microwave. But before that, we’ll talk about how you can choose the perfect rice cooker for microwave for yourself and what benefits these kitchen aids will offer you. 

What are the Benefits of Using a Rice Cooker for Microwave?

A rice cooker for microwave can offer you tons of benefits over the electric rice cookers. Let’s take a look at that, shall we?

Less Energy Consumption:

As you probably already know, microwave ovens usually consume lesser electrical energy than most of the other kitchen appliances like a pressure cooker and rice cooker. Thus, if you cook in the rice cooker for microwave, you’ll be able to save a lot of consumption there. If you’re a person who hates spending more utility bills than he needs to, the rice cooker for microwave is a great choice for you. 

Saves Time:

The electric rice cookers will take from 15 to 20 minutes to cook your rice. On the other hand, you can cook a few cups of rice in less than 10 minutes if you’re using the rice cookers for microwave. This makes these rice cookers very time-saving. 

Easy to Use:

The rice cookers for microwaves are much easier to use than the electric rice cookers as the microwave oven is one of the most intuitive appliances right now. You only need to add enough water and rice, and with the press of a button, you’ll get a pot of perfectly cooked rice! 

How to Pick the Right Rice Cooker for Microwave?

Picking the right rice cooker for microwave isn’t an easy job. You need to consider some factors before buying one. If you buy one blindly, you’ll have to face a lot of problems when you actually use them. To save you from that, we listed all the factors that you need to look into when buying a rice cooker for microwave. Check the factors listed below:

Cooking Capacity:

The cooking capacity is what you should take a look at. There are people who would suggest you take a rice cooker with the greatest capacity. However, we beg to differ.

If you choose the rice cooker with the greatest capacity, you’ll face some problems. Firstly, you need to pay extra for getting an extra space that you won’t need, so it’ll all be a waste. Then again, you’ll end up wasting the entire money if you get a rice cooker that doesn’t fit in your microwave oven. The third problem is, even if you’re content with wasting some money and you can manage to fit the rice cooker in the microwave, you’ll find out that the rice cooker can’t cook a small portion of the rice properly. 

This is why we highly recommend everyone to get a rice cooker that they’ll be able to utilize properly. At first, you need to measure how many cups you’ll eat for a single meal. If you’re good with having 2 cups of uncooked rice, you should get a rice cooker with a cooking capacity of 3 cups of uncooked rice. 

Dishwasher Safe:

Although a lot of people won’t consider this while buying, we highly recommend you do. Dishwashing is no one’s favorite hobby, and trust me when I tell you; you’ll be completely annoyed if another huge bowl adds to that list.

That’s why we always suggest our readers get a rice cooker for microwave that they can throw in a dishwasher without a worry. Please note that you can’t use all models of rice cookers in the dishwasher. Only the dishwasher safe rice cookers can be put in a dishwasher, and you should look for exactly that. 

Versatility:

Although the rice cookers are designed to cook rice perfectly, it’ll be a bonus if it could cook something more. If you search the marketplace, you’ll find some rice cookers that are capable of cooking food items other than just rice. Trust me; you’ll love it when you find out that you can cook pasta or soup easily in your rice cooker.  

Lid Type:

This is one of the most important factors to keep an eye on when you’re looking for a rice cooker for microwave. If the lid isn’t tight enough, the rice and the steam will create a mess inside your microwave oven, and you don’t want that as cleaning can get very tiring. 

So, we highly recommend you get a rice cooker that features a lid with at least two layers of seals. These lids can keep the steam and the food ingredients within the rice cooker. 

Another reason why you should get these is, if the lid isn’t sealed shut, the heat won’t remain sealed inside the rice cooker. If this happens then, the rice cooker will take more time to cook rice. In fact, in some cases, it might not even cook rice properly. 

So, it’s very important that the rice cooker comes with a lid that can be sealed properly. 

Durability:

Most rice cookers for microwave are made of plastic, but you should avoid these at all costs. As you can guess, plastic rice cookers aren’t durable at all. Even if you don’t drop them or even if they don’t face any impact, the rice cooker may get damaged over time. 

Another important thing to note here is that no matter what you’re cooking, plastic containers can harm you if you use them in microwave ovens. Some harmful compounds enter the food when you microwave these containers. This is another reason why we encourage you to avoid these. 

Ease of Use:

There’s no point in getting a rice cooker that can’t make your life easier, as that’s the main reason why you’re considering getting one. So, how do you determine whether a rice cooker is going to offer ease of usage or not? 

Simply check how many accessories that rice cooker is going to provide. Usually, a rice cooker provides a spatula and a measuring cup. However, if that rice cooker comes with extra accessories like a rice strainer and a steam tray, that’s definitely a bonus! 

So, we highly recommend you get a rice cooker that offers a lot of accessories. 

Top 5 Rice Cookers for Microwave:

1. Sistema Microwave Rice Cooker (B00BTIVNT4):

Product Description:

If you’re looking for the most optimized rice cooker that you can get your hands on, then the Sistema Microwave Rice Cooker is the best option for you. This rice cooker comes at a reasonable price. However, it also offers great features that make it suitable for most people’s needs. 

When it comes to rice cookers for microwave, there aren’t many technical things to consider. However, a rice cooker for microwave can offer better performance than the others through great design and build. When you compare those, the Sistema Microwave Rice Cooker really stands out. This rice cooker is designed in such a way that cooking will get much easier for you. 

Then again, there are steam vents on the top of the rice cooker that will release the steam properly, but they are splatter-proof as well. This means that the rice cooker won’t make a mess in your microwave oven. 

Product Design and Quality:

The Sistema Microwave Rice Cooker comes in a plain red color and with a transparent lid. Although the design and outlook of this rice cooker are very simple, it feels very premium due to its amazing build quality, and as we’ve said before, the build quality is the major factor when you’re judging rice cookers for microwave. 

This rice cooker is made of 100% virgin plastic, and it’s very easy to handle. One of the best things about this rice cooker is that the exterior remains very cool after cooking, which allows the users to take out the rice cooker easily using a pair of gloves. 

Then again, this rice cooker is dishwasher safe, which means that you won’t have to take the pain of washing it manually. Plus, it’s also freezer safe, meaning that you can leave the rice to cool down without having to put it in another bowl. 

As you can see, the Sistema Microwave Rice Cooker is a great rice cooker if you consider its all-round performance. Plus, as it comes at a very affordable price, we recommend it as the best rice cooker for microwave to any interested buyer. 

Product Features:

• Made of 100% virgin plastic
• Exterior stays comparatively cooler
• Dishwasher safe
• Freezer safe
• Splatter-proof steam vents

Product Link: Click Here

2. Joseph Joseph 45002 (B012W9BI2K):

Product Description:

If you’re willing to spend a few extra dollars for getting a better and overall, more premium rice cooker for microwave than the Sistema Microwave Rice Cooker, you should opt for the Joseph Joseph 45002. Although this rice cooker is a bit more expensive, the added cost is more or less negligible if you compare the build quality of the two. Even though the previous rice cooker had an amazing build quality, it was nothing compared to that of the Joseph Joseph 45002 rice cookers.

This rice cooker is simply an elegant kitchen aid. Not only that, but it also offers a lot of great accessories that make paying the extra money worth it. For starters, you’ll get a multipurpose rice paddle. The rice paddle is dotted at the front, so it’s easier to scoop rice with it. 

Then again, it also comes with a rice strainer. A lot of people hate rinsing rice, but this is one of the most important steps for cooking rice. If the rice is not rinsed properly, a type of starch remains stuck to it. After the rice is cooked, the starch makes the rice very sticky, and you don’t want that. Plus, unless you rinse the rice before cooking, the rice won’t be fluffy. This is why we highly recommend you rinse the rice before you cook it. 

Then again, the Joseph Joseph 45002 rice cooker is dishwasher safe as well. This will help you a lot by eliminating the need to wash the rice cooker manually.

Product Design and Quality:

The design of the Joseph Joseph 45002 is simply eye-catching. The rice cooker is white, while the cooking pot, which is also the strainer, is black, and the rice paddle is red. It looks very good when you put them together. 

Then again, the rice cooker comes with a locking lid. The lid doesn’t release the steam or the heat, which is great for cooking rice faster. Plus, it prevents the rice from splattering in your oven, which saves a lot of time. 

Another amazing thing that we noticed about the design is the intelligent use of the rice paddle. They claim that it’s a multipurpose rice paddle, and at first, we didn’t quite understand them. You can put the rice paddle on top of the lid before you start cooking. Once the paddle is in place, you need to twist the paddle to lock the lid. Then again, you can use the extensions of the rice paddle as a convenient handle. Due to this handle, you won’t have to touch the rice cooker at all, and this also eliminates the need for hand gloves. 

Product Features:

• 2L cooking capacity
• Amazing design
• Good outlook
• Locking lid mechanism
• Comes with a rice paddle, measuring cup, and rice strainer

Product Link: Click Here

3. Prep Solutions (B00J5EXC5M):

Product Description:

If you’re looking for something much simpler, then you can go for the Prep Solutions rice cookers. These rice cookers come in a universal shape and size that allows them to fit in most of the microwave ovens out there. What’s more interesting is that these are made of the best materials in the market. 

The Prep Solutions rice cookers offer a cooking capacity of 6 cups. The rice cooker comes with a great measuring cup, and you can cook up to 6 cups of rice, which should be enough for most families. The rice cooker also offers a rice paddle. The rice paddle is very easy to use, and it’s made of high-quality material as well. Both the rice cooker and the rice paddle feel very premium, which makes this rice cooker one of our favorites. 

Then again, the Prep Solutions rice cookers come with a locking lid. Now, as you already know, a locking lid is very important as it can prevent spilling. If the lid doesn’t lock, you’ll find your microwave in a mess, splattered with rice and steam. The Prep Solutions’ lid prevents this completely. Then again, the Prep Solutions rice cooker’s lid comes with a ventilation system that allows steam to pass through. This is very useful as it can stop pressure build-up within the rice cooker. 

Product Design and Quality:

The Prep Solutions rice cooker is made of BPA free plastic. Now, as we’ve said earlier, even if the rice cooker is made of plastic, it’s very important for it to be BPA free. BPA is a very harmful compound, and it can get mixed with your rice, which can end up harming you. As this rice cooker is made of BPA free plastic, you won’t need to worry about health risks anymore. 

Overall, the Prep Solutions rice cooker is one of the very best in the market. If you’re looking for a rice cooker on a moderate budget, you can go for this without a second thought. 

Product Features:

• Made of BPA free plastic
• Locking lid prevents spilling
• Provides rice paddle and measuring cup
• The cooking capacity of 6 cups

Product Link: Click Here

4. Home & Appliances (B001UV40PY):

Product Description:

Let’s take a look at something stealthier. The Home & Appliances is an affordable rice cooker for microwave that offers all the features that you can ask from such a kitchen aid. This rice cooker doesn’t offer a huge cooking capacity. You can cook only 2 cups of uncooked rice in this rice cooker. However, that also makes this rice cooker one of the most compact rice cookers out there.

If you’re looking for a rice cooker that won’t take up a lot of space in your microwave oven, then you can opt for this rice cooker. However, you should also keep in mind that this rice cooker is best for those who want to cook rice for one person only. If there’s more than one, this rice cooker might not be enough for you. 

Other than that, this rice cooker comes with two accessories. You’ll get a charcoal black rice paddle with it. The rice paddle is dotted at the front, which makes it easier to scoop rice with. Then again, you’ll also get a measuring cup. However, we didn’t like the measuring cup that much, as it feels far from being premium. This kind of disappointed us as most other rice cookers offer premium accessories. Then again, it’s just a measuring cup, and if you’re not nitpicky, you’ll do just fine with it. 

Product Design and Quality:

The Home & Appliances rice cooker comes with a cooking capacity of 1.2L, and it comes in a charcoal black color. The design and the outlook make this rice cooker look sleek. It also comes with a convenient design. 

The walls of rice cookers get very warm after cooking. To keep you from touching the wall or the bottom of the rice cooker, there are two handles on each side of the rice cooker. Then again, the lid locks down pretty tight, which prevents spilling. 

However, we found that the lid of this rice cooker doesn’t do a great job at keeping the steam and heat trapped inside it. Then again, although this slows down the cooking time, it also decreases the chance of an accident due to pressure build-up. 

Overall, we don’t have any complaints against the Home & Appliances rice cooker. In fact, we think it’s quite capable of handling daily usage for a couple of years. Plus, the fact that it comes at a very reasonable price makes it even better. 

Product Features:

• Stealth black design
• Convenient handles
• Locking lid that prevents spilling
• 1.2L capacity
• Provides rice paddle and measuring cup

Product Link: Click Here

5. Chefs Basics (B076CM69DD):

Product Description:

If you’re unsure about the size of your microwave oven and whether the rice cooker will fit in it or not, you can get the Chefs Basics rice cooker, just to be sure. Unlike most other rice cookers, this one is sure to fit in most microwave ovens due to its universal shape and size. 

However, don’t think that this rice cooker is small only because it can fit almost anywhere. The Chefs Basics rice cooker provides a cooking capacity of a maximum of 8 cups, which is more than enough for any medium-sized family. 

Then again, it’s also a multipurpose rice cooker. We mentioned before that you’d be better off with a rice cooker for a microwave that can cook more than just rice. The Chefs Basics rice cooker can be used to cook pasta, stew, vegetables, spaghetti, and much more! This makes the Chefs Basics rice cooker truly versatile. 

Another amazing thing about this rice cooker is that it’s dishwasher free. You don’t need to take the pain of cleaning this rice cooker manually after every use. You can simply throw it in a dishwasher, and you can rest assured!

Then again, the Chefs Basics rice cooker offers a rice paddle and a measuring cup. What’s amazing is that the accessories feel very premium even though it’s a very cheap rice cooker. 

Product Design and Quality:

Things get even better! The Chefs Basics rice cooker is made of stainless steel. This not only makes this rice cooker durable, but it also makes it feel very premium. Due to the stainless-steel body, this rice cooker won’t gather any fingerprint or scratch either. 

Then again, the rice cooker comes with a locking lid. As the lid locks tightly, there’s zero chance for spilling. Then again, you need to open the vent at the top of the lid. This will keep pressure from building up inside the rice cooker, which in turn will reduce the risk of a burst. 

Overall, we think that the Chefs Basics rice cooker is great. Plus, you can get this rice cooker for a dollar or two cheaper than most other rice cookers on this list, which is great.

Product Features:

• Premium accessories
• Made of stainless steel
• Fingerprint and scratch-proof
• Locking lid prevents spilling
• The vent at the top ensures good ventilation
• Fits in most ovens
• Offers a cooking capacity of 8 cups

Product Link: Click Here

Frequently Asked Questions:

How Should I Measure the Water Ratio?

There are a lot of people who’ll tell you to use a 1:1 water ratio, and there are those who’ll tell you that the water to rice ratio must be 3:1. Sadly, none of them are right. If you’re cooking regular white rice, you should take one ¼ cups of water for each cup of rice you take. However, the same can’t be said for brown rice. If you’re cooking brown rice, you need to mix two ¼ cups of water with every cup of rice you cook. 

How Does a Rice Cooker for Microwave Cook Fast?

Most rice cookers for microwave won’t provide the fast-cooking facility, as they come with simple designs that only allow the steam to go out of the rice cooker. However, if you opt for the advanced rice cookers, those will expedite the cooking process by moving the steam strategically. 

However, the difference is negligible, so such rice cookers aren’t produced highly anymore. 

Conclusion:

As you can see, a rice cooker for microwaves can make your life a lot easier by providing you an easier method. In fact, these rice cookers are very cheap, and they will also allow you to save a lot of kitchen space as you can avoid buying an electric rice cooker. 

So, overall, the rice cooker for microwave is very convenient for daily usage, and you should get one if you want to save some money, some effort, and some space.