Best rice cookers, tried and tested for perfect grains every time
Share:
Inspired by the premium rice cookers found in Asia, the sakura can cook it all: fluffy sushi rice, brilliant basmati and nutty brown rice. And in an impressive range of quantities too. Unlike many other cookers, we were able to prepare as little as one cup of uncooked rice (and as many as eight) to perfection. And uniquely, the sakura has not just one, but six different AI-powered rice cooking settings – ensuring whatever variety you’re using is prepared to a restaurant standard. Truly, we’ve rarely had sushi rice this good outside of Japan.
The ceramic-coated inner bowl (both BPA and PTFE-free) has clear, easy-to-read measurements and useful handles so you can remove the bowl when the rice is still hot. The machine will automatically keep rice warm at a food-safe temperature for up to 24 hours after cooking, and can also be pre-set the same amount of time in advance – handy, say, if you’re heading out to work for the day and want rice ready for when you arrive home.
The sakura is a precision cooker, preparing rice to optimum doneness rather than a set time. When it decides your rice is nearly ready, you’re given a 10-minute count down on the sleek LED screen. If you’re in a bit of a rush, a ‘fast cook’ setting speeds up the process without sacrificing too much on quality. Speaking of rush: we love how this machine is super quick and easy to clean, too.
But what really pushes this brilliant-value cooker into winning position? Its versatility in the wider kitchen. As well as delivering fabulous rice, it can tackle a range of other grains – from quinoa to lentils – and also has functions for slow-cooking, cake-baking, steaming vegetables, making yoghurt and creating rice crusts (such as for Persian tahdig). We used the soup function to whip up a red pepper and lentil soup in just 20 minutes, faster (and more flavourful) than on the hob.
