No More Instant Noodles: Uncover the 5 Game-Changing Rice Cookers Every College Student Should Own!
Rice cookers might seem like a simple gadget, but they are a godsend for any college student looking to upgrade their dorm room cooking. Imagine coming back from a long day of classes to a pot of perfectly cooked rice ready to be paired with your favorite toppings or stirred into a hearty, homemade fried rice in 30 min. Room fills with cooked rice aroma! No more burnt pots or undercooked grains, and certainly no more settling for ramen every night. These versatile machines do all the work for you, and some can even handle additional tasks like steaming veggies or cooking soups. Let’s explore the top five rice cookers that every college student should consider, We used all of them to cook the most difficult grain: brown rice, and all of them passed the test with ease.
In this review, we are going to cover the following top 5 best rice cookers:
- Zojirushi 5.5 Cup Micom Rice Cooker and Warmer $149
- Zojirushi 3-Cup Rice Cooker $49
- Dash Mini Rice Cooker Steamer with Removable Nonstick Pot $21.99
- Aroma Housewares 4-Cups Rice Cooker $18.99
- CHACEEF Mini Rice Cooker 2-Cup $49.99
5 Best Rice Cookers for College Student Table Comparison
| Zojirushi 5.5 Cup | Zojirushi 3 cup | Dash Mini | Aroma 4 cup | Chaceef 2 | |
| Cups | 5.5 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 2 |
| Price | $$$ | $$ | $ | $ | $$ |
| Rice Texture | great | good | good | good | great |
| Size | medium | small | mini | small | small |
| Keep Warm | yes | no | yes | yes | yes |
| Timer | yes | no | no | no | yes |
| Colors | 1 | 1 | 8 | 3 | 1 |
| Time to Cook 1 cup | 65 min | 35 min | 35 min | 35 min | 60 min |
1. Zojirushi 5.5 Cup Micom Rice Cooker and Warmer $149
The Zojirushi 5.5 Cup Micom Rice Cooker and Warmer is a true heavyweight in the rice cooker game. With its advanced technology and sleek design, it promises to deliver flawlessly cooked rice every time. It features multiple cooking functions, a delay timer, and a keep-warm setting to ensure your rice stays warm and fluffy.
Pros:
- Makes perfect rice every time
- Has a variety of settings for different types of rice
- Keeps rice warm for over 24 hours
- Is easy to clean
- compact enough for apartment usage
- Best in class rice cooker
- Timer settings
- High-end looks and feels
- Extractable Cable for management
Cons:
- Expensive
- Take 2x longer to cook than others
- Need to learn how to use the menu
- Not very compact compared to others
2. Zojirushi 3-Cup Rice Cooker $49
If you’re looking for a compact yet powerful rice cooker, the Zojirushi 3-Cup Rice Cooker is here to save the day. Don’t be fooled by its small size; this cooker packs a punch with its efficient cooking performance and reliable results. It does not have keep warm function though.
Pros:
- Makes perfect rice every time
- compact
- Reliable
- 1 more cup than other mini cooker
- has bigger capacity cooker, 6 cups, and 10 cups
- easy to use
Cons:
- No Keep Warm function
- more than other mini cooker
- Only 1 color selection
- Conventional style and color
- Does not have as many features as the 5.5 cup model
3. Dash Mini Rice Cooker Steamer with Removable Nonstick Pot $21.99
The Dash Mini Rice Cooker Steamer is a budget-friendly option that offers versatility and convenience. Its compact size and multi-functionality make it a perfect choice for students, small kitchens, or anyone looking for a compact yet efficient rice cooker.
Pros:
- Affordable
- Super Compact, smallest
- Keep warm function
- Easy to use, one touch.
- Makes good rice
- Come with mini recipe book for other foods
- Colorful with 8 different colors
Cons:
- Does not have as many settings as other rice cookers
- long term reliability
- only 2 cups
- very small, can’t fit instant noodle
4. Aroma Housewares 4-Cups Rice Cooker $18.99
The Aroma Housewares 4-Cup Rice Cooker brings simplicity and value to your kitchen. This no-frills rice cooker gets the job done with its straightforward operation and reliable results, and it is under $20 with good built quality.
Pros:
- 4 cups capacity
- Super Affordable under $20
- Easy to use, one touch
- Makes good rice
- Name brand with good built quality
- Look durable
- keep warm function
- has 3 different colors: White, Pink, Blue
Cons:
- Does not have as many settings as other rice cookers
- No recipe book
5. CHACEEF Mini Rice Cooker 2-Cup $49.99
The CHACEEF Mini Rice Cooker 2-Cup is a compact yet mighty appliance designed to meet your rice-cooking needs. With its sleek and modern design, it not only cooks rice flawlessly but also serves as a stylish addition to your kitchen.
Pros:
- Compact
- Stylish
- Makes perfect rice
- Has a keep warm function
- Has 6 functions to cook other rice and stew
- has schedule timer
Cons:
- Does not have as many settings as other rice cookers
- None a name brand
- only 2 cups
- Not easy to clean like others
- take longer to cook than other traditional one.
- Plastic shell
- top cover hard to clean
Ultimately, the best rice cooker for you will depend on your individual needs and budget. If you are looking for a rice cooker that will make perfect rice every time, then the Zojirushi Fuzzy 5.5 Cup Premium Rice Cooker or the Zojirushi 3-Cup Rice Cooker are both excellent options. Zojirushi is a name brand that has been making rice cookers for decades. If you are looking for a more affordable option, then the Dash Mini Rice Cooker Steamer or the Aroma Houseware 4 Cups Rice Cooker are both good choices, very compact and cook great rice in 30 min+. And if you are looking for a stylish rice cooker that are not conventional to make a statement, then the CHACEEF Rice Cooker and Dash Mini are a good option to match your decors in the dorm.
