You might be shopping for a rice cooker if you fancy making delicious food in a short space of time. The best cheap rice cookers we’ve seen make enough tasty food for the whole family. Plus, many of them feature a keep-warm function that stops your food from getting chilly. Below, our experts have picked out some of the most popular rice cookers for you to choose from.
Fishing through the discounts to pick out some bargains, our team has spotted great rice cookers from known kitchen appliance brands including Russell Hobbs, Lakeland and VonShef. All of the rice cookers we’ve picked out in our guide are on offer at an affordable price, so you won’t need to spend loads before you can start preparing a feast.
In this article:
- Best cheap rice cookers to buy for 2023
- Buying a cheap rice cooker: which features are important?
- How much is a rice cooker?
- Where to buy a cheap rice cooker
At a glance: our top 5 cheap rice cookers
| Product name | Price |
|---|---|
| Russell Hobbs 19750 Rice Cooker and Steamer | £35.99 |
| Lakeland 2 Portion Mini Electric Rice Cooker | £44.99 |
| Russell Hobbs 27030 Medium Rice Cooker | Currently unavailable |
| Geepas 350W Rice Cooker & Steamer | £29.99 |
| VonShef Small Rice Cooker | £29.99 |
Best cheap rice cookers to buy for 2023
Russell Hobbs 19750 Rice Cooker and Steamer (£35.99)
- Claimed capacity: 1.8 litres
- Dimensions: 28cm x 32cm x 24.5cm
This remarkably popular rice cooker from Russell Hobbs has a claimed capacity of 1.8 litres. It has a handy keep-warm function to stop your food from getting annoyingly chilly, along with an additional tray for steaming fish or vegetables. The removable bowl is non-stick.
Bundled with this rice cooker you also get a spatula and a measuring cup. The Russell Hobbs 19750 Rice Cooker is certainly worth a closer look if you want something that’s easy to use and effective.
Click here to buy the Russell Hobbs 19750 Rice Cooker and Steamer, or shop deals on eBay.
Lakeland 2 Portion Mini Electric Rice Cooker (£44.99)
- Claimed capacity: 500ml
- Dimensions: 14.5cm x 19cm x 16.5cm
This mini electric rice cooker from Lakeland is a good choice if you’re aiming to keep costs low. It has a 500ml lift-out, non-stick pan and makes 1-2 portions of white or brown rice. It’s delightfully easy to use, too, thanks in part to a clearly labelled LED panel on the front of the gadget.
Click here to buy the Lakeland 2 Portion Mini Electric Rice Cooker, or shop deals on eBay.
Russell Hobbs 27030 Medium Rice Cooker (currently unavailable)
- Claimed capacity: 1.2kg
- Dimensions: 27.2cm x 22.2cm x 17.6cm
We’ve added this rice cooker to our list as it’s one of the most popular models you can buy today on Amazon. It has a claimed capacity of 1.2kg, which should provide up to 6 servings of cooked rice at roughly 200g per person. In other words, it’s a great pick if you’re cooking for a family or a selection of dinner guests.
Other handy features include the automatic stay-warm function, which is good news if you want to return to the rice cooker for a second portion. This rice cooker has a dishwasher-safe, removeable, non-stick bowl and glass lid.
Click here to buy the Russell Hobbs 27030 Medium Rice Cooker, or shop deals on eBay.
Geepas 350W Rice Cooker & Steamer (£29.99)
- Claimed capacity: 0.6 litres
- Dimensions: 20.3cm x 20.3cm x 22.3cm
The Geepas rice cooker is blessed with countless positive reviews over on Amazon. It has a claimed capacity of around 0.6 litres and runs on three primary functions – cook, steam and keep warm. The Geepas 350W Rice Cooker & Steamer can help you create fluffy rice without a fuss.
A two-light indicator on the front of this popular rice cooker will indicate whether your rice is being cooked or kept warm.
Click here to buy the Geepas 350W Rice Cooker & Steamer, or shop deals on eBay.
VonShef Small Rice Cooker (£29.99)
- Claimed capacity: 0.3 litres
- Dimensions: 18cm x 18cm 25.8cm
A sub-£50 rice cooker from VonShef that has a claimed capacity of 0.3 litres. This machine makes cooking rice a breeze and is ideal for keeping friends and family well fed. It comes bundled with a carry handle and rice spoon and features a detachable inner pot. You can serve rice straight from the dinner table if you need to.
Click here to buy the VonShef Small Rice Cooker, or shop deals on eBay.
Sistema Microwave Rice Cooker (£7.99)
- Claimed capacity: 2.6 litres
- Dimensions: 21.59cm x 19.48cm x 16.08cm
This is a microwave rice steamer that has a capacity of 2.6 litres. It’s designed to cook rice, polenta and couscous and features cool-touch handles and easy lift tabs to make things nice and simple.
A pressure chamber tray ensures your rice stays moist. Note that this microwave rice steamer is fridge and freezer safe, and you can chuck it on the top rack of the dishwasher.
Click here to buy the Sistema Microwave Rice Cooker, or shop deals on eBay.
Joseph Joseph M-Cuisine Microwave Rice and Grain Cooker (£24.46)
- Claimed capacity: 2 litres
- Dimensions: 22.1cm x 13.46cm x 18.03cm
Joseph Joseph has a host of kitchen gadgets to grab your attention. This microwave rice and grain cooker is a good pick for buyers on a budget and allows you to measure, wash, cook and serve fluffy rice and grains in one. It has a claimed capacity of 2 litres and comes bundled with a rice paddle, which you can use to lock the pot lid.
Click here to buy the Joseph Joseph M-Cuisine Microwave Rice and Grain Cooker, or shop deals on eBay.
Buying a rice cooker: which features are important?
Rice cooker capacity
When deciding on the best rice cooker for your requirements, think about how much food you’d like to prepare in one go. If your rice cooker isn’t living in a large household, you can probably save some money by grabbing a smaller model. Note the capacity of each rice cooker that you add to your shortlist.
Stay-warm functionality
Keep an eye out for rice cookers that promise a stay-warm function, as this means your rice will stay toasty while you’re tucking into your first portion at the dinner table.
If you’re looking to make even more updates to your kitchen, have a read through our guide on the best red air fryers, best black toasters and best tap filters.
How much is a rice cooker?
If you’re on the hunt for a brand new rice cooker, expect to spend around £30-50 on a decent model. For that price, you can get something with a good capacity that’ll stand the test of time.
Where to buy a rice cooker
| Retailer name | What does it offer? |
|---|---|
| Amazon | Loads of options from a range of well-known kitchen brands. You can expect to find a good selection of cheap rice cookers. |
| eBay | Various rice cookers from big-name brands including Breville, Russell Hobbs, Cuckoo and Hitachi. |
| Currys | This retailer stocks a mini range of rice cookers covering Gastroback, Kitchen and Tefal models. |
| Robert Dyas | Robert Dyas is home to plenty of rice cookers that are both effective and affordable. You’ll find the latest models from brands including Beko, Tower, Ninja and Instant Pot. |