AROMA Digital Rice Cooker, 4-Cup (Uncooked) / 8-Cup (Cooked), Steamer, Grain Cooker, Multicooker, 2 Qt, Stainless Steel Exterior, ARC-914SBD

I used to own a different, “burn everything” rice cooker — it was less of a kitchen appliance and more of a rice cremator. No matter how much water, stirring, or pleading I did, I always ended up with a crunchy bottom layer that could double as driveway gravel.Enter this upgraded Aroma rice cooker: a glorious redemption arc in small kitchen appliance form. First test? Brown jasmine rice — the true test of a cooker’s soul. Not only did it cook it perfectly, I left it on “warm” for 8 HOURS (because life happens), and guess what? No rice burned. Not even a little singe. It was like a miracle in non-stick form.I haven’t even explored all the other features yet, but I’m already emotionally attached. It makes more than enough for the two of us, which means leftovers, which means fewer decisions, which means happiness.Great value, no burny sadness, and finally — a rice cooker that isn’t secretly trying to sabotage dinner. Five stars and a round of applause.

I recently purchased a rice cooker, and it has been a game-changer for making perfectly cooked rice with minimal effort. Here’s my review after using it consistently for a few weeks:Performance & Cooking Quality:The rice cooker does an excellent job of cooking rice evenly every time. I’ve used it for white rice, brown rice, jasmine, and even sushi rice, and each batch turns out perfectly fluffy without being undercooked or sticky. The cooker has multiple settings for different types of rice, which I love because it takes the guesswork out of cooking. It even comes with a steaming tray, so I can cook vegetables or dumplings at the same time, which is a bonus!Ease of Use:The rice cooker is incredibly simple to use. You just measure out the rice, add the water (the ratios are printed on the side), and press the button for the type of rice you’re cooking. The cooking process is quick, usually taking about 20-30 minutes, depending on the type of rice. Once done, it automatically switches to “keep warm” mode, so you don’t have to worry about your rice getting cold. The simple one-button design means I don’t have to fiddle with settings or worry about overcooking.Size & Capacity:I went with a 6-cup rice cooker, which is perfect for my small family. It can cook up to 12 cups of cooked rice, which is ideal for meal prepping or making enough rice for several meals. It’s not too bulky and fits neatly on the counter without taking up too much space.Cleaning & Maintenance:Cleaning is a breeze. The non-stick inner pot makes it easy to wipe away any rice residue, and it’s also dishwasher-safe, which is a huge plus for me. The outer casing is easy to wipe down with a damp cloth. There’s a condensation collector on the lid that’s simple to remove and clean as well.Build Quality & Durability:The rice cooker feels sturdy and well-made. The lid fits tightly, and the handle stays cool during cooking, which is nice for safety. I’ve used it almost daily, and it’s holding up well without any issues. It’s also lightweight enough to store in a cabinet when I’m not using it, but stylish enough to leave on the counter if needed.Drawbacks:The only minor issue is that the “keep warm” feature isn’t always perfect. If you leave the rice in the cooker for too long after it’s finished cooking, it can become a little dry or hard. However, this is more of a personal preference—if I’m planning to eat the rice right away, it’s never an issue. Also, while it’s great for rice, it’s not as versatile as some multi-cookers, so if you’re looking for something that can also bake or pressure cook, you may want to explore other options.Final Thoughts:Overall, I’m very satisfied with this rice cooker. It’s efficient, easy to use, and consistently produces perfectly cooked rice. If you eat rice regularly or just want an easy way to make it without worrying about timing or technique, I highly recommend investing in one of these. It’s made cooking rice so much simpler, and the added convenience is worth every penny!

TL;DR: Buy this, it’s amazing. There’s no need to buy a fancier model, this makes perfect rice, is simple, is inexpensive, and does not take up much room.As someone with extensive experience in the kitchen, both professionally and at home, I cannot imagine anything simpler to cook than rice. There are only 2 ingredients, rice & water and it's not very complicated. With so many appliances in my kitchen, why bother with another thing to buy, use once, and take up storage space? I have enough gadgets that seemed great on paper (air fryers, bread makers, etc.) which did not do the job as well as I could do using traditional methods, and which were often difficult to clean and maintain. So, a rice cooker? A machine to replace the easiest food in the world to cook? Why?My wife had suggested one, after all, all of the restaurants that served rice used them. But, I explained (probably incorrectly) they need to make a LOT of rice; we don't, and that's probably why they use them. Then I came across an article in one of my favorite food magazines, where they test products and came across their review of rice cookers. This rice cooker received the highest rating and was the least expensive of all their tests (and this is a serious chef's magazine, not supported by advertising; their reviews are spot-on and unbiased). And so, I bit the bullet and thought that if it was garbage, I'd just toss it, it was inexpensive enough.As soon as I got this, I wanted to use it and prove to my wife why it was a waste of money and space, and how even a review from an almost always dependable magazine, could be wrong, Of course, I tried some basmati rice because I knew that there was no way that I was going to get fluffy rice with discrete, pieces of rice not stuck together. Once more I would show her who was right.Wrong.After about 33 minutes when the machine said that the rice was done, I opened the lid and, behold, it was perfect! Each grain of rice was perfectly cooked, separate from all the other grains, flowable, and it was the same from the top of the pot to the bottom. Amazing and impressive.Then I decided that the time/temperature etc. of this gadget must have been designed for basmati rice, let's try some short-grain sticky rice for sushi. Damn, how does it know? Again, perfect.I'm now a believer, I admit I was very wrong, and the answer to who needs a rice cooker is: I do and You do.- This machine cleans up beautifully, it leaves no rice on the bottom of the pot.- It is simple to use.- It cooks rice perfectlyMy only issue with it is, as per the attached photos, it is very difficult to see the water line markings on the inside of the pot. This machine is too good, however, to deduct any points for that.Two things to point out:1) The cup that it comes with equals 3/4 of a dry cup measure. It says that in the instructions but on the cup itself, there is a 3/4 full mark. That's a bit confusing but, the measuring cup is 3/4 cup when it is filled to the top. If you fill it to the 3/4 mark, you're weighing out 3/4 of a cup (or a little over 1/2 of a regular cup) so just fill it to the brim.2) There is a steam vent on the lid. It's probably not best to place this under a cabinet; condensation will form on the underside of the cabinet and drip or, worse, penetrate the cabinet wood and get moldy. Keep it in a position so that the vent is clear of anything above it.I highly recommend, despite my previous insistence that nobody needs a rice cooker, this machine. It's amazing.Review of: Aroma Housewares 2-8-Cups (Cooked) Digital Cool-Touch Rice Grain Cooker and Food Steamer