Best 5 Rice Cookers Under Rs 2000

A good rice cooker has its place in any kitchen. It makes cooking up large amounts of rice for a family meal easy, quick, and mess-free. Most importantly, it also takes the guesswork out of cooking your rice. We've all been there while using the stove. You measure everything out, but your heat is off, or you don't add the lid fast enough, and your rice comes out undercooked or sticking all over the pan. A rice cooker gets rid of that problem. 

However, not all rice cookers are created equal. Some can be a priceless addition to your kitchen, and some can more or less be an overpriced paperweight. 

To help you dig through the chaff and find a rice cooker you're truly going to love adding to your kitchen's repertoire, we've created a detailed review of the top 5 best rice cookers available, and we've highlighted all their strengths and weaknesses to help you pick the right one for you. 

Before we dive into the reviews, let's go over why you need a rice cooker in the first place.  

Why Buy a Rice Cooker?

Yeah, you can cook rice in a pot on the stove. People do it all the time. However, that requires you to stand over the stove, time everything perfectly, and still probably have inconsistent results. 

A rice cooker fixes all of those problems. It can:

• Cook rice perfectly every single time. 
• Cook rice faster and more efficiently than a pot and stove. 
• Cook larger amounts of rice at once, without inconsistent results.
• Keep rice warm for long periods of time.
• Cook other dishes if you buy the right model. 
• Clean up easily with non-stick cooking surfaces. 

As you can see, with a rice cooker, you can quickly whip a batch of rice for yourself, cook a big batch in the morning to last all day, or maybe even cook a nice roast and potatoes if you buy one that works as a pressure cooker. 

Not having a rice cooker in your kitchen is just making life harder on yourself. These flexible kitchen tools are inexpensive, and they're invaluable when it comes to all the headaches they save you in the long run. 

What to Look for in a Rice Cooker:

When you go to buy a brand new rice cooker, you need to consider a few key features and decide what will suit you best:

• Capacity: You should be able to cook as much rice as you need in one batch. 
• Settings: If you only need rice, then a basic rice cooker will work great. However, if you want a multi-function appliance that can work as a pressure cooker or saute pan, you should look for a model that has those features. Don't worry. There are plenty of them. 
• Value: Why buy an expensive rice cooker with a ton of extra features, when you only need it to cook rice? Find a model that is priced within your budget, while providing the features you actually need. You'll save a little bit of money, and you won't be overwhelmed with a plethora of options you don't need. 

Bajaj RCX 5 1.8-Litre Rice Cooker

The Bajaj RCX 5 is a simplistic rice cooker that makes clean up a breeze, makes plenty of rice, and doesn't overwhelm you with tons of different programs and features.

Here's what you get for the Rs 1490 price tag:

• 1.8-Liter Capacity: The 1.8-liter basin just enough room to cook 1-kilogram of raw rice. Once cooked, this is the perfect amount to feed an entire 3-4 person family. 
• Automatic Programming: There aren't any complex programs to worry about with this rice cooker. You simply put in the correct ratio of water and rice, flip the power switch, and it cooks it perfectly. This is great for users who aren't really tech-savvy and just want a simple rice cooker. 
• Auto-Shut Off: When your rice is fully cooked to perfection, the Bajaj RCX 5 automatically turns itself off to prevent overcooking your rice. 
• Easy to Clean Surface: The basin used for cooking is made with a non-stick coating that makes cleanup a breeze. Simply wipe out any leftover rice, and clean with soap and water. 
• Detachable Cord: If you don't want to dirty another dish, and would like to simply serve your rice from the Bajaj itself, the power cord is detachable; allowing you to carry it to your dining table with ease, and its elegant exterior design makes it fit right in with the rest of your dining wares. 

Pros:

• Inexpensive: For only Rs 1490, you can perfectly cook your rice every single time. 
• Energy Saving: The Bajaj is designed to use as little energy as possible, and it won't significantly impact your energy bill. 
• User-Friendly: Using the Bajaj RCX 5 is simple enough that anyone can use it safely. Besides measuring your rice and water, you simply hit the power button!

Cons:

• Size: Its 1.8-liter capacity is enough for smaller families, but it simply won't make enough rice at once for larger families, parties, and other groups beyond 4 people. 

Final Verdict:

If you're a college student living in a dorm, or the head of a small family, the Bajaj RCX 5 is the perfect rice cooker for you. It's easy to use, and it can easily feed your family. However, if you frequently feed more than 4 people, or if you want more features in your rice cooker, you might want to look elsewhere on this list. 

Panasonic SR-WA18 E 4.4-Litre Automatic Rice Cooker

The Panasonic SR-WA18 Eis a simplistic rice cooker like the Bajaj RCX 5, but it comes with a few extra features that make it a bit more robust. In case you're wondering, while the name says it is a 4.4-liter rice cooker, that is referring to the total amount of cooked rice it can hold. It only cooks 1.8-liters of raw rice at a time, similarly to the Bajaj, and the other rice cookers on this list. 

Here are the features you get for its Rs 1789 price tag:

• 4.4-Liter Cooked Capacity: Rice swells as it cooks, and this cooker allows for plenty of room for you to cook up to 1.8 liters of raw rice at once. This ends up being enough to feed a 3-5 person family. 
• Automatic Cooking: There aren't any complex buttons on the SR-WA18 E. You simply measure your rice and water, flip the switch, and it automatically cooks your rice to perfection. 
• Safety Features: This rice cooker automatically turns off when your rice is perfectly cooked to keep from overcooking it or becoming a fire hazard. It also includes shock protection to make cleaning safe and easy. 
• Warranty: The entire unit is covered by a 2-year warranty, but the heating coil is covered for 5 years. This allows you to buy with confidence. 
• Scoop Holder: Unlike other models, this rice cooker has a scoop holder built in for easy organization. 

Pros:

• As a bonus, you get a cup and scoop included with this rice cooker to make a complete set. 
• It's extremely easy to use, and you don't have to worry about any complicated programming or timers. 

Cons:

• The Panasonic SR-WA18 E doesn't have a detachable cord for easy transport to the dinner table, but it has a handle that can help a little bit. 

Final Verdict:

This is a decent upgrade from the Bajaj, and it mostly serves the same audience. However, it sacrifices a detachable cord in favor of providing you with a cup, scoop, lid, and cooking plate. So, it's a fair trade-off, and it only costs Rs 1789.

Prestige PRWO 1.0 Red Colour Rice Cooker

The Prestige PRWO 1.0 is the perfect rice cooker for college students, couples without children, and other 1-2 person groups. It can make more than enough rice to last that audience all day, and it can keep it warm between meals. Along with some extra quality of life features, the Prestige isn't for everyone, but it's perfect for some. 

Here's what you get for Rs 1499:

• 1-Liter Capacity: This isn't a huge capacity, but it's more than enough for 1-2 people to have a sizable meal, or spread the rice out between 2 meals. 
• Automatic Cooking: The Prestige works with the same switch-style cooking the other products we've listed do. You put your rice and water in, flip the switch, and it handles everything else. 
• Warming Mode: Instead of just turning off and letting your rice cool down once it's cooked, the Prestige switches to warming mode. It can keep rice warm for 4 hours. This is perfect for single eaters looking to make rice for lunch, and then eat some with dinner without having to cook more. 
• Detachable Cord: Once you're done cooking, you can detach the power cord and bring the cooker to your table! No extra dishes required. 
• Eco-Friendly: With only 400 watts required to operate the Prestige, it takes less energy than charging a phone.  

Pros:

• The warming feature is perfect to keep rice leftovers edible between meals. 
• The handles are rubberized to make them comfortable and cool to the touch. 
• This is a cost-effective appliance for couples or college students with a high build quality and features you don't get with larger units in this price range. 

Cons:

• The only drawback to the Prestige is its small size. The 1-liter capacity and warming mode is perfect for single people or college students, and it's enough to feed a couple without children with ease. However, it's not enough for even a small family. 

Final Verdict:

If you live in a small dorm, apartment, or other small living space by yourself or with a partner, this is perfect for you. It has some advanced features, and it doesn't make a ton of rice. However, families will want something a bit larger. 

Pigeon by Stovekraft Joy Rice Cooker 1.8L (White)

The Pigeon is one of the most cost-effective rice cookers you can find. It only costs Rs 1225, and it has a 1.8-liter basin capacity that is enough for a 3-4 person family. It also comes with some bonuses. However, it's a bit bare-bones compared to the other models we've reviewed. 

Here's what Rs 1225 can get you with the Pigeon by Stovekraft:

• 1.8-Liter Capacity: This is a pretty standard capacity for a rice cooker, and it's enough to feed 3-4 people for one meal. 
• Automatic Cooking: Like the other models we've reviewed, this is a simple switch-style cooker. Just flip the switch, and it cooks your rice. 
• 1-Year Warranty: If you're not sure about this rice cooker, it has a 1-year warranty that covers it if it malfunctions. 
• Bonuses: Not only do you get the rice cooker, but you get a spatula and measuring cup, too!

Pros:

• The biggest pro of this unit is that it's cheap, and you get your money's worth. It doesn't have fancy cool-to-the-touch handles, multiple settings, a warming mode, or any of that, but it does cook rice perfectly, and it cooks plenty of it. All for Rs 1225. 
• Family-Sized: Unlike the Prestige, which beats this model in terms of build quality and features, this can feed a small family. 
• The bonus utensils are a nice touch. 

Cons: 

• This only costs Rs 1225, and for that, you get what you pay for. However, don't expect all the fancy features of other models. You get a way to cook perfect rice, and that's it. 

Final Verdict:

This is a great rice cooker for families on a budget. At only Rs 1225, you really can't beat it. However, for a few Rs more, you can get something with a few more bells and whistles. All in all, this is a great budget rice cooker. 

Butterfly Wave Electric Rice Cooker (1.8 L) – Red

The Butterfly Wave is a beautiful rice cooker with the standard 1.8-liter capacity, and it has a couple neat features that make it capable of warming your rice between meals, staying in position on your counter, and cooking the perfect rice for any occasion without the hassle of added programs or special features. It's also fairly priced at only Rs 1560. 

Here's what you get with the Butterfly Wave rice cooker:

• 1.8-Liter Capacity: This is the standard capacity, and it's enough for a small family. Also, with the warming feature, it's great for single people or small couples to cook for multiple meals early, and then just leave the rice in the cooker until the next meal. 
• Beautiful Aesthetics: Most rice cookers are an elegant white, but the Butterfly Wave is a matte red that makes it stand out. 
• Low-Energy: This rice cooker only needs 230v to run properly. This puts it on par with most small appliances and chargers. 
• Warming Mode: If you don't need nearly a kilo of rice per meal, you don't have to worry. It automatically switches to warming mode to keep your rice warm until you're hungry again. 
• Rubberized Feet: Many other rice cookers have a tendency to slide around, but this one has rubber grips on the feet that allow it to stay in place as you scoop out rice or bump into it on the counter. 

Pros:

• The Butterfly Wave combines the warming mode of the Prestige with the larger capacity of the other cookers on this list. This allows you to not only cook more rice, but keep it warm if you have leftovers. Something the other larger cookers can't do. 
• The rubberized feet are a smart feature that keeps it from sliding off your counter or table when you accidentally bump into it, and they keep it from sliding around while you're serving rice from it. 
• The red color scheme is a welcome addition since most other rice cookers are a plain white color. 
• It's fairly priced at only Rs 1560.

Cons:

• Some users have complained about the cooking plate not being non-stick. This makes it more difficult to clean, but it's still not very hard to do. You might need to scrub harder than you would with the other options on this list. 

Final Verdict:

Despite the plate not being non-stick, this is one of the best rice cookers for less than Rs 2000. The Prestige is a little fancier, but it doesn't have the capacity necessary to cook for a family. If you have 3-4 people to serve, this is the rice cooker for you. Otherwise, go with the Prestige. 

FAQ:

Q: Do I really need a rice cooker?

A: You can use a pot on your stove, but a rice cooker is a must-have for anyone who eats rice daily. 

Q: What if I want more features than the ones in the rice cookers listed?

A: This list is for inexpensive rice cookers under Rs 2000. If you want more features, you can find models that can cook just about anything, but you'll have to pay a lot more. 

Q: How do I clean my rice cooker?

A: It's simple: Discard any remaining rice grains, scrub with soap and water, and rinse the basin. Most basins have removable cooking plates to keep you from getting the whole appliance wet. 

Q: Can I add ingredients to my rice in the cooker?

A: We don't recommend adding a lot of ingredients to the rice cooker itself unless it has a pressure cooking function. You can add seasonings, fast-cooking bits of vegetables, and other small additions to any of these rice cookers, though. 

Q: Are detachable cords necessary?

A: No, but they make your life a lot easier. Instead of transferring rice to another dish for serving, you can just unplug the cooker and carry it to your table. 

Q: Are rice cookers dangerous?

A: Every rice cooker we listed has safety features to prevent shock or fire hazards, but if you buy something else, you'll have to read the manual to ensure yours has such features. 

Q: Are rice cookers really more consistent than a pot?

A: Yes! Rice cookers control temperature and cook-time perfectly to make sure each grain comes out cooked to perfection. You can't do that every time on your stove. 

Q: What size do I need?

A: If you're living on your own, or out of a college dorm, a 1-liter cooker is perfect. Especially if it has a warming feature that lets you save your leftovers. If you have an average-sized family, a 1.8-liter is best. For large groups, you'll have to get one of the many 3 to 5-liter models available, but those typically cost more than Rs 2000.