If you're short on space but big on flavor, a very small rice cooker might just be your kitchen's new best friend. Whether you're living in a tiny apartment, cooking for one, or just want a fuss-free way to make perfect rice, these compact powerhouses deliver. We’ve tested the top models to find which ones cook evenly, clean easily, and fit seamlessly into small spaces—without sacrificing performance. Spoiler: not all mini rice cookers are created equal. Let’s dive into the ones that truly rise to the occasion.
- Best for ceramic fluff master: AROMA® Rice Cooker
- Best for dishwasher friendly mini: AROMA® Mini Rice Cooker
- Best for compact colorful steamer: DASH Mini Rice Cooker Steamer with Removable Nonstick Pot
- Best for versatile portion pro: DASH Mini Rice Cooker Steamer with Removable Nonstick Pot
- Best for bowl-ready inner pot: TOPWIT Rice Cooker Small
- Best for digital precision cooker: AROMA Digital Rice Cooker
- Best for pop-up steamer: AROMA® CoreCoat Rice Cooker with Pop-Up Food Steaming Basket (4 Cups Cooked
- Best for ceramic corecoat: AROMA CoreCoat Pot-Style Rice Cooker with One-Touch Control and Non-Stick Ceramic Coating (6 Cups Cooked
- Best for 6-in-1 compact: COMFEE' Compact Rice Cooker
- Best for portable 1.5-cup: Tayama 1.5 Cup Portable Mini Rice Cooker
Product Comparison: Best Very Small Rice Cooker
AROMA® Rice Cooker, 3-Cup (Uncooked) / 6-Cup (Cooked), Small Rice Cooker, Oatmeal Cooker, Soup Maker, Auto Keep Warm, 1.5 Qt, White, ARC-363NG
- 6 CUPS COOKED: We’ve mastered the art of fluffy rice and hearty grains. Rice doubles in size, so this multicooker turns 3 cups of raw rice into 6 cups cooked – all with one touch.
- MINI RICE COOKER: It’s the perfect electric rice pot for individuals, couples, and small families. Use it to warm a side dish or bring dip to the party with 1.5 quarts of yum!
- CERAMIC POT: Remove the inner pot and lid for easy cleaning. Aroma's CoreCoat ceramic coating is naturally nonstick and made without PFAS!
- EASY TO USE: Pour ingredients inside, add water, and press the button. This small rice cooker automatically switches to Keep Warm when rice is fluffy and ready to serve!
- PERFECT EVERY TIME: This ceramic coated pot has convenient measuring lines, and the appliance manual is filled with cooking tips. Just add rice first, then fill to the water line.
- DESIGNED IN CALIFORNIA: Based in San Diego, CA, we combine innovative design with functionality to bring you the best products. Our local customer service team is dedicated to ensuring you have a seamless experience, from purchase to use. Whether you’re new to our products or a longtime user, our US-based support is always here for you.
AROMA® Mini Rice Cooker, 2-Cup (Uncooked) / 4-Cup (Cooked), Grain Cooker, Soup Maker, Oatmeal Cooker, Auto Keep Warm, 1 Qt, Milk Tea color
- Convenient Cooking & Cleaning – With the included nonstick inner pot, you can rest assured that cooking will be a breeze. When the cooking is completed, the inner pot can be safely and conveniently cleaned in the dishwasher!
- One-Touch Operation – This product is also a proud member of our “set it and forget it” mentality. The cooker is incredibly simple to operate with our user-friendly controls that switch to Warm mode automatically once the grain is finished cooking
- Multi-Functional Use – Whether you're in the mood for a hearty jambalaya, steamed veggies and rice, or even a delectable cake, you can accomplish it all with your rice cooker
- Free Recipe Booklet – Register your product to receive a free digital recipe booklet filled with 17 simple, delicious recipes to prepare in your new cooker
- Accessories – Rice measuring cup and serving spatula included
DASH Mini Rice Cooker Steamer with Removable Nonstick Pot, Keep Warm Function & Recipe Guide, .5 Quart, for Soups, Stews, Grains & Oatmeal - Aqua
- DASH Mini Rice Cooker Steamer with Removable Nonstick Pot, Keep Warm Function & Recipe Guide, Half Quart, for Soups, Stews, Grains & Oatmeal - Aqua
- QUICK plus EASY: Set it and forget it. Prep time is minutes (simply add water and your uncooked rice, pasta, or veggies), and press the cook button. Your steamed meal (or side) is ready in less than 20 minutes, with less clean up.
- KEEP WARM FUNCTION: Updated with a keep warm function and indicator light - never overheat or overcook ingredients again, making for a healthy, perfect meal each and every time.
- PORTABLE plus COMPACT: The Dash Rice Cooker is your MUST-HAVE for that first apartment, smaller kitchen, college dorm life, or camper/RV traveling. Plus, the fun color options will match any kitchen décor (add to your registry now.).
- INCLUDES: The 200-Watt Dash Mini Rice Cooker includes a mixing paddle, measuring cup, removable pot with nonstick coating, recipe book and recipe database access.
DASH Mini Rice Cooker Steamer with Removable Nonstick Pot, Keep Warm Function & Recipe Guide, Half Quart, for Soups, Stews, Grains & Oatmeal - Red
- MORE THAN RICE: Oatmeal, stew, soup, quinoa, rice, and pasta. The 2-cup capacity allows for healthier portion control, or individual, quick and easy breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, or sides.
- QUICK plus EASY: Set it and forget it. Prep time is minutes (simply add water and your uncooked rice, pasta, or veggies), and press the cook button. Your steamed meal (or side) is ready in less than 20 minutes, with less clean up.
- KEEP WARM FUNCTION: Updated with a keep warm function and indicator light - never overheat or overcook ingredients again, making for a healthy, perfect meal each and every time. Removable pot with nonstick coating that releases foods easily.
- PORTABLE plus COMPACT: The Dash Rice Cooker is your MUST-HAVE for that first apartment, smaller kitchen, college dorm life, or camper/RV traveling. Plus, the fun color options will match any kitchen décor (add to your registry now.).
- INCLUDES: The 200-Watt Dash Mini Rice Cooker is backed by a 1-year manufacturer warranty and includes a rice paddle, measuring cup, removable pot with PFOA-free nonstick coating, recipe book and recipe database access.
TOPWIT Rice Cooker Small, Mini Rice Cooker 2 Cups Uncooked, 1.2L Portable Rice Maker with Non-stick Coating, BPA Free, One Touch & Keep Warm Function, Grey
- 【Independent Inner Pot】 The unique independent design of the inner pot makes your life more convenient. After cooking the food, the inner pot can be taken out separately and used as a bowl. After enjoying delicious food, you can wash it directly without washing an extra bowl. This is a must-have for lazy people!
- 【Multi-use Rice Cooker】 The Topwit multi-use rice cooker can meet your daily needs. You can use it to cook white rice, brown rice, oatmeal, porridge, vegetables, hot pots and soup.
- 【Rice Maker 2-Cups Uncooked】 The small rice cooker can cook up to 2 cups of uncooked white rice, perfect for 1~3 people. Its compact size (5.9*5.9*8 inch) is ideal for small spaces in your kitchen, dorm, apartment, or take on RV travel, and is also a dorm room essential.
- 【Easy to Operate】This small rice cooker has a simple one-click rotary switch control panel (WARM&COOK). Just turn the button to the right and point to "COOK" to wait for the delicious rice. After completion, it will automatically switch to the "WARM" function, keeping the rice warm until you enjoy it.
- 【Healthy & Safe】 Food-grade non-stick inner pot with superior durability. Materials that come into direct contact with food do not contain BPA, PFAS, and PFOA, which are safer to use. With a visible glass cover, ingredients in the pot can be observed at any time, ensuring food quality and making cleaning more convenient.
AROMA Digital Rice Cooker, 4-Cup (Uncooked) / 8-Cup (Cooked), Steamer, Grain Cooker, Multicooker, 2 Qt, Stainless Steel Exterior, ARC-914SBD
- Easy-to-use programmable digital controls complete with an automatic Keep Warm mode after each cycle
- An array of preset functions for every kind of meal: White Rice, Brown Rice, Steam, Flash Rice
- Steam meat, vegetables and more with the provided Steam Tray all while rice cooks below
- Perfectly prepares 2 to 8 cups of any variety of cooked rice or grains
- Sensor Logic Technology for delicious, fluffy rice and grains every time - automatically controls the internal temperature throughout the cooking cycle for optimal texture and flavor
- Item holds up to 2 to 8 cups of cooked rice. 8 cups is the cooked rice capacity. Rice must be cooked in the cup that comes along with this product.
- Steams meat and vegetables while rice cooks below
- Easy-to-use, programmable digital controls with automatic Keep-Warm and White Rice and Brown Rice functions
- Great for soups, jambalaya, chili, and more. Save time with the Flash Rice function which cuts cooking time by up to 50%
- 15-hour Delay Timer for flexible meal planning
- Includes steam tray, rice measuring cup, serving spatula, and exclusive recipes and coupons for Mahatma and Carolina Rice
AROMA® CoreCoat Rice Cooker with Pop-Up Food Steaming Basket (4 Cups Cooked, 2 Cups Uncooked)
- POP-UP STEAMER: Aroma’s new steamer basket stacks on top, so you won’t lose any space inside the pot. Cook the max capacity (2 rice cups) and top with a food steamer!
- TIDY STORAGE: Nest your steaming basket inside the 4-cup rice cooker for compact storage – just by rearranging the pieces. Pop-up for steaming, nest-down for storing.
- ONE-TOUCH: Aroma’s pot-style rice cooker and food steamer prepares perfect rice every time! Sensors control the entire process and switch to keep-warm automatically.
- DO IT ALL: Use this 1-quart mini rice cooker as a food steamer, rice cooker, soup maker, oatmeal cooker, dip warmer, and more. The steamer basket unlocks even more options!
- NATURAL NONSTICK: This CoreCoat rice cooker pot is coated with scratch-resistant ceramic for easy cleanup. Make the healthy choice with no trace of PFAS or PFOA!
AROMA CoreCoat Pot-Style Rice Cooker with One-Touch Control and Non-Stick Ceramic Coating (6 Cups Cooked, 3 Cups Uncooked)
- CERAMIC COATING: This 6-cup ceramic rice cooker inner pot is PFAS- and PTFE-free for healthy cooking with no trace of lead or cadmium; just a clean, non-stick ceramic surface.
- HEALTHY CHOICE: Aroma makes America’s #1 rice cooker – now with a ceramic coated pot! Make an easy choice for clean eating with CoreCoat ceramic surface coating.
- ONE-TOUCH: Cook perfect rice, every time! Aroma’s pot-style electric rice cookers have a single on/off switch and indicator lights. Use it for oatmeal, pasta, soup, and more.
- AUTO-WARM: Measure rice and water with convenient waterlines in the pot, then flip the switch to start cooking. Sensors track when rice is done and switch to keep-warm.
- FAMILY SIZE: Add up to 3 rice measuring cups of raw rice and serve 6 cups cooked (rice doubles in size). The 1.5-quart pot also works well for soup, dips, and sides!
COMFEE' Compact Rice Cooker, 6-in-1 Stainless Steel Multi Cooker, Slow Cooker, Steamer, Saute, and Warmer, 2 QT, 8 Cups Cooked(4 Cups Uncooked), Brown Rice, Quinoa and Oatmeal, 6 One-Touch Programs
- Multifunctional - Use-6 digital cooking programs including white rice, brown rice, steam, slow cook, quinoa and oatmeal functions.
- Compact Capacity -8 cup cooked (2 Qt) capacity yields up to 8 cups of cooked rice. Its space saving design is perfect for preparing small meals or tasty sides.
- Effortless Operation - The Multi Use Programmable Rice Cooker is user friendly with digital panel & LED display, features 6 One-Touch Programs, automatically switches to keep warm for 12 hours and 12 hour delay timer is designed for flexible meal planning.
- Easy to Clean - Stainless steel external housing is easy to wipe clean. With the non-stick coating, the cleaning of the inner pot is like a breeze. The inner pot and all of the included accessories are dishwasher safe.
- Safety Features - Built-in Overheating Protection. Made of BPA-Free Food Grade Material. Cool touch handle ensures your safety when you open the cooker.
- Warranty from COMFEE' - This programmable electric rice cooker is made of BPA-free food grade material. UL certificate approved. COMFEE' will provide 1 year manufacturer warranty together with your purchase.
Tayama 1.5 Cup Portable Mini Rice Cooker, White (TMRC-03R)
- Cook & keep warm functions- 1 touch operation
- Small and portable design
- Removable nonstick-coated cooking pot
- Capacity: 3 cups Cooked Rice; 1.5 cups Uncooked Rice
- Included components: rice cooker,inner pot,removable lid,spatula,measuring cup,manual,warranty
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Buying Guide
FAQs
What capacity is ideal for a very small rice cooker?
For single servings or a couple, look for a cooker that handles 2‑3 cups of uncooked rice, which yields about 4‑6 cups cooked. Models like the Aroma 3‑cup (6‑cup cooked) and TOPWIT 2‑cup (4‑cup cooked) fit most dorm‑room or small‑apartment needs. Choosing a slightly larger capacity gives flexibility for side dishes without taking up much counter space.
How do ceramic‑coated pots compare to traditional nonstick coatings?
Ceramic coatings, such as Aroma’s CoreCoat, are PFAS‑free and typically more durable against scratching, while still providing easy release. Traditional nonstick pots, like the Dash models, are also PFOA‑free but may wear faster with heavy use. Both types clean easily, but ceramic offers a healthier cooking surface for those avoiding synthetic chemicals.
Which mini rice cooker gives the best value for its features?
The Aroma Mini (2‑cup) stands out because it combines a dishwasher‑safe inner pot, a free recipe booklet, and included accessories for a modest price. The Dash Mini adds a keep‑warm indicator and colorful designs, but its feature set is similar and usually priced higher. Overall, Aroma’s models tend to pack more functionality per dollar.
Are one‑touch operation models reliable for cooking different grains?
Yes, most one‑touch cookers automatically switch to a warm mode after the cycle, which works well for white rice, brown rice, quinoa, oatmeal, and even stews. The Aroma and Dash units have preset functions or simple manual controls that handle varied textures without extra steps. Just follow the water‑to‑grain ratios in the included guides for consistent results.
How important is the keep‑warm function in a compact rice cooker?
A keep‑warm feature ensures your rice stays fluffy and safe to eat for up to several hours, which is handy for busy schedules or when you’re entertaining. Models like the Dash Mini and Aroma CoreCoat automatically enter warm mode and often include an indicator light. Without it, you’d need to reheat the rice, which can affect texture and moisture.
Which models are most portable for dorms, travel, or RV use?
The Dash Mini, Aroma Mini, and TOPWIT rice cookers are all under 2 quarts and weigh less than 2 pounds, making them easy to store in tight spaces. Their removable, dishwasher‑safe pots and simple plug‑in design add to the convenience. The Tayama 1.5‑cup cooker is also ultra‑compact, perfect for backpacking or hostel kitchens.
Do any of these mini rice cookers include extra accessories like measuring cups or steam trays?
Yes, the Aroma Mini (2‑cup) comes with a rice measuring cup and a serving spatula, while the Aroma 3‑cup includes a measuring line inside the pot. The Dash models provide a mixing paddle, measuring cup, and a recipe booklet, and the Aroma CoreCoat includes a pop‑up steamer basket for added versatility. These accessories enhance value without requiring separate purchases.
How do cooking times compare across the listed mini rice cookers?
Most mini models finish a standard batch of white rice in 10‑15 minutes, with the Dash Mini advertising less than 20 minutes for a full cycle including warm‑up. The Aroma digital units may take a minute or two longer due to sensor logic, but they offer more precise temperature control. Overall, cooking times are comparable, and the differences are minor for everyday use.