Even if cooking times are long, this isn’t necessarily a disadvantage – some of the models with the longest cooking times also produced the best quality rice. With just a cook and keep warm switch to break up the cool black exterior, it also has feet to raise it up from the worksurface plus handy carrying handles. It features a keep-warm option, automatic shut-off, inside measurements for water, a cool-touch outer shell and a locking lid. All electric home rice cookers consist of a removable bowl (usually ceramic or metal) that fits inside a pot.

A keep-warm setting is a great addition if you want to serve perfectly cooked rice at the right temperature. It’s not the prettiest appliance but the easy-to-use interface more than makes up for its clunky aesthetics. The best rice cookers will cook basmati rice for Indian curry nights, sticky rice for your Thai or Chinese dishes, or perfect sushi rice for homemade California rolls.

There are no frills to faff about with, just two settings, but a timer or some indication that cooking has finished wouldn’t go amiss. This kettle doesn’t have fancy built-in features but it surely gets the job done and the water boiling.

Its pressure cooking function works like a dream, breaking down even the toughest cuts and the preset functions for rice produce fluffy white grains for three people in around 22 mins. So you need to rinse the rice to remove excess starch, add it to your slow cooker, add water and add salt. You can maximise your savings by using the latest Cookworks voucher codes you can find here at Latest Deals. Consult the rice cooker instructions or contact the manufacturer if you cannot find the correct amount of additional water.Despite being marketed as a mini version of the original multi-cooker, it can still feed up to four people. The instructions are pretty basic it doesn’t, for instance, say how many portions the minimum amount of three cups equals. Rice-to-water ratios vary As you'll find from reading the instructions, rice cookers have varying requirements for rice-to-water ratios. The water is absorbed into the rice until it becomes tender, but unlike a normal pan, it is self-regulating, so you don't need to watch it, leaving you free to do something else. It then stays toasty on the keep-warm function until you turn it off, which is perfect if you need to leave the house.

Crucially, if you’re a fan of fancy rice then this one isn’t for you as it only cooks white rice, but it does cook it very well and was one of the simples to use with the best results. Once your rice has finished cooking, the rice cooker will keep it warm for you so you can top up your plate or have a hot dinner on standby for anyone coming home late.As well as making yoghurt, porridge and cakes, the Lakeland can slow cook and, of course, there’s its rice cooking function. We found some classic brands such as Russell Hobbs, Lakeland, Cookworks and Crockpot, while there are many other individual online brands like Klarstein, Judge and SQ. If the water looks discolored or filled with floating bits of broken rice or dirt, rinse a second or third time until new water added looks relatively clear. For the current batch of rice, drain the water and serve if the rice texture suits your preferences.