How Long Does Rice Take in a Rice Cooker? (With 5 Examples) - Prudent Reviews (2024)

If you’re thinking about purchasing a rice cooker or can’t find the instructions for the model you already own, you might be wondering:

How long does it take to cook rice in a rice cooker?

On average, one cup of white rice takes 26 minutes in a rice cooker, and three cups take 33 minutes. One cup of brown rice takes 60 minutes, and three cups take 70 minutes. Exact cook times vary by the type and amount of rice.

Cook times also vary significantly by rice cooker model. Most have sensors that switch off when the water is completely absorbed and the chamber reaches a specific temperature. Some also include timers that you can set according to the type and amount of rice.

If you’re looking for the fastest way to cook rice, consider using a pressure or multi-cooker. The Instant Pot and Presto Pressure Cooker can cook white rice in as little as 8 minutes and brown rice in a quick 20 minutes.

In the following sections of this article, you’ll learn:

• The cooking times of 5 of popular rice cookers
• The factors that impact the cooking time
• How rice cookers know when the rice is done
• How long rice takes to cook in a pressure cooker, like the Instant Pot
• And more

Whether you’re curious about how much time a rice cooker will save you, or you misplaced your user manual and need an estimate on how long dinner will take to cook, this article is for you.

Use the links below to navigate the article:

• Actual Cooking Times of 5 Popular Rice Cookers
• Factors That Impact Rice Cookers’ Cooking Time
• How Rice Cookers Know When the Rice Is Done
• How Long Does Rice Take in a Pressure Cooker or Multi-Cooker?
• How Long Does Rice Take on the Stove?
• Final Thoughts

Actual Cooking Times of 5 Popular Rice Cookers

The best way to understand how long it will take rice to cook is to read the user manual or the instructions on the packaging.

But if you don’t have a rice cooker or don’t have access to the instructions, I’ll show you five examples to give you a ballpark idea of cooking times.

These cooking times listed below are in accordance with each rice cooker’s instructions.

Black + Decker Rice Cooker

This Black + Decker rice cooker (available on Amazon) can produce up to six cups of cooked rice, but other models can cook 3, 14, 16, and 28 cups.

You can also use this unit for soups, stews, and oatmeal, so it’s a versatile choice. It has a “keep warm” function, so you can cook it now and serve it later.

Note that this cooker comes with a rice measurer, which you should use instead of a standard US cup. One unit from the rice measurer is approximately equivalent to ⅔ cup of uncooked rice.

The tables below show the cooking times by common rice and water amounts. View the user manual for more details.

White Rice (including long-grain, converted jasmine, basmati, texmati, yellow, and medium grain):

Brown Rice:

Small Grain and Pearl Rice:

Converted or Parboiled:

Wild Rice:

Packaged White and Wild Rice Combination:

Aroma Housewares Rice Cooker

The Aroma Housewares rice cooker (available on Amazon) can cook between two and eight cups of rice. But it also steams food, so you can make a range of dishes in this cooker.

When the rice is done cooking, it automatically switches to keep warm, so you can serve the rice whenever you are ready. It also has a flash rice function, which cuts cooking time by up to 50%.

With this machine, you use a standard measuring cup when adding the rice. But for adding water, use the lines marked on the inside of the rice cooker.

The chart below shows how long it takes to cook rice in this rice cooker, according to the user manual.

White Rice:

Brown Rice:

Risotto Rice:

Hamilton Beach Rice Cooker

This Hamilton Beach rice cooker (available on Amazon) can make between two and eight cups of rice, so it’s perfect for the whole family.

You can cook a variety of foods in this machine, including whole grains, hot cereal, steamed vegetables, and one-pot meals. It’s as simple as adding the ingredients and water to the cooker and turning it on.

You should use the measuring cup provided, not standard US measurements. The measuring included with the rice cooker runs slightly smaller.

Unfortunately, the cooking time isn’t specified for less than four cups, but the machine will automatically adjust the time and let you know how long to expect to wait for each quantity.

Here’s how long rice takes to cook in this rice cooker. Check out the user manual for more details.

White Rice:

Brown Rice:

Arborio Rice:

Basmati Rice:

Jasmine Rice:

Sushi Rice:

AmazonBasics Mini Rice Cooker

This four cup mini rice cooker (available on Amazon) is perfect for single people or couples living in small apartments or have small kitchens.

With this unit, you can make fluffy, delicious rice that compliments all your recipes. Because of its compact size, you can keep it on your kitchen countertop or easily store it in a kitchen cupboard.

It comes with a measuring cup, which measures around ¾ of a US cup. Make sure to use that and not a standard US measuring cup. When adding the water, measure it to the appropriate engraved line inside the bowl.

Below are the cook times, according to the user manual.

Note: The user manual specifies the cook times for white rice only.

White Rice:

Zojirushi Neuro Fuzzy Rice Cooker

This 5.5 cup rice cooker (available on Amazon) features settings for white, brown, and semi-brown rice. It also gives you the option for harder or softer rice, so you can get the perfect tenderness.

Included are two measuring cups to portion the uncooked rice: a clear one for white, brown, and semi-brown rice, and a green one for rinse-free rice. Both cups are smaller than a standard US measuring cup.

Here’s how long rice takes to cook in the Zojirushi Neuro Fuzzy Rice Cooker:

Note: The manufacturer doesn’t specify cooking times for one, two, or three cups, only for 1L of rice, which amounts to 4.2 cups.

Factors That Impact Rice Cookers’ Cooking Time

Many factors impact cooking time, including the rice type, amount, how it’s prepared, and which rice cooker you use.

Type of Rice: Cooking time can vary drastically by rice type. For example, one cup of white rice takes an average of 26 minutes, and one cup of brown rice takes 60 minutes. Sushi rice, jasmine rice, and converted rice usually take somewhere in between.

Amount of Rice: For most rice cookers, the more rice you cook, the longer the process takes. So if you’re cooking for many people, you can expect it to take a bit longer. For example, one cup of white rice takes 26 minutes, and four cups can take up to an hour.

Amount of Water: Some cookers suggest adding more or less water to customize the rice’s texture and tenderness. Typically, the more water you add, the longer the cooking process takes.

Type of Rice Cooker: Different brands take different lengths of time due to the technology used. For example, the Black + Decker rice cooker can cook one cup of white rice in 19 minutes, but the Aroma Housewares rice cooker makes that same amount in 26 to 35 minutes.

Rice Cooker Model: The older your rice cooker model, the longer it may take. Newer models use upgraded technology to cook the rice quicker.

Rice Preparation: Some manufacturers suggest soaking your rice for a while before adding it to the rice cooker. Always check what your specific model recommends. If you don’t follow the instructions, it could take the rice longer to cook. Or worse, it won’t cook properly.

Other Ingredients Mixed In: If you mix different types of rice, it can take longer. On the other hand, if you make a specific recipe — such as pineapple fried rice — you may need to factor in a few extra minutes for all the other ingredients to cook.

No matter what, check your user manual to guide you on cooking times.

How Rice Cookers Know When the Rice Is Done

Your cooker knows when your rice is done either by using a timer or a sensor.

If using a timer, it’s essential to follow the manufacturer’s exact rice-to-water ratios so that the rice cooks perfectly in the set time.

Alternatively, your rice cooker may use a sensor, which is the most typical way rice cookers operate. These cookers feature thermal-sensing devices — a small, spring-loaded thermometer, which determines the rice’s temperature.

When the rice has absorbed all the water in the cooker, the temperature will rise. The rice cooker senses this and switches off (or switches to the keep warm function, depending on the model).

How Long Does Rice Take in a Pressure Cooker or Multi-Cooker?

Many electronic pressure cookers, like the Instant Pot, include a rice setting. These multi-cookers are an excellent alternative to rice cookers because they can cook a variety of foods.

Below are a few examples of pressure cookers or multi-cookers so you can see how long it takes rice to cook.

Instant Pot

In the Instant Pot (available on Amazon), it takes between 8 and 15 minutes for white rice to cook, depending on the setting you choose.

If you choose “Less” (meaning tender but firm rice), it takes eight minutes. If you select “Normal” ( meaning traditional textured rice), it takes 12 minutes. Lastly, if you want softer rice on the “More” setting, cooking takes 15 minutes.

The times automatically adjust depending on the volume of rice, too.

For other types of rice, including brown rice, wild rice, and other multigrain rice, it takes 20 minutes on “Less,” 40 minutes on “Normal,” and one hour on “More” (plus 45 minutes soaking time).

T-fal Pressure Cooker

This pressure cooker (available on Amazon) cooks food up to 70% faster than regular cookware. It can cook a range of ingredients, such as vegetables, meat, fish, and of course, rice.

In the pressure cooker, rice only takes five minutes, which is over twice as fast as cooking in a regular pot with boiling water.

Presto 6-Quart Electric Pressure Cooker

The Presto Electric Pressure Cooker (available on Amazon) cooks food quickly and easy to use. It’s a pressure cooker and a slow cooker in one. You can cook meat, fish, vegetables, beans, rice, grains, and desserts in this machine.

It has specific instructions depending on the type of rice. Here’s a handy chart to help you.

Imusa Pressure Cooker

This stovetop pressure cooker (available on Amazon) is perfect for busy families. It can speed up your cooking time by 70%, retain minerals and vitamins, and reduce energy costs while cooking. Plus, it’s easy to clean.

When it comes to rice, here’s a cooking times chart.

Cosori Pressure Cooker

The Cosori Pressure Cooker (available on Amazon) is a top-of-the-line kitchen appliance, making evenings in the kitchen much easier.

When cooking rice, here’s a chart to check the times.

How Long Does Rice Take on the Stove?

Although rice cookers, pressure cookers, and multi-cookers are popular, not everybody has one. The most common way to cook rice is still on the stove.

It depends on the brand and type of rice, but on average, it takes about 12 minutes to cook one cup of white rice on the stove and 30 minutes for brown rice. You can expect it to take 1-2 minutes longer for each cup of rice that you add.

Rice cookers tend to take a bit longer to cook your rice, but they’re more precise. They ensure that the rice isn’t under or overcooked since they automatically stop when the moisture is absorbed and the temperature is correct.

Rice cookers are a simple and fool-proof way to cook rice, whereas pressure cookers are the best way to save time.

Final Thoughts

Overall, the average time to cook one cup of white rice in a rice cooker is around 26 minutes. For three cups, it takes approximately 33 minutes.

Brown rice takes on average 60 minutes to cook one cup and 70 minutes to cook three.

The main factors that affect the cooking times include the type of rice, the amount of rice and water, the make and model of the rice cooker, the other ingredients are included, and if you’ve soaked the rice beforehand.

Overall, rice cookers don’t necessarily save you time, but they simplify the rice cooking process and ensure a perfect result every time.