In this guide we default to uncooked-rice measurements but point out discrepancies when necessary. Note that most manufacturers use uncooked-rice cup measurements to identify the maximum capacity of their machines, but some, such as Instant Pot and Hamilton Beach, use cooked-rice measurements to indicate their models’ capacity. If you have a big family or love to entertain, a 10-cup cooker may be the best choice. Anything smaller than that is nice for dorm rooms or people who live alone but isn’t as useful for most people. If you don’t frequently cook rice for large groups, you (and your kitchen counter) will be better off with a 6-cup cooker.
Capacity: Most rice cookers have a capacity ranging from 3 to 10 cups of rice (uncooked), but we focused on models that could make around 6 cups and appreciated cookers that came in two sizes.
