(checked 2026-10-10)
Two test kitchens rank this cheap, fast cooker as the best for most people, but the thin pot can scorch rice on the bottom and some owners say the coating wears or the unit dies within months.
Top complaints
- Scorching and drying at the bottom
Bon Appétit says the relatively thin inner pot left a scorched layer of rice in some tests. Serious Eats found large batches more prone to drying out or browning.
Source: Bon Appétit, Serious Eats - Reliability and nonstick coating wear
Amazon's review summary says reliability is mixed, with some owners reporting it stopped working within four months. Walmart reviewers (syndicated from hamiltonbeach.com) describe the nonstick coating chipping or wearing off within a year, and note the US warranty is only 1 year.
- Awkward lid and less sturdy feel
Bon Appétit dislikes the press-and-hold lid that opens sideways and says it feels less sturdy than high-end models. A Serious Eats editor who owns one says the hinged lid tends to fall down when lifted while hot.
Source: Bon Appétit, Serious Eats
What owners love
- Great rice for the price
Serious Eats says it made the fluffiest, best-textured rice of the full-size cookers it tested. Bon Appétit's blind tasters ranked its white rice right behind the Zojirushi NP-HCC10, and it excelled with brown rice.
Source: Serious Eats, Bon Appétit - Fastest cooker tested
Serious Eats says it was faster than any other cooker it tested (not counting quick-cook modes), with a large batch done in about 30 minutes. Bon Appétit timed white rice at 35 minutes versus 50 for the Zojirushi.
Source: Serious Eats, Bon Appétit - Useful features for a budget model
It includes six presets, a delay start, a countdown and a done beep, plus a steamer basket. Amazon shoppers say the digital interface is simple and it doesn't boil over.
- You want premium Japanese-style short-grain rice
- You hold rice on keep-warm for hours
- You want a sturdy, long-lasting build
- Most households on a budget
- Fast weeknight rice, including brown rice
- Steaming vegetables while rice cooks
Scores (tap for why)
What experts say
- Serious Eats: Best rice cooker overall since 2019: the cheapest full-size model, it was also the fastest with the best-textured rice. Large batches can dry out or brown, and the lid can fall when lifted.
- Bon Appétit: Best for most people: rice nearly as good as the Zojirushi at a fraction of the price. The cons are scorching from the thin pot, an awkward lid, and a less sturdy build.