How to choose a rice cooker or small kitchen appliance

Pick the right capacity

Capacity is easy to misread. A rice cooker's 'cup' is usually about 180 ml of uncooked rice, which is smaller than a standard measuring cup, and rice roughly doubles when cooked. Choose by the number of people you cook for, and don't buy much bigger than you need, because small batches cook less evenly in a large pot.

Look at the inner pot and the lid

• Non-stick pots clean easily but wear out if scratched; stainless steel pots last longer.
• A removable inner pot is much easier to wash.
• A steamer tray is handy if you steam food, and a keep-warm function is useful when meals are at different times.

Power and features

Higher wattage mostly means faster heating, not better results. Extra modes such as porridge, cake or slow cook are useful only if you will use them. More expensive models with advanced heating cook more evenly, but a simple cooker does the job for plain rice.

Safety checks

• Look for safety features such as an automatic cut-off and handles that stay cool to the touch.
• Check that the plug and voltage match your home.
• Be cautious with unbranded appliances that give no safety information or contact details.

Warranty, service and parts

Check how long the warranty lasts, who handles repairs and whether spare parts such as inner pots and lids are available. An appliance that can't be repaired or serviced locally is risky, however cheap it is.

Red flags when buying online

Be wary of capacity claims that look too big for the price, descriptions copied word for word from other shops, and reviews that all sound the same. Make sure the model number in the listing matches the photos and any manual or specification sheet.