6 Best Rice Cookers for Black Rice in 2026

For those seeking a straightforward and cost-effective method to cook grains, including potentially tricky ones like black rice, the Elite Gourmet ERC2010B offers a compelling entry point. Its most notable feature is the durable 304 stainless steel inner pot, a significant upgrade from typical non-stick surfaces, addressing concerns about coatings while promising longevity and ease of cleaning. This cooker simplifies the process down to a single switch, taking the guesswork out of achieving fluffy results for up to 10 cups of cooked rice.

Performance is centered around its core function: cooking rice and automatically switching to a “Keep Warm” mode. While it lacks the advanced programming of digital models, its simple operation ensures consistent results for basic rice and grain types, making it suitable for everyday use. The generous 10-cup cooked capacity (5 cups uncooked) is ample for families or batch cooking, though its manual control means you’ll need to rely on traditional methods for specific grain settings like those often required for perfect black rice.

Compared to the Aroma Housewares ARC-753SGB, which also features a stainless steel pot, the Elite Gourmet ERC2010B offers double the capacity, making it better suited for larger households. However, it doesn’t provide the array of digital presets or the Fuzzy Logic precision found in models like the COSORI or COMFEE’. This makes the Elite Gourmet ideal for budget-conscious users prioritizing a stainless steel pot and simple, high-capacity cooking over advanced features and specific grain programs.

The COSORI Rice Cooker stands out as a versatile powerhouse designed to tackle a wide array of cooking tasks, extending far beyond just white rice to expertly handle challenging grains like black rice. Boasting an impressive 18 functions and powered by advanced Fuzzy Logic technology, this unit automatically fine-tunes cooking parameters across a 7-step process, ensuring optimal texture and flavor for various grains and dishes without requiring user intervention. It’s a true multi-cooker aimed at delivering consistent, restaurant-quality results effortlessly.

In real-world testing, the COSORI’s Fuzzy Logic proves invaluable, adapting to different grain types and water levels for predictable outcomes, a key advantage when cooking less common varieties like black rice which require precise moisture and time. Its 10-cup cooked capacity is suitable for most families, and the included stainless steel steamer basket adds functionality for healthy meals. The 1000W Quick Rice feature is a welcome addition for busy schedules, though complex grains will still benefit from standard cycle times.

Positioned as a premium option, the COSORI offers significantly more functions and a more sophisticated Fuzzy Logic system than the AROMA ARC-966BD, which has fewer presets. While it uses a non-stick pot unlike the stainless steel options from Elite Gourmet or Aroma 753SGB, its extensive programming and precision make it a top contender for users who cook a wide variety of grains and dishes and value automation and flexibility.

For those prioritizing health-conscious cooking and simplicity in a compact form factor, the Aroma Housewares ARC-753SGB is a compelling choice, particularly noted for its coating-free 304 stainless steel inner pot. This feature directly addresses concerns about non-stick surfaces, offering a durable and easy-to-clean alternative for cooking grains, including smaller batches of nutrient-rich black rice. Its one-touch operation exemplifies ease of use, making perfect rice as simple as adding ingredients and pressing a lever.

Performance focuses on straightforward reliability. The automatic cooking system detects when rice is done and seamlessly transitions to a “Keep Warm” mode, preventing overcooking and ensuring rice is ready when needed. While its 6-cup cooked capacity (3 cups uncooked) is ideal for individuals or small households, it lacks the versatility and specific grain settings found in larger, digital models. It excels at its core function but requires users to adapt ratios and times manually for less common grains like black rice.

Compared to the Elite Gourmet ERC2010B, another stainless steel option, the Aroma ARC-753SGB is smaller, making it better suited for limited counter space or smaller serving needs. It offers a more basic feature set than Fuzzy Logic models like the COMFEE’ or COSORI, trading advanced programming for uncomplicated operation and a preferred pot material. This cooker is best for users seeking a simple, reliable appliance with a stainless steel pot for small batches of rice and grains.

Stepping up in capacity and functionality, the AROMA ARC-966BD is a digital multicooker designed for families and those who need more than just basic rice cooking, comfortably handling a wide range of grains, including larger quantities of black rice. Its programmable digital controls offer multiple preset functions, taking some of the guesswork out of preparing different food types and ensuring consistent results across its generous 12-cup cooked capacity. The inclusion of steaming, slow cook, and soup functions adds significant versatility.

Performance is solid for a digital model in its class. The presets provide convenience for common tasks, and the automatic Keep Warm function is reliable. The 15-Hour Delay Timer is a practical feature for meal planning, allowing users to set cooking cycles in advance. While it lacks the sophisticated Fuzzy Logic found in some competitors that precisely adapt to different grains, its larger capacity and dedicated grain settings make it capable of handling diverse types, though some manual adjustment might be needed for optimal black rice texture.

In comparison to the COSORI, the AROMA ARC-966BD offers a similar large capacity and digital controls but has fewer preset functions and does not feature Fuzzy Logic technology. It provides more versatility than the simpler, manual models like the Elite Gourmet ERC2010B, particularly with its steaming and slow cook options. This cooker is an excellent value for larger households needing a high-capacity digital multicooker capable of handling various grains and simple meal prep tasks.

The GreenLife Digital Rice Cooker caters specifically to health-conscious users seeking a toxin-free cooking solution in a compact design, featuring a ceramic nonstick interior free from PFAS, PFOA, lead, and cadmium. This focus on material safety is a key differentiator, combined with the precision of Smart Fuzzy Logic technology to automatically optimize cooking for specific grains like white rice, brown rice, quinoa, and steel cut oats – a strong indicator of its capability with other diverse grains like black rice.

Despite its small 4-cup cooked capacity, ideal for individuals or couples, the GreenLife packs advanced features. The Fuzzy Logic ensures consistent, perfectly cooked results by adjusting to conditions, while the user-friendly LED display and one-touch presets simplify operation. A convenient delay timer adds flexibility for meal planning, and the cool-touch exterior enhances safety. Its ability to handle different grain types with specific presets makes it well-equipped for optimizing the cooking of challenging varieties.

Compared to the Aroma Housewares ARC-753SGB, which offers a stainless steel pot but lacks digital controls and Fuzzy Logic, the GreenLife provides smarter technology and healthier nonstick in a similarly compact size. While the COSORI and COMFEE’ offer larger capacities and more functions, the GreenLife distinguishes itself with its unique ceramic coating and focused grain presets, making it the best choice for those prioritizing non-toxic materials and smart technology for smaller batches.

The COMFEE’ Rice Cooker is a high-capacity, versatile appliance built around the precision of Fuzzy Logic Technology, making it an excellent contender for perfectly cooking various grains, including potentially large batches of black rice. This intelligent system automatically senses moisture and adjusts temperature and time, eliminating guesswork and promising consistently fluffy results across its 11 preset programs, which cover everything from different rice types to soups and stews.

Performance is a strong suit, with the Fuzzy Logic adapting cooking cycles to the specific needs of the food, crucial for achieving the right texture with diverse grains. The generous 12-cup cooked capacity (6 cups uncooked) serves families well, and the 24-Hour Timer Delay allows for flexible scheduling. A notable “Fast Cook” option provides speed when needed, while the removable non-stick pot and lid make cleaning straightforward. Its portability feature is a unique, though perhaps less critical, bonus.

Directly competing with the COSORI in the Fuzzy Logic space, the COMFEE’ offers a similar large capacity and intelligent cooking but provides 11 programs compared to COSORI’s 18. It offers significantly more advanced features and capacity than simpler models like the Aroma 753SGB or Elite Gourmet ERC2010B. This makes the COMFEE’ a strong value proposition for users who need a large-capacity cooker with precise, automated cooking for a variety of grains and dishes without opting for the absolute most feature-rich model available.