Chef Masaharu Morimoto Says You Need a Rice Cooker

When shopping for kitchen gear, we often turn to experts for their advice. Professional chefs tend to have strong opinions when it comes to cookware and utensils, so when we recently had the opportunity to interview Chef Masaharu Morimoto — a celebrity chef known for his appearances on cooking shows like “Iron Chef” and “Sushi Master” — we asked him to reveal the items he couldn’t live without. He told us, “If I could only have one kitchen appliance, it would be my rice cooker.” This countertop appliance is our favorite, and now it’s a great, affordable pick at Amazon.

Aroma Housewares 8-Cup Rice Cooker

According to Morimoto, a rice cooker is “essential in any Japanese kitchen.” “At my restaurants, we count on it to cook rice that’s always consistent and perfectly textured,” he noted. “In sushi, precision matters, and the right tools help maintain that standard.” Instead of simmering on the stove, make perfect rice every time with this fan-favorite rice cooker from Aroma Housewares.

The display panel on this 8-cup kitchen appliance is clearly labeled and easy to operate. It shows the time remaining in the cook cycle and includes presets for slow cooking, sautéing, and steaming. And if you like to plan ahead, there’s even an option to delay the start time, so all the elements of your meal will be ready at the same time.

When we tested rice cookers, this one earned the “best value” pick. At $34, it delivers great performance for the price.. Made from heavy-duty stainless steel, it can quickly cook up to 8 cups of rice. There’s even a flash rice setting for when you’re especially in a rush. 

An Amazon bestseller, the Aroma rice cooker has over 47,000 five-star ratings and nearly 10,000 glowing reviews. One shopper called it a “game-changer for making perfectly cooked rice with minimal effort.” Another customer noted that they “have never cooked rice on a stove ever since” buying it.

“Technology should support tradition, not replace it, and this one does exactly that,” noted Chef Morimoto. What are you waiting for? Snag this editor- and shopper-loved pick for just $34 at Amazon.

Shop More Rice Cookers

Black+Decker 16-Cup Rice Cooker

Zojirushi Micom 3-Cup Rice Cooker

Cuisinart 8-Cup Rice Cooker

Toshiba Mini Rice Cooker

At the time of publishing, the price was $34.