Best Single Serving Rice Cooker and Small Multi-Cooker Gohan Gadgets

People have long used the rice cooker for purposes other than cooking rice. Somewhere down the line, though, manufacturers caught on and started to make more interesting multi-functional machines. That, and developing niche products like the single serving rice cooker.

If all you want to do is cook rice, that’s quite okay, but we also see what other ‘gohan gadgets’ are out there. We’ve searched out the best innovative products that can bring versatility to any cooking space. Whether you’re looking for a single serving rice cooker or similar compact multi-functional rice cookers, we have them covered.

Read more or go directly to our reviews of the best single serving & compact multi functional rice cookers in Japan:

• Yamazen YJE-M150 – 0.5~1.5合 Rice Cooker
• Aris Oyama PMRC-10FT – 1合 Rice Cooker
• Poddi by Akafuji – 0.5~1.5合 Rice Cooker
• Souyi Compact Rice & Multi-Cooker
• Hill Stone 12V/24V – 2合 Portable Rice Cooker
• Tiger JAJ-G550-PC – 3合 Tacooker
• Iris Oyama  5.5合 IH Low Carb Rice & Multi-Grainer Cooker

Measuring for a Single Serving Rice Cooker

Traditionally, the unit for measuring Japanese rice is called a gou [合]. One gou [一合] is the equivalent of one serving of rice or 180 grams. The standard measuring cup that comes with your rice cooker is one 合. Traditionally, the measuring tool is a small square wooden box called a masu.

Rice cookers are often marketed in terms of how many gou/ 合 they cook. A compact single serving rice cooker usually cooks between 0.5 ~1.5合. A small bowl of rice is the equivalent of 0.5合. If you want a larger or second serving of rice, then you should cook around 1合.

Japanese Rice Essentials

.Japanese rice comes in two standard varieties –  uruchimai [粳米 ] or what we usually eat, and mochigome [もち米] which is used for making mochi [餅]. Uruchimai is processed in various ways to give the different varieties of rice you can buy from the store.

White rice [白米] is polished rice – meaning of course that the husk is removed which is then the rice bran [米ぬか/komenuka]. From this you get the staple seihakumai [精白米]. Unpolished rice or brown rice is known as genmai [玄米].

Sometimes, brown rice is soaked in heated water until germinated. This health-based rice is called hatsuga genmai [発芽玄米] or GABA rice, because of the increased gamma-Aminobutyric acid content. It’s good for neurological support.

Another type of white rice is musenmai [無洗米], or unwashed rice. The better translation is no-wash-rice. Usually, seihakumai is soaked and rinsed before cooking to further remove the glutinous layer. This gives the rice a better flavor and aroma. Musenmai is a modern non-chemicalized process which achieves the same.

This way, it’s not necessary to rinse your rice so much. The cloudy run-off water from washing seihakumai is called  togijiru [とぎ汁]. This water is high in phosphorous and nitrogen which is not easily removed by filtration. It’s a major source of water pollution in Japan. Therefore, t’s recommended to pour this water onto your garden rather than down the drain.

How to Cook Japanese Rice Perfectly

Before you prep your rice for cooking, you need to know the best ratio of water to rice.

For typical seihakumai this ratios is 1:1.1 or 1.2. That is about a cup plus a bit more or 200 ml of water for 180 ml of rice. If you choose to soak your rice for 20 to 30 min, then you can use the ratio of 1:1.

The number of gou [合] are marked on the inside of your rice cooker container. Usually, water should cover the rice and be a little above the mark. Many rice cookers these days have a 10 min soaking period, so you can also experiment along these lines and soak for less time before setting the cooker.

Musenmai [無洗米], because it is polished more, only needs to be washed a few times. It’s the faster choice and also the most environmentally friendly.

Best Singe Serving Japanese Rice Cooker Selection

These are our picks for basic small or single serving rice cookers. Most of them can cook white and brown rice, there are unique functions too, and the sizes range from 0.5 to 1.5 合.

• Yamazen YJE-M150 – 0.5~1.5合 Rice Cooker
• Aris Oyama PMRC-10FT – 1合 Rice Cooker
• Poddi by Akafuji – 0.5~1.5合 Rice Cooker

Yamazen YJE-M150 – Most Popular Single Serving Rice Cooker in Japan

Yamazen pretty much leads the way with small compact rice cookers. Low on power and space efficient, all you have to do is flip the level down to start cooking. It has an automatic keep warm function, and serves up to three bowls of rice.

There’s no delay start timer, but 0.5合, or one bowl, takes 15~20分 depending on water and room temperature. Two bowls or 1合 takes 20~25分, and 1.5合 takes 25~30分. If you’re willing to fork out a little more, there is the pro model. It’s actually a little more compact, has a delay timer, and an okayu [おかゆ] or rice porridge setting.

Pros and Cons:

This suihanki cooks fast but condensation tends to drip out a little. It automatically goes to keep warm and you have to pull the cord to switch off. Leaving on warm for too long can also scorch the rice.

Some people find cooking can scorch the bottom layer of rice especially for the smallest volume of 0.5合. However, if you prep your rice correctly, use the correct water ratio, and soak a little before cooking, it turns out well. The pro model generally cooks better, except for musenmai which tends to scorch a little.

You can also make genmai or brown rice in this cooker so long as you soak for at least 3hrs hours before cooking. For genmai, don’t forget to add a pinch of salt before cooking.

Aris Oyama PMRC-10FT – Best Style and Value for a Single Serving Rice Cooker

Iris Oyama does really well to create a beautiful aesthetic for a rice cooker. The inclusion of an egg boiler setting for [温泉卵] is quite unique and it takes up to 3 eggs. Apart from the spoon and measuring cup, it includes an egg holder too.

Eggs take around 25分 and rice 30分 for rice. By adjusting the water level you can make seasoned rice [炊き込みご飯], unpolished brown or genmai [玄米], and also musenmai [無洗米] or unwashed white rice.

Pros and Cons:

Apart from its good looks, this pot cooks really well. Even for 0.5 合 there is no issue with scorching, and the sides are free from condensation. For a similar price and a slightly smaller size to the popular Yamazen above. The size in only ‎1合, but this is still a superior product.

Poddi by Akafuji – Best Color Range for a Single Serving Rice Cooker

These Poddis cost a fair bit more than other choices, and apart from the color range, there are three extra settings. These are okayu and genmai, but the 10 min express setting is what sets this single serving rice cooker apart.

To use this setting you have to use the Okafuji proprietary brand of rice called Akafuji Soft Steam Rice – あかふじソフトスチーム白米. Recently, this rice has not been readily available, and this cooker may be out of production, although still available.

Pros and Cons:

These small rice cookers are somewhat pricey. Apart from their novelty value and the proprietary express rice function, they have no practical advantage. If you like their uniqueness and color, they work well. They do, however, take longer then others to cook standard rice and the expense on the wattage is high too.

Best Multi-Functional Rice Cooker Selection

Some of our best compact and single serving rice cookers reviewed above have multi-functions for different types of rice, okazu rice porridge, or boiling eggs. The products below have a little more versatility, or are larger in size.

• Souyi Compact Rice Cooker & Steamer
• Hill Stone 12V/24V – 2合 Portable Rice Cooker
• Tiger JAJ-G550-PC – 3合 Tacooker
• Iris Oyama  5.5合 IH Low Carb Rice & Multi-Grainer Cooker

Souyi Compact Multi Rice Cooker

Souji is a Japan based corporation. They make a range of lifestyle and kitchen products, as well as novelty and health gadgets. These little multi-cookers have three functions – vegetable steamer, soup, and rice. You can also cook two different dishes at the same time.

The two high quality ceramic bowls are both for cooking and serving. Their handy lids also have a date setting for refrigeration. You cook rice pretty much in the usual way but with a little water in the bottom for extra steaming. Rice takes 40min, vegetable steaming 30min, and soup up to 2 hrs.

It comes with a manual and recipe cook in Japanese and it’s fairly easy to follow and understand.

Pros and Cons:

Not only do these gadgets cook well, but the ceramic pots are a really healthy cookware choice. For some, the pots are a bit heavy and you should take care not to chip them. The timer allows you to have food cooked when you wake up, and they are portable enough to take to work.

Hill Stone 12V/24V – Best Portable Rice Cooker for a Car

These nifty portable rice cookers are not just for happy campers, the long road, or living out your car. They can also plug into a portable power source such as the popular Jackery (price link). As such, these are also great emergency or disaster gadgets, especially if you’re also invested in a Jackery Solar Panel (price link).

These cookers do standard rice cooking [標準], express mode [早炊き], genmai [玄米], okazu [おかゆ], and a cake [ケーキ] function too. There’s also a general steaming [蒸す] function, reheat [再加熱], keep warm [保温], and a timer.

It comes with the cord adapter, a spoon, and a cake tray:

Pros and Cons:

Happy campers love these gadgets, and this is the most multi-functional model. Considering the power ratings, these rice cookers take time to get the job done. Ordinary rice can take up to 1hr 15min. If you use musenmai [無洗米] and presoak for 10 min, the rice will cook in 40 min. Precooked rice or frozen rice can heat up much faster.

Tiger JAJ-G550-PC 3合 Tacook Rice Cooker

These Tacookers have a polyprophylene plate that fits in above the rice cooking bowl. In this way you can steam rice and cook other things at the same time. Polyprophylene is the plastic which is used for microwave cookware and also cheaper kinds of kettles. It may not, however, be the healthiest kind of cookware.

The neat front panel flips down where you can access the other controls. Menus include frozen rice [冷凍ご飯], and eco-cook [エコ炊き] which takes longer but can reduce running costs by 10% and steam by 15%. Other menus are white rice [白米], speed cook [早炊き], risotto [リゾット], stew [煮込み], and cake [ケーキ]. When cooking with the cook plate inserted, you can cook up to 1合 of rice.

Pros and Cons:

Most people are surprised how well these compact rice cookers work. The display numbers are a bit small, especially for the elderly, but young single people really like these gadgets. The only real con is the polyprophylene plate in terms of healthy cookware.

Iris Oyama IH Low Carb Rice & Multi-Grainer Cooker

Rice cookers in Japan come in a huge range covering all sizes, price points, and applications. Some rice cookers with specialized functions, or superior tech design, can cost up to 70 000 yen or more. This medium-sized Iris Oyama is very affordable, and for the price, one of the best multi-grain rice cookers you can buy.

The Menu and Cook Functions

The standard menus are pretty much self explanatory. Takikome gohan [炊込み] is of course ‘seasoned rice’ where vegetables or fish can be added. It can sook up to 3合 of rice whereas [おかゆ] or rice porridge cooks between 0.5~1.5 合.

The standard menus cook from to 1 to 5.5 合. Healthy menus only cook from 1 to 3 合, but germ rice [胚芽米], multi-grain rice [雑穀米] also cook up to 5.5 合.

For bread proofing you use the [発酵] function. After kneading the dough, you just place it in the pan and close the lid. You can ferment up to 8 hours and from 30℃ to 60℃ in 5℃ increments.

For the healthy menu [ヘルシーメニュー], multi-grain rice [雑穀米] comes in a number of mixes from 5 grains to 7 or even 16 varieties. Germ rice [胚芽米] is a kind of half-brown rice where husk has been removed.

Okowa [おこわ] is another kind of seasoned rice, but typically made with red beans or things like chestnut. The dietary fiber option is for various other kinds of ‘superfood’ grains.

Pros and Cons:

Most people seem to buy this machine for its low carb function. You have to experiment a little to get it right, because sometimes the rice on this setting comes out mushy.

The fast cook function [早炊き] on this rice cooker is actually really slow. If you sometimes need your rice cooked under 40 min, this machine will not do that for you.

As for the design, the touch panel is on the lid and it’s quite sensitive and it’s easy to disrupt the keep warm function. Also, with the panel on the lid it’s difficult to see what’s going on if you have the cooker higher up.