Rice Cookers, ranked by PFAS grade
15 products graded from Bad to Excellent, best-graded first. 4 grade Good or better and are worth buying.
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The best non-toxic rice cookers, ranked by grade
Buyer’s guide
What to look for in rice cookers, and which brands grade best and worst
Bad · Better · Best rice cookers
The quickest read, what to skip and the top-graded picks worth buying instead.
Aroma
20-Cup Rice Cooker & Food Steamer
High risk; skip until clarification on nonstick coating identity.
Zojirushi
Neuro Fuzzy Rice Cooker & Warmer
Lower PFAS concern; standard rice cooker with non-coated stainless interior, but brand offers no explicit PFAS transparency.
Worth buying Good or Excellent, best-graded first
Zojirushi
Neuro Fuzzy Rice Cooker & Warmer
Stainless steel inner pot, aluminum outer housing
Stainless steel nickel content
Limited concern
Rubber gasket off-gassing or degradation
Limited concern
Lower PFAS concern; standard rice cooker with non-coated stainless interior, but brand offers no explicit PFAS transparency.
⚠Starting grade for this product type
Zojirushi
NHS-06 Rice Cooker/Steamer
Stainless steel inner pot and exterior; no nonstick coating disclosed
Stainless steel corrosion and rust formation
Limited concern
Rubber gasket and seal degradation
Moderate concern
Bacterial or mold growth in lid chamber
Limited concern
Hexavalent chromium release from stainless steel under extreme conditions
Limited concern
Medium-high risk; stainless steel construction but Zojirushi offers no PFAS disclosure.
⚠Starting grade for this product type
Instant Pot
12 Cup Rice and Grain Cooker
Stainless steel pot with no nonstick coating
Stainless steel corrosion and metal leaching
Limited concern
Silicone gasket degradation and off-gassing
Limited concern
Bacterial growth in water reservoir or seal cavities
Limited concern
Medium-high risk; stainless steel pot with no nonstick layer reported.
⚠Starting grade for this product type
Tiger
JNP-1800 10-Cup Uncooked Rice Cooker and Warmer
Stainless steel inner pot and non-coated heating elements
Mineral and microbial buildup in heating element
Limited concern
Stainless steel corrosion and iron leaching
Limited concern
Medium-high risk; no nonstick coating means minimal Teflon-family coating risk.
⚠Starting grade for this product type
Graded and flagged Poor and Bad, we’d swap these
Zojirushi
Micom Rice Cooker & Warmer
Stainless steel inner pot, aluminum heating plate, non-stick inner surface (coating unspecified)
Teflon-type coating fume risk (thermal decomposition)
Limited concern
Coating degradation and flaking
Moderate concern
Unspecified non-stick chemistry identity
High concern
Medium-high risk without transparency, choose if you trust Zojirushi's materials.
⚠Starting grade for this product type
Instant Pot
RIO 6 Qt. Multi-Cooker
stainless steel inner pot, unspecified non-stick coating on lid
Non-stick coating (lid) degradation and shedding
Limited concern
Seal ring and gasket degradation
Limited concern
Electrical component moisture ingress and mold
Limited concern
Unspecified non-stick lid coating presents PFAS concern without disclosure.
⚠Nonstick, coating undisclosed
Instant Pot
20-Cup Programmable Rice Cooker and Food Steamer
Stainless steel body; inner cooking bowl material unspecified by brand
Non-stick coating degradation (Teflon-type coating fume risk if present)
Limited concern
Aluminum leaching (if uncoated aluminum bowl underneath)
Limited concern
Coating adhesion and peel into food
Limited concern
Bacterial growth in steam vents and seals if not maintained
Limited concern
High risk; unspecified inner bowl coating warrants caution.
⚠Nonstick, coating undisclosed
Tiger
JNP-1000 Rice Cooker and Warmer
Inner bowl coating, nonstick type unspecified by manufacturer
Nonstick coating degradation and particle shedding
Limited concern
Aluminum leaching from bowl substrate
Moderate concern
Teflon-type coating fume risk from overheating
Limited concern
Bacterial growth in crevices and warm settings
Limited concern
High risk; skip until Tiger discloses inner bowl coating.
⚠Nonstick, coating undisclosed
Tiger
10 Cup Rice Cooker JNPS18UKY
Inner cooking bowl with nonstick coating (type unspecified); aluminum/steel body
Teflon-type coating fume inhalation (nonstick coating)
Limited concern
Coating degradation and microparticle release
High concern
Aluminum leaching from bowl interior
Limited concern
PFAS
Limited concern
High risk; skip unless Tiger discloses coating chemistry.
⚠Nonstick, coating undisclosed
Aroma
4-Cup Cooked, 2-Cup Uncooked Rice Cooker Food Steamer
Aluminum cooking bowl with unspecified nonstick interior coating
Aluminum leaching
Limited concern
Nonstick coating degradation and fume release
Limited concern
Coating adhesion and flaking
Moderate concern
Lack of material transparency
Limited concern
High risk; unspecified nonstick coating leaves PFAS exposure unclear.
⚠Nonstick, coating undisclosed
Aroma
8-Cup Digital Rice Cooker Food Steamer
Nonstick-coated inner cooking bowl (type unspecified)
Teflon-type coating or unidentified nonstick coating fume risk
Limited concern
Coating degradation and microparticle ingestion
Limited concern
High risk; skip unless you confirm nonstick coating type directly with Aroma.
⚠Nonstick, coating undisclosed
Aroma
Rice Cooker ARC-393NG
Non-stick coated inner pot (composition unspecified)
Non-stick coating degradation and flaking
Limited concern
Aluminum leaching (if aluminum is the substrate)
Limited concern
Teflon-type coating/PFOA fume risk (if Teflon-type coating-based coating)
Limited concern
High risk; skip until PFAS composition is disclosed.
⚠Nonstick, coating undisclosed
Aroma
NutriWare Digital Rice Cooker
inner pot coating unspecified; likely nonstick (Teflon-type coating or alternative unknown)
Teflon-type coating fume risk (nonstick coating degradation)
Limited concern
Coating flaking into food over time
Limited concern
High risk; skip until coating details are disclosed.
⚠Nonstick, coating undisclosed
Aroma
Rice Cooker with Outer Steam Tray
Stainless steel body; inner cooking bowl coating unspecified
Nonstick coating degradation (if Teflon-type coating-based)
Limited concern
Aluminum leaching (if bare aluminum inner bowl)
Limited concern
Bacterial or mold growth in steam tray
Limited concern
High risk; skip until coating is disclosed.
⚠Nonstick, coating undisclosed
Aroma
20-Cup Rice Cooker & Food Steamer
Nonstick-coated inner cooking bowl; coating type unspecified
Teflon-type coating fume risk (heating above safe threshold)
Limited concern
Coating degradation and particle ingestion
Limited concern
Bacterial growth in steam vents or water reservoir
Limited concern
High risk; skip until clarification on nonstick coating identity.
⚠Nonstick, coating undisclosed
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