Prices in euros from Amazon.de, as of 11 June 2026. Prices and availability may differ on Amazon.co.uk.
A rice cooker takes the timing off your hands: rice and water in, switch on, and the unit switches to keep-warm by itself when the rice is perfectly cooked, with no burning and no boiling over. For one- and two-person households it does not need to be big or expensive. We compared six compact rice cookers, from the €18 budget pick with steaming insert through the ceramic cooker and the tiny 0.3 litre mini to digital fuzzy-logic and multifunction units for perfect rice and more. Sorted by volume, number of people, technology, programmes and steaming insert. All listed on Amazon.de, from €18. The most important question first: is simple push-button rice enough for you, or do you want different varieties and programmes?
Reasoning and all data in the table below
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Editorial rating based on manufacturer specs and Amazon catalogue data. We do not trial products ourselves. How we rate
| Model | Position | Volume | People | Technology | Programmes | Steamer insert | Price | Rating | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 01 · Russell Hobbs 27030-56 rice cooker★ from €18 · steam |
Budget pick | 0.8 L | 1–3 | mechanical | 1 (one-touch) | yes | from €18 | 8,7 |
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 02 · Reishunger rice cooker & steamer★ Ceramic |
Our pick | 1.2 L | 1 to 2 (up to 6) | mechanical | 1 (one-touch) | yes | from €60 | 8,6 |
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 03 · Yum Asia Panda Mini rice cookerFuzzy logic |
Premium · best rice | 0.63 L | 1–3 | Adv. fuzzy logic | 6 functions | yes | from €115 | 8,4 |
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 04 · Reishunger digital mini rice cooker0.6 L · Timer |
Digital · 8 programmes | 0.6 L | 1–3 | Fuzzy logic | 8 | yes | from €110 | 8,0 |
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 05 · Rommelsbacher MRK 500 multi rice cooker1.5 L · 6 progr. |
Multi-function | 1.5 L | 1–4 | Microprocessor | 6 | yes | from €80 | 7,9 |
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 06 · Reishunger mini rice cooker0.3 L · compact |
True 1-person mini | 0.3 L | 1 | mechanical | 1 (one-touch) | no | from €40 | 7,6 |
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Which single-person rice cooker suits your kitchen, simple or digital.
Our budget pick: 0.8 litres (about 4 portions) for around 18 euros, with a steamer insert for vegetables over the rice, non-stick pot and glass lid. One-button operation with automatic keep-warm. Honestly: only one cooking level, no timer. For classic rice and steamed vegetables, unbeatable at the lowest price.
Our recommendation: a one-touch rice cooker with a high-quality PFOA-free ceramic pot and steamer insert. 1.2 litres scales from a single portion up to six portions, a reserve for guests or batch cooking. GS-certified (German safety mark). Honestly: slightly large for pure mini quantities, no programmes. If you want quality and capacity in one simple appliance, this is the right one.
The premium pick for perfect rice: a microcomputer (Advanced Fuzzy Logic) regulates temperature and time over 7 cooking phases according to rice variety: loose for basmati, sticky for sushi, thoroughly cooked for wholegrain. Thick 5-layer ceramic pot, LED display, timer, steamer basket, 2 years of warranty. Honestly: about €115, menu partly in English. For rice quality and longevity the best in the comparison.
The versatile middle way: 0.6 litres (1 to 3 people), but with fuzzy logic and 8 programmes: white/wholegrain/sushi rice, congee/porridge, steaming and even baking, plus programmable timer and ceramic pot. Honestly: about €110 is a lot for 0.6 L, and there is a high minimum fill quantity. Ideal for a compact, programmable all-rounder.
The compact multi-cooker: 1.5 litres usable volume (1 to 4 people) with 6 programmes (rice, wholegrain/risotto, low carb, rice pudding, soup, reheating) via microprocessor and LED display. Stainless steel steamer insert, cool-touch housing, German brand. Honestly: low carb reduces the amount of rice. If you want rice, porridge and soup in one appliance, you get a lot of function.
The most compact in the comparison: only 0.3 litres for exactly one portion, made for the student room, office or tiny kitchen. Economical 120 W, one-touch with automatic keep-warm, removable ceramic pot. Honestly: in practice only 1 to 2 small portions, no steamer insert (separate), keep-warm only lukewarm. If you want a genuine one-person mini, this is the right one.
For one person, 0.3 to 0.8 litres is enough: the Reishunger Mini (0.3 L) is the true one-person mini, while the Russell Hobbs (0.8 L) offers some reserve and a steamer insert. For 1 to 2 people with occasional guests, 1.0 to 1.5 litres is practical (Reishunger 1.2 L, Rommelsbacher 1.5 L). Rule of thumb: better a bit of reserve, as the minimum fill level is usually low.
A simple one-touch rice cooker (Russell Hobbs, Reishunger 1.2 L) heats and switches to keep-warm when the temperature is reached: cheap and entirely sufficient for standard rice. A fuzzy logic unit (Yum Asia, Reishunger Digital) regulates temperature and time by microcomputer for each rice variety: better, more even rice, especially with wholegrain and sushi, but more expensive. Heavy rice eaters benefit, occasional cooks not necessarily.
With a steamer insert you cook vegetables, fish or chicken over the boiling rice: a complete dish in one go, which saves pots, space and energy. Most appliances in the comparison come with an insert (Russell Hobbs, Reishunger 1.2 L, Yum Asia); only the 0.3 L mini has none (available separately). For single households in particular, steaming is a practical added value.
After cooking, the rice cooker switches to keep-warm mode automatically and keeps the rice warm and ready to eat. After a very long standing time (several hours) the rice can dry out at the edge, which is true of all units. Tip: fluff the rice briefly right after it switches over and keep the lid closed.
Both are non-stick coated and easy to clean. Ceramic (for example Reishunger, Yum Asia) is considered harmless (PFOA-free) and gives off heat evenly, but is sensitive to scratches. Classic non-stick pots (Russell Hobbs) are robust and cheap. With both, use wooden or plastic utensils instead of metal so that the coating lasts.
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Open category → GuideWhich compact kitchen appliances really pay off in a 1-person household.
Read guide →6 additional rice cookers for one from the current Amazon catalogue, with data sheet values and an editorial assessment.
Torn between two specific models? Here is the direct comparison: