Sanyo ECJ-N55W

Experts say that the Sanyo ECJ-N55W is a step up from basic glass-lidded rice cookers, like the Panasonic SR-G06FG (*Est. $30) that only cook white rice. The Sanyo is a one-piece unit with an attached lid that can cook a variety of rice types as well as soup, porridge and steamed vegetables. Reviewers say that it does especially well with brown rice, which is typically more difficult to cook. The ECJ-N55W has a keep-warm setting as well, but testers say that it dries out the rice if it is left for more than a few hours. If you prefer a programmable rice cooker that can keep rice warm for several hours (or even days) at a time, experts say that the Sanyo ECJ-D55S (*Est. $115) is an excellent option that is competitively priced.

We found the most reliable review of the Sanyo ECJ-N55W at Cook's Illustrated, where several models are tested and compared for efficiency, ease of use, features and quality of cooked rice. MetaEfficient.com also compares several models based on their efficiency levels, features sets and price. User reviews at Amazon.com reflect ease of use and durability.