Sanyo Micom ECJ-F50S

Experts say that most rice cookers do a good job of cooking rice, but some rice cookers go above and beyond, allowing you to select cooking settings as well as starting and stopping times. The Sanyo Micom ECJ-F50S rice cooker performs as well as other highly rated fuzzy logic (computer-controlled) cookers for a fraction of the cost. Editors at Fine Cooking magazine say that it "has all the features almost anyone would need," including an LCD clock, 24-hour preset timer, slow-cook and keep-warm functions, steaming tray and the ability to cook several types of rice, porridge, soup and stew.

Users at Amazon.com and Cooking.com give the Sanyo Micom ECJ-F50S rice cooker high overall ratings, saying that it cooks "perfect" rice every time. A few point out that it takes longer to cook brown rice, which has to soak for an hour before cooking begins, but reviewers say that it turns out perfectly as well. It doesn't have an audible indicator for when rice is done and only counts down the last 13 minutes of cooking. If you don't need a programmable rice cooker, experts say that a more basic option like the Sanyo ECJ-N55W (*Est. $50) does an excellent job of cooking both white and brown rice.

Fine Cooking magazine provides the most thorough review of the Sanyo Micom ECJ-F50S, testing it and comparing it to four other fuzzy logic rice cookers. User reviews at Amazon.com and Cooking.com reflect the findings of professional tests: The Sanyo Micom ECJ-F50S produces excellent rice, equal in quality to rice cooked in more expensive models.