The best rice cooker for one person is small enough to live on a crowded worktop yet still cooks fluffy rice without watching a pan.
Prices checked on Amazon UK, 13 October 2026.
The best rice cooker for one person is small enough to live on a crowded worktop yet still cooks fluffy rice without watching a pan. If you live alone, a 0.5 to 1 litre cooker makes a single portion or a little extra for tomorrow's lunch, switches to keep warm when it is done, and often doubles as a steamer or porridge maker. Capacity, a removable non-stick pot and simple controls matter most. We compared 4 options on Amazon UK, with prices from £21.99 to £34.99 when checked on 13 October 2026; every product was in stock with no low-stock warning on the buy-box offer. Best overall: the Lakeland 2 Portion Mini Electric Rice Cooker, 500ml at £34.99. Best multi-use: the Macook 0.6L Small Rice Cooker, 300W at £28.99. Best budget: the GEEPAS 400W 1L Rice Cooker & Steamer at £21.99. Best for steaming: the Tristar 1L Stainless Steel Rice Cooker with Steam Tray at £31.99. Prices change often, so check before you buy.
Our picks
Lakeland 2 Portion Mini Electric Rice Cooker
Lakeland 2 Portion Mini Electric Rice Cooker
£34.99
Best overall
Macook 0.6L Small Rice Cooker
Macook 0.6L Small Rice Cooker
£28.99
Best budget
GEEPAS 400W 1L Rice Cooker & Steamer
GEEPAS 400W 1L Rice Cooker & Steamer
£21.99
Best for families
How we pick
We shortlist products sold on Amazon UK using capacity, features, customer ratings and price band. We do not lab-test every model unless a page says so. The Amazon page is the live price. How we recommend.
Compare at a glance
| Product | Capacity | Last Amazon price | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mini |
£34.99
|
||
| 0.6L |
£28.99
|
||
| 1L |
£21.99
|
||
| 1L |
£31.99
|
The products
Buying advice
Quick comparison
Best overall: Lakeland at £34.99
Best multi-use: Macook at £28.99
Best budget: GEEPAS at £21.99
Best for steaming: Tristar at £31.99
How we chose: we searched Amazon UK for rice cookers suited to one person, read each listing, and kept only products with a single new buy-box price, an in-stock status and no low-stock warning. Product details below come from the Amazon listings, not from our own testing.
Our picks
Best overall: Lakeland 2 Portion Mini Electric Rice Cooker, 500ml (£34.99). Lakeland's mini cooker has a lift-out non-stick 500ml pan made for 1 to 2 portions of white or brown rice. It uses an LED panel and has a delay function, which the listing suggests for morning porridge. Lakeland notes you can return it for up to 3 years with proof of purchase.
Best multi-use: Macook 0.6L Small Rice Cooker, 300W (£28.99). This 0.6L, 300W cooker uses one-button operation and is listed for rice, porridge, soups, stews and hot pots. It keeps food warm automatically for up to 4 hours and has a removable non-stick inner pot. Macook quotes a 1-year warranty.
Best budget: GEEPAS 400W 1L Rice Cooker & Steamer (£21.99). The cheapest pick is a 1L, 400W model with cook, steam and keep-warm functions. It switches to keep warm automatically once rice is cooked, has a two-light indicator, and comes with a measuring cup and serving spatula. The steam function suits vegetables or fish.
Best for steaming: Tristar 1L Stainless Steel Rice Cooker with Steam Tray (£31.99). Tristar's 1L cooker has a stainless steel housing, a keep-warm function and a steam tray for cooking other foods alongside rice. The listing describes straightforward operation for cooking and warming cycles.
What to look for in a rice cooker for one person
Capacity: a 0.5 to 0.6 litre pot suits single portions; 1 litre gives room for batch cooking or a second portion for lunch.
Keep warm: automatic keep-warm means rice is ready when you are, without overcooking.
Removable non-stick pot: easier to serve from and to wash, which matters when you cook small amounts often.
Extra functions: a steam tray or porridge setting turns a small rice cooker into a more useful one-person appliance.
Prices and availability were checked on Amazon UK on 13 October 2026 and can change at any time. Specifications above are taken from the Amazon listings; check the current listing for full details before you order.
Frequently asked questions
Is a rice cooker worth it for one person?
It can be if you eat rice often: a small cooker like those here cooks a single portion and keeps it warm without watching the hob. Picks in this guide ranged from £21.99 to £34.99 on Amazon UK when checked on 13 October 2026.
How to use a rice cooker for one person?
Use a small cooker and the measuring cup supplied, add water to the level the manufacturer recommends for one portion, then switch on.
How much rice for one person rice cooker?
Follow the cooker's own measuring cup and instructions; small cookers like the Lakeland 500ml model are designed for 1 to 2 portions.
How to choose rice cooker size?
For one person, look at 0.5 to 1 litre models; pick the larger end if you want leftovers or extra portions.
