We also experimented with the crust function. The crusty bits at the bottom of a rice pot are much prized in Asian cooking. Although at an hour and a half it took quite a while, it was definitely worth waiting for. There’s a sub-menu for cooking specific kinds of rice for more refined results and even a preset function. This allows you to set a timer up to 24 hours in the future, although if the pot contains perishable foods that long isn’t recommended. To rinse your rice effectively, you can use a fine-mesh sieve, gently swirling the grains under running water until the water runs clear. Alternatively, you can rinse the rice directly in the cooking pot. Simply place the rice in the pot, add enough water to cover it, gently swirl the grains, and pour off the starchy water. Repeat this process about three times to achieve the ideal clarity. You can also use it to steam, cook porridge, bake cakes and slow cook, too. The first thing we noticed on getting it out of the box is how attractive it is, with a rose-gold exterior, neat, curved shape and white, easy-to-navigate, pressure-sensitive touch LED display. Finally, we assess each multi-cooker on ease of use, design and instructions, before awarding it a final score.

The instructions are pretty basic it doesn’t, for instance, say how many portions the minimum amount of three cups equals. We found going by 60-90g of uncooked rice per person that three cups (450g) was more than enough for four to five. It cooks all kinds of rice, including wild rice. Although that should be cooked as a mix with basmati, as on its own it requires too much water. Quinoa: Rich in nutrition facts, quinoa brings a good amount of calories and a balanced daily value to your meals. The optimal ratio for a rice cooker tends to be 1:1, meaning one cup of rice requires one cup of water. This proportion is ideal for long-grain white rice varieties such as basmati and jasmine, as well as short-grain white rice. However, it’s essential to consult your manufacturer’s guidelines since specific ratios may differ based on the model. When it comes to brown rice, you’ll need a ratio of 1 cup rice to 2 1/4 cups water.The resulting rice is fluffy and fairly well separated. We used basmati and short-grain and both came out well, although both did form a very thin crust – as do some of the more expensive heat-from-below rice cookers – but it was easy to break up and stir into the rest of the rice. Although it’s called a rice cooker, this also has a facility for steaming, and it can cook a simple risotto, too. You can’t cook less than three cups of rice so it’s probably not a good choice for those on their own. Unless you have freezer space for Tupperware-filled cooked rice. It is, however, good for families or dinner parties. It will prepare up to 1200g of uncooked rice, which provides, on average 18-20 portions. The least amount of dry weight rice you can cook in this machine is 2 cups, which is about 4-6 portions, making it a great choice for family dinners. If there are just two of you, then you can freeze the remaining rice once it’s cooled. The best rice cookers can produce consistently great high-quality rice in a way that even those skilled with a saucepan couldn’t manage. Though a rice cooker may not be a staple kitchen gadget, for anyone who eats rice regularly – or wants to try cooking a wider range of Asian dishes – it’s an essential item. Similarly, an Instant Pot can certainly shave a few hours off cooking stews, ribs and other dishes that usually take the best part of a day to cook, however with dishes like rice or steaming vegetables the time saving is minimal, which may mean an Instant Pot isn’t worth the investment.

There’s nothing we don’t like about this fantastic rice cooker – apart from, perhaps, the price. That said, it is a hard-working, multi-functional machine. There are modes for steaming, slow cooking, cake baking, porridge and yoghurt making. We’d be willing to give up our slow cooker and steamer to find room for it on the worktop. Be careful, though, as the vent releases quite a lot of steam during cooking so never take the lid off without the aid of an oven glove or tea towel. With basically two settings – cooking and 'keep warm' – it’s certainly not fancy but it does the job. It allows you to cook rice or steam veg without having to watch over it to ensure it doesn’t boil dry. This mini multi-cooker is ideal if you’re tight on space or catering for households of one or two. You can move it from cupboard to counter with the help of its carry handle, while its timer is simple to set and adjust. And it cleans easily – we couldn’t find any obvious dirt traps on test. Instant Pot and Ninja Foodi are two of the biggest names in the multi-cooker world and are regularly compared to see which is best. Both brands create a wide number of appliances including everything from air fryers to blenders.Perfect rice is basically maths; you need to work out the correct ratios and temperatures to create fluffy grains, with no water left in the pot. If your rice requires a sieve, then your rice is bad. Get it wrong, and you may even become the subject of a humiliating YouTube takedown. It’s important to remember that while Instant Pots offer a multitude of cooking methods, many of which means you no longer need to use an oven or a hob, they can’t cook everything. For example, they’re not an option if you regularly prepare pasta, noodles, or stir frys. And while some do come with lids that can air fry, we found making fries in an Instant Pot wasn’t as good as using one of the best air fryers. Sage are expert at designing kitchen appliances with cleverly integrated functions to take the stress out of cooking. Their range of smart appliances, which includes kettles, toasters, and blenders, through to their ice cream maker and microwaves, has been exactingly considered to give you perfect results every time, all at the push of a button. Whether its prepping, boiling, whisking, whipping, grilling, cooking and baking, thanks to Sage, cooking has never been so easy.