A rice cooker is an electric kitchen appliance designed specifically for cooking rice. It uses a heating element to boil water and steam the rice, ensuring even cooking. Most rice cookers have a simple one-button operation and automatically switch to a warming mode once the rice is done, making it easy to prepare meals without constant monitoring. In addition to cooking plain rice, many rice cookers can also prepare various grains, such as quinoa and barley, and even steam vegetables or cook soups. They come in different sizes, accommodating small households or larger families, and are popular for their convenience and efficiency in meal preparation.