One of the most important devices that need to be present in the kitchen is the rice cooker and the warmer. These devices are very important because of their function which provides us convenience each with the need to warm a certain leftover food or perhaps cook rice. Indeed having these devices is crucial in any household kitchen.
In the market today, there are many different models of rice cookers and warmers that we can find. Some of them boast that their product is the best when it comes to functionality while some others claim that their product is energy efficient. Among the sea of the rice cooker and warmer models out today, the Zojirushi Rice Cooker and Warmer with Fuzzy logic technology, Induction Heating System, Stainless Steel stands out because of its wonderful features and functionality.
That’s why I have been answering a lot of similar questions from my friends lately. Basically, they are: “What is the best rice cooker?” “What do you think about Zojirushi rice cookers?” “Can you recommend me any type of Zojirushi rice cooker?”
Well, I decided to compare the best rice cookers of the Zojirushi product line.
Be prepared, because this post has a lot of details… I hope that this doesn’t turn you off. This is what I came up with:
Having a rice cooker in your home is really a great investment since this provides convenience every time you cook rice. Some people may not appreciate eating rice yet there are many people who prefer eating rice than eating bread. This is why a rice cooker is really an important tool you need to have especially if you love eating rice.
Rice cooker was invented in Japan to meet the cooking demand for rice. Today, there are now plenty of rice cooker being commercialized in the market having different specifications. Yet the main purpose of cooking rice remains.
Zojirushi is one of the leading and most popular brands of small appliances at present. It tries to cater to the small appliances needs of people worldwide.
One of the best-selling products of the brand is the rice cooker. Rice cookers from Zojirushi excel in terms of design, quality, and innovation so it is no longer surprising why they stay on top.
Zojirushi has a big product line and it’s hard to give a definite answer. The best way to decide on the best product is to figure out your own needs.
Zojirushi rice cooker is available in different models, and each one performs different functions designed to provide help to homeowners who regularly perform a lot of tasks in the kitchen.
Read More: 5 Best Aroma Professional Plus Rice Cooker
What Will I Get When Purchasing the Zojirushi Rice Cooker?
Here are some of the most common features found in various Zojirushi rice cooker models that help in boosting their functionality and versatility:
1. Induction
Induction works best with plain, white rice. Some induction models also offer a function called GABA mode, which is used to make brown rice. Basically, this function enables a process that allows you to preheat and germinate the brown rice, so you have an improved nutritional profile, with an extra amount of amino acids. And you don’t need to take any artificial supplements to get that. This is made by soaking the rice for 12 to 24 hours in warm water (about the temperature of our bodies) and then cooking it. Zojirushi has invented a process that does everything “automagically”.
2. Computerized Fuzzy Logic Feature
If you intend on doing anything else with your rice cooker (such as brown rice, quinoa, lentils, rice porridge, oatmeal, seafood, and vegetables), then you are better off choosing fully logic models. They have internal sensors to measure several variables (like rice weight, temperature, and humidity) and the cooker makes adjustments along the cooking process. In the end, this process enhances the quality of plain rice, as well as all those other grains and foods I cited earlier.
This is one of the most advanced technological features added into the rice cookers of the brand. The inclusion of this feature into the kitchen appliance is beneficial because it aims to guarantee the even cooking of rice. It is ideal for beginners because it prevents the risk of getting undercooked, overcooked or burned rice. It also supports the ability of a rice cooker to cook various kinds of rice.
3. Keep Warm Function
Zojirushi is the first brand to publicize the keep warm function for rice cookers. This is beneficial in case you want to adjust your cooking schedule just in time for dinner or after arriving home from work. It is valuable in maintaining the warm temperature of rice until your family is ready to eat. This feature is beneficial for busy individuals who wish to arrive home with warm rice ready to be prepared.
4. Retractable Power Cord
The built-in retractable power cord, found in most Zojirushi rice cooker models, is beneficial because it ensures that the user will not be dealing with a messy power cord which is difficult to store. It prevents the power cord from obstructing the other tools in your kitchen. It has a retractable feature designed to help in neatly tucking the cord into the unit.
5. MICOM Technology
Some models of rice cooker from Zojirushi also utilize advanced MICOM technology. This improves the functionality and versatility of an appliance because it works in introducing various menu settings for users. These settings also support precise control, thereby making the process of cooking rice varieties easier than before. This technology also helps in controlling cooking temperature. This makes it easy to customize cooking method to support various menu settings including porridge, brown rice, white rice and sticky rice.
Other valuable features that you can usually find in the rice cookers provided by Zojirushi are multiple menu settings, spherical cooking pan, easy to clean and a detachable lid, stainless steel body, and induction heating capability.
Now you know what you will get when you decide to purchase a Zojirushi rice cooker. But what is the best Zojirushi rice cooker out there? Read on.
Best Zojirushi Rice Cooker Review
Best Zojirushi Rice Cooker For 3 Cup:
1. Zojirushi NS-LGC05XB Micom Rice Cooker & Warmer
Going out to the restaurant just to eat delicious and great food can be time-consuming and expensive. Why go out when you can serve restaurant-like rice and tasty food at the convenience of your own home? Yes, this is possible and practical. You just need the right appliance, particularly, a rice cooker that can do powerful jobs for you.
What I’ve been talking here is Zojirushi ns-lac05 rice cooker. Below are its features which you’ll surely love:
- It is a 3 cup electric rice cooker and warmer.
It can cater 3 cups of uncooked rice which can be able to produce enough rice for your family and visitors as well. It is not only a rice cooker, but it can keep your rice warm till you eat it.
- It is powered by micro-computerized fuzzy logic technology.
It controls the temperature so that you no longer need to keep on adjusting it until it is done. In fact, you can leave it while you do your other chores. This makes your life easier and more convenient than waiting for it.
This size is ideal for individuals or single couples. If you live in a university dorm or a small apartment, this is also a good choice for you. This size also works well for people who own a trailer or an RV, either just traveling during the Summer or full-timing.
I have a 3-cup cooker at home and I use it almost every day — bear in mind that I am half Japanese and I currently live in Japan. I love rice!
Anyways, this rice cooker is very good for those interested in having an electrical rice cooker, as well as saving some counter space too — it measures 11 ½ by 9 by 7 ¼ inches and it has a retractable cord, making it easier to store away.
This cooker has a wide variety of functions built-in, such as white rice, sushi rice, brown rice, porridge, and the “Quick Cooking” module as well. In other words, you can prepare several types of rice and grains; all you need to do is add the grain and the correct water proportion in the bowl, and the appliance will work out everything automatically, from the heat to the end product.
The Neuro Fuzzy Logic technology mimics a human when cooking the rice, which means it will make automatic adjustments to temperature according to data such as humidity and the temperature of the rice. The end result is fluffy rice on your table for every meal!
Timer and Keep Warm functions will help busier people. While the first allows you to program your rice early in the morning to be ready by the end of the day, the Keep Warm feature keeps the rice at an ideal temperature for consumption for up to 12 hours.
The nonstick inner lid and pan will make your life easy when you are done with the food. The stainless steel housing ensures your kitchen look a lot more modern.
Plus, I think the fact that this is the best-selling rice cooker on Amazon… It’s a fact that speaks for itself, don’t you think?
Go check this rice cooker by yourself, because I honestly believe this is the choice for the 3-cup rice cooker.
2. Zojirushi Ns-Vgc05 Micom 3-Cup (Uncooked) Electric Rice Cooker and Warmer
Are you living alone in your dormitory or apartment? If you do, you need to have the best rice cooker so that you can live comfortably. Besides, you deserve the best since you are all by yourself. In the end, there will be no one who can take care of yourself except you.
This rice cooker is also a great choice for you in this 3-cup class.
It has a capacity for 3 cups of rice and 3 cups of water, 6 cups of cooked rice will be your reward (note the Zoji cup is 3/4 the size of a regular rice cup). This is enough for two adults depending on your capacity.
This Zoji features a special fuzzy-logic algorithm to determine the best cooking time and temperature, so it cooks the rice to top quality every single time – just as your personal chef would. Cooking rice to a high quality takes time, and the Zojirushi does not rush the process. The time left is displayed, so you always know what to expect.
The inner bowl is thick, so the rice will cook uniformly. It is also detachable and replaceable, which makes cleaning easy, and increases the value of your purchase as you will not have to buy a new rice cooker would the non-stick coating get hurt.
The Zojirushi NS-VGC05 Micom 3-Cup has other benefits too. It has a built-in timer so your rice will be freshly cooked just in time when you get home. Just imagine arriving home to the scent of freshly cooked rice!
When cooking is done it switches to warming mode, and will keep the rice warm for up to 12 hours. It even plays a tone when switching to warming so you can be sure you will not miss it.
Why Own Zojirushi rice cooker?
Zojirushi is a company that is known for its Fuzzy logic technology among its rice cookers. This lets you cook perfect rice and the right time. You can cook up to 3 cups of uncooked rice which is ideal if you are just living alone or if you have a small family. You can keep the rice freshly serve with is a warmer feature. You can warm the rice without overcooking it.
You can choose Zojirushi NS-VGC05 Micom 3-Cup if you’re looking for the 3 cup rice cooker. It will cater your daily needs. Since you are living alone, you need devices like this that will help you every single day.
Best Zojirushi Rice Cooker For 5.5 Cup:
3. Zojirushi Ns-Zcc10 5-1/2-Cup Neuro Fuzzy Rice Cooker and Warmer
Cooking rice in a pot takes lots of your time and care. You need to carefully watch for it. When it boils the water may keep on coming out which can make your stove looked dirty and messy. If you will overheat it, the rice may become overcooked and it gets burned. If you the heat is not enough, you will eat uncooked rice. When these happen, you will most probably have a bad day, especially when you are too tired or too hungry.
That’s why a rice cooker has become a part of anyone’s life, including the singles and college students. But there are lots of rice cooker out there. You still need to choose the best one that will meet all of your preferences and that will provide you comfort. We recommend that you will choose Zojirushi ns-zcc10 rice cooker.
Although this rice cooker is a bit pricier, I think this is the best cost/benefit ratio there is on the market today.
One of the coolest features that come with this machine is the auto adjustments the rice cooker makes for cooking almost any type of rice, while also storing your favorite rice textures. It does take a while longer to prepare rice with this cooker, but the texture is simply amazing!
The 5.5-cup capacity is good enough for a family of 4-5 eating rice. My family has owned a Zojirushi rice cooker since 2005 and we use it almost every day. The nonstick coating in the inner pan is still perfect, and the machine is working just fine.
One negative aspect for this rice cooker is that Zojirushi does not include a steaming basket to prepare vegetables. Still, this cooker can be very versatile to keep soups, curries, and creams warm on an evening where you receive guests at home, for example, by using the Keep Warm function. The temperature is just perfect for that!
This rice cooker also has the same Neuro Fuzzy Logic technology I described above.
My family has used a Zojirushi rice cooker the almost 12 years and the only problem we had was the retractable cord mechanism that stopped working… After 9 years.
We bought a fancier rice cooker in 2010, but this one usually stays stored unless we have a big amount of rice to cook, such as when we prepare “mochi” (rice balls).
As I said before, this is my choice for the 5.5 cup range.
Best Zojirushi Rice Cooker For 10 Cup:
4. Zojirushi NS-TSC18 Micom Rice Cooker and Warmer, 10-Cups
The Zojirushi NS-TSC10 is a great rice cooking appliance, which helps you always cook the perfect rice without having to worry about the details.
This rice cooker makes 11 Zojirushi-cups of rice from 5 1/2 Zojirushi-cups of uncooked rice, so it’s a great choice for families. The NS-TSC10 cooks your rice automatically, all you have to do is add the water, the rice, press the button and wait. The end result is around 8 1/4 cups of rice, which depending on your appetite can be enough for a small family. The Zojirushi rice cooker can cook brown, white, mixed, basmati, jasmine and sushi rice too, it even has special programs for these rice types to cook them perfectly.
Besides rice you can also cook quinoa and steel-cut-oats in it for your perfect morning oatmeal.
The rice cooker is controlled by a special computer inside, so it can work out the perfect cooking time and temperature for the rice type you set. It’s never lazy so you can always expect the same high quality rice from it. It even displays the remaining time. Good cooking takes time, so it’s not a speed champion.
However, the NS-TSC10 is not perfect. One negative aspect for this rice cooker is the non-stick surface of the inner bowl can be worn out over time. Fortunately the inner bowl is replaceable, so it should not be such a big problem. Otherwise the inner bowl is a high-quality, thick part so it will cook your rice evenly.
The NS-TSC10 has a few handy functions to make your life even easier. It has a delay-timer so you can set the time of cooking. Just throw in the rice and the water, set the timer, and your rice will be ready by the time you are home again – always fresh, always tasty.
It also has an automatic keep-warm mode, so your rice will stay warm for up to 12 hours. The NS-TSC10 will play a melody or beep signal when your rice is ready so you’ll surely know about it.
Zojirushi products are known for their design, and this one is no exception: a great looking rice cooker which takes up just as much space as needed. The NS-TSC10 has a sleek design with an intuitive menu system. It would surely look good in your kitchen too.
5. Zojirushi Ns-Zcc18 10-Cup Neuro Fuzzy Rice Cooker and Warmer
First of all, let me tell you right out of the gate: I do NOT recommend this rice cooker if this is your first purchase unless you are very sure this is the proper size for your needs.
But if you have a big family who entertains a lot, or if you are a small restaurant owner and you are looking for a solution to keep soups warm during the entire day, then you are definitely onto something here! Plus, this rice cooker has a pretty good price.
The main reason I recommend this product for some people and not for others is the same: the size.
In other words, this can be very useful for those who already know what they are doing, or a gigantic white elephant if you are buying a rice cooker for the first time.
All other conveniences of use and technologies available referenced on reviews above apply for this rice cooker as well.
Ready to Choose?
Now that you’ve seen all you need to buy a Zojirushi rice cooker, it’s time to set a budget and go browse Amazon. It’s a great place to compare rice cookers since they carry most of the best home appliances, and you can read dozens of customer reviews to help you choose the perfect cooker for a competitive price. I like to read the negative reviews as well since these people will not try to sell you and they’ll share exactly what they don’t like about the product. They don’t sugarcoat things and tell what they like about all the models, as well as what they don’t like. You can find some honest feedback by reading their reviews.
Quick Takeaway Guide
How Much Rice?
After that, you need to think of how many rice cups you want to prepare. Here is a small guide for your reference:
3 cup: 1-2 people (small appliance, for couples only)
5.5 cup: 3-6 people (best choice for everyday use)
10 cup: 7+ people (indicated for those who entertain and receive lots of guests)
Rice Cooker Instructions
Rice cookers are easy to use! But if you just bought one you’ll probably want some quick instructions. The short version:
- Prepare the rice and the water, use one cup of water for each cup of rice – for example if you want to prepare 3 cups of rice, use 3 cups of water.
- Pour the rice and the water into the bowl of the rice cooker.
- Turn on the cooker and wait patiently, this can take up to one and half hours. The cooker will signal once the rice is ready.
There is a lot more to rice cookers than this – read more to get all the details.
Before the first use
It’s a good idea to clean your rice cooker’s bowl before you first use it. If your rice cooker’s bowl is simple stainless steel, you can place it in the washing machine for a short program, otherwise just clean it using a soft cloth and dish liquid. Your rice cooker probably has a non-stick surface, so avoid the scrub sponge.
Prepare the rice
To prepare the rice wash it thoroughly. Keep it simple and just wash it in the bowl until the water stays clear. Do not wash basmati or jasmine rice as it will lose it’s fragrance.
Rice Cooker Ratio
First just use a cup of water for every cup of rice – for example for cups of water for four cups of rice. Later on experiment with different rice and water quantities to find the one you like the best. Using more water will make the rice more mushy, while using less water will make it dryer.
To cook white rice using an electronic rice cooker, use a rice-to-water ratio as 1 part of rice to 1 part water, that is rice:water=1:1. This ratio may vary a little depending on the brand of rice and your personal preference.
Different rice types require different amount of water and different kind of cooking. For white rice a ratio of 1:1 works great. Still it’s a great idea to experiment a little bit to cook the rice to your own taste. Adding salt will enhanche the falvor; add a quarter tablespoon of salt to a cup of rice.
Do not forget to wash the rice before cooking – use a bowl, and wash it, replace the water and start again. Just wash it this way until the water stays clear.
Note: Using a too small amount of rice and water could damage the non stick surface, as the part not covered by the water could overheat.
Your rice cooker will keep the rice cooker warm once it’s ready. Use wood or plastic utensils to serve the rice, this will spare the non-stick surface.
For more rice cooker ratio for specific rice, read on.
Nutritious brown rice – looks so yummi.
Brown rice, which is richer in vitamins than the regular white rice, needs more water for cooking. Use 1.5 cups of water for every cup of brown rice, and check the results. If your rice becomes too mushy, go with less water. If it’s too hard or dry, use more water. Do not be afraid to experiment a little bit.
Sushi rice is special – avoid simple white rice!
Sushi rice: Shops usually have special sushi rice so use this, as it’s better suited to make sushi. Sushi rice again requires a bit more water than white rice. So for every cup of sushi rice, use 1.15 cups of water. Sushi rice needs seasoning, so for every cup of uncooked rice add 1/6 cup of rice vinegar, and 2/3 tablespoons of sugar. Test the amounts first and customize to suit your taste – it could be to sweet or too sour.
Porridge, simply irresistible.
Porridge rice requires even more water. Depending on your taste, you’ll have to use up to 8 to 13 cups of water for every cup of rice.
Mixed rice is great if you want something between pure white and brown.
When preparing mixed rice add water as you would add water to individual rice types. So if you mix 1 cup of brown rice with 1 cup of white rice, add 2.5 cups of water. Easy as pie.
Rice cookers can cook other grains too, do not limit yourself to rice only!
Quinoa tastes good and is healthy, a great alternative to rice.
To cook quinoa simply add 1 cup of quinoa to two cups of water. Gluten-free Goddess has a great article on cooking quinoa in rice cookers here.
Oatmeal is healthy and makes a great breakfast.
If you like oatmeal, you can use your rice cooker with steel cut oats. Just use 2.5-3 cups of water to 1 cup steel cut oat. Tastepotting has a nice post on cooking steel cut oats in a rice cooker here, and The Kitchn has even more to say here.
Cleaning Your Rice Cooker
Clean the rice cooker just as you cleaned it before the first use – if the inside bowl is stainless steel, you can put it in the washing machine. Otherwise just use a soft cloth and dish liquid. Avoid the scrub sponge or anything that could hurt the non-stick surface.
If rice got stuck to the bowl your safest option is to soak it for a while and clean it later.
It’s a good idea to wipe the rice cooker with a soft, wet cloth every once in a while, so it’s not just clean on the inside but looks nice too.
Conclusion
This page is the result of my personal experience with best Zojirushi rice cookers. Thank you for taking the time to read it until the end. For disclaimer purposes, I will be compensated for any sales made through this recommendation. I think, though, that this is the best way for you to make an informed decision as to whether or not you think a certain rice cooker will be the best purchase for your family.
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