If you are looking for an advanced rice cooker, that comes with impressive features meant to deliver well-cooked rice, then your best bet will be the Japanese Brand Zojirushi. These models are expensive but the cost is worth it, considering that you get a highly-functional and innovative appliance.
The Zojirushi also has special features that maintain the rice’s temperature while it cools for several minutes and boasting an extensive list of available menu settings to select. This rice cooker brand also has different models – each of which comes with its features and uses – so it will not be difficult to find the perfect one.
Let's dive in!
Why are Zojirushi rice cookers so good?
The Zojirushi Rice Cookers come at a steep price, but it has far more functions than the traditional models that have only two controls – warm and cook. These versatile models come with buttons for a range of particular rice sorts, including the white and brown, jasmine and sushi rice.
Not only do these Japanese-designed cookers cook perfect rice and super fluffy one, but they also have other convection that are quite easy to use. For example, every single cooker has an LCD screen that indicates your set time clearly, and a timer which lets you time your food and reminds you when it is done.
Best Zojirushi rice cookers
1. Zojirushi NS-TSC10 Micom Rice Cooker and Warmer
- Micro computerized fuzzy logic technology. Capacity Up to 5.5...
- Automatic keep warm, extended keep warm and reheating cycle
- Easy to clean clear coated stainless steel exterior, 2 delay time...
- Interchangeable melody and beep signal
- Built in retractable power cord
Zojirushi NS-TSC10 Micom Rice Cooker and Warmer with micro computerized Fuzzy logic technology had a dimension of 14"D x 10.13" W x 8.5"H. The 610-watt rice cooker featured white rice, brown rice menu, steam menu, and cake menu settings. Its removable inner lid allowed us to clean the cooker easily.
It was easy to store and transport the rice cooker by retracting the built-in retractable power code. The unit had a clear-coated stainless steel exterior that was easy to clean. Its easy-to-read LCD with timer functions and clock made it easy to operate. Additionally, the cooker had a beep signal and an interchangeable melody.
Moreover, it had an inner cooking pot that was nonstick coated to prevent our rice from sticking and made it more convenient to clean. It not only cooked exceptional rice, but it also helped us bake cakes and steamed foods. We used the steam basket to steam foods and cook our rice simultaneously.
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2. Zijirushi, Made in Japan Neuro Fuzzy Rice Cooker
- 5-1/2-cup computerized rice cooker and warmer with advanced Neuro...
- Multi-menu selections; automatic keep-warm, extended keep-warm,...
- Spherical, nonstick inner pan allows for uniform heating; LCD...
- Menu settings include white (regular/sushi, softer or harder),...
- Measures approximately 14 by 8 by 9 inches; 1-year limited...
The Zojirushi Neuro Fuzzy Rice Cooker & Warmer featured an advanced Fuzzy Logic technology, which permitted it to think for itself. The unit of 680-watt came in two different sizes of 5.5 cup cooker and 10 cup cooker. Even better, the rice cooker was capable of making slight changes to the time taken to heat and the level of heat needed. Because of this the cooker was always able to cook the right kind of rice or any other type of rice that was expected.
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The unit had functions for cooking white rice which included, normal/ sushi hard/ softer, semi-brown, mixed white/brown, rinse free, semi-brown baby, porridge, mixed and sweet. Besides, it included a black thick spherical pan with stay-cool side handle for ideal cooking due to the evenly distribution of heat. It was also the last unit of a cooking cycle if it was accompanied by a programmable melody or beep audio signal.
Subsequently, the cooker had a washable and removable inner lid making it easier to clean. In additions, the extra large easy to read color LCD control panel left us with no challenge at all when it came to reading the display. I
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3. Zojirushi NS-LGC05XB Micom Rice Cooker & Warmer
- Multi-menu cooking functions: Special settings for white/mixed...
- Triple heater (bottom, side and lid) generate heat all around for...
- Dimensions (W x D x H):9-1/8 x 11-7/8 x 7-1/2 inches. Detachable...
- Easy to store retractable cord.Interchangeable melody and beep...
- Removable steam vent cap allows for high-temperature cooking...
The Zojirushi NS-LGC05XB Micom Rice Cooker & Warmer was ideal for couples and small families. This 3-cup rice cooker with 450 watts and a dimension of 11.8"D x 9.1"W x 7.5"H could cook even 1/2 cup of oats or rice. Moreover, the unit featured an expanded menu with GABA brown rice, long grain rice, and steel-cut oatmeal settings for healthier options.
Image Source: zojirushi.com
The rice cooker had a washable and detachable inner lid making it easy to clean. Plus it had a fold-down handle that permitted us to transport it easily. Its in-built retractable corf made storing and moving easier and hassle-free. More so, this best Asian rice cooker had a removable steam vent cap that allowed for high-temperature cooking without annoying overflows.
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4. Zojirushi NP-HCC10XH Induction Heating System Rice Cooker and Warmer
- Induction rice cooker and warmer. Electrical Rating : 1,230 Watts
- Multi-Menu cooking functions. Dimension: 10 inch W x 14 inch D x...
- Automatic keep warm & extended keep warm keeps rice at the...
- Healthy cooking options: brown rice, GABA brown rice and...
- Note-please ensure to measure rice in the cup that comes along...
The Zojirushi NP-HCC10XH Induction Heating System Rice Cooker and Warmer with a dimension of 10"D x 14" W x 8" H utilized high-tech Induction Heating technology or IH technology to heat the inner cooking pot. The special heating technique permitted the rice cooker to make small temperature adjustments to cook flawless rice
Image Source: zojirushi.com
The 1230 watts rice cooker came with multi-menu cooking functions, including sushi rice, jasmine white rice, GABA brown rice, sweet rice, white rice, quick cooking, mixed rice, and porridge settings. This great rice cooker exterior had clear-coated stainless steel making it easy to clean and allowing it to fit any kitchen decor. Moreover, the rice cooker had an easy-to-read LCD panel with a timer and clock.
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5. Zojirushi NP-GBC05XT Induction Heating System Rice Cooker and Warmer
- 700-watt 3-cup rice cooker and warmer with Induction Heating...
- Menu settings include: white/mixed, sushi, porridge, brown, GABA...
- Accessories include rice spatula, spatula holder and rice...
- Capacity*: Up to 3 cups / 0.54 liter.Capacity is measured in the...
- Thick, spherical inner cooking pan; carrying handle; detachable...
Ideal for small families and singles, the Zojirushi NP-GBC05XT Induction Heating System Rice Cooker and Warmer use Induction Heating technology and has the 3-cup capacity. We boiled as little as half cup of rice. To that, this mini rice cooker incorporated small spaces and was ideal to optimize small kitchens from taking up too much space.
Image Source: Zojirushi.com
This rice cooker uses 700 wats and has a dimension 9.12” D x 11.87” W x 7.5 H with an LCD colored panel, clock and timer as well as multi-menu setting. It is encased in an easy to clean clear coat, stainless steal exterior that was easy to rub and maintain for long periods of time. Also, the unit was equipped with an extra heater at the top, to produce the right temperature to cook the food to perfection.
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Zojirushi Rice Cooker Types
1. Convectional electric rice cooker
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Zojirushi’s conventional rice cookers are perfect options for beginners who want to make perfect rice at home. Their cookers are usually simple, reliable, and easy to use with just one switch. Most conventional models feature an automatic keep warm, and some models like the NHS-10/18 come with a handy steaming basket that allows steaming of different proteins and vegetables.
2. Micom rice cookers
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A microcomputer chip makes Micom rice cookers more technologically advanced units than other kinds of cookers. They are designed with menus for boiling various kinds of rice as well as grains. Some Micom cookers are even programmable to alter cooking times, temperatures based on what the thermal sensor determines.
It also has preset programs for soaking and steaming time before and after cooking your rice unlike other kinds of cookers. This is to mean that after you have pressed the start button, the rest is carried out without further intervention.
3. Induction heating (IH)+ Micom rice cooker
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The IH rice cooker uses induction heating technology to cook rice that is prevalently more delicious. Basically, IH is a more responsive heating method that gets the cooking pot hot quickly and cools down faster.
This makes temperature adjustments more precise while cooking your rice. Though it’s necessary to have in mind that these IH models are also MICOM models, just that they have an additional heating technology feature.
4. Pressure + IH+ Micom cookers
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The PRESSURE + IH + MICOM is the most advanced rice cooker from Zojirushi. With the power of Micom, IH, and Pressure cooking all in one, these cookers combine automatic pressure, high heat, and artificial intelligence.
The many difference between these rice cookers and other rice cookers is the application of pressure at various stages during cooking. The pressure will help divert beta starch into alpha starch, making your rice softer, more delicious, and easier to digest.
Factors to Consider Before Buying the Best Zojirushi Rice Cookers
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1. Is the rice cooker easy to use?
One of the most crucial points which need to be taken into consideration while purchasing the best rice cooker regardless of the brand, is the simplicity of the appliance usage. The rice cooker you choose should be one that makes the process of cooking rice less draining.
The best bit about Zojirushi’s rice cookers is that they are relatively simple to use and they are accompanied by instructions on how to cook the rice. Most of them also describe how to measure and wash your rice and how much water to use when placing your rice in the cooking pot.
2. How long does it take to cook rice?
The range in cooking times varies greatly among the best rice cookers we tested. Although the time to cook rice will greatly vary based on the type of rice you want to cook the rice cooker could also affect the time used. The amazing bit is that most full-size Zojirushi models will take close to an hour for medium- and long-grain white rice and nearly an hour and a half for brown rice.
3. Does the rice cooker have any useful additional features?
Each Zojirushi cooker comes with unique features and accessories, so it is necessary to check and ensure the product you choose has the features that will satisfy your needs. Some of the most important accessories to look out for include; a measuring cup and a rice paddle. You could also go for a rice cooker that has steamer baskets or other technical features, like a warmer or timer.
4. What’s the Size of the Rice Cooker?
Another thing to consider when choosing rice cookers is the capacity; this is- How many rice cookers are you going to cook and for how many people? To be more precise, a vast majority of Zojirushi full size capacity models are capable of heating between 8 to 10 cups of rice depending on the size of the serving – from 16 to 20 portions in all.
Of course, you don’t have to cook that much at one time, but it’s slightly over what is needed most of the time, anyway. If you are only cooking rice for one or two people then a standard-size cooker should suffice for you. If you want to prepare rice enough for a small power dish the mini sizes will suffice.
5. Even and consistent cooking
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You should ensure that you purchase a quality rice cooker that can cook your rice evenly and consistently. Although most rice cookers from Zojirushi will cook any type of rice evenly it is always wise to check so that you don’t have a mushy center or uncooked rice. You should also be able to cook the same fluffy rice whether you cook a single cup or fill the rice cooker to its maximum capacity.
6. Cleaning and Maintenance
Although Zojirushi rice cookers are difficult to clean, when choosing a product one has to ensure that they look for the easiest model. Try to find a cooker that is at least has some dome dishwasher-safe accessories. And also, you have the opportunity to choose a product that can be cleaned with the help of only a wet napkin.
It is advantageous if the purchased product comes with cleaning instruction whereby the instructions can be found inside the manual.
7. Is the rice cooker a good value?
As much as may be costly, prices of the Zojirushi rice cookers differ with every product. It ranges from $25 to $260.” In the end, you should strive to obtain the best rice cooker that will fit your preference.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Best rice cookers
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1. How long does the Zojirushi rice cooker last?
As we have mentioned earlier Zojirushi rice cookers are a bit expensive compared to other rice cookers such as the cuckoo rice cooker, or the hamilton beach rice cooker. However, the products from Zojirushi will last much longer. For instance, a purely mechanical model will last for up to more than 10 years, while a modern one can be used for between 2 and 6 years, depending on their maintenance and use.
2. Can you leave rice in Zojirushi overnight?
Of course, you can leave your rice in the Zojirushi cooker overnight, but we recommend keeping your rice for only a maximum of 12 hours if you want to maximize taste. As a matter of fact, some clients say that they keep their rice in the cookers for up to 5 days and it is still fresh.
3. Can you cook other things in the Zojirushi rice cooker?
Although Zojirushi cookers are designed to specially cook perfect rice, they can also cook healthy grains such as quinoa or brown rice, steel-cut oatmeal, and steamed veggies all at the touch of a button.
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