With the advancement of technology, we are getting electronics and appliances that make our lives even more comfortable. The rice cooker is also something that was invented to make our life easier.
Being in the lead in making rice cookers for more than a hundred years, Zojirushi: a Japanese brand, has developed so many features and technologies to make rice cookers more advanced. They provide some of the best rice cookers available in the market, and people always search for the best Zojirushi rice cooker for them to buy.
This review will give you a broad idea about the latest and some traditional rice cookers that Zojirushi makes.
Why Should You Get a Zojirushi Rice Cooker?
Zojirushi is a Japanese brand that has been making rice cookers for more than 100 years. They are one of the best rice cooker manufacturers in Japan. Not just Japan, they are now known all over the world for their best rice cookers. They are known for their high quality and durable products. Their products last a very long time.
Zojirushi has more than a hundred years of experience in making rice cookers. They are dedicated to improve the lives of their customers and make cooking easy. They are experienced in making other cookware too. They are always coming out with innovative ideas to improve their products.
Moreover, they provide a variety of products with different functions, designs, and sizes. So, you can easily find one that perfectly fits your needs and the promised quality of the Zojirushi brand. They offer various settings for rice. Zojirushi rice cookers produce even heat for perfectly cooked rice.
How much Do You have to Spend for a Rice Cooker?
Zojirushi rice cooker offers a variety of products. A wide range of products comes with a wide range of prices too. Their price range starts from a very affordable price to a high-end price. So, you can indeed find one within your preferred price range.
Some of the traditional designs are very affordable. They are straightforward to use as those don't come with many options. These types of products price come at a price starting from $50.
On the other hand, some rice cookers from Zojirushi use highly advanced technology, even artificial intelligence (AI), which comes at a higher price point. These advanced rice cookers can cost up to $400 or more.
Apart from features, the price can change depending on the volume of the rice cooker too. Usually, the rice cookers come in 5.5 cups or 10 cups size. Some portable options come in the size of 3 cups.
What else Can You Make in a Rice Cooker?
In most Zojirushi rice cookers, you can cook different types of rice. Rice cookers that used advanced technology have various rice cooking options, like white rice (regular, softer or harder), white jasmine rice, mixed rice, sushi rice, porridge, sweet rice.
Some of the newer models come with healthy cooking options for brown rice or GABA rice. Other than different kinds of rice, you can cook porridge or steel-cut oatmeals in some rice cookers too.
Some of the Zojirushi rice cookers come with the option of steaming. You can cook vegetables or other foods, like, momo, steamed bun, etc. using the steamed option. Few of the rice cookers come with options for soup or cakes.
You can always try or experiment with other things. You can find recipes of different food items that you can cook using a rice cooker. Lentils, rice pudding, cereal, etc. can be made using Zojirushi rice cookers. Even with the leftover rice, you can make different types of fried rice.
10 Best Zojirushi Rice Cooker
Image | Product Name | Editors Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
  | Best Zojirushi Neuro Fuzzy Rice Cooker | ||
  | Best Zojirushi Rice Cooker for Brown Rice | ||
  | Best Small Zojirushi Rice Cooker for Single Person | ||
  | Best Zojirushi Rice Cooker for Sushi | ||
  | Best Zojirushi Conventional Rice Cooker | ||
  | Best Affordable Zojirushi Rice Cooker | ||
  | Best Cheap Rice Cooker Zojirushi | ||
  | Best Zojirushi Rice Cooker for Sticky Rice | ||
  | Best Easy to Use Zojirushi Rice Cooker |
Reviews of 10 Best Zojirushi Rice Cooker
Zojirushi has a variety of rice cookers to choose from. Here we will be discussing the features of the top 10 Zojirushi rice cookers in detail. We will discuss each product's pros and cons—also, other important factors, like settings, capacity, price, etc.
Afterward, we will discuss the things you should keep in mind before buying a Zojirushi rice cooker in the buying guide. Moreover, we will elaborate on things you should check in a rice cooker before buying it. We will also give you some tips on how to maintain your rice cooker for sustainability properly.
1. Best Zojirushi Neuro Fuzzy Rice Cooker [Editor's pick]
Zojirushi NS-ZCC18 Neuro Fuzzy Rice Cooker is a classic Zojirushi rice cooker. It is white and comes in a size of 10 cups. If you have a big family or like to feed people, you can go for this rice cooker. Its best known for having the capacity to make rice for a lot of people. 10 cups size is good enough for a big family.
This rice cooker uses fuzzy technology that understands the requirements for different types of rice. It cooks different kinds of rice according to how that specific type of rice needs to be cooked. It is a computerized rice cooker and warmer. In this rice cooker, cooking rice is very easy; it also keeps the leftover rice warm.
You can again reheat your rice using the rice cooker. You can do these this using manual or automatic controls. This rice cooker has a spherical inner body that ensures even heating on the pan and cooks rice perfectly.
You can cook a variety of grains of rice in this Zojirushi Neuro Fuzzy Rice Cooker. You can cook white, porridge, sweet, sushi, and brown rice in it. This is a huge plus if you like to experiment with cooking different types of rice items.
You can keep track of your cooking through the LCD timer on the rice cooker. If you want, you can just let the rice cook and do other things as the rice cooker will let you know when your rice is ready using a melody or alarm.
Zojirushi Neuro Fuzzy Rice cooker comes with 2 measuring cups, a rice spoon or scooper, and a rice spoon holder. It has a detachable and washable lid, which makes this rice cooker easy to clean.
This rice cooker is a good option for you if you are a new cook as a recipe book is included with the rice cooker. You can follow their recipes and make various types of items using rice.
Pros
Cons
2. Best Zojirushi Rice Cooker for Brown Rice
Zojirushi NP-HCC18XH Induction Heating System Rice Cooker and Warmer is a dark grey induction rice cooker. Its sleek design with a coating that makes it easy to clean. It also comes in 10 cups size. The 10 cups size is very compact and will be best for families.
This rice cooker uses induction heating (IH) technology and has a triple heater, making rice perfectly every time. It heats the inner pan from side, bottom, and top, allowing even heating.
Using its multi menu cooking option, you can cook white rice (regular, softer or harder), white jasmine rice, mixed rice, sushi rice, porridge, sweet rice, brown rice, GABA brown rice, etc.
Brown rice is healthier for you. You are more likely to get encouraged to have a healthy diet as this rice cooker gives you multiple options to cook different brown grains of rice.
This rice cooker automatically switches to keep warm setting when cooking rice is complete. This lets you enjoy warm rice even after a while.
If you want to keep your rice warm even longer, you should use the extended keep warm setting. The alarm or melody lets you know when you start cooking or cooking ends. You can also keep it in silent mode if you want.
Pros
Cons
3. Best Small Zojirushi Rice Cooker for Single Person
Zojirushi NS-LGC05XB Micom Rice Cooker & Warmer is a very compact and budget-friendly rice cooker from Zojirushi. If you live alone, have a small family, or for any reason, you don't need to cook a lot of rice, this will be the best rice cooker for you.
This compact rice cooker will fit even in a small kitchen. It only cooks 3 cups of rice at a time. This compact rice cooker allows you to cook the smallest amount of food.
This rice cooker comes in a clear-coated black stainless material that is easy to clean. It uses fuzzy technology, which will give you perfectly cooked rice every time. It also has an automatic keep warm and reheating option. You can get warm rice whenever you want.
It generates heat from three sides (top, side, and bottom) of the inner pan. It helps the rice cook evenly. It also has a removable steam release vent cap. If you remove this vent cap while cooking something which heats a lot, it will not overflow. This rice cooker beeps or plays a melody when your rice is ready.
It has multiple cooking options for rice, like, white/mixed rice, sushi rice, brown rice, GABA brown rice, long-grain white rice, steel-cut oatmeal, and quick cooking.
The feature of cooking steel-cut oatmeal is exclusive to this model of Zojirushi rice cooker. Even if you are not a big fan of rice but want a steel-cut oatmeal cooker, you can get this affordable Zojirushi rice cooker.
Pros
Cons
4. Best Budget Zojirushi Rice Cooker
Zojirushi NS-TSC10 Micom Rice Cooker and Warmer rice cooker let you cook up to 5.5. cups of rice. It can be a budget-friendly rice cooker option for your family. You can easily clean in the rice cooker as it has a clear-coated stainless steel exterior.
It uses Micro computerized fuzzy logic technology. It has a variety of options for cooking rice. Also, it comes with a steam and a cake menu. If you like steamed food, you can use this rice cooker to steam food. Even if you want to have a cake, you can do it with the cake menu setting.
Pros
Cons
5. Best Zojirushi Rice Cooker for Sushi
Micom Rice Cooker and Warmer NS-WAC10/18 is a rice cooker that uses Micro computerized Fuzzy logic technology. It comes in 10 cups size. It is the right size for a family rice cooker.
You can cook various types of rice as it comes with different options for cooking rice. Menu settings include white/mixed, sushi, porridge, sweet, brown, rinse-free, and quick cooking. If you want to eat healthily, this one comes with a healthy menu for brown rice.
This rice cooker runs on electricity and has a detachable cord. The LCD on the rice cooker allows you to see the timer and other settings. After cooking rice, you can use keep warm or extended keep warm settings for your rice.
This Zojirushi rice cooker comes with a spatula for rice, a spatula holder, a rice measuring cup, and a rinse-free rice measuring cup.
Pros
Cons
6. Best Zojirushi Conventional Rice Cooker
Zojirushi NP-NVC10 Induction Heating Pressure Cooker and Warmer is one of the most intelligent rice cookers. It is made with advanced fuzzy logic technology with AI (Artificial Intelligence). With this advanced technology, this rice cooker learns and adjusts its settings to make perfectly cooked rice.
The rice cooker itself selects its pressure setting according to the menu for the best results. This advancement does come with a price. This Zojirushi rice cooker is on the pricer side of rice cookers.
This induction pressure cooker comes in 10 cups size. It has a brown stainless steel exterior. Colorful LCD makes it easy to look at timer or clock. This rice cooker has multiple cooking options, including brown rice, sushi rice, mixed rice, porridge, etc.
This Zojirushi rice cooker has unique settings, like umami setting, scorch setting, and steam reduce setting. The Umami setting soaks the rice before cooking longer than the regular white setting. Accessories it comes with include a spatula, spatula holder, and 2 measuring cups.
A specially designed lid keeps the cooker airtight and sealed, which prevents the steam from escaping. Therefore, it works like a pressure cooker. This cooker automatically chooses a pressure setting from 3 possible pressure settings.
You might think it becomes risky as it works like a pressure cooker. There are safety valve and pressure control valve for safety. You can see the pressure indicator when the cooker starts applying pressure and locks the lid.
Pros
Cons
7. Best Affordable Zojirushi Rice Cooker [Budget pick]
Zojirushi NHS-18 10-Cup Rice Cooker is a traditional rice cooker that you can get at a very reasonable price. You can cook up to 10 cups of rice, which is suitable for a family or many people. It has a classic look to it, having a white stainless steel body.
You can steam food as this model comes with a steaming tray. If you want a super simple rice cooker having only one switch, this is the best rice cooker. It has an automatic keep-warm function that will keep your food warm for up to 6 hours.
It is a very easy-to-use cooker. Not just for rice, you can also steam seafood and vegetables and to cook custards and eggs, etc. this rice cooker comes with a spatula and a measuring cup.
Pros
Cons
8. Best Cheap Rice Cooker Zojirushi
Zojirushi NHS-10 6-Cup is another traditional one of the Zojirushi rice cookers. If you are looking for a reasonable option, you can choose this one. It is simple and easy to use. It only has 1 button. You have to press that button to start cooking manually, and it will automatically change when your rice is cooked.
It comes in a classic white stainless steel material. The lid is detachable and easy to clean. The handles of the rice cooker are heatproof makes it easy to carry even after cooking. Its automatic keep-warm function keeps the rice warm for up to 6 hours.
You can cook other foods in it too. It has a steam tray; you can steam food in it. It is an excellent multi-purpose rice cooker.
Pros
Cons
9. Best Zojirushi Rice Cooker for Sticky Rice
Zojirushi NS-YAC18 Umami Micom 10-Cup Rice Cooker and Warmer is another Zojirushi rice cooker that uses Micro computerized Fuzzy Logic technology to operate. It has a large capacity; you can cook up to 10 cups of rice. It is a good choice for a family. It has a pearl white exterior made with stainless steel.
It has a large LCD display for timer and controls. Using the Umami setting, you can let your rice soak and steam for longer for better flavor. This model of Zojirushi has another unique function, which is a slow cooker. In a slow-cook setting, you can cook soup.
You can also cook in white, Umami, mixed, sushi, porridge, sweet, brown, GABA brown, rinse-free, quick-cooking, and slow cook settings. Its automatic keep-warm function keeps the rice warm.
Pros
Cons
10. Best Easy to Use Zojirushi Rice Cooker
This Zojirushi Rice Cooker and Warmer is a very easy-to-use classic rice cooker. It has a one-touch operation. You can quickly cook rice just by pressing one button. Afterward, it will automatically keep your rice warm using the keep-warm function. It has enough capacity to rice for a family.
A triple heater will make rice cook perfectly. It generates heat from the top, bottom, and sides. The inner pan is effortless to clean, so is the lid. This rice cooker has a hinged lid with an easy to open handle.
So, you can clean the detachable lid easily. You will get a non-stick spatula, spatula holder, and a measuring cup with this rice cooker.
Pros
Cons
Why You Need a Rice Cooker?
There was a time when people used to cook rice in stoves. It took a long time to cook, and you had to keep checking the rice. Controlling the flame was difficult too.
In that way, sometimes you get perfect rice and sometimes you don't. It's not always possible to stay beside the stove to check the rise. When you go to do something else and forget about the rice, unfortunately, all you get is burnt brown rice.
Those days are over now. Rice cookers have advanced so much that you don't have to worry even a bit to make rice. You prepare the rice, put it in the rice cooker, and forget about it. You will get perfectly cooked rice after a while. You don't have to worry about rice getting burned.
Some of the modern rice cookers have a timer feature. You can set to cook rice the night before, and the next day when you come back home from a busy day, you will get perfectly cooked warm rice waiting for you.
Buying Guide for Best Zojirushi Rice Cooker
Whether you are planning to buy a rice cooker for the first time, or you want to replace your previous rice cooker, there are some things you should keep in mind. You can choose special features according to your wish, but these are the primary things that every rice cooker has.
For this, you should do some research before buying it. You will get a lot of options for rice cookers in the Zojirushi brand. So the followings are some of the things that you should check before purchasing a Zojirushi rice cooker.
Dimension and volume
The dimension and volume are essential for buying a rice cooker. Do you have a big family? Or you like to cook for a lot of people? Then go for a rice cooker with more capacity. It will allow you to cook a large amount of rice at once.
On the other hand, if you cook only for yourself, then you can choose a model that cooks 3 cups of rice. It will be good enough for one to three people. If you want to cook a small rice portion but buy a big rice cooker, your rice might get burnt. You should choose the dimension and volume which fits your requirement best.
You have to think about space as well. If you have a smaller area to keep your rice cooker, you should choose a smaller rice cooker. If you have access to a larger space to keep your rice cooker, you can easily buy a bigger Zojirushi model rice cooker.
Weight
If you are concern about the weight of a rice cooker, you should look for weight too. Most Zojirushi rice cooker is lightweight. If you plan to keep the rice cooker in a fixed place, you don't need to worry about weight. But if you plan to carry the rice cooker around, like you want to go outdoors, camping, or don't have a fixed place to put the rice cooker, you need a lightweight rice cooker.
Bigger rice cookers typically will be heavier. Zojirushi has some smaller designs that are so lightweight that it comes with the option to mount in the wall.
Price
The price might go up if you are looking for a more advanced rice cooker. The latest technology costs a bit more. The advanced technology used in the rice cooker will give you the benefits in many possible ways. You get a lot of settings, extended warm-up options, and other advanced settings. The newer models come with modern features.
That doesn't mean you won't find any good rice cookers at a lower price. There are a lot of good options to choose from if you are looking for an affordable option. The rice cooker starts from around $50 and can cost up to $400.
Cooking time
If you simmer rice, you get a better flavor, so some people prefer slow-cooked rice. But sometimes you need to cook fast. This is why some Zojirushi rice cookers come with a quick-cooking option. If you are one of those who prefer fast cooking, you should choose a rice cooker with a quick-cooking option.
You don't care much about cooking time. You can look for other features. Cooking time also differs for different types of rice grains.
Warranty
It is essential to check if a product has a warranty if you get a bad product. Some of the rice cookers mentioned here come with a 1-year warranty. Many of the Zojirushi rice cookers don't come with a warranty. The warranty period may vary because of the distributer.
Material
The material of the Zojirushi rice cooker is very durable. Most Zojirushi rice cookers come in two types of material: stainless steel and hard plastic. Almost all of the rice cookers mentioned in this article are made with stainless steel.
The inner pan is made with non-stick material. Again, the lid is made with material that is easy to clean. Some come with an extra clear coating on the outside for easy cleaning.
Interface
Traditional Zojirushi rice cooker designs come with a simple button and few lights to indicate the cooking status. The rest of the Zojirushi rice cookers come with an LCD to display time and controls. They have buttons for different settings. The buttons are clearly labeled for automatic or manual control.
Settings
Different Zojirushi rice cooker models come with additional features and settings. You can find the setting option on the buttons of the interface. Traditional and straightforward cookers come with only two options: a manual cook button and an automatic warm button. The advanced rice cookers come with different settings for different types of rice grains and other foods.
Accessories
Every Zojirushi rice cooker comes with a measuring cup, non-stick plastic spatula, and a spatula holder. Some of the rice cookers come with an additional rinse-free measuring cup.
How to Use a Zojirushi Rice Cooker?
Always use the measuring cup that comes with the rice cooker. Use the cup to measure rice. Put rice and level it off. Then put the rice in the inner pot. Rinse the rice, rub for some time and then drain the water. Repeat this process a few times until the water runs clear.
Then put water according to the type of rice or whatever you are cooking. Measure the water using the same measuring cup. Level the rice and make sure the grains are submerged in water.
Wipe water from the outer surface and put the pot in the rice cooker. Select the setting of your food and press start. You can see the timer on display.
After cooking, let the rice sit for about 15 minutes and enjoy perfectly cooked fluffy rice. Use a non-stick spatula that comes with the rice cooker to serve rice.
Care and Maintenance of Zojirushi Rice Cooker
It is effortless to clean and take care of the Zojirushi rice cooker as most of the rice cookers are made with stainless steel and has a clear coating. You can wipe the surface of the rice cooker with a damp cloth.
You should hand wash the inner pot with soap water. Putting it in the dishwasher might decrease the sustainability of the inner pan. You can clean the lid the same way you clean the inner pan.
You should not use anything that can scratch the rice cooker. In that case, the non-stick material might become scratched and flake off.
Final Verdict
Zojirushi is in the lead in rice cookers for a long time. They have satisfied thousands of customers with their products to be in this position. They are always trying to satisfy their customers even further with good quality products. So you can trust Zojirushi rice cookers.
If you are a rice lover or love making different kinds of foods, you must try Zojirushi rice cookers. After using it, you will easily get beautifully cooked rice without making any effort.
The rice cooker will do all your work, and you will get perfect rice every time. You can get any of the 10 best Zojirushi rice cookers mentioned in this article.
FAQ | Best Zojirushi Rice Cooker
So, here is a set of question answers for you to know more about Zojirushi rice cookers.
Where are Zojirushi rice cookers manufactured?
Zojirushi is a Japanse brand. Some of their rice cookers are manufactured in Japan, and others are manufactured in China.
How long does it take to cook rice in a Zojirushi rice cooker?
White rice takes about 40-50 minutes to cook. In the quick-cook setting, it takes about 20 mins to cook rice. The time varies depending on the setting and rice type. Brown rice takes much longer to cook.
Can you make steel-cut oatmeal in the Zojirushi rice cooker?
Zojirushi NS-LGC05XB Micom Rice Cooker & Warmer is a rice cooker from Zojirushi with a specific setting to cook steel-cut oatmeal.
How does the Zojirushi rice cooker Measure rice?
Zojirushi rice cooker comes with a measuring cup. You must measure rice and water using that measuring cup. Usually, the measuring cup can hold about 6 ounces of rice.
How much water does a Zojirushi rice cooker need?
Usually, the ratio is 1:1 for water and rice. For brown rice, it is usually 1 cup of brown rice and 2.5 cups of water. You should follow the Zojirushi rice cooker's instructions.
Do you put rice or water first in a rice cooker?
You should put rice first and then rinse and drain a few times. Then measure water and put it in the pot.