Showing posts with label Zojirushi. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Zojirushi. Show all posts

Zojirushi NS-WAC10-WD 5.5-Cup (Uncooked) Micom Rice Cooker and Warmer


My Thai wife used to make fun of me because I made rice with a covered pan. For a couple of years she humored me, then told me she wanted me to get a rice cooker. After looking around some, I chose this one, and I have to give it to her, she was absolutely right. :) It is effortless to make perfect rice every time, once you learn the secret. The secret is to choose the right setting on the machine, and to use less water than you are probably used to. For Thai Jasmine rice, we use 1 measurement of rice to 1.5 measurements of water and use the white setting. (it does not matter if it is a half cup, cup, or one of the rice cookers cups, which is about 3/4 of a cup)

Just for the rice alone, this would be a good purchase, but the truth is, I use it for far more than rice. Being able to wake up to real grits, as opposed to the quick variety, steel cut oatmeal, my wife's rice porridge, etc. are all easily done with this cooker using the porridge setting. One accessory I would definitely recommend is The Ultimate Rice Cooker Cookbook : 250 No-Fail Recipes for Pilafs, Risottos, Polenta, Chilis, Soups, Porridges, Puddings and More, from Start to Finish in Your Rice Cooker which provides a wide variety of possibilities for this handy time-saver. :) At the very least, it will give you ideas for how to use the cooker to widen your possibilities in the kitchen, though you may have to experiment a little with some of the recipes.

BTW...another reviewer said it was 'fussy to clean'. I HATE washing dishes, and I find it easy to clean. Remove the pan, wipe it down, remove the lid and wash with a kitchen sponge, rinse and dry, wipe down the lid of the cooker, and put it back together. All in all, it takes about a minute and a half. Heh, I do not consider that 'fussy'. :)

Highly recommended.


Zojirushi Micom 5.5 cup Rice Cooker and Warmer computerized fuzzy logic technology controls cooking temperature. Healthy brown rice setting. Double sensor and double-heater works in tandem to fine-tune cooking cycle for precise cooking. Automatic keep warm and extended keep warm feature. Easy-to-read LCD control panel with Clock and Timer functions. Delay timer (2 settings) provides freshly cooked rice at the programmed time. Black thick inner cooking pan and heating system provide even heating for better cooking results.


  • Enter your model number above to make sure this fits.
  • Up to 5 1/2 cup capacity rice cooker and warmer with Fuzzy Logic technology
  • User-friendly LCD control panel; multi-menu cooking functions
  • Menu settings include: white/mixed; sushi; porridge; sweet; brown; rinse-free and quick cooking
  • Accessories include rice spatula, spatula holder and rice measuring cups
  • Detachable power cord
  • NOTE: Please ensure to measure rice in the cup that comes along with the product ONLY


Zojirushi NP-GBC05-XT Induction Heating System Rice Cooker and Warmer, Stainless Dark Brown


I've had this rice maker for about 7 months. I vacillated for over a year before making my purchase--not only was the price scaring me off, but this model had been on the market for a while and I wanted to see if anything new and even better came out. However, when I read the mediocre reviews of the newest Zojirushi models--and prices nearing $450!--I thought it was about time I bit the bullet and shelled out for this rice cooker.

This was possibly THE best purchase I've made in the past five years. I ended up getting it for about $30 less via the auction site that everyone's familiar with, but Amazon's price is pretty darn competitive. I opted for the 3-cup model because I'm by myself most of the year and wanted something that could handle smaller batches (as little as 1/2 cup in this case!) for when I'm just cooking for myself, but had the flexibility to handle larger quantities. This size is perfect for a 1-4 person household (3 cups of cooked rice is closer to 6 servings). Ease of use is amazing. I've made short-grain Japanese rice, short-grain brown rice, rice and azuki beans, and mixed-grain rice (a blend of brown and wild rices, in various combinations over the months I've had it). I use it pretty much every night for rice, and almost every morning for my favorite use of this machine: the most perfect steel-cut oatmeal you could possibly ask for. I did get a rice-cooker cookbook to help me fine-tune my ratios, but I find that the best oatmeal is if you use 1.5:1 water/oatmeal ratio, then stir in 1/2 c. whole milk once it's done cooking and let it "warm" for another 5 min. I have had rave reviews about my oatmeal and it's so. darn. easy.

Like another reviewer mentioned, if you add in flavors (in my case, cinnamon/vanilla for the oatmeal, I haven't played around much with savory fare save for plain rice) there's a bit of a ghost of that flavor the next time you make plain rice. I think it might be because of the silicone seal to the steamer lid. I don't mind it much, and I suppose if you're VERY sensitive to any sort of flavor (it only lasts the one batch) you could run a small (1/2 c.) batch first to "steam" out the flavors--this seems wasteful to me, but it's an idea to try if this is an issue for you.

The rice itself comes out absolutely perfect. You'll be amazed at how much flavor this little machine draws out of white rice and brown rice. I was never a huge fan of brown rice (too mealy/chewy) but when I make it in this bad boy, it's so, so good. You'll be a convert!

My favorite part of this machine is the cleanup. If an appliance is too fiddly to clean, I know it'll end up gathering dust--but this machine couldn't be easier. There's a detachable inner lid that catches the splash from the cooking rice that I wash right away, and I remove the steam cover in the back (this sounds arcane, but it's snapping two things off and takes about 3 seconds; the manual is great for explaining it). Then I let the actual nonstick bowl dry out. You heard me--I let it dry on there. Then, it's as easy as wiping out the rice "paper" film you've made with a paper towel. Seriously. Even with oatmeal that would normally cake on there: don't soak, don't scrub, just wait for it to dry. The couple times it's stuck, I just fill it with warm water in the sink for 15min and it washes right off. The nonstick on this bowl is absolutely fantastic. I'm very careful never to bring anything metallic in contact with it, but I hear through the grapevine that Zojirushi is excellent about shipping out replacement parts if you ever need them.


The Zojirushi Induction Heating System Rice Cooker & Warmer with superior induction heating (IH) technology efficiently provides high heat and prepares flawless rice every time. 3-cup capacity cooks as little as 1/2 cup of rice and is ideal for singles and smaller families. Easy-to-clean, clear coated stainless steel exterior fits any kitchen decor. Additional heater on lid generates an ideal temperature for precise cooking. Automatic keep warm. Easy-to-read ORANGE colored LCD control panel with Clock and Timer functions. Delay timer (2 settings) provides freshly cooked rice at the programmed time.


  • Enter your model number above to make sure this fits.
  • 700-watt 3-cup rice cooker and warmer with Induction Heating technology
  • Menu settings include: white/mixed, sushi, porridge, brown, GABA brown, rinse-free and quick cooking
  • Accessories include rice spatula, spatula holder and rice measuring cups
  • Detachable and washable stainless steel inner lid
  • Thick, spherical inner cooking pan; carrying handle; detachable cord; wash by hand
  • NOTE: Please ensure to measure rice in the cup that comes along with the product ONLY


Zojirushi NHS-18 10-Cup (Uncooked) Rice Cooker/Steamer & Warmer


This is an excellent rice cooker but I would like to point out something very important. The directions say specifically that you must wash the rice in a strainer until the water that runs through them comes out clear. This is very important. If you are having problems with the rice bubbling up over the top of the rice cooker and getting on the counter, you probably aren't washing the rice or aren't washing it well enough. Also if you are having problems with a crust on the bottom of the rice, you probably aren't washing the rice or aren't washing it well enough. Start washing your rice and you probably won't see those two problems again. Also the rice comes out much fluffier and less gummy if you wash it.
The reason for this is that, when you get uncooked rice, there is a large amount of excess starch that is stuck to the outside of the rice that gets stuck there when the rice is processes.


This handy rice cooker and steamer is not only the perfect way to quickly and easily cook rice, but also steam vegetables and fish, all while keeping your food warm after it's finished cooking. This attractive rice cooker holds up to ten cups and has an easy to use single switch control. Once the rice is finished cooking, the steamer automatically switches to the keep warm function. Also included is a nonstick measuring cup, rice spatula and stainless steel steaming tray that allows you to cook other foods with the rice.
9" L x 12-1/2" W x 9-1/8" H, with a 10 cup capacity


Busy cooks cherish rice cookers. This is Zojirrushi's largest, suitable for cooking up to 10 cups of dry rice (white or brown) and keeping it warm up to five hours. A separate tray steams seafood and vegetables, cooks hard- or soft-boiled eggs, and even makes tender custards. Instructions and a cooking chart explain everything. A measuring cup and serving spatula are included. A glass lid permits monitoring of the cooking process. The cooker/steamer operates with admirable simplicity: just push a switch to start. The switch and a light turn off when cooking is completed, and the unit automatically goes into its keep-warm mode. Stay-cool handles on the cooker/steamer's sides permit it to be moved. Only plastic scrubbers and mild detergent should be used for cleaning. --Fred Brack


  • Enter your model number above to make sure this fits.
  • Cooks rice and keeps it warm up to five hours
  • Use also to steam seafood and vegetables and to cook custards and eggs
  • Measuring cup and serving spatula included
  • Uses 600 watts of power
  • 9-1/4 inches high to lid knob; 13 inches in diameter, including handles
  • NOTE: Please ensure to measure rice in the cup that comes along with the product ONLY


Zojirushi NP-NVC10 Induction Heating Pressure Cooker (Uncooked) and Warmer, 5.5 Cups/1.0-Liter


This rice cooker says goodbye to the old way of cooking rice (resistive heating element) and employs the newest revolution in rice cooking: pressure inductive heating! Overall, this rice cooker is indeed the best available on US market, but Zojirushi holds back many of their even better models to the domestic Japanese market.

What is Pressure IH?
Briefly, without getting too much into the details of the technology, Pressure IH uses inductive magnetic coils in the walls of the cooker that induce eddy currents in the rice pot and cook your rice (same as an inductive coil stove). Pressure allows for higher temperatures to be used, beyond the normal boiling point to drive moisture in to rice. Pressure is felt uniformly everywhere within the pot and the rice cooks faster. As a result, pressure IH creates a much more even cooking process. With traditional cookers, there is one resistive heating element on the bottom of the pot. As a result of a single source of heat, the rice is subject to differences in both moisture and heat. The bottom may end up burnt/mushy, the middle just right and the top slightly dry and undercooked. In pressure IH, with multiple inductive rings surrounding the pot, there is far greater evenness in cooking and with that control comes better taste and texture! Once you try pressure IH, there really is no going back. If you look at the Japanese market, it is now hard to find a traditional rice cooker that still remains popular in the US.

Japan versus US market
I've been spoiled by having lived in Japan and seeing the selection of rice cookers available there and the results. I will say that this is THE BEST rice cooker available in the US market currently. It is one of the few Pressure and IH(inductive heating) systems (compare with plain IH or conventional resistive heating element) which is a major plus. Hands down Pressure IH is the way to go with cooking rice and the quality and durability of this rice cooker is second to none.

However, I'm disappointed in the cooking pot that Zojirushi ships with the NP-NVC10 for the price. In Japan, a similarly priced cooker would have a much thicker pot (see my review on the Zojirushi NP-BS10-WB Pressure IH model, this also has a discussion on the various forms of rice cookers which I briefly outlined above Zojirushi NP-BS10-WB IH 5-cup Pressure Rice Cooker and Warmer | AC100V 50/60Hz (Japan Model)). Pot quality is the mark of a top of the line cooker, and it's construction makes a significant difference in the cooking of rice. A thicker pot improves the evenness of heat transfer, reduces deformation under pressure, and has increased thermal mass which allows rice to stay warm longer in the cooker.

That said, you won't be disappointed in the results of this rice cooker. You are as I said, getting the best you can get in the US without the hassle of importing your own and dealing with transformer/voltage issues.

4 Stars on Global Standard (sorry to be a rice snob!)
5 Stars on US Standard


Zojirushi NP-NVC10 Induction Heating 5-1/2-Cup (Uncooked) Pressure Rice Cooker and Warmer


The NP-NVC10 5-1/2-cup Induction Heating Pressure Rice Cooker and Warmer is the most intelligent rice cooker ever made. Advanced fuzzy logic technology with AI (Artificial Intelligence) "learns" and adjusts the cooking cycle to get perfect results every time. This rice cooker will automatically select from 3 pressure settings according to the menu selected for the best cooking results. The platinum infused nonstick inner cooking pan changes the water quality and allows rice to absorb water easily for better tasting rice. NP-NVC10 also includes superior induction heating technology, multiple cooking functions, an interchangeable melody and beep signal to indicate the end of the cooking cycle, automatic keep warm, and a detachable stainless-steel inner lid. For safety, the appliance provides a pressure-control valve, a back-up safety valve, an inner lid filter, and a pressure indicator on the control panel, which locks the lid during pressure-cooking. Accessories include a rice spatula, a spatula holder, and two measuring cups (for regular rice and rinse-free rice).

Make Every Rice Type Imaginable


Brown Rice

This is a menu setting designed to cook delicious brown rice. In order to cook hard rice bran and the rice inside, preheating time is extended for better absorption of water, and is cooked at a lower temperature to allow the rice to cook longer without becoming mushy.

Sushi Rice

Because sushi rice will be processed after it's cooked, it's easier to handle when it is a little firmer. This menu setting is very similar to regular white rice, but uses less water (adjusted by the water fill lines) for a firm finish.

Mixed Rice

Mixed rice is rice cooked with additional ingredients and seasonings. This setting extends preheating for better absorption of seasoning. Also, the cooking temperature is slightly lower than regular white rice, to avoid ingredients from boiling over.

Porridge

Instead of cooking rice in larger amounts of water and risk making it sloppy, use the porridge setting to cook fluffy porridge. Cooking temperature is slightly lower than regular white rice, to be cooked longer for soft texture.

GABA Brown Rice

A newly discovered way of cooking brown rice to "activate" it and increase natural occurring gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), an amino acid in brown rice believed to have health giving properties such as lowering blood pressure, improving kidney function and relieving stress. The brown rice is "activated" by soaking it at 104 degrees F for 2 hours before the actual cooking begins.

About AI Fuzzy Logic Technology

The AI (Artificial Intelligence) allows the rice cooker to "learn" from past cooking experiences and adjust the cooking "flow" to cook ideal rice. NP-NVC10 cooks rice to the same consistency in summer or winter, when water and room temperatures may be drastically different. With AI technology, the rice cooker remembers the capacity you cook most often, and selects the ideal cooking "flow" from the very first stage of the cooking process. Basically, the microchip does all the thinking for you to adjust cooking times and temperatures, sets the precise amount of pre-soaking time of the raw grains, and the time for the final "wait" period during steaming.

What is Induction Heating (IH)

Induction Heating took rice cooking to another level by literally introducing another dimension to the heating process. Where the heating element would normally be located at the bottom of the cooker, IH transforms the entire inner cooking pan into a heat conductor, allowing for higher, more precise and more uniform cooking temperatures.


IH Pressure System

Pressure cooking is a method of cooking in a sealed vessel that does not permit air or liquids to escape below a preset pressure resulting in even higher temperatures. Rice cooked with pressure has been found to stay soft for longer periods of time when compared to regular cooked rice. As pressure builds inside while the rice cooks, the boiling point of the water increases beyond the normal 212 degrees F. Once the water is allowed to boil, it cannot be heated further; but inside a sealed environment under pressure, higher temperatures can be reached, which penetrates everything in the cooker from the surface of the food to its center.

Platinum Infused Nonstick Inner Cooking Pan

The nonstick coating on the inner cooking pan is infused with platinum particles. Through research, we discovered that platinum alkalizes water, which breaks down the protein on the surface of the rice grain, and makes it easier for water to penetrate the rice grain. Enhanced gelatinization brings out the sweetness of rice ultimately making better tasting rice. The water is alkalized when poured into the inner cooking pan and comes into contact with the platinum particles.


Umami Setting

Umami is considered the 5th flavor, along with sweet, salty, sour and bitter. It is also described as savoriness, and comes from the Japanese word meaning "good flavor" or "deliciousness". The Umami setting soaks the rice before cooking longer than the regular white setting. During this extended soaking time, the sugar contained within the rice is slowly released out into the water. Once the rice cooker begins to cook the rice, the sugar that was released into the water reattaches itself onto the surface of the rice, making the cooked rice taste sweeter. The Umami setting also extends the steaming time at the end of the cooking cycle.

Steam-Reduce Setting:

Reduces steam to 50% of the Regular Setting. The Rinse-Free setting can be used together with Steam-Reduce, but it is a separate course from other courses, and cannot be combined (e.g., you cannot cook choose Steam-Reduce when cooking sweet or mixed rice). The rice texture may be slightly harder than Regular.

Scorched Setting:

Lightly toasts the bottom of the rice for a crispy texture. This is also a separate setting, and cannot be combined with other settings. It is recommended that the rice be consumed immediately.

Automatic Keep Warm:

The rice cooker automatically switches to Regular Keep Warm when cooking completes. It will keep cooked rice at the optimal serving temperature for up to 12 hours.

Extended Keep Warm:

Keeps cooked rice warm at a lower temperature than Regular Keep Warm to minimize drying and yellowing of rice. It is ideal to switch to Extended Keep Warm when keeping rice warm for a longer period of time.

Reheat Function:

Taking about 5-8 minutes, it can be used to reheat rice kept warm under Regular or Extended Keep Warm to bring the temperature closer to immediately after cooking.

Keep Warm Monitor

The lid sensor detects how many times the lid has been opened and for how long, and calculates the amount of rice left inside the inner cooking pan. The rice cooker then calculates how much heat is needed to keep the rice at the ideal keep warm temperature. The keep warm monitor alerts you by beeping four times, at 10, 40 or 70 minutes after cooking completes if the lid has not been opened, to encourage you to fluff the rice to release excessive moisture. The rice cooker will also beep four times if the lid is left open for over 5 minutes to remind you to close the lid. If unclosed, the rice cooker will beep every 3 minutes thereafter for up to 3 times. Both beeps will not sound if the rice cooker is set to "Silent" mode.



LCD Control Panel

Easy-to-read LCD control panel with clock and timer features.

Detachable Inner Lid

The inner lid is detachable and washable for easy cleaning.



  • Enter your model number above to make sure this fits.
  • Multi-menu cooking functions include settings for white, mixed, sushi/sweet rice, porridge, brown, GABA brown and quick cooking
  • Umami setting extends soaking and steaming time for better rice
  • Steam-reduce setting reduces steam to 50-percent of regular setting
  • Scorch setting toasts rice to a crispy golden brown, ideal for special dishes
  • Easy to ready colored LCD control panel with clock and delay timer


Zojirushi NHS-10 6-Cup (Uncooked) Rice Cooker/Steamer & Warmer, White


I love my rice cookers. I use them not only to make rice, but for all sorts of one-pot meals. Put in a cup of rice, vegetables, meats or seafood, seasonings, tofu... and a half hour later you have a steaming hot one-pot meal. They're also good for pilafs and other grain dishes.
The Zojirushi and Panasonic units are all first rate, BUT you need to know a little something about cooking rice beyond what's in the poorly worded manuals.
Different rice takes different amounts of water. The long-grained rice Americans are used to should be cooked with 1-3/4 cup of water for each cup of rice. Japanese rice needs only 1-1/4 cup of water for each cup of rice, or 1 cup of water for each cup of washed, wet, rice.
Many Americans (and Europeans) have problems with these cookers because the measure ments are calibrated for Japanese short grain rice, and the Westerners are cooking long grain rice. Get the ratios correct, and everything works out fine.
I've had a number of rice cookers of different sizes. My Panasonic has lasted over 20 years, and my Zojirushi looks like it'll last just as long, while my South Bend gave up the ghost after only a year. Go with the top Japanese models; they're made for day-in and day out cooking.


This handy rice cooker and steamer is not only the perfect way to quickly and easily cook rice, but also steam vegetables and fish, all while keeping your food warm after it's finished cooking. This attractive rice cooker holds up to six cups and has an easy to use single switch control. Once the rice is finished cooking, the steamer automatically switches to the keep warm function. Also included is a nonstick measuring cup, rice spatula and stainless steel steaming tray that allows you to cook other foods with the rice.
7-1/2" L x 10" W x 8-7/8" H, with a 6 cup capacity


From carrots to cauliflower, cabbage to eggs, and rice to potatoes, this 6-cup cooker/steamer and warmer from Zojirushi steams foods to perfection and keeps them warm. The set includes a removable steaming tray, nonstick cooking pan, measuring cup, and spatula--the removable parts make this steamer easy to clean, and a removable cord makes it easy to store. Watch the foods while they cook through the clear glass lid or watch the cooking switch that pops up when the food is ready. There's also an automatic keep-warm system activated immediately after rice is cooked, and durable stay-cool handles make for safe handling. This attractive rice cooker measures 9-1/4 by 9-1/4 by 9-1/4 inches. --David Drury


  • Enter your model number above to make sure this fits.
  • 6-cup cooker/steamer and warmer steams foods to perfection and keeps them warm
  • Stainless steel steaming tray and removable, easy-to-clean, nonstick inner cooking pan
  • See-through glass lid and automatic keep-warm function that activates immediately after food is cooked
  • Durable stay-cool handles for safe handling
  • Includes measuring cup, spatula, and removable cord for easy storing
  • NOTE: Please ensure to measure rice in the cup that comes along with the product ONLY


Zojirushi NHS-06 3-Cup (Uncooked) Rice Cooker


I am totally thrilled. For breakfast every morning I cook Old-Fashioned oatmeal with apple and cinnamon in it and for dinner rice with spices, veggies, shrimp or fish and have a meal in a pot. I highly recommend The Ultimate Rice Cooker Cookbook by Beth Hensperger and Julie Kaufman which has amazing recipes. The pan inside has very slippery non-stick coating which I carefully wash by hand. I rinse my rice first which is how you prevent the spitting that some people report. You MUST wash the rice to get the starch off. Cooks brown and mixed brown and wild rice wonderfully. Great for 1 or 2 people. Original review was written in 2005. Update 1/26/2016: I have owned my Zojirushi for over 10 years now, and it is still going strong. That is my idea of quality. It is simple to operate. Use the provided measure to measure the rice. Add water to the line shown inside the pan, not extra. Flip the switch on. It turns itself off. You have plenty of time with it staying warm if the lid stays on while you finish cooking. I usually cook 1 cup only, which is enough for 2 people. Or maybe 1 1/2. My counter is clean after I cook 1 cup to 1 1/2 cups with the right amount of water. I have given up rinsing the rice. With 1 or even 2 cups I do not get spitting, but how hard is it to wipe a counter? The inside of my cooker still looks new as does the outside, after hundreds of batches. It fits easily in an upper cupboard designed for plates, so it is at eye level. I have traveled with this and have used it for morning oatmeal with fruit, soup for lunch, one pot meals at dinner. It is a real champ. I would buy it over and over again. 5 stars still, after 10 years of use. But then I do not look for "fancy" in my cookware. I look for reliable, dependable, predictable, quality made. This is dependable, reliable, quality made. I love mine. I still highly recommend this.


Busy cooks cherish rice cookers. This one cooks up to 3 cups of dry rice (white or brown) and keeps it warm up to five hours. A glass lid permits monitoring of the cooking process. Instructions and a cooking chart explain everything. A measuring cup and serving spatula are included. The cooker operates with admirable simplicity: just push a switch to start. The switch and a light turn off when cooking is completed, and the unit automatically goes into its keep-warm mode. Stay-cool handles on the cooker's sides permit it to be moved. Only plastic scrubbers and mild detergent should be used for cleaning.

Features:

Cooks rice and keeps it warm up to five hours
Use also to boil vegetables
Measuring cup and serving spatula included
Uses 300 watts of power
Dimensions: 7.8" x 7.1" x 9.1"

Busy cooks cherish rice cookers. This one cooks up to 3 cups of dry rice (white or brown) and keeps it warm up to five hours. A glass lid permits monitoring of the cooking process. Instructions and a cooking chart explain everything. A measuring cup and serving spatula are included. The cooker operates with admirable simplicity: just push a switch to start. The switch and a light turn off when cooking is completed, and the unit automatically goes into its keep-warm mode. Stay-cool handles on the cooker's sides permit it to be moved. Only plastic scrubbers and mild detergent should be used for cleaning. --Fred Brack


  • Enter your model number above to make sure this fits.
  • Easy-to-use single switch control
  • See-through glass lid with stay cool knob
  • Stay cool handles for easy transport
  • Durable nonstick inner cooking pan
  • 3 cup capacity, 300 watts


Zojirushi NS-VGC05 Micom 3-Cup (Uncooked) Electric Rice Cooker and Warmer


I did a lot of research prior to choosing the Zojirushi rice cooker and luckily for me by the time I was ready to purchase the company had come out with this model NS-VGC05 which is very compact and perfect for one person or even two. It does an amazing job of cooking the rice to perfection. The instructions were easy to follow especially for being a novice. I am anxious to try the different settings for different rices and cakes. I called the company to find out about the built in clock. The instructions did not explain whether you have to have the unit plugged in to recharge the clock. The answer is that you do not have to have it plugged in. It is a lithium battery that has a 5-6 year life and then you would call the company directly to have it replaced.
The clean up was really easy again by following the instructions. I highly recommend this product. It is definitely worth the money paid!!!


This three-cup rice cooker can cook as little as 1/2 cup of (raw) rice. Its compact size makes it ideal for homes with minimal kitchen space such as apartments and dorm rooms. Micro computerized technology controls cooking temperature and time depending upon the menu setting. Menu settings include white/mixed/sushi/porridge/cake/rinse-free and quick cooking.


  • Enter your model number above to make sure this fits.
  • 3-cup rice cooker and warmer with micro-computerized Fuzzy logic technology
  • Menu settings include white/mixed/sushi, porridge, cake, rinse-free, and quick cooking
  • Easy-to-read LCD control panel with clock and timer functions; automatic keep warm
  • Thick spherical inner pan; rice spatula, 2 measuring cups, and recipes included
  • Measures 10-7/8 by 8-3/4 by 7-7/8 inches; 1-year limited warranty
  • NOTE: Please ensure to measure rice in the cup that comes along with the product ONLY


Zojirushi NS-ZCC10 5-1/2-Cup (Uncooked) Neuro Fuzzy Rice Cooker and Warmer, Premium White, 1.0-Liter


I finally convinced my wife to replace the old but still functional single switch rice cooker I'd owned for about 10 years. I have longed for something with an off switch so rice doesn't burn to the bottom when I forget to unplug it. This guy was the ticket.

It seems like a fairly complex machine but its really easy to use once you understand the setup. Its well designed. The pot is easy to clean and the inner lid snaps off for easy cleaning as well.

I have to say the rice it produces is some of the best I have had. I did a side by side cookoff with the old and the new rice cookers. The same rice just seemed to have more consistant texture and better strong flavor. Definatley worth the upgrade since we do lots of rice.

The one drawback I found is with the somewhat misleading specifications. They say this is a "5 cup" rice cooker. So I'm thinking 5 cups=40oz. Plenty big enough for a family of 4. Well its not quite that much. It seems in Asia (on the metric system) their idea of a cup is a teacup. If you look at the picture and see the two little cups next to the machine, it will hold 5 of THOSE cups. Those cups are approximatley 6oz each. So really it is a 4 (American) cup rice cooker, not 5. Of course 3/4 of a cup is about how much rice you'll eat in a meal so one run of this machine should be able to produce rice for 5. If you need more that that consider the NS-ZAC18 10 cup (8 cup) model.

The trick to the machine is to use the little cups that come with it. You measure out a few "cups" of rice and dump it into the pot. Then you add water and fill it up to the graduated mark on the inside of the pot. So if you toss in 2 cups you add water until you hit the 2 cup mark. It has different markings for Brown, White and Sushi rice.

Before discovering the proper way of using the smaller "cups" I used a regular 8oz cup on some Jasmine rice (then filled it to the designated level). It still came out way better than my rice cooker. It was firm but not hard and full of flavor. So if you screw up or loose your little "cup" you can still get great rice as long as the stickness is not absolutely critical to the receipe.

The manual makes a huge deal out of its ability to handle some "no rinse" rice who's milling technology was proudly developed in Japan. They devote pages to the setting and cooking it, but actually its pretty similar to the regular rice, you just use the green cup instead of the clear cup.

All in all this is a great little machine. If you want the best and are willing to pay the bucks this is the one to get. You will not feel your money is wasted.

Update:
Its now 6 years later and countless batches of rice and this little thing is still going strong. The pot has a few scratches from years of continous daily use but its holding up.

We expanded our use of this little gem. I've learned not to think of it as just a rice producing device but as a rice cooker + modified crock pot. My wife started using it to produce porriage and then later soup. She'll pour the ingredients in the night before, set the timer and her breakfast is ready 30 minutes before she wakes up. You can use it for grain soups, porriage, oatmeal and more. We buy packs of Thai flavored rice that say were supposed to cook on the stove. We dump the stuff in and hit go. They come out plenty tastey.

There is a quick cooking cycle that we use a lot. Shaves about 20 minutes off the cook time. Flavor suffers a little (though its still great) but when your in a rush...

Perhaps the most amazing thing however is what it does to brown rice. As a kid I was never fond of brown rice. Too hard and crunch and I was never that big on bran flavor. We got some brown rice and started cooking it in this thing and it was a whole new world. I don't know how it did it but it came out soft, a little chewey and decent tasting. Brown rice was now something worth eating vs avoiding.

So if for whatever reason you are looking to switch to brown rice but not thrilled with the flavor do yourself a favor and get one of these units. It makes it a whole new experience.

We haven't tried steaming anything yet. Maybe when our steamer breaks..

Update – 2015
After 12 years of service one of the boards went out on the cooker. It took some digging but there was a place in Fort Worth that I sent it off for a repair. The fix cost around $80. Still works great. Still used 1-2 times a day.


Zojirushi NS-ZCC10 5.5-Cup (Uncooked) Neuro Fuzzy Rice Cooker and Warmer, Stainless Steel

NS-ZCC10


The Zojirushi Neuro Fuzzy Rice Cooker & Warmer features advanced Fuzzy Logic technology, which allows the rice cooker to 'think' for itself and make fine adjustments to temperature and heating time to cook perfect rice every time.

The Micom Rice Cooker & Warmer cooks flawless rice .

This 5-1/2-cup rice cooker and warmer makes 10 cups of cooked rice and includes a variety of cooking functions comprising of white (regular/sushi, softer or harder), mixed rice, porridge, sweet, semi-brown, brown, rinse-free, and quick cooking. This unit uses a black thick spherical pan with stay cool side handles that provides even heating for better cooking. There is a programmable melody or beep audio indicator to indicate when the cooking cycle has ended.

Other highlights include a detachable and washable inner lid, an easy-to-read LCD control panel, and automatic keep warm, extended keep warm and reheating cycle, delay timer with two settings and a built-in retractable power cord. Accessories include a spatula, a spatula holder, and 2 rice-measuring cups (regular and rinse-free). The 680-watt rice cooker and warmer measures 10-1/8 by 13 by 8-1/8 inches.


Micro computerized Advanced Neuro Fuzzy logic technology
Menu settings include: white (regular/sushi, softer or harder), mixed, porridge, sweet, semi-brown, brown, rinse-free and quick cooking
Programmable melody or beep audio indicator
Extra Large Easy-to-Read color LCD display
Automatic keep warm, extended keep warm and reheating cycle
Spherical inner cooking pan and heating system ensures even heating for perfectly cooked rice
Programmable Delay timer (2 settings)
Fold down handle for easy carry and transport
Built-in retractable power cord
Accessories include: Spatula, spatula holder and 2 measuring cups (regular and rinse-free)
cETLus listed
Make every rice type imaginable with a Zojirushi Rice Cooker


Brown Rice

This is a menu setting designed to cook delicious brown rice. In order to cook hard rice bran and the rice inside, preheating time is extended for better absorption of water, and is cooked at a lower temperature to allow the rice to cook longer without becoming mushy.


Sushi Rice

Because sushi rice will be processed after it's cooked, it's easier to handle when it is a little firmer. This menu setting is very similar to regular white rice, but uses less water (adjusted by the water fill lines) for a firm finish.


Mixed

Mixed rice is rice cooked with additional ingredients and seasonings. This setting extends preheating for better absorption of seasoning. Also, the cooking temperature is slightly lower than regular white rice, to avoid ingredients from boiling over.


Porridge

Instead of cooking rice in larger amounts of water and risk making it sloppy, use the porridge setting to cook fluffy porridge. Cooking temperature is slightly lower than regular white rice, to be cooked longer for soft texture.


Steam

Steam your favorite foods. Steaming function can be lengthened or shortened by adjusting time setting.

MICOM (Microcomputer) Technology

Aided by microcomputer technology, this category of rice cooker takes having rice on your menu from “occasional” to “serious”. Basically, the microchip does all the thinking for you, as far as adjusting cooking times and temperatures according to the type of rice you are cooking, and timing the pre-soaking of the raw grains and the final “wait” .

MICOM allows the cooker to have multiple functions on its menu, making it a necessity for any avid rice fan who wants to incorporate rice into their daily diet.


How it Works

Conventional rice cookers simply turn on and off in reaction to temperature. The “fuzzy logic” of MICOM fine tunes this adjustment to adapt to various rice types, such as white, brown, sweet or porridge, which all has different cooking requirements. The trigger to everything is the thermal sensor, a small round button at the bottom of the inner body of the cooker. As the inner pan’s weight rests on it and activates the sensor, it starts the cooking process and keeps an eye on the temperature and time.

Key Features:

Convenient detachable inner lid
for easy cleaning.
 

Stay-cool side handles make removal of the inner cooking pan quick and easy.
 

Spherical inner cooking pan provides even heating for better cooker.
 
 
 



  • Enter your model number above to make sure this fits.
  • 5-1/2-cup computerized rice cooker and warmer with advanced Neuro Fuzzy logic technology
  • Multi-menu selections; automatic keep-warm, extended keep-warm, and reheat cycles
  • Spherical, nonstick inner pan allows for uniform heating; LCD clock and timer; retractable cord
  • Includes 2 measuring cups, nonstick rice spoon/scooper, rice spoon holder, and recipes
  • Measures approximately 14 by 8 by 9 inches; 1-year limited warranty
  • NOTE: Please ensure to measure rice in the cup that comes along with the product ONLY


Zojirushi NS-TSC10 5-1/2-Cup (Uncooked) Micom Rice Cooker and Warmer, 1.0-Liter


Zojirushi is a premium brand and should not be compared to the $15~$20 rice cooker from Walmart. Cheap rice cookers does not produce the same quality rice as the Micom (microcomputer) fuzzy-logic model.

There's a reason why Zojirushi is expensive, and that is for the quality of the rice cooker, and the quality of rice it produces everytime it cooks. The quality and built is designed to work 24/7 and this will last for years and years (My Aunt has one of this for years and she's still using it up to now).

You can put the rice in morning, set it to cook at 6pm or 7pm, go to work, and come home with a perfect rice waiting!

PROS
- Rice is cooked perfectly
- Modern looking (stainless steel/black)
- Easy to clean
- Not bulky
- Melody/Chime when cooking starts and finished
- Timer (You can set what time do you want the rice is finished cooking)
- Rice don't get mushy/wet when left in warm mode overnight. You can have rice available all day for several days!

CONS
- White rice cooks about 1hour (but this makes the rice perfectly cooked). There's a quick cook setting that will finish in around 30-40mins, but I don't recommend it. The cook quality is comparable to a regular rice cooker when quick cook is selected.

I also bought a cheaper version of Zojirushi Zojirushi NHS-18 10-Cup (Uncooked) Rice Cooker/Steamer & Warmer, Rice is also cooked nicely, but when you leave the rice in warm mode overnight (let's say you have leftovers and you want to eat rice in the morning), the rice is wet and mushy on the side, the middle is the only part not wet. So I returned that unit and bought this.

Me and my wife are happy with this purchase. Money well spent.

Highly recommended!



Zojirushi NS-TSC10 5-1/2-Cup (Uncooked) Rice Cooker and Warmer, Stainless Steel

The Micom Rice Cooker & Warmer not only cooks flawless rice but also comes with a steaming basket to double as a steamer and a cake menu setting to bake cakes.

This 5-1/2-cup rice cooker and warmer makes 10 cups of cooked rice and includes a variety of cooking functions including white rice/sushi, mixed rice, porridge, sweet, brown, cake, steam, and quick cooking. This unit uses a black thick inner cooking pan that provides even heating for better cooking and has an interchangeable melody and beep signal to indicate when the cooking cycle has ended.

Other highlights include a detachable and washable inner lid, an easy-to-read LCD control panel, and automatic keep warm, extended keep warm and reheating cycle, delay timer with two settings and a built-in retractable power cord. The unit's clear-coated stainless-steel exterior not only cleans easily, but also matches any kitchen decor. Accessories include a spatula, a spatula holder, and a rice-measuring cup. The 610-watt rice cooker and warmer measures 10-1/8 by 14 by 8-1/2 inches.


NS-TSC10 Product Features

Micro computerized Fuzzy Logic technology
Doubles as a steamer with its versatile steam setting
Easy-to-clean clear coated stainless steel exterior
Automatic keep warm, extended keep warm and reheating cycles
Built-in retractable power cord.
Interchangeable melody and beep signal
Delay timer (2 settings)
Easy-to-read LCD control panel with Clock and Timer functions
Detachable and washable inner lid
Includes steaming basket accessory to steam foods
Healthy brown rice setting
Convenient cake setting for baking cakes
Menu Settings include: white/sushi, mixed, porridge, sweet, brown, cake, steam, and quick cooking
cETLus listed
Make every rice type imaginable with a Zojirushi Rice Cooker


Brown Rice

This is a menu setting designed to cook delicious brown rice. In order to cook hard rice bran and the rice inside, preheating time is extended for better absorption of water, and is cooked at a lower temperature to allow the rice to cook longer without becoming mushy.


Sushi Rice

Because sushi rice will be processed after it's cooked, it's easier to handle when it is a little firmer. This menu setting is very similar to regular white rice, but uses less water (adjusted by the water fill lines) for a firm finish.


Mixed

Mixed rice is rice cooked with additional ingredients and seasonings. This setting extends preheating for better absorption of seasoning. Also, the cooking temperature is slightly lower than regular white rice, to avoid ingredients from boiling over.


Porridge

Instead of cooking rice in larger amounts of water and risk making it sloppy, use the porridge setting to cook fluffy porridge. Cooking temperature is slightly lower than regular white rice, to be cooked longer for soft texture.


Cake

Use the Cake menu setting to bake cakes inside the rice cooker. How’s that for versatility?


Steam

Steam your favorite foods. Steaming function can be lengthened or shortened by adjusting time setting.

MICOM (Microcomputer) Technology

Aided by microcomputer technology, this category of rice cooker takes having rice on your menu from “occasional” to “serious”. Basically, the microchip does all the thinking for you, as far as adjusting cooking times and temperatures according to the type of rice you are cooking, and timing the pre-soaking of the raw grains and the final “wait” period during steaming.


MICOM allows the cooker to have multiple functions on its menu, making it a necessity for any avid rice fan who wants to incorporate rice into her daily diet.

How it Works

Conventional rice cookers simply turn on and off in reaction to temperature. The “fuzzy logic” of MICOM fine tunes this adjustment to adapt to various rice types, such as white, brown, sweet or porridge, which all has different cooking requirements. The trigger to everything is the thermal sensor, a small round button at the bottom of the inner body of the cooker. As the inner pan’s weight rests on it and activates the sensor, it starts the cooking process and keeps an eye on the temperature and time.

Key Features:


BPA Free Steaming basket

Convenient detachable inner lid for easy cleaning.

Black thick inner cooking pan provides even heating for better cooker.

Accessories include rice measuring cup, nonstick rice spatula and spatula holder.


  • Enter your model number above to make sure this fits.
  • Micro computerized fuzzy logic technology
  • Automatic keep warm, extended keep warm and reheating cycle
  • Easy to clean clear coated stainless steel exterior, 2 delay time settings
  • Interchangeable melody and beep signal
  • Built in retractable power cord