Zojirushi NS-ZCC10 5-1/2-Cup Neuro Fuzzy Rice Cooker and Warmer, Premium White

Product Description

Zojirushi's NS-ZCC10 Neuro Fuzzy Rice Cooker and Warmer has advanced Neuro Fuzzy logic technology and a spherical pan and heating system. This rice cooker prepares perfect rice every time.

Product Details

* Amazon Sales Rank: #341 in Kitchen & Housewares
* Color: White
* Brand: Zojirushi
* Model: NS-ZCC10
* Released on: 2005-04-15
* Dimensions: 10.00" h x 8.00" w x 14.00" l, 8.20 pounds

Features

* 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 spherical heating; LCD clock and timer; retractable cord
* 2 measuring cups, nonstick rice spoon/scooper, rice spoon holder, and recipes included
* Measures approximately 14 by 8 by 9 inches; 1-year limited warranty

Amazon.com Product Description
Producing restaurant-quality rice at home is practically foolproof with this 680-watt computerized rice cooker and warmer. Simply fill the inner pot with up to 5-1/2 cups of uncooked rice, select the food type, press the cook key, and listen for the completion signal. The unit's black, thick, spherical inner pan, which allows for spherical heating, provides a Dupont Teflon nonstick coating that prevents rice from sticking, while stay-cool side handles make the inner cooking pan simple to remove for quick cleanup. Multi-menu selections using advanced Neuro Fuzzy logic technology control the temperature for efficient cooking of many different types of rice including white, sushi, mixed, porridge, sweet, semi-brown, brown, rinse-free, and quick cooking.

Customer Reviews

Great machine but Understand the Capacity5
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..

Simply Amazing!5
This rice cooker makes the best rice we have ever had - at least since our travels to Southeast Asia. And despite the fact that this machine *seems* smarter than it's user, it is remarkably simple to operate. The instruction book lacks a little bit in terms of recipes and creativity - but it does a good job giving you the basic idea of how to use this machine. This space age looking rice cooker is a little pricey, so it may be overkill for some - but I love all the features this offers and consider it well worth the price (which is a hundred less than what it is offered for here at Amazon). We eat a lot of brown rice, which is not something that other rice cookers handle well. This one has a setting for brown rice, and cooks it to perfection. Also has a setting for semi-brown rice, sushi rice, porridge & more. You get to pick how soft or hard you want the rice to turn out by using the control panel. Being able to set a timer for having rice ready when we get home from work is handy. This thing also cooks complete meals - definitely get a good cookbook for rice cooker cooking :-) We are expirimenting with many varieties of rice that I normally would have shyed away from, since I could not seem to cook even plain old brown rice properly until now.

It took me 6 months to decide to buy this thing. We were originally contemplating the MYC10 series, but the specific settings for brown rice became important to us. And this one takes up less space on the countertop than the MYC10. We will be eating rice nearly every day now thanks to this machine! I am definitely glad we chose the ZAC10, and would recommend this product. It's a keeper!

UPDATED JUNE 12, 2004: We have now had this rice cooker for nearly a year, and have used it at least 3 times a week. It has held up to regular use quite well, we have not had a single problem with it. If anything, we are eating at home more than ever because of the simplicity of planning meals ahead of time. One thing that we have learned is that the 5 cup capacity is for using the cooker for white rice. Brown rice capacity is about 3 cups. So if you anticipate using this for more than 3 6 oz. cups of dry brown rice, you might consider steppig up to the 10 cup capacity model ZAC18. One tip for making very tasty rice, use a broth instead of water (or 1/2 and 1/2). If you are on fence about this cooker go ahead and take the leap - it is fantastic! No regrets!

UPDATED April 18, 2008: Well, the "Brown Rice" setting finally died this week after nearly five (yes FIVE!) faithful years of weekly use. We remain very pleased with this product, and plan to upgrade to the newest model in a 10 cup capacity.

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

Product Description

Plump moist grains of rice and brilliantly colored flavorful vegetables are yours with this steamer. Steaming not only preserves nutrients, flavors, and colors marvelously well, it also allows you to cook without adding oil or fat. Once your food is cooked it will stay warm until you're ready to serve, eliminating those timing headaches. And last but surely not least, the cooking pan is removable and non-stick, ensuring your precious time isn't spent cleaning up.

Product Details

* Amazon Sales Rank: #4150 in Kitchen & Housewares
* Brand: Zojirushi
* Model: NHS-18
* Number of items: 1
* Dimensions: 9.40" h x 12.80" w x 10.00" l, 6.80 pounds

Features

* 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


Amazon.com Review
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


Customer Reviews

Very Important5
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.

Be sure to wash your rice...4
I love my rice cooker and use it several times a week! But you need to wash your rice thoroughly before cooking. This will help with the "spitting water" problem the cooker has.

I enjoy using the steamer for kale, broccoli, cauliflower, or carrots. The only trick is learning when to put the veggies in while the rice is cooking so that the veggies don't overcook.

My brown rice tends to clump and stick on the bottom, even when the rice is washed. That's one problem that keeps me from rating this as a 5 star machine. The other problem is that the instruction booklet is poorly done. Brown rice needs to soak for 30 minutes before starting to cook.

what? rice again?!!...............you bet!!5
i just wanted to add my two cents to help offset some of the negative reviews. i bought this particular cooker due to the positive reviews both here and on some other websites. i wanted a cooker due to being tired of cooking potatoes with most meals and getting tired of them. i received the unit very quickly and immediately tried it out. i wanted to try brown rice first, so i washed it briefly and put it in the machine to cook. shortly, a mass of bubbles filled below the lid and started 'sputtering' through the steam hole. not happy about the mess it was making, i endured it and ended up eating some fairly good rice with my first meal. i thought "yeah, they were right, it's messy, what a bummer". so, round two and three, i cooked some more, this time trying varieties of white rice and both resulting in a repeat of the first messy attempt, along with some 'browning' of the rices on the bottom of the pan. again i thought "this is no fun, friends or guests are going to think this is a piece of junk". by this time, i had been reading quite a bit on the 'net about rice, and concluded that a more thorough rinsing of the grains were in order, so my fourth round started off with such, along with an accurate measurement of rice and water, and....a pat of butter thrown in......i thought maybe it might help it from sticking or browning in the bottom. the result......perfect rice! i'm now making that my preparation regimen and i'm getting better results each time. i'm convinced that the errors others are reporting are not the machine's fault and i'm also convinced that, like most other machines, the user needs to figure out how to use it. in a short time a person should be able to make perfect rice repeatedly. to help the bottom-sticking, i'm also now opening the lid and giving a couple of stirs a couple of times through the cooking cycle. also note, like others have said that washing the rice is a must (maybe up to and including soaking, but i haven't tried that yet), as you are washing off a lot of the starch that helps make the mess in the first place. take note of the type of rice you buy. some rices have been stripped of their vitamins and have them 'sprayed back on', the bags will have instructions on them telling you to NOT wash the rice. i would avoid those types. i have yet to steam veggies or whole meals in it, but i'm sure i can get good results from it just as well.

good luck and good health!

Zojirushi NS-XAC05XR Rizo Micom 3-Cup Rice Cooker and Warmer, Stainless

Product Description

The Zojirushi RIZO electric rice cooker is user-friendly, allowing even beginners to cook rice easily with just the touch of a button. RIZO is equipped with switches for different cooking recipes, including sushi, risotto as well as cooking steamed dishes for the health-conscious. The body comes in three different designs: a stainless metallic finish (which is this one), and shades of white and yellow; reflecting the image of rice and saffron rice respectively. Rizo has a micro computerized Fuzzy logic technology. It has direct button menu selections: Rice/Sushi, Risotto, Steam Cook (Keep Warm, Reset). This unit includes a new steaming plate for healthy cooking. It has a spherical inner cooking pan and heating system which creates a convection for better cooking. The inner cooking pan is nonstick.A new style rice cooker, perfect for health-conscious rice cooking as well as steamed dishes; RIZO is set to make its global launch. About the Designer - Mr. Toshiyuki Kita: Mr. Toshiyuki Kita is an active, internationally respected environment, interior and product designer. His designs are permanent colletins at the Musium of Modern Art in New York, Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris, Museum of Modern Art in Saint-Etienne, France, and has held exhibitions across the world. He has also received many awards including the Product Design Award from the Institute of Business Designers and Conract Magazine in the U.S. and the gold prize of the Good Design Award. His recent design includes Sharp's AQUOS television.

Product Details

* Amazon Sales Rank: #48897 in Kitchen & Housewares
* Color: Stainless Steel
* Brand: Zojirushi
* Model: NS-XAC05XR
* Released on: 2007-02-05
* Dimensions: 9.00" h x 9.00" w x 10.00" l, 6.05 pounds

Features

* User-friendly 3-cup electric rice cooker yields up to 6 cups of rice
* Menu settings include white/sushi rice, risotto, and steam cooking
* Micro-computerized Fuzzy logic technology; nonstick inner cooking pan
* Steaming plate, measuring cup, rice spatula, and spatula stand included
* Measures 9-1/2 by 8-7/8 by 8-5/8; 1-year limited warranty

Customer Reviews

risotto made easy5
This thing is amazing when it comes to making risotto. I've only had it a short time but have made about a half-dozen batches of risotto and all have been successful beyond expectations except for one batch with peas in it which was a little underdone. The best so far has been risotto con gorgonzolla, but the batches of risotto milanese I have made have also been excellent.

However, I'm still working out cooking regular rice in it. The batches I have made so far have been a little sticky but they are getting better (I reduced the water I used). But since I bought it primarily to make risotto I can't complain too much.

Perfect function and apperance5
I had been looking for a rice cooker since mine was broken. Since I saw Zojirushi Rizo Micom I decided to purchase it right away. Zojirushi is the one of the best companies for rice cookers. Besides, they made a stylish rice cooker this time. This rice cooker makes perfect fluffy rice without scorched part at the bottom of the pot. It is very easy to clean up. The only thing I wish is to shorten time to cook rice. It takes 50-60 minutes, but has function to set up time to start cooking.
Anyway I am very happy with this product.

Buy it for its looks, but the rice is good too5
When I lived in Japan, I had an old Zojirushi rice cooker. I've wanted a new one for a long time and finally purchased the Zojirushi NS-XAC05XR Rizo Micom 3-Cup Rice Cooker and Warmer, Stainless. I first saw the yellow model in a magazine article and thought it was very cute. I followed the advice of one of the reviewers and purchased the rice cooker via warehousedeals.com. It was more affordable. They happened to have the stainless model, so I purchased it. In many of the photos it does not look shiny, but it is shiny like a mirror.

This is, as you know, a small rice cooker. I usually make 1 or 1.5 cups for two adults and have leftovers. Since I had used a rice cooker before, I found this model easy to use. I have tried both cheap white rice and CalRose and both taste good. This model does not have a brown rice setting, but I have been making a mix of half or two thirds brown mix and I think it comes out good. I have not tried the steamer or made mixed rice and I don't plan on ever making Risotto.

I think this is a great looking rice cooker, which I will leave out on my counter when it is being used at least every couple of days. I think it makes good rice and it is so convenient to be able to set the rice and do something else while it cooks. I time the cooking of the rest of the meal to be done when the rice will be done.

Zojirushi NS-WAC10 Micom Fuzzy-Logic 5-1/2-Cup Rice Cooker and Warmer

Product Description

Zojirushi's 5.5 Cup Micom Rice Cooker and Warmer has micro computerized Fuzzy Logic technology. Many features include easy-to-read LCD control panel with clock and timer. It has an interchangeable melody and beep signer and a delay timer with two settings. Automatic keep warm and extended keep warm settings, as well.

Product Details

* Amazon Sales Rank: #22328 in Kitchen & Housewares
* Size: 5.5-Cup
* Color: White
* Brand: Zojirushi
* Model: NS-WAC10
* Released on: 2008-03-28
* Dimensions: 8.50" h x 9.88" w x 13.19" l,

Features

* 5-1/2-cup rice cooker and warmer with Fuzzy Logic technology
* User-friendly LCD control panel; multi-menu cooking functions
* Automatic keep warm; clock and delay timer; dent-resistant plastic exterior
* Includes 2 measuring cups, a nonstick spatula, and a spatula holder
* Measures 13-3/16 by 9-7/8 by 8-1/2 inches


Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Product Description
Equipped with micro-computerized Fuzzy Logic technology, this 5-1/2-cup rice cooker and warmer automatically makes fine adjustments to the temperature and heating time to ensure perfectly cooked rice every time. The unit comes with a black, thick, inner cooking pan that provides even heating, and its multi-menu cooking functions include white/mixed, sushi, porridge, sweet, brown, quick, and rinse-free. Once the rice has fully cooked, the appliance automatically switches to Keep Warm mode, which keeps the rice at the perfect serving temperature without overcooking. The unit also provides extended keep-warm settings, a user-friendly LCD control panel, a clock and delay timer, a detachable and washable inner lid, a dent-resistant plastic exterior, and a detachable power cord for easy storage. Accessories include a rice-measuring cup, a rinse-free rice-measuring cup, a nonstick spatula, and a spatula holder. Ideal for singles or smaller families, the 610-watt 5-1/2-cup rice cooker measures 13-3/16 by 9-7/8 by 8-1/2 inches.

Customer Reviews

Very Good Rice Cooker5
I bought this a couple months ago for use in my apartment and I'm very pleased with the purchase. It does a great job of cooking brown rice as well as white rice which is why I bought it. It keeps the rice warm for a very long time without drying it out too. The timer feature works great too, I just set it early in the day and my rice is always done at the exact minute I want.

I have absolutely no complaints with this purchase and would definitely buy it again if I had to.

Don't agonise-just buy it!5
When I'd mentioned I was 'thinking about' buying a rice cooker a friend recommended the Zojirushi cookers above others.

Yes, this rice cooker delivers on its claims. It's easy to use. I haven't tried too many fancy recipes and I seldom if ever use the timer functions. This handsome model is well-designed and a breeze to clean. The fuzzy logic settings for various rices and porridge make sure whichever type of rice (or oats) I put in the cooker come out perfectly cooked. The warming settings work perfectly.

Its capacity is right sized for a couple or a small family.

The Zoji makes me feel like I have a 'helper' in my kitchen.

Great Item For Auto Rice Maker5
This is the 2nd Zojirushi rice cooker I purchased...the electronics in the system is good (programmable operation time), the different features offered are awesome!...a must have if you are a person with limited time to cook...

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

Product Description

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.

Product Details

* Amazon Sales Rank: #6920 in Kitchen & Housewares
* Color: Beige
* Brand: Zojirushi
* Model: NS-VGC05
* Dimensions: 8.75" h x 7.88" w x 10.88" l,

Features

* 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

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Product Description
Equipped with micro-computerized Fuzzy logic technology, this 3-cup electric rice cooker and warmer makes producing restaurant-quality rice at home practically foolproof. Choose from a variety of menu settings including white/mixed/sushi, porridge, cake, rinse-free, and quick cooking. The unit provides a thick spherical inner pan, and its smaller size allows for cooking up as little as a 1/2-cup of rice--perfect for singles and smaller families. Other highlights include an easy-to-read LCD control panel with clock and timer functions, a delay timer with two settings, automatic keep warm, a detachable and washable inner lid, durable plastic housing, and a detachable cord for tidy storage. Accessories include a rice spatula and two measuring cups, as well as recipes for hand-rolled sushi, sponge cake, and cheesecake. Made in China, the ETL-approved 420-watt rice cooker and warmer measures 10-7/8 by 8-3/4 by 7-7/8 inches and carries a one-year limited warranty.

Customer Reviews

Review of my new rice cooker5
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!!!

Great purchase!5
I have eaten rice all my life. This rice cooker is great for 1-2 people, and does not leak or dry the rice out.

I always have rice going for any time or day I want to have some.

I highly recommend this product.

Zojirushi NS-VGC05 Micom 3-Cup Electric Rice Cooker and Warmer3
Nice and compact. Too much water dripping from rid and you need to wipe it every time you open the warmer. Older version of rice cooker/warmer had little cup outside to receive warter but this one deposit warter around rim. Wish it had better way to receive escaped warter.

Zojirushi NHS-06 3-Cup Rice Cooker

Product Description

Sometimes it seems the world of appliances has no room for smaller households, the mantra seems to be "the bigger the better." However, in this case there is an exception. The Zojirushi 3 cup rice cooker makes the ideal amount of perfectly steamed, plump and tender rice for small families, or even singles (after all you can always warm up the leftovers). The non-stick removable pan is easy to clean and a glass-lid lets you keep an eye on the progress.

Product Details

* Amazon Sales Rank: #17909 in Kitchen & Housewares
* Brand: Zojirushi
* Model: NHS-06
* Number of items: 1
* Dimensions: 7.80" h x 9.10" w x 7.10" l, 3.10 pounds

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
* 7-1/4 inches high to lid knob; 9-1/4 inches in diameter, including handles

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
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

Customer Reviews

You can do better for the price and features3
This machine is designed to give baseline service in a rice cooker. It uses a design and technology over 15+ years old. For the amount of money being charged you might want to consider getting a machine that at least has a retractable cord.

On the plus side - the pan heats well and is teflon coated; does white long grain and Japanese medium and short grain very well.

Be aware that the water markings on the interior of the pan correspond to cooking Japanese rice which uses a different ratio of rice to water than other varieties such as, wehani or short grain brown.

This machine has to be played with to do shorter grain varieties of brown. It can handle long grain brown fine.

I would make the suggestion of looking at (all) the rice cookers there and find one that has the following things for the money:

1) stainless steel pan or aluminium pan lined with teflon; 2) retractable cord; 3) warming function;

An on/off switch is NOT standard on an Asian rice cooker. It is due to the fact that in Japan and Australia there is an on/off switch right in the wall plug area. The manufacturers did not take into account that Americans with their different outlet styles would be rice junkies (silly them).

Do not cook anything less than a cup or try for more than 3 cups. Too little rice cooked comes out a bit odd while too much means your pot lid will pop up due to too much steam.

Oh yeah, that's another thing - the lid can make noise due to the steam lifting it during the cooking process (bubbling pot lid kind of stuff). It is not dangerous so don't freak from the noise.

This machine is fine for the dorm or home. But do examine the cost of the machine, the amount of rice you eat and the cost of the machine to features.

This machine is good but it is not great.

Does not match specs4
Specs say it keeps rice warm for 5 hours. True of higher priced models, not true of this one. Instruction book clearly states the it shuts off when cooking is complete.

Specs and instruction book say a cookbook comes with it. It does not.

Zojirushi NSRNC-18A Automatic Rice Cooker and Warmer with Floral Imprint

Product Description

Decorated with delicately drawn and colored flowers, this 700-watt appliance cooks up to 10 cups of rice and then automatically keeps the rice at the proper temperature for up to 12 hours. A locking lid ensures rice stays fresh and moist. Lights indicate whether the unit is in "cook" or "warm" mode, and turning on the cooker requires nothing more than pushing a lever. A nonstick coating on the cooking pan prevents rice from sticking, and the pan can be lifted out of the unit for cleanup. To eliminate clutter on the counter or in storage the power cord retracts under the unit. The cooker measures 12-1/8 inches in diameter and 12-7/8 inches high, and comes with a spatula, spatula holder, and measuring cup. --Fred Brack

Product Details

* Amazon Sales Rank: #28008 in Kitchen & Housewares
* Brand: Zojirushi
* Model: NSRNC-18A
* Dimensions: 12.10" h x 12.60" w x 12.70" l, 1.10 pounds

Features

* Cooks up to 10 cups of rice and then automatically keeps it warm
* Locking lid keeps rice fresh and moist for 12 hours
* Removable nonstick cooking pan prevents rice from sticking, cleans easily
* Cord retracts under unit to eliminate clutter
* Includes spatula, spatula holder, measuring cup

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
Decorated with delicately drawn and colored flowers, this 700-watt appliance cooks up to 10 cups of rice and then automatically keeps the rice at the proper temperature for up to 12 hours. A locking lid ensures rice stays fresh and moist. Lights indicate whether the unit is in "cook" or "warm" mode, and turning on the cooker requires nothing more than pushing a lever. A nonstick coating on the cooking pan prevents rice from sticking, and the pan can be lifted out of the unit for cleanup. To eliminate clutter on the counter or in storage the power cord retracts under the unit. The cooker measures 12-1/8 inches in diameter and 12-7/8 inches high, and comes with a spatula, spatula holder, and measuring cup. --Fred Brack

Customer Reviews

The floral print is key5
Growing up in an Asian family, we weren't about to mess around with cheap crumby rice cookers. The Zojirushi 10 cups through the years have kept me well fed for 25 years. If you treat it well (i.e. no metal on the nonstick), they'll last forever. If you don't eat rice every day or don't have a large family, this unit might be overkill. You may think about a 4 or 5 cup. You can, of course, buy this one too. My mom owns 3 rice cookers. If you ever go to an Asian food market, you'll see that practically every rice cooker comes in floral print. I don't trust a rice cooker without flowers on the side. =)

PRO:
Easy perfect rice every time
Can feed a small army
Comes with everything except rice and water
Will last forever with a little care
Floral print

CON:
Not for people living alone
You need to know how to make rice
Kinda pricy, but worth it if you eat a lot of rice

Good rice every time.5
It is surprising how much rice my family uses. When I leave work and pick up the kids, I am already scheming to find a way to put a meal on the table in 15 minutes. Rice is a pretty versatile choice, so it finds its way to the menu two or three times a week. Make a little sushi on Saturday, and suddenly one is going through five pounds or so a month. Sad to say, though, it requires a bit of attention. Get distracted by the chicken, and, oops, there goes the side dish! Comes Zojirushi to the rescue with foolproof rice. Rinse a couple of cups of rice, add water, and push one button. Minutes later, the rice is ready with the dinner. The texture is good, and the machine keeps the rice warm without burning it. Two cups or ten cups cook up equally well. Cleanup is a sanp, as the bowl slides out easily. A handy self-retreacting cord keeps it compact when I put it away later. One caution: keep the kids away from the vent while it is on, lest they are burned by the steam. I keep my ricemaker handy on the shelf, next to my bread machine, also a Zojirushi. The two of them are my favorite, and most often used, kitchen time-savers.

The only option!5
My mother has been using hers for 20 years. I own this rice cooker and its the only one I would ever buy. Its good for korean style short grain rice which is really sticky. Western style long grain rice works well too. Once I made a paella in it and it was not bad! You can also add pre-soaked beans to your rice.

I think the new "fuzzy logic" models are not worthwhile. I just want to put in the rice and cook it!

There is only one button, so its easy to use. Use the measuring cup that comes with it and then add water up to the corresponding line on the inside of the bowl. For instance, for 3 cups of rice, put water up to the 3 cup line. I prefer moister rice so I add more water, like a 1/2 measure more. The chinese method of adding water to the first knuckle of your finger works too.

Another tip, this is an awesome non stick bowl, but it scrathes really easily. NEVER EVER, put a fork or even a spoon in it. Use the spatula that comes with it. Also never scrub it, wash with a little soap and soft sponge. I mean it, never scrub or you will ruin it right away.

I agree with the other reviewer, its all about the retractable power cord. Why dont all appliances have this?

Zojirushi NS-ZCC18 10-Cup Neuro Fuzzy Rice Cooker and Warmer, Premium White

Product Description

Zojirushi's NS-ZCC18 Neuro Fuzzy Rice Cooker and Warmer has advanced Neuro Fuzzy logic technology and a spherical pan and heating system. This rice cooker prepares perfect rice every time.

Product Details

* Amazon Sales Rank: #3592 in Kitchen & Housewares
* Color: White
* Brand: Zojirushi
* Model: NS-ZCC18
* Released on: 2005-04-15
* Number of items: 1
* Dimensions: 11.50" h x 9.50" w x 14.50" l,

Features

* Measures approximately 11 by 9 by 10-1/2-inch; 1-year limited warranty.
* 2 Measuring cups, nonstick rice spoon/scooper, rice spoon holder, and recipes included
* Spherical, nonstick inner pan allows for spherical heating; LCD clock and timer; retractable cord
* Multi-menu selections; automatic keep-warm, extended keep-warm, and reheat cycles
* 10-Cup computerized rice cooker and warmer with advanced neuro fuzzy logic technology

Customer Reviews

Excellent Rice Cooker5
Excellent rice cooker. So far, I've used it for white and brown rice with and without the automatic timer and it works great. I'll use it for shushi next week. With the automatic timer feature you set up the machine and then tell the rice cooker the time of day when you want your rice to be ready. After that time it switches automatically into 'keep warm' mode so your rice is ready to eat in case you're delayed. This is one of the main reasons I bought this specific model.

A few things to note so you can make a more informed purchase.

1- Cup size is different. I guess a japanese cup is different than those used in the US. Therefore, 10 cups in this case actually translates to 7.5 US-sized cups of rice.

2- Cooking time is longer than 'normal'. I included the estimates for some types of rice straight from the manual. The zojirushi website also has estimates.
a- Quick cooking (only white rice): 35-45 min
b- White Rice: 51-60 min
c- Sushi rice: 47-58 mn
d- Brown rice: 82-108

3- The minimum amount of rice you can make with the 10 cup model is 1 cup except for sweet, mixed, and brown rice where the minimum is 2 cups. Mixed rice is one where you ad a few other ingredients that will cook together with the rice 9eg. soup stock, soy sauce). For the 5 cup the minimum you can make is 1 cup for all types of rice except porridge where you can make 0.5 cups. Again, these are the smaller cup sizes.

4- For those with small kitchens, the 10 cup machine has the following dims (WxDxH in inches): 11x14.2x9.4. The 5 cup is 10x13x8.1

Enjoy perfect rice every time. Spend your time preparing other parts of your meal.

who knew?5
I've made rice all my life. I learned from my first cook book -- Julia Child.

But a few years ago, I moved to a new climate area and it's been hit and miss ever since. I made pots of rice turned to mush and pots of rice so hard and uncooked they were inedible.

In desparation, I read all the descriptions, online reviews, evaluations by "America's Test Kitchen" -- all the resources I could find -- and this 10-cup Neuro Fuzzy seemed to offer the most consistant results to people and testers.

And you know what? They were right.

Every pot of rice since I got this machine over 6 months ago has been perfect. Also perfect with broccoli added on top of the rice in the last 10 minutes. Also perfect in the "mixed" mode with chopped veggies added with the rice and water. Also perfect for rice pudding. Also perfect for breakfast hot cereal.

And the "keep warm" function is sooooooo useful when people are in and out at meal time -- or when folks are sitting up late working and need a second helping of something warm and good.

who knew? Not me. Now I do.

Zojirushi NS-PC10 Electric 5-Cup Rice Cooker and Warmer

Product Description

Includes Zojirushi NS-PC10 Electric Rice Cooker & Warmer.

Product Details

* Amazon Sales Rank: #26221 in Kitchen & Housewares
* Brand: Zojirushi
* Model: NS-PC10
* Number of items: 1
* Dimensions: 11.10" h x 14.00" w x 10.40" l, 8.10 pounds

Features

* Cooks 1 to 5 cups rice and keeps it warm, fresh, moist for hours
* Nonstick pan readily releases rice and cleans easily
* Single control for easy operation; cool-touch exterior
* Rice spatula, removable spatula holder, measuring cup included
* 420 watts; 9-1/2 inches wide, 8-3/4 inches high, 12-1/2 inches deep

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
Equipped with a locking lid and a steam cap/vent to preserve moisture, this 420-watt electric appliance produces 1 to 5 cups of cooked rice and then automatically keeps the rice fresh, moist, and warm for hours. About 30 minutes is required to cook 5 cups, with an additional 15 minutes of warming recommended for maximum fluffiness. The cooker operates simply. There's a single control to begin the cooking process, and lights signal when cooking ends and warming begins. Inside the white-plastic, cool-touch exterior, a nonstick pan readily releases cooked rice and then cleans up easily. Accompanying the cooker are a rice spatula, a spatula holder that hooks onto the cooker's side, and a plastic measuring cup. The cooker measures 9-1/2 inches wide, 8-3/4 inches high, and 12-1/2 inches deep, weighs 5-3/4 pounds, and can be lifted by handles recessed into the sides. --Fred Brack

Customer Reviews

Excellent - met all my expectations5
Initial purchase around November of 2003: In my house, we mainly eat brown rice & I was concerned that the cooker handle this since rice cookers seem to be designed with white rice in mind. I also wanted to be able to start it in the morning and come back after work and find it perfectly cooked and still hot. I'm happy to report that this cooker performs perfectly at both tasks. For my brown rice, I find that I need a little extra water (ie, fill it a little over the line instead of at the line) but this is a minor quibble. Other than that, it's very easy to use, the measuring marks for water & the measuring cup for rice make it unexpectadely easy to measure the desired amount of rice. I have also used this with great success with more exotic rices incdluding wild rice, black rice and red rice from Butan (or somewhere around there, I got it at Whole Foods)

Update 10/24/04: After almost a year of use, I still love this rice cooker and recently used it to cook barley very successfully (but you have to measure the water & barley yourself, don't use the rice measurements that are pre-labeled on the cooker as the water to grain ratio is different for barley than rice).

Also, I've abused it by pouring rice into the heating compartment of the unit itself and it still works! I simply forgot to put the rice pot in the unit and poured in the rice without it. By the time I realized my error some had gotten into the innards, where it still lives some months later. Other than the fact that I can hear it, the cooker continues to work flawlessly

Update 8/22/2006. Still working flawlessly, even though there is still rice in the innards due to my carelessness.

You won't know how you ever cooked rice without it!5
For years I've wished that I could cook "perfect rice". This little "Zo" has made it possible for me to prepare perfect Sushi-style rice (sumptuously sticky and moist) as well as the perfect cafeteria-style rice (no two grains stick together, and the rice is firm, almost al dente). And the absolute best feature is the impossibly non-stick surface of the cooking pot. Every grain of rice falls out of the pot! Cleaning my previous rice cooker was so repulsive and difficult that I soon stopped using it. You can use a damp paper towel and clear water to clean this Zo!!

The recipe is simple -- measure rice, rinse, add water, soak, press the button, let it steam for 15 minutes after the cook cycle has finished, then stir to release the trapped excess steam. PERFECT! The Zojirushi will keep your rice warm for hours, but who can wait that long to eat it? Not me!

If you want to avoid the very tiny bit of browned rice on the bottom, the secret seems to be rinsing the rice for a ridiculous amount of time, at least 5 full minutes.

I heartily recommend this item.

Good rice for average rice eaters5
We eat rice often. We've had a Faberware cooker for years that finaly died. Wouldn't get another as it cooked the rice unevenly with 'burned spots'. The Zojirushi costs lots more, but is well worth it. This unit cooks all of the rice perfectly every time. We like the size, it delivers 2 to 5 cups of cooked rice, and it delivers the same high quality rice for any batch size.

I wish we could leave it pluged in, but there is no on/off switch. The overall quality seams very good, what you would expect from a [price] machine.

If you eat rice frequently, and enjoy high quality food, this is an excellent machine and is well worth the cash.

Zojirushi NP-HBC18 10-Cup Rice Cooker and Warmer with Induction Heating System, Stainless Steel

Product Description

Zojirushi's newest Induction Heating System rice cooker and warmer incorporates induction heating and micro computer technology.The features are as follows: Superior induction heating (IH) technology; Healthy cooking options- brown rice, GABA brown rice and germinated brown rice; Multi-menu cooking functions: white rice (regular, softer or harder), mixed rice, sushi rice, porridge, sweet rice and quick cooking; New easy to clean clear coated stainless steel exterior; black thick spherical inner cooking pan; detachable and washable inner lid; Easy-to-read LCD control panel for Clock and Timer functions; interchangeable melody and beep signer

Product Details

* Amazon Sales Rank: #2405 in Kitchen & Housewares
* Color: Stainless steel finish
* Brand: Zojirushi
* Model: NP-HBC18
* Dimensions: 9.00" h x 16.00" w x 11.00" l,

Features

* Measures 15-5/8 by 10-13/16 by 9-5/16-inch.
* Spatula, spatula holder, and rice-measuring cup included
* Multi-menu cooking functions; LCD control panel; keep warm; timer
* Superior induction heating evenly distributes heat for excellent results
* 10-Cup rice cooker and warmer with micro computer technology

Customer Reviews

Rice wasn't rice before the Zojirushi came into my kitchen!5
We thought we knew what rice was supposed to be like when we used our Costco Aroma Rice Cookers--we would just, as a matter of course, replace the old ones with the same brand... Until this time.
After reading up on consumer reviews and Japanese sites, we opted to try the Zojirushi Induction Heating Rice Cooker. The stainless steel is STUNNING--the pictures do NOT do it justice--it is gorgeous on my countertop--a piece of furniture, like the KitchenAid Mixer. It is easy to set up (clock time, etc) and easy to use. (The directions are very clear.) I tried some Jasmine Rice in it for our first try--and WOW! I was totally amazed! Each piece of rice is perfect in every way. I have never had such results before. Perfect temperature, perfect texture, perfect stickiness, perfect taste. The aroma in the kitchen fills the house and it's wonderful.
There is very little steam (unlike most rice cookers) and it is very easy to clean up. It keeps the rice at that perfect temperature for hours--even longer with the extended warm feature.
I know it's expensive--but in this case, I truly believe you get what you pay for. If you want to know what rice is supposed to be like--you must get one of these! Zojirushi makes a couple of different types of rice cookers--and I have heard that they are all terrific. This one cooks with induction heating, which uses magnets... the unit doesn't get hot...
If you can--get this one!

Love it! Love it! Love it!5
I purchased this rice cooker about a month or so ago. I cannot say enough good things about this rice cooker. It is absolutely fantastic! Everything I've made (rice and non-rice) has come out wonderfully!

I have a cook/warm rice cooker that I'm going to sell at a yard sale. I will never be able to go back to using that type of machine again. The difference between the Zojirushi and the cook/warm is more than night and day. The difference between the quality in the rice bowls alone is unbelievable. The Zojirushi has a bowl that is very thick and heavy, not unlike my stove top cookware. My old cook/warm rice bowl feels like one of my cheap mixing bowls.

Prior to purchasing the Zojirushi, we never really cared for brown rice. It was too crunchy/chewy. Now my family and I love brown rice. The GABA Brown Rice setting is amazing. I have never made, nor eaten, brown rice that was so light and fluffy before in my life. Because of that, we mostly eat brown rice now - which is much healthier for us anyway.

You will not be disappointed with this machine. It's looks beautiful sitting on the counter top. Clean up is a breeze - the stainless has some sort of coating and does not show fingerprints or smears!

The best rice cooker out there5
Update: We have owned this rice cooker for about 2 years now and it continues to cook good rice every time. Some Tips:
1. Add 10% more water than is indicated, this will make fluffier rice
2. In order to make Persian-style rice, throw in one tablespoon butter and salt to taste with the water: when used with Basmati rice, this would produce fragrant rice with every grain standing apart.
3. For long-grain rice, use the "Soft" option.
4. Please use it to cook brown rice on GABA setting. Exquisite.
-----------------------------------------
We have had this rice cooker for a week now and have already tried all its settings. It's unbelievable how this cooker makes fluffy, moist rice where each grain stands out without getting sticky. This happens whether you put in Basmati rice, Sushi rice or brown rice. It's astounding how the rice remain fresh, warm and hardly dry out. That was a big change for us, having used no-good Oster rice cookers until we went to a Japanese supermarket and saw how cool and functional this unit looked. We are now eating more (healthier) brown rice and not throwing away any rice the following day. The Japanese sure know how to cook rice.

The menu is simple but offers plenty of choice. The inside bowl is heavy and made of Stainless Steel and has deep and clear marking to help you add the right amount of water without having to use cups. The melodies are a bit of a nuisance, but you wouldn't hear them over your dishwasher, so that's quite all right. The cooker does take twice as long as other, cheap rice cookers, but the ensuing taste is worth the wait.

Without a doubt, the machine is beautiful. If you really want to eat great rice every time and can afford the price, this is your best choice.

Zojirushi NS-RNC10 Automatic 5.5-Cup Rice Cooker and Warmer

Product Description

Zojirushi Automatic Rice Cooker Warmer NSRNC10

Product Details

* Amazon Sales Rank: #16729 in Kitchen & Housewares
* Brand: Zojirushi
* Model: NS-RNC10
* Number of items: 1
* Dimensions: 10.90" h x 10.90" w x 11.40" l, 7.30 pounds

Features

* Keep warm system automatically activates after cooking is completed
* Lock-tight lid keeps rice fresh and moist for extended periods
* Nonstick cooking pan prevents rice from sticking for easier serving and clean-up
* Side condensation collector and built-in cord. Accessories include spatula, spatula holder and measuring cup.
* Dimensions 9.75" long, 19.875" wide, 10" high weighs 6.4lbs

Amazon.com Review
This electric rice cooker from Zojirushi provides useful capacity and handy details, not to mention the ability to keep rice moist, warm, and fresh for up to 12 hours after cooking is finished. The cooker is a good size for small families or couples, handling between 1 and 5.5 cups of rice at a time and requiring cooking times ranging from 12 to 24 minutes. Operation is incredibly simple--just add rice and water, depress the power tab, and walk away. The lock-tight lid maximizes cooking conditions, and the cooker automatically switches to keep-warm mode when the rice is finished. Indicator lights help you track what stage your rice is in, and the removable nonstick interior pot is clearly marked in cups and liters to guide you with quantities. The cooker’s durable housing has a low-key pastel floral design, and the inner lid and inner pot can both be removed for hand-washing. Clever extras on this model include a retractable power cord, a condensation collector, and a spatula holder. Zojirushi also throws in a measuring cup and spatula. --Emily Bedard

Customer Reviews

Perfect Rice!5
The Zojirushi cooker (both our old and this new one) does a splendid job cooking white and brown rice to the right consistency if properly prepared. The stay warm feature is great! We can cook a full pot of rice and leave it in the cooker for a couple of days and it stays warm and fresh. [Of course, you need to be careful to use common sense precautions to make sure you don't cause an environment where bacteria breed (i.e., like using unclean serving utensils).] The price may seem a little steep, but since we will use it nearly every day for years (like to old one), it's well worth the price.

We had used a 10 cup Zojirushi rice cooker/warmer for about four years until I damaged the nonstick liner by rinsing rice in it (oops!). When I contacted the company to see about getting a replacement liner, I was told it was $50 plus shipping! After an internet search, I found this 5.5 cup Zojirushi for a nominal amount more money.

We eat a lot of rice - almost daily, but honestly, a 5.5 cup cooker is just the right size for a family of 4 to 6. (We had never made 10 full cups of uncooked rice in the old cooker.) My mom's the connoisseur of rice brands - her rice always comes out perfect each time. Also over the many years she's cooked rice - what use to take some time and constant watching on the stove to get the perfect rice, the cooker/warmer does very efficiently without the worry of burning the rice.

As additional info for those who don't cook much rice, we use to cook white rice but now we cook brown rice. Took getting use to the switch to brown rice, but now we prefer it. We soak the brown rice for about 1/2 to 2 hours in water before cooking it and add a little more water than for white rice. (I believe the recipe that comes with the cooker says this.) It's not as difficult as I'm probably making it out. And, finally, you want to make sure you don't use metal utensils, abrasive cleaners, or abrasive scouring pads in the non-stick liner (or wash your rice in it!) to prolong its life.

Excellent Rice Cooker5
This rice cooker has spoiled me.I have used different rice cookers,they just spilled starchy water all over my kitchen counter and rice always stuck to the pan.The lid locks tightly to hold in moisture,there is also a condensation cup to collect the water,so no mess to clean up after the rice is done.The best part is the rice never sticks to the pan and is perfect every time.It stays warm for a longer time,doesnt burn the rice or make it too dry.It works well of any kind of rice.cleaning the pan is a breeze.Clean it just as the manual says,it will last long.The retractable cord is an added convenience.If you have a family of up to 5,this serves well.This is a keeper.

restaurant quality rice5
This is what we have been missing all these years. We have used a regular rice cooker of a reputable brand (Black & Decker) for many years. It made okay rice, but we always assumed that better quality rice wasn't within the reach of a household rice cooker, so we never looked for one. But the Zojirushi NS-RNC10 changed all that.

I bought it based on reviews. It arrived quickly. After unpacking, I became doubtful because this rice cooker seemed to have the same type of heating mechanism as our old one. It sure had a lot better appearance, but how could it cook better rice if the heating mechanism was the same?

Well it did. It must be doing it differently despite a similar appearance of the heating mechanism. By my standard at least, the rice is just about perfect. Fluffy (rather than sticky which I dislike the most for improperly cooked rice), and soft but not mushy and pasty. I think this is as good as high quality restaurant rice. I seriously doubt a more expensive rice cooker would cook better rice. A more expensive unit might have the flexibility of adjustments for a variety of rices, but if you are like us who would have just one kind of rice for an extended period of time before switching to a different kind, this rice cooker is it. I actually prefer its simplicity and wouldn't trade it for a multilevel selector. For the kind of rice we currently buy (Super Lucky Elephant jasmine rice at Costco), this rice cooker is spot on if you follow its marked measures.

Zojirushi NS-TGC10 Micom 5-1/2-Cup Rice Cooker and Warmer, Stainless Steel

Product Description

The Zojirushi versatile Micom Rice Cooker and Warmer cooks perfect rice and even bakes cakes. The features are as follows: Advanced fuzzy logic technology; New multi-menu cooking functions: white/sushi rice, mixed rice, porridge, sweet rice, brown rice, cake and quick cooking; New easy to clean clear coated stainless steel exterior; Black think inner cooking pan; detachable and washable inner lid; easy to read LCD control panel; interchangeable melody and beep signal.


Product Details

* Amazon Sales Rank: #504 in Kitchen & Housewares
* Color: stainless steel and white
* Brand: Zojirushi
* Model: NS-TGC10
* Dimensions: 9.00" h x 14.00" w x 10.00" l, 8.35 pounds

Features

* 5-1/2-cup rice cooker and warmer with advanced fuzzy logic technology
* Multi-menu cooking functions; LCD control panel; keep warm; timer
* Black, thick, inner cooking pan and heating system provide even heating
* Spatula, spatula holder, and rice-measuring cup included
* Measures 14 by 10 by 8-1/2 inches


Customer Reviews

Very Good, but not Perfect4
I bought this rice cooker a month ago and we used it almost every day. We used it to cook white rice most of the time. I have tried brown rice once and sponge cake twice.

White Rice: Taste and texture-wise, it's the same as my other rice cookers. But it takes 45min to cook (vs 20min in others). There is a Quick Cook feature, but that is 30min still. There is 1 noticeable difference with the rice, it tastes very good the next day with microwave reheating.

Brown Rice: Texture-wise, there is a huge difference from my other rice cookers. The brown rice is soft and plum, but it takes almost 2hr to cook.

Sponge Cake: The cakes collapsed both times after I opened the lid.


Features I like:
- Retractable power cord
- Non-stick coating bowl
- Music indicator of when it starts and ends
- "Bumpy" spatula and spatula holder on the side

Features I don't like:
- No condensation collector
- Having to clean inner lid every time

Perfect Size & Perfect Rice - Glad I Got This Instead of the NS-LAC055
Just got this rice cooker this afternoon & immediately tried it out making one "Zojirushi cup" of sticky short grain white rice I bought at a Japanese grocery store. I just finished gobbling it up with a little soy sauce and it was DELICIOUS! The rice came out perfectly - nice and sticky (I can't wait to make some sushi with it!), but not watery at all and cooked perfectly.

I was really torn between this model and Zojirushi's NS-LAC05 3-Cup model. Most of the time, I will be cooking rice for only 2 people, so the 3-Cup NS-LAC05 seemed ideal. But, on the other hand, I liked the flexibility of getting this bigger 5 1/2-Cup model - e.g., when having company over for dinner, or for cooking "one pot" rice-based dishes - I thought I could use the extra room in both cases. And, this bigger model can make cakes, where as the 3-Cup is too small. The only thing that worried me about getting this bigger model was I wondered if it would cook a small amount (i.e., one "Zojirushi cup") of plain rice as well as the smaller model - after all, that is what I would be doing most of the time.

Well, the flexibility won out in the end (as well as the surprisingly lower price of the NS-TGC10 on Amazon - $10 cheaper than the smaller NS-LAC05). And my worries about making a small amount of plain rice in the NS-TGC10 turned out to be unfounded as I discovered in my test run.

So, if you are torn between these two Zojirushi models, I recommend this one - $10 cheaper & more flexibilty. Plus, judging from the dimensions of both, it is not much bigger than the NS-LAC05 so it won't take up significantly more kitchen counter space.

Excellent Rice Cooker: Wish It Played Something Other Than Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star!5
Seriously, it plays Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star when you start it. But, we love it!

This is my second Zojirushi rice cooker with fuzzy logic. I received the first one as a gift 10 years ago and it still works fine. We got this one, because we wanted a smaller cooker that didn't take up as much space in our overloaded kitchen. Our old cooker is a 10-cup model and worked flawlessly. The new model is much improved. The retractable cord is an excellent feature and the cooker is easy to program. It is also easy to clean and nonstick. Cooks rice to perfection. Yes, it's expensive, but it does an excellent job and it's built to last. We had originally gotten a cheaper brand ($40) to replace our old Zojirushi. Big mistake. It lasted less than a year. Zojirushi is much higher quality and we look forward to another decade or more of regular use. Highest recommendation!!

Update May 2009: Still using this cooker regularly. Does a great job and is holding up well!! No problems.

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

Product Description

Plump, tender and moist grains of rice, with the option of colorful steamed veggies, can be yours with this cooker/steamer. No need to worry about rice drying out and sticking to the sauce pan either, as the "keep warm" function will maintain ideal temperature and consistency until you're ready to serve. Use the steamer basket for chicken, seafood, or vegetables - healthy cooking was never this easy!

Product Details

* Amazon Sales Rank: #570 in Kitchen & Housewares
* Color: White
* Brand: Zojirushi
* Model: NHS-10
* Number of items: 1
* Dimensions: 9.40" h x 9.40" w x 9.30" l, 4.70 pounds

Features

* 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


Amazon.com Review
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


Customer Reviews

Best thing next to the fuzzy-logic units5
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.

An excellent rice cooker5
For a long time, I didn't see a need for a rice cooker. What's the big deal, I thought, of cooking rice on the stove? However, as my life got busier and busier, I began to want one. For one, I cook rice at least twice a week, often more. Second, I thought it would be convenient to start up a rice cooker and then not worry about the rice until I was ready to put dinner on the table. This Zojirushi model is perfect for this. After the rice is cooked, it automatically switches to a "Keep Warm" setting.

A few tips about cooking rice in this model:

1. Follow the water/rice ratio directions on the rice box, NOT in the manual.

2. Fluff the rice when the cooking is complete and then let it steam longer on the "Keep Warm" setting. If you don't fluff, sometimes the rice browns a little on the bottom.

3. Use high-quality rice.

Although I rarely use converted rice (Uncle Ben's Original), I decided to give it a shot in this cooker. The results were barely satisfactory, since the rice browned on the bottom. I don't have this problem with jasmine and other premium rices. I suppose unplugging the appliance immediately after the cooking is done (and letting it steam without the warmer on) might help. My own solution is to stick with the better rices.

Other reviewers have noted a spitting through the steam hole during cooking. This is less of a problem with small quantities than large. The starchy steam doesn't bother me since the same thing happens to the side of a saucepan when I cook a lot of rice on the stove. The cooker is SO easy to clean that I can't imagine complaining about a wipe down of the counter. (Hey, I have to do that anyway!)

You'll be surprised by how simple this appliance is - and how well it works. Recommended for people who cook small to medium amounts of rice at least two times a week.

Perfect rice, every time5
I've used less expensive rice cookers, but they don't measure up to the Zojirushi rice cookers. I used to have the 10 cup model, but that one was a little too large for me (it would be great if you're cooking rice for more than 5 or 6 people). This 6-cup cooker is perfect whether you are making 1 cup or 6. Just put the rice in (remember to wash it first), add water up to the line indicated, and push start ... when it turns off, you have perfect rice. No more boiling water, stirring, boiling over, or burned pans!