Zojirushi NS-ZCC10 5-1/2-Cup Neuro Fuzzy Rice Cooker and Warmer, Premium White
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Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of Zojirushi NS-ZCC10 5-1/2-Cup Neuro Fuzzy Rice Cooker and Warmer, Premium White
Customer Review: Zojirushi NS-ZCC10
Summary: 5 Stars
I have used this rice cooker for two months now, the rice come out so good that it would be all gone when dinner is over. We normally have left over with our old rice cooker which this one replaces. This is because many come back to the cooker for second and third time. I just watch and smile.
For my family of 4 (2 adults and 2 older kids), we normally use 2 to 2.5 cups (supplied with the cooker) of dry-rice for dinner (depend on how hungry everyone are). We have cooked from 1 to 5 cups of white dry-rice in this cooker and it all come out very good.
Depending to your family taste, paying attention to the amount of water added. Every new bag of rice has different contend of moisture; just pay attention to the amount of water for the first few pots of rice and keep the same dry-rice to water ratio for the rest of the bag. The ratio does not vary too much from the recommended as mark from the inside of the pot, but some people can be sensitive. If you want the rice come out dry, just reduce a little water...
Brown rice - We have cooked up to 3.5 cups (supplied with the cooker) of brown dry-rice in this cooker when we have guests, and there is marking for water level on the inside for 3.5 cups. My family started to eat more brown rice since this cooker arrived. Since then we have cooked short and long grain brown rice in this cooker and they all come out perfect. The very first pot of cooked brown rice from this cooker empty very quick! The kids kept coming back for second.
Very important, keep the area between the removable pot and the cooker where you can see the heating plate clean and dry so it would not damage. I would dry the outer shell of the removable pot very careful before cooking any rice.
If this NS-ZCC10 sold for a little less $, I think it would be a hit! For my case the $ well spend.
I wish that Zojirushi would not put "Neuro Fuzzy" in big letter on front, I was ridiculed for it until people getting tire of paying attention to it. The good rice does help though. I think the buyer will find these letters however small it is.
Update: Today is May 5th, 2010 - just a quick update; this rice cooker is still functioning strong and it is the only rice cooker that we are using since it was bought more than three years ago. Its paint is not as flashy and there are scratches; but as far as cooking rice, there is no different. We normally unplug the cooker from electrical outlet, and the battery inside is still good.
Customer Review: You can even cook rice & sausage!
Summary: 5 Stars
We have had our Zojirushi Fuzzy Logic 5 cup cooker (made in Japan version) about a year now and we use it at least 3 times a week.
Another user recommended the most of the following and, though I agree on the whole, I've added an Asian perspective i.e "washed rice" (washed = multiple rinsings & wet rice sits in rice cooker w/ water at least 1 hour before cooking). BTW, though the cups below are 8 oz, one basically uses a proportional amount:
LONG RICE (Chinese, Jasmine, Southern USA, & Middle Eastern)= 1 3/4 H20 to 1 cup dry rice *OR* 1 cup H20 to 1 cup *washed* rice.
SHORT RICE (Japanese style but often from California [see sacks w/ flower on front])= 1 1/2 cup H20 to 1 cup dry short rice *OR* 1 cup H20 to 1 cup *washed* rice.
We like rice, sausage & chili as a meal (bowls of rice topped w/ chili & chopped sausages) and I've had friends from both Hawaii & the South - never mind Mexico! - claim that dish is a *native* food invented solely in their area! At any rate, we cook both the rice and the Louisiana sausages (from Cost Co) simultaneously in the rice cooker: lay 3 Louisiana sausages upon 1 cup H2O & 1 cup short rice (less H2O than normal because of water/oil from sausages) & set it at "quick cook" while microwaving chili (which must have beans for taste!).
The Zojirushi instruction book does not answer enough cooking questions but I can say:
- Don't use "quick cook" (high temp cooking) when cooking veges upon the rice as sad, sorry, limp & grey veges are the result.
- "Near East" (Pilaf, Bulgar, Couscous, Lentils, etc) products or the akin are not referred to at all & I'm still trying to determine the best temp/time (not "quick cook"!).
- "Sweet rice"? Que es?
The "delayed" cooking mode is simply terrific but - if your rice is going to soak many hours - you *MUST* rinse it beforehand as otherwise, it'll be a glutinous scorched mass. BTW, the 5 cup is perfect for two or three people but if your family is 4 or more, I'd buy the 10 cup (3 cup is primo for college dorm student/ single/dater).
11/3/07 - We have been using our Zojirushi at least 3 times a week for two years. LOVE IT! Note: most rice in sacks (Japanese short rice) no longer needs rinsing (change in process) so we just use the "quick cook" (takes 40 minutes). If I had to choose just 3 kitchen appliances, it'd be fridge, microwave and my rice cooker (easy to clean too)....
Customer Review: Things You Need To Know About This Rice Cooker
Summary: 5 Stars
The cooker itself- This model of cooker may look complicated but it's rely not once you know how it works and there is so much that can be done with one of these so be sure to invest in it and the `ultimate rice cooker cookbook'. And I want to say right now that the Manuel that comes with the cooker is simple, it includes basic directions and 8 recipes besides basic rice preparation. The Manuel is not a cookbook it's a Manuel ok.
To check out all Zojirushi products and download there manuals or to register you're cooker visit http://www.zojirushi.com it's a great site!
Cleaning- When the rice cooker runs it leaves water droplets on the detachable lid as well as on the outside lid by the steam vent. That condensed water can cause mold to grow and cover the steam hole. If the steam hole is covered the steam pressure will cause overflow. To keep this from happening take out the inner lid and wipe down the outer lid after every use. The instruction Manuel also states that you should not cover/clog the steam vent (say perhaps with a towel) because this can cause overflow, if you mind the directions for proper care stated in the Manuel taking care of you're rice cooker is simple
Oatmeal- It seems many people have tried to make oatmeal in the rice cooker and things have gone wrong so first let me state that you can make oatmeal in this machine just not instant oats. You need stone ground oats; they are also called pinhead oats, in order to make oatmeal in this cooker because they take longer to cook so they won't get mushy. But let me also state that even making stone ground oats in a rice cooker is fairly unnecessary because they cook up over the stove in about 3 or 4 minutes. Another important thing to note is that one should NEVER put milk in a rice cooker! So if you like you're oatmeal made with milk you'll have to make it on the stove top.
My review- I have saved almost a year to be able to finally buy this dream of rice lovers everywhere and now IT'S FINALY MINE! Thank you God almighty! ^-^ Anyhow as you know it makes perfect rice every time, it's so easy to use and there's so much you can do with it! So bite the bullet and JUST DO IT!! You'll never regret it! And now I no longer have to go to my local Chinese place to satisfy my rice craving! Yeaaaahhooo!! My rice is ready got to go!! ^o^ yum! Oh yeah I'll be updating my review in about a month to let you all know how things are going!
Customer Review: Needs Removable Steam Vent
Summary: 3 Stars
I just purchased one of the Zojirushi ns-zcc10 five cup units, and would like to post my comments in order to help others in their buying decisions.
If I was to rate the product on just the quality of the finished rice/grains, it would rate a six out of five. Everything that has been cooked has been superb, including the steel cut oats we had this morning. The electronics/controls are very easy to use, including the timer/delayed start. The unit does NOT take an extraordinarily long amount of time to cook rice compared to the old Hitachi we had. If you add the time for the 30 minute pre-soak ( which the Zoj does automatically for best quality), normal cooking time, then the 15 minute steam/rest period, they take close to the same time. You can cut out the soak time using the 'quick' function on the menu.
Unfortunately Zojirushi seems to have dropped the ball on a couple items.
The big one is no removable steam vent assembly. I cannot believe that other reviews ( that I could find) of this product did not mention this problem/design flaw.
Since the vent is fixed in the outer lid, it makes it very difficult to clean properly. There is a rubber gasket that seals it to the removable inner lid that has a lip/ledge above, that is especially problematic.
I have been cleaning it with a chopstick wrapped with a damp cloth, but it should be removable to clean under running water at the sink. The manual does not suggest any way to clean the vent, and it DOES get VERY cruddy, especially using the porridge function.
The second gripe I have is the use of aluminum on the otherwise very well designed inner lid. The removable lid itself is head and shoulders above some of the others we looked at, like the Tiger and Sanyo. It pivots in two recesses at the bottom, and snaps in at the top. The outer lid will not even close/lock until the inner lid is in place. But why use aluminum that is going to be scratched, is soft and will oxidize over time? I would have paid a couple of extra bucks to have a stainless steel inner lid.
Given the excellent quality of the rice this unit makes, I would probably buy it again knowing what I know now. But Zojirushi should/could do better in this price range. We bought this over the comparable Tiger brand cooker, but others may choose differently if clean-up ease means more to them.
Customer Review: Exceeds expectations in every way
Summary: 5 Stars
I don't usually write reviews... but this machine is so amazing, that I want to share this purchase decision with others. Yes it sure seems an expensive way to make rice...but it sure is worth it! Once you have purchased this unit, you will wonder why you put it off for so long. Like everyone else writing here, you will be amazed at how much more rice you will eat, because it just tastes that much better. And why buy this uber expensive machine in particular? Well, unlike some friends who have bought lesser machines, I have no buyer's remorse. What is the difference? Other machines may put a way less than perfect 'crust' on the bottom of your rice (true for cheap on/off Hitatchi and an expensive Sanyo). Other machines may be too small--this is the smallest I would recommend, if you are EVER going to cook rice for more than two (true for the "3 cup" Zojirushi). No other machine seems to cook Sushi rice to such perfection. And a word on the interface. I am not sure what people mean by this is complicated to use, the interface is far easier to use than a DVD player remote control! It couldn't be easier to make perfect rice, of any kind. Three of the most unexpected pleasures: the timer function (just set it to approximately when you want the rice to be ready to eat, and forget about it!) The keep warm function. Who knew that rice could stay tasting so good and be so hot for so long?. And the "jook" or porridge setting. Who knew that my 2-year old daughter would love this so much!
Two other notes. Price. Although I researched this product here, I didn't buy this at Amazon, you can find this for about $40 less elsewhere from very reputable web merchants. I'm not sure why Amazon's price is so high. Rice. After buying this rice cooker, you will definitely want to experiment with rice in a way that you never have before, because they really come out tasting very different (part of the beauty of cooking rice to perfection every time). I have become the greatest fan of short grain (sushi) rice, which turns out like a glutinous mass on the stove top, but absolutely perfect here. Koda Farms sweet rice for porridge. Lundberg's organic brown jasmine (use a tad less water than on the machine's line, for firmer grain). They say that the Buddha lived on a single grain of rice... he didn't have this cooker!