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: NS-ZAC 10 Worth the Money
Summary: 5 Stars
I agonized over the decision to buy this rice cooker and did a lot of research. I had a cheap rice cooker that was OK but it was a simple on/off type. I found I wasn't using it that much because the brown rice took so long to cook I did not want to wait. Finally decided to do it and I've been very pleased. I use the porridge cycle a lot for a oatmeal/leftover rice breakfast.Key features:
Timer: Set it to have the rice ready at 6pm and it is ready at 6pm. This is especially important for brown rice because it takes about 80 minutes to cook.
Rice settings: Cooking brown rice, just select the brown rice setting. Same for porridge, sweet, semi brown, and 3 white rice settings.
Porridge Setting: I use the porridge cycle 3-4 times a week for a oatmeal/leftover rice breakfast. I'm hooked on this stuff. (Recipe is in the Ultimate Ricecooker Cookbook).
Very Easy to clean: Basically, you clean to non-stick pot and the pop out top each time you use it. It really can't get any easier. (One person who reviewed this machine complained about it being "difficult to maintain" but I can't imagine how they came to this conclusion).
Rice paddle holder on side: This may sound like a minor item but I had a cheap rice cooker that had no where to put the paddle during serving and it was a pain. I prefer not to just set things on the counter.
The only thing that needs a little work is the instruction manual. It is very limited and you will want to purchase The Ultimate Rice Cooker Cookbook. Buy it online in paperback.
If you eat rice 3 or more times a week, go ahead and get this machine. It is worth the price. (If you look hard online you can find it for about $160). If you don't eat rice 3 times a week this machine might change that.
Customer Review: A little pricey but all it advertises.
Summary: 5 Stars
I got this machine after years with a cheap slow-cooker rice cooker. After a while, I got very fed up with the way it would always burn some of the rice, and did research.
This machine cooks rice perfectly every time. First, by adjusting the time and temperature, and second through the cups and the lines inside the pan which ensure one always adds the right amount of rice and water. The lines tell you how much water to add for different types of rice. There's even a setting for pre-washed rice. It also comes with directions for cooking rice, which has been invaluable.
For the first time at home, I made sweet rice. Sweet rice is a special kind of rice with a round chalk-white grain. It's very sticky and smells like honey when it is cooking. It's very delicious, but extremely hard to cook over the stove, as it normally must be steamed rather than boiled. It's also used to in making mochi. The directions in the Zojirushi manual say to use a traditional bamboo basket to drain this rice after washing, but a towel laid over a strainer works just as well.
I've also made oatmeal with my Zojirushi. One can put the ingredients in and set the timer to start an hour before one rises. It can also handle rice mixed with vegetables and fish.
The Zojirushi is very easy to clean. The residual left by the rice simply slides off the non-stick pan. The inner top lid can also be removed and cleaned.
The only disadvantage would be that it takes a lot longer to cook rice in this machine. However, with the automatic timer, how well it keeps the rice warm and moist after it's done, and how much better it tastes, this does not bother me.
This model is also one which is made in Japan rather than China.
Customer Review: Best rice outside a restaurant.
Summary: 5 Stars
After finally getting sick of accidentally screwing up rice made on the countertop, I decided to purchase this rice cooker a couple weeks ago - so far i've made a few batches of white rice with it, and they were worlds better than what i've managed on my own....I eat a lot of Chinese and Thai food, and the rice this thing produces easily matches up to restaurant product, although maybe not better.
Operation was simple: just dump in the rice, fill the water to the right line, close and start it up. Aside from steam coming out the vent and the little start/end tune, you wouldn't even know it was on. So far the rice (regular white rice) has always come out perfect - not crunchy or soggy but nicely steamed.
As many others have commented on, this cooker is not fast - my latest batch of 4 cups of rice took approx. 50 minutes. However, considering that during all of this time I could work on making the rest of dinner and relaxing instead of keeping an eye on a simmering pot, it's well worth it. And of course there's the timer function where I can fill it in the morning, leave for the workday, and have it cooked and ready for dinner when I get home.
Cleanup was also very easy, as the non-stick pot displayed non-stickiness as advertised, I think it took 2 or 3 minutes of extremely light wiping and it was again spotless. The inner lid does seem to accumulate gunk during the cooking process, and unfortunately is not non-stick, but is still easily cleaned in a few minutes.
All in all, while it took me a long time to finally decide to spend the money on this cooker, it has been well worth it so far. Looking forward to trying the other functions for brown rice, porridge/oatmeal and such.
Customer Review: Best Home Cooked Rice!
Summary: 5 Stars
We have owned 3 rice cookers now, two with one button and now this one and hands down, this is the best one I have ever had. I used to consistently make "ok" rice with our old one, this one is perfect every time - even when you accidentally use the wrong setting!
A few notes:
(1) as several others have mentioned, the measure is a Japanese cup of about 6oz. My husband and I eat about that much between us, so it works great for us. That means this rice cooker feeds about 6, maybe 8 depending on the group.
(2) It has settings for various hardnesses and types of rice. This is great if you always make the same kind, but it does not reset to the first kind when you are done (so if you make white, then brown, then white again, you have to remember to change it).
(2a) Along the same lines, it does an amazing job with brown rice. I used to use an Alton Brown recipe for brown rice in the oven, but in the summer, I really don't want to run the oven to make 2c. brown rice.
(3) It comes with really detailed instructions for the rice, but really, just make sure you use the cups it came with, rinse your rice, and then fill to the designated line.
(4) The Zojirushi does take a bit longer than our old ones - maybe 45-50 minutes to do 2 scoops of cal-rose instead of about 25, but it is well worth it.
(5) The rice scoop that comes with it somehow manages to keep the rice from sticking to it. Clean up is also a snap since the bowl is non-stick and the inner lid detaches easily for washing.
(6) It supposedly does porridge!
I highly recommend this one (although if you live in the Chicago area, Mitsuwa had them on sale for ~$145 a while back).
Customer Review: Rice cooker review
Summary: 5 Stars
I actually own the 10 cup rice cooker, but other than size, it is identical to the 5 cup model. I have owned a simple Japanese rice cooker for many years, but after borrowing and reading the Rice Cooker Cookbook (Hensperger) from the library, I became intrigued with the possibilites of the more advanced neuro-fuzzy model. After reading many reviews I finally took the plunge and made the investment.
I'm so glad that I did. What a world of difference! This rice cooker is so superior to my old cooker that I now think I'll throw out the old one rather than save it for my college-age daughter.
I always make brown rice (short, long, or basmati) and this rice cooker makes it absolutely perfectly! I wash the rice first and then measure carefully using the clear cup that came with the cooker. I use the markings inside the pot and I am amazed at how much better this rice is than what I was used to.
It does take longer, but I just plan ahead and you can always set the timer in the morning and it will be done at the time that you want it.
I also love to make steel cut oats (I set it at night for the next morning). Nothing could be easier!
My husband's favorite feature is that you can make wonderful tapioca in an hour, using the porridge setting. And there's no stirring involved. I've also made rice pudding, and I'm looking forward to making risotto. I've also purchased wheat berries which I plan to make soon.
Cleaning the rice cooker is quick and easy. My advice to anyone thinking about buying one...you'll never regret your decision to buy it and you'll probably be recommending it to your friends and family before long.