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If you’ve ever tried to make rice on the stovetop, you know it can take a bit of babysitting for things to come out just right — or anywhere near the perfectly cooked rice from your favorite restaurant. Making good rice is often best left to the experts, whether that expert is a seasoned chef, your grandparent, or a countertop rice cooker that knows what it’s doing. And while you can buy rice cookers from dozens of brands (here are a few we’ve tested and liked), one brand name usually tops almost any list you’ll come across: Zojirushi. food processing production line
The Japanese company with a reputation for quality appliances and products (including our favorite travel coffee tumbler and a surprisingly good, cheap coffee maker) has been around for over 100 years and has been making rice cookers since the 1970s. The tricky thing about Zojirushi rice makers is that, to anyone who hasn’t spent way too much time analyzing different models, their names may look like an alphanumeric mess. Many models also look alike and often only have slight differences in features, which can make shopping for one confusing. But we still think Zojirushi manufactures many of the best rice cookers on the market, so this guide is here to help you make sense of them all.
The short answer? Cook rice. The long answer is that dedicated rice cookers have been specifically designed to come as close to making perfect rice every time you use them. They’re essentially the precursors to multicookers like Instant Pot which often have a rice cooking function in addition to other presets (although our experience with Instant Pots as rice cookers has been underwhelming). One feature that sets certain rice cookers above the rest is “fuzzy logic,” or the ability of an onboard computer to detect how quickly the rice is cooking or to what level doneness it has reached, then make real time adjustments to time and temperature accordingly. This technology means you can make different types of rice—long grain, brown, short grain for sushi rice—as well as dishes like congee with reliable results even if you don’t do much to adjust the machine yourself.
If you’ve spent any time looking for a rice cooker online you may have noticed that Zojirushi topping a lot of “best of” lists, and for good reason. Because the company caters to a market that consumes a lot of rice, they’ve come as close as anyone to perfecting the technology that makes this often daily task quick and easy. But other than coming with a rice paddle and measuring cup, not all rice cookers are created equal, including those made by Zojirushi. Here are some factors to consider before buying a rice cooker:
How much rice can you cook at once? If you’re just cooking for one or two people at a time and don’t care about leftovers, then a smaller capacity, something under six cups, might be fine. If you’re cooking for a large group or want to make big batches for meal prep, you’ll want something with a bigger pot.
The inner pot can come in stainless steel, but most often comes with nonstick coating. Research into the coatings is ongoing, but if you want a Zojirushi rice cooker they are hard to avoid. The outsides of these machines are generally plastic, but some may be made of stainless steel or other durable materials that offer a bit more sophistication in their looks.
Some rice cookers are as simple as an “on/off” switch, others let you more precisely dial in how you want to cook your rice either with adjustable cooking times and heat settings, preset buttons for different rice varieties, or quick cooking settings (which, while faster, can sacrifice rice texture for expediency). Additionally, there are often “keep warm” functions that hold your rice ready to eat without overcooking it, or steam and pressure cooking functions that let you use your rice cooker for the rest of dinner, too. Finally, some rice cookers might also have smart settings for non-rice grains like quinoa and steel cut oats, meaning you can rely on it to cook so much more than steamed rice.
Simple models, sometimes referred to as “conventional rice cookers,” just heat things up to a certain temperature, then shut off. As you might imagine, this doesn’t leave much room for the nuances of various rice types, like white rice vs. brown rice, long grain vs. short grain, or sticky rice vs. fluffy rice. But higher-end Zojirushi models have sensors that can make small adjustments to parameters like time and temperature to achieve different outcomes.
A note about Micom, and Fuzzy Logic: As you scroll through your shopping search results or start to see rice cooker ads pop up in your social media feed because you clicked on this article, you might notice some jargon that, if you haven’t delved into rice cooker before, can be a bit confusing. Micom is short for “microcomputer” which actively adjusts the cook settings to avoid mushy or underdone rice, no matter which kind of rice you’re making. Fuzzy logic (or what Zojirushi sometimes calls “Neuro Fuzzy Logic”) is the mathematical term used to describe the decision-making process the Micom is utilizing.
Many rice cookers are designed with an electric heating element at the bottom of the pot that takes time to both heat up and cool down. They work well enough, especially with fuzzy logic in the mix. Both induction and heating plate styles are designed to heat rice evenly from all sides of the pot, rather than just a single source. Induction rice cookers (sometimes shortened to IH rice cookers) can more precisely control heat around the entire pot without requiring the same warming and cooling periods.
In our testing we’ve found that picking a rice cooker with pressure cooking capabilities is more of a financial decision than an entirely practical one. Pressure cooking can result in even more tender results and do so in a little less time, just as a countertop pressure cooker can do with large cuts of meat. But the changes may be too subtle for some less frequent rice eaters to notice and not really worth the upcharge.
Here is a breakdown of every Zojirushi rice cooker sold in the United States, from the most basic to the most advanced.
Zojirushi NHS-06 3-Cup Rice Cooker
If simple is what you’re looking for, this line of rice cookers offers no frills functionality in three-cup, six-cup, and ten-cup options. What all three have in common are their bottom-oriented heating element, nonstick pot, clear glass lid that sits on top (rather than one that clips or locks into place), and one single cook setting (defaulted to white rice) that uses an indicator light to tell you when it’s done. If you opt for one of the two larger capacity models, which feature detachable power cords that help with storage, you’ll also get a Keep Warm function and a steaming basket, slightly expanding its capabilities to veggies and more. The larger model is only available in white, however the smaller two models are available in both black and white exteriors. But just because it’s basic doesn’t mean it isn’t great. Check out associate food editor Kendra Vaculin's deep dive into the pleasures of owning a humble Zojirushi NHS-06 three-cup rice cooker.
Zojirushi NS-RPC10HM Rice Cooker and Warmer
Similar to the larger-sized NHS models, these heating plate-style cookers include only Cook and Keep Warm functions with an on/off indicator light. They come in both 5.5-cup and 10-cup options. However, as their price tag suggests, they offer upgrades from the NHS models in the form of heating from the bottom, sides, and lid for more even results, as well as hinged lids that lock closed and release with the push of a button. The inner lining of the lid is detachable (and washable), as is the “dew collector” which helps keep too much condensation from raining back down on your rice. The power cords can be removed as well, and there’s a place to stash the (included) rice paddle. As for color options, the NS-RPC models come in either white with pink tulips or the more industrial-looking metallic gray. However, for fans of all things cute or all things Japan, the 5.5-cup model also comes in a Hello Kitty edition. It’s the same as its tulip-decorated counterpart, except its white exterior is adorned with gold-colored Hello Kitty faces and bows.
Zojirushi NS-WAC10-WD 5.5 Cup Rice Cooker
This model marks the least expensive point of entry into the world of Zojirushi’s Micom rice cookers. Its LCD display allows you to toggle between white, brown, sushi, porridge, sweet rice options, as well as quick cooking settings, and rinse-free rice in the case you didn’t wash your rice (You should be washing your rice, by the way). Plus there are time-delay options, and an ability to change alerts between silence, beeps, or a little song when your rice is ready. Available in Cool White only, but both 5.5-cup and 10-cup capacities, it also features regular and extended keep warm functions, and adds scratch resistance to the nonstick pot lining. Speaking of the inner pot, inside you’ll find higher contrast measurement markings for easier reading, and heating elements surround the top, bottom, and sides of the liner. Finally, this model has a detachable power cord, as well as a flip up handle for carrying it from your cabinet to your countertop or wherever you need to take it.
Zojirushi NL-DCC18CP Micom Rice Cooker & Warmer, 10 Cups
Take things up a notch from the NS-WAC and you’ll get this model which similarly has Micom fuzzy logic technology, comes in 5.5-cup and ten-cup capacities, and offers a delay timer, and two keep warm functions. However this model also includes a reheat mode, as well as additional presets for long grain white rice, congee, Jasmine rice, non-rice settings: quinoa, steel cut oatmeal, and cake (yes, you can steam a cake in your rice cooker). You’ll also notice this one has a “GABA brown rice” setting used for germinated brown rice and is said to activate the “gamma-aminobutyric acid” in the rice, which has been claimed to lower blood pressure and stress levels, among other purported benefits. Inside you’ll find a high-contrast, scratch-resistant nonstick pot (which gets heated from all sides), and the pot is also much thicker than the previously-discussed models at 2.5mm (as opposed to 1.0mm to 1.7mm, depending on the model). The NL-DCC only comes in a Pearl Beige color (it’s mostly white, though), has an onboard paddle holder, a detachable and washable lid, a detachable power cord, and a carrying handle. Perhaps a little less cheerful than its peers, this model only offers to beep or stay silent when your rice is done.
Zojirushi NS-TSC10A Micom Rice Cooker and Warmer
If plain white appliances bore you, these stainless steel-clad rice cookers are a sophisticated step in a more stylish direction. But first the basics: The heating plate element warms from the bottom, sides, and lid (which features a detachable and washable liner). The inner pot is nonstick, scratch-resistant, but not as thick as the less-expensive NL-DCC model, at just 1.4mm in the 5.5-cup version and 1.7mm in the ten-cup. Accessories include a steaming basket plus a rice paddle and rice paddle holder, and these are the first models available with a retractable power cord, making for sleeker storage. And they both bring back the jaunty melody option as an audible indicator your rice is done.
As for colors, the NS-TSC models come in either Stainless Brown or Stainless Gray with a clear coat finish on either. However, the colorways here aren’t just an aesthetic choice. Each has differing functions and presets which may make or break your affinity toward one tone or another. The Stainless Brown NS-TSC models (without the A) offer settings for white/sushi rice, mixed (which means rice and other ingredients), porridge, sweet rice, brown rice, cake, steaming, and quick cooking. The NS-TSC models with the A at the end have settings for white/sushi rice, mixed, quick cooking, long grain white rice, steel cut oatmeal, quinoa, brown rice, and steaming. (Absent from both of these are congee, jasmine rice, and GABA brown, all of which are on the NL-DCC.)
Zojirushi NL-BAC05SB Micom Rice Cooker & Warmer
If you’re big on features but short on space, this model offers most of the technology of these middle-of-the-road Micom models in the first compact, three-cup capacity version. Why might smaller be better? This and the NS-LHC and NS-LGC models below let you comfortably add as little as ½ cup of rice or grains at a time, meaning you don’t have to make too much if you don’t want to. But no matter how much or how little rice you make, you’ll benefit from Micom technology, an LCD screen with delay timers (and beeping, a song, or muted alerts), heating elements on the bottom, sides, and lid, a 2.5mm thick nonstick, scratch resistant pan, a detachable and washable lid liner, and a detachable power cord for storage.
Settings include white/sushi rice, brown rice, long grain white rice, steel cut oatmeal, quinoa, cake, and quick cook. plus extended keep warm function and reheat option, too. In fact, the only thing this little guy doesn’t have is a spatula holder.
Zojirushi NS-LHC05 Micom Rice Cooker & Warmer
Zojirushi NS-LGC05XB Micom Rice Cooker & Warmer
Let’s start with how these two similar, compact, three-cup models are, well, similar. They both feature clear coated, stainless steel exteriors, retractable power cords, spatula holders, and removable/washable lid liners. The LCD displays both have delay timers, They both have scratch resistant, nonstick inner pots with thicker 2.5mm pans. They both introduce Zojirushi’s “spherical pan & heating system,” which means the pot is more bowl-shaped, designed to create more convection-like conditions, that are supposed to result in even heating of each batch.
Here’s where these two machines differ. Other than their colors (the NS-LHC is Stainless Dark Brown while the NS-LGC is Stainless Black), it comes down to the settings. The NS-LHC05 offers white/mixed, sushi rice, brown rice, GABA brown rice, jasmine white, porridge, and quick cooking rice presets. The NS-LGC05 offers one more with white/mixed, sushi rice, brown rice, GABA brown rice, long grain white rice, steel cut oatmeal, and quick cooking rice presets. Neither offers the extended keep warm feature, nor steaming, cake, or congee settings.
Zojirushi NL-AAC18 Micom Rice Cooker (Uncooked) and Warmer
This Micom rice cooker comes in 5.5-cup and 10-cup options with heating elements on the bottom, lid, and sides. Inside you’ll find a nonstick, scratch resistant pan with a thickness of 1.4mm for the smaller capacity and 1.7mm for the larger model. Presets include white/sushi, mixed, porridge, sweet, brown, steam and quick cooking, plus you have a time delay option.
It comes with a steaming basket, detachable cord and, of course, a foldaway carrying handle. Like some of the smaller or more contoured models, this one does not include paddle storage. Interestingly, of all of the rice cookers we’ve covered thus far, this is also the first one that’s manufactured in Japan (instead of Thailand China).
Zojirushi NS-ZCC18 Neuro Fuzzy Rice Cooker & Warmer
Another made-in-Japan model, this Neuro Fuzzy rice cooker (available in 5.5-cup and 10-cup capacities) includes regular and extended keep warm functions, delay timers, nonstick and scratch-resistant pan with a “spherical” bowl shape and heating system that warms from all sides, a washable/removable lid liner, a spatula holder, and a retractable power cord. The pan also has a pair of handles for sparing your fingers when lifting it out while hot.
What makes this model stand out among those we’ve discussed above is that it has three fine-tuning settings for white rice, offering “regular/sushi,” “softer,” and “harder” options. It also has settings for mixed rice and other ingredients, porridge, sweet rice, semi-brown rice, brown rice, rinse-free rice, and quick cooking. For alerts, you can only choose “melody” or “beep” on this model, as there’s no mute feature, and it does not come with a steaming basket (or steaming preset).
Zojirushi NL-GAC10BM 5.5 Cup Umami Micom Rice Cooker
This Japan-made fuzzy logic Micom rice cooker features an “Umami” setting which soaks and steams the rice longer in a way that is supposed to produce a sweeter taste and fluffier texture. Aside from that, other presets include white, mixed, sushi/sweet, Jasmine, porridge, congee, brown, GABA brown, quick white, quick Jasmine, and steam. It also has time delay, three sound alert options (including mute), regular and extended keep warm settings, along with a reheat option. And it comes with a steamer basket and spatula holder, detachable inner lid, detachable power cord, and a clear coated stainless steel exterior in Metallic Black.
The Umami Micom Rice Cooker & Warmer is the only one that’s meant to function as a slow cooker, too. With “slow cook” options between one minute (but why?) and four hours cooking time, but only one heat setting, it doesn’t fully enter Crock Pot territory, but the instructions do advise you can restart the timer over if you need a few more hours. That said, the convenience of the long cooking times a slow cooker provides is that you don’t have to fiddle with the controls in the middle of cooking.
Zojirushi NP-GBC05XT Induction Heating System Rice Cooker and Warmer
Welcome to the wonderful world of induction heating (or IH) rice cookers which use electromagnetic energy to evenly and efficiently heat the entire pan and lid. This made-in-Japan Micom model is the smallest IH rice cooker Zojirushi makes, with a minimum capacity of just ½ cup of rice in its spherical, nonstick pan. However it’s not as versatile as some of its non-IH counterparts: Its presets include white/mixed, sushi, porridge, brown, GABA brown, rinse-free, quick cooking, along with delay timers, and keep warm settings. It has an orange LCD for added contrast when reading menu settings, a stainless steel removable lid liner, Stainless Dark Brown clear coated stainless steel exterior, spatula holder, and a detachable power cord.
Zojirushi Induction Heating Rice Cooker & Warmer NW-QAC10
A lot of Zojirushi’s models have a kind of cute, rounded pod shape, but this one looks more cube-like with a flat-top design and sleek black exterior. Whether you choose the 5.5-cup or 10-cup model, it will have a nonstick, rounded bottom “spherical” pan with high-contrast measurements and induction heating. Cook settings include white, quick white, mixed, sushi/sweet, Jasmine, quick Jasmine, congee, brown, GABA brown, steel cut oatmeal, quinoa and steam, along with regular and extended keep warm and reheat functions. Usual features like time delay, alert sound options are also included on its LCD screen. It has a standing paddle holder, removable stainless steel lid liner, and a detachable power cord as well. And this is the first rice cooker on this list with a self cleaning function, meaning you can add a specified amount of plain water and run a cycle (or multiple cycles) to remove residue and some odors. A noticeable exclusion? This one doesn’t have the usual fold away handle (or any handle for that matter).
Zojirushi NP-HCC10XH Induction Heating System Rice Cooker
With this induction heated Micom model, available with a 5.5-cup or 10-cup capacity, we’re back to fine-tuned white rice settings, as its presets include white rice (regular, softer or harder), jasmine white rice, mixed, sushi rice, porridge, sweet rice, brown rice, GABA brown rice, and quick cooking, along with time delay and two keep warm settings, plus the full array of beep, song, and silent alert options. However, compared to the NW-QAC, we’ve lost the steaming, reheating, and self-cleaning functions. The exterior of this unit is a clear-coated dark gray stainless steel, there’s an included paddle holder, and this model has a fixed power cord which can’t be removed or retracted.
Zojirushi NP-NWC10XB 5.5-Cup Pressure Induction Heating Rice Cooker and Warmer (Stainless Black)
This rice cooker not only incorporates both induction heating and pressurized cooking, it’s also the first of three models that incorporates artificial intelligence (AI) into the Micom mix. In this case it is an update to the fuzzy logic technology. The presets include white (regular, softer or harder), umami, mixed, sushi/sweet, Jasmine, porridge, congee, brown, GABA brown, steel cut oatmeal, and quick cooking. It’s also got time delays and reheating, with AI monitoring the regular and extended keep warm settings (which causes the temperature to adjust according to how much rice is left). Inside you’ll find a spherical cooking pan with a platinum-infused, scratch resistant nonstick coating and measurement markings. There’s a paddle holder, of course, and the lid has a stainless steel detachable liner. The clear coated stainless steel exterior comes in the Stainless Black coloration.
This AI-enhanced rice cooker available in 5.5-cup or 10-cup spherical pan models also has induction heat and pressure cooking enhancements. It features a self cleaning cycle, regular and extended keep warm settings, a reheat option, and time delay cooking. The presets include white (regular/firm), umami, mixed, sushi, sweet, Jasmine, congee, brown, GABA brown, steel cut oatmeal, quick white and quick Jasmine. It’s worth pointing out that, missing in all of those is a “softer” setting, which is present on both of the other pressure induction cookers. (It’s also missing porridge.) With a similar flat-topped, cube shape to the NW–JEC and NW-QAC, this one comes in white instead of the more common black and lacks a carrying handle. This one is also sold exclusively at Williams-Sonoma.
DEAL: Zojirushi NW-JEC10BA Pressure Induction Heating (IH) Rice Cooker
Zojirushi’s top-of-the-line model has everything you could ask for when it comes to rice-cooking tech. Fuzzy logic? Check. Induction heat? Check. AI? Check. And because we know the future of technology is all about customization, this model features something called “My Rice,” which allows you to give it feedback on every batch of rice (too sticky or dry, overcooked or not enough, etc.) and will gradually improve your rice over time, as confirmed by writer Wilder Davies who experimented with this feature for a year. Combine all that in a sleek, squared-off, Silky Black machine and it’s no wonder this is also Zojirushi’s most expensive rice cooker. This model comes in the familiar 5.5-cup and 10-cup options, and has presets for white, umami, mixed, sushi, Jasmine, porridge, congee, brown, GABA brown, steel cut oatmeal, quick white, and quick Jasmine. Notably, even if you don’t teach this rice cooker how you like your rice, you can still get more precise than you can with any other cooker on this list with white rice settings of regular, soft, softer, firm, and firmer. Its spherical, nonstick and scratch resistant pan is iron-coated and platinum infused, and is a heftier 2.2mm thick. Time delay, self-cleaning, warming (regular and extended), and reheating functions are also supported among the scrollable menu options on its orange LCD screen. The one thing we can’t tell you about this machine is whether spending nearly $800 on a rice cooker is worth it to you.
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