Rice Cooker Reviews

At different times I've steamed fresh spinach, broccoli, and four corn cobs. They have all turned out perfect. I like how it keeps the food warm easily for 15 minutes while safely turned off.

This appliance appears to be the functional twin of the Sanyo ECJ B35M, which I have and use frequently.

OVERALL, in balancing its features and price, this small capacity rice cooker is an excellent value. It has a number of excellent features, few of which are mentioned in the brief editorial review. They really should have been, to do this appliance justice:
* fuzzy logic microprocessor control produces EXCELLENT rice: Without reservation I can say that this rice cooker makes the best rice I've ever cooked. Grains are fluffy and don't stick to one another. There's no goo on the bottom, no browning of the rice, and absolutely no burning.
* THICK cookpot (5 mm) makes for even cooking
* titanium non-stick finish makes for easy clean up
* retractable cord of reasonable length
* multiple settings (white rice/mixed, brown, porridge)
* clock with timer for autocook at later time. The default cook time (the one last entered) remains the same until changed, making it easy to set up the next time.
* easy to set digital clock and timer
* no need to unplug/plug to start
* 'countdown' feature tells you when the rice is almost done, beginning at 13 minutes.

Thus far I've successfully cooked white, brown, basmati, and wild rice in this appliance. FYI, the porridge setting can also be used to make risotto.

The only 'down' sides to this appliance are minor:
1. The front to back measurement is longer than side to side, making it most easily placed towards the back of the counter. However, the steam vent is placed at the rear. Unfortunately, if you have cabinets above, this combination of features will result in steam condensing on the bottom of the cabinet--which will NOT result in a good outcome for your cabinets in the long run! This can be dealt with entering the settings you want, then bringing the cooker forward, letting out the cord a bit, and turning the appliance 90 degrees.

2. The manual notes that placement should not be where the appliance will be in the sun, since the appearance of the plastic may change over time. (I think the sun could also heat the rice cooker--something that mainly affects you if you set the timer to start later, or keep rice warm for an extended period.) I mention this because it doesn't appear on the box, and did require that I find another place to put this, where it would always be out of the sun, rather than where I had originally planned.

3. The manual is not the greatest. The cooker is shipped with the inner lid in place. However, there is no mention of how to remove the inner lid; FYI, it's a press-fit, meaning that it should be pulled off gently, using both hands and gentle pressure. After use, the lid needs to be washed, of course. The lid is then replaced in the same way. The instructions for using the pot to prewash the rice are a bit confusing, and there are LOTS of marks in the pot's interior.

4. Its capacity is small. If you are cooking for yourself, for a couple or for a small family/group, for one meal a day, it will meet your needs nicely. If you eat rice twice a day, and don't mind resetting to cook it for the second meal, this will still meet your needs. Otherwise, consider a fuzzy logic rice cooker with larger capacity.

5. When cooking anything other than white rice, mild overflowing can occur. I have found it makes sense to start with no more than 1.5 cups (using their cup, which is about 6 oz.) of raw rice the first time around. Likewise for the porridge feature. FYI, a little olive oil (> 1 tsp) reduces foaming and overflow, if you aren't a purist. It works when you're cooking pasta, too, which is why I tried it.

6. An old toothbrush is handy to clean the underside of the press-fit lid near the vent, and also along the top of the lid near the hinge. Don't put clean-up off, either. It doesn't get easier when it dries.

7. If you've pushed this appliance and are dealing with an overflow extending to the cooking surface, unplug this appliance. Use a wet cotton (NOT microfiber or polyester!)cloth to clean the heating element area.

Bon appetit!

Tiger is known for great rice cookers. Usually their models are made in Japan, but this model is made in China and the price is low because of it. It cooks rice like any other rice cooker of Tiger's and I have had no problems with it. While its not fuzzy, this is a decent rice cooker, and the latest Tiger model.

I have used Zojirushi rice cookers for many years. I just recently upgraded to this one.
You really can't go wrong with any of the Zojirushi rice cookers. This one just heats the entire bowl evenly, instead of just applying heat to the bottom of the bowl.
It has menu settings for many different types of rice - white rice, harder white, softer white, brown rice, mixed rice, gaba brown rice.
It makes absolutely perfect rice. It is, of course, critical that you rinse rice first or you'll wind up with a starchy sticky bowl of glop, but thats the same with any machine. Just remember to rinse thoroughly first.
My only complaint is that until now, all the Zojirushi's have had a retracting electric cord. Very convenient. This one is their newest, highest priced rice cooker, and it does NOT have a retracting cord. Just a plain old cord that hangs there. Makes storage a little more of a pain.
Other than that a fabulous machine - you should try one.

When I moved to Japan i fell in love with japanese sticky rice... i tried a few other machines and this one just seemed to give the rice the perfect stick!!! Works great, have had it for about a year, and use it almost daily.

LOVE IT!!!

Cant find any negative things to say about this made in Japan Zojirushi rice cooker. Make sure when you buy zojirushi items that you get the made in japan version. I know for sure that ZAC10, ZAC18, KCC05, VBC-18 are all made in Japan. The others like MYC, PC models are made in China. I like these much better because they have the legendary quality of made in Japan models. It makes all sorts of rice and you can also make dishes inside the cooker. I also like to steam things like dumplings and chinese bread.

I received this steamer recently as a gift. I have only used it a few times, and only on vegetables but it has been great. The guide gives you advise on how long to cook your food and each time it has been right on. My vegetables were cooked thoroughly and it was nice not to have to use oven space so I make multiple things at one time.

I use my steamer all most every day. I use it for not only for vegetables and rice but fat-free cooking of chicken and other meats. It's so simple, add water, add food, set the timer, and then just walk away. The food comes out perfect every time.

i go to school full time and work and this food steamer is my best friend! it makes cooking dinner so easy! i can put in rice, veggies, whatever in there, set the timer, and do housework or homework while its cooking. rice comes out great everytime, veggies are so easy to cook, and apples are SOOOO good steamed in this. very easy to clean, and definately, DEFINATELY worth it! (i'd even pay twice as much as i did for it.)

I was a bit hesitant to spend so much on a rice cooker. From my 20+ years of making white rice almost daily, a rice cooker is a rice cooker. After using this machine everyday for 2 months, I find it to be no different from the many others I had used of similar style (ie a non-removable outer lid and a removable inner lid), except that it has something I desperately in need of --- a timer. The quality of the cooked rice is the same, though it takes almost twice as long to cook and reheat as other cookers. As another reviewer mentioned, I too don't particularly care for the condensation dripping, but I did not find the gross build-up. I find this cooker to be more bulky than my previous 10-cup cooker. However, because of the timer, I am very happy with this machine.

I recently acquired this rice cooker after having to deal with a year's worth of scorched rice that came from my previous rice cooker (a Toastmaster).

This machine is awesome!! Not only does it make a perfect pot of rice every time, but having the different settings makes it so much more than just a rice cooker. The first morning I owned it, I used it to make the best oatmeal I've EVER had (the steel-cut kind, not the instant)! It's very well designed, easy to use, and very easy to clean thanks to it's non-stick cooking pot. It also has an extended keep-warm function, which keeps rice warm and yummy for up to 12 hours. The timer function is a nice touch, too - I can program it in the morning when I leave for work, and when I get home my rice is waiting!

If you're looking for a rice cooker that will last a very long time, this one's a great investment.

This is the machine that made my husband love rice. He was never that enthusiastic before so I figure it's a big accomplishment.
The instruction manual that comes with the machine leaves a lot to be desired, however if you have a good recipe book like "The Ultimate Rice Cooker Cookbook", the possibilies are endless.
In regard to the review about the machine being difficult to clean-I don't understand that comment. The inner lid pops out and you're supposed to clean it after each use- always comes clean for me and I use the cooker to make oatmeal which always makes a lovely gooey mess.
I've used the machine since July at least 6 times a week and I absolutely love it. My advice to anyone having trouble... file the instruction manual and buy "The Ultimate Rice Cooker Cookbook". Problem solved.

Zojirushi makes excellent rice cookers, and they deserve their great reputation, and their home in many Asian and non-Asian kitchens.

This cooker makes perfect rice every time, to the consistency you desire (regular, soft, hard, etc.). It's foolproof and helps make sure that dinner won't be a disaster.

Supposedly the neuro-fuzzy logic helps it make decisions to get it right. But I think the main asset of the extra-cost electronics on this unit is greater programming flexibility. E.g. you can set it to start cooking and have it ready when you get home.

However, a few negatives prevent me from giving it a 5-star rating:

1) The unit's electronics are powered by a lithium battery which supposedly lasts about four years. When it dies, you have to bring the unit to a service center to get the battery replaced at your expense.

If you think four years is the lifetime you expect out of this cooker, this won't be a problem. But if you don't like this, look toward the non-neuro fuzzy models and save your money.

2) A more serious problem: it takes longer to cook rice with this cooker (and most electronic rice cookers) than the old-fashioned way (with a pot over a stove). Regular rice is supposed to take 40-49 minutes in the cooker. I can cook rice on the stove in about 25 minutes (5 minutes to boil, 20 minutes for the rice).

The tradeoff is that I can make more errors on the stove (cook the rice too long, too short). However, when you're trying to whip up dinner quickly, the extra time of the rice cooker might frustrate you, and you'll find yourself bypassing it and whipping out the pot.

Do you cook rice with any kind of regularity? If the answer is yes, then you know how easy it is to botch. For those of you who have perfected the technique, you still know the attention necessary and the pain of clean up (especially if you've tried to keep rice warm for any extended period).

Most any rice cooker beats the heck out of stove-top hands down when it comes to ease of prep and clean up. Zojirushi's Neuro Fuzzy cooker adds consistancy and reliability to the mix. Use this and you will NEVER worry about keeping an eye on the pot. You will ALWAYS be happy with the end product and clean up is a cinch.

Think outside the box of white rice with this unit...porridge, exotic long grains, fried rice, jambalaya and absolutely everything else that I have tried...it knows how to get perfect results.

Are there downsides? Yes. The measuring cup is an off size (try not to lose it). The machine is pricey. The battery eventually dies. You may wait a few extra minutes. Should you care about these downsides? No. It's just that good. Look at the ratings and read the reviews...not one hint of regret...there's a reason.

The icing on the cake is the great kitchen kitsch of an elephant logo and the "Neuro-Fuzzy" designation...it gets more attention from visitors than my KitchenAid stand-up.

I bought this little beauty almost a year ago and at first balked at the price, but it has more than proven itself. We make rice almost every night and this is so convenient. I especially love the easy clean-up (compared to stovetop rice pot). I usually use the "quick cook" feature as I'm cooking after work, and that works fine, too> We've tried all kinds of rice, and even steel-cut oats. I have not had a single complaint about this great machine. Pay attention to the size you buy, though. The 5-cup doesn't make a lot, probably only enough for two people.

I bought this rice cooker about 3 months ago to replace an old Zojirushi that seemed to be not as effective at keeping the rice fresh and warm as well as it used to. I was quite happy with the old one otherwise, and for many years. I've used the new cooker about twice a week for white Korean rice. I have mostly complaints. First, there's no spatula holder. For this amount of money, it's ridiculous not to have a spatula holder. Second, the rice takes twice as long to cook (40 minutes instead of 20). Third, although I make only 2 cups of rice at a time, the cooker is really too small. Because 2 cups of rice, when cooked, takes up almost all of the space in the cooker, it is difficult to fluff up the rice when it's done. My mother said a 3-cup rice cooker was not a good idea. Why didn't I listen to her?

This is a nice compact size, esp if you have limited counter space. Perfect for two people, was also fine when we had 2 friends over for dinner. If you cook 2.5 cups of rice, it is perfect for 4-5 people. I always fluff in the bowl or plate I serve on to. If you are not picky about "fluffing", it is really no big deal if you can't fluff in the cooker. Not having any spoon holder is a pain. Love the timer feature. Makes perfect jook or rice porridge, as well as tapioca/taro dessert. We cook rice everyday so this was a nice change from using our 15 year old steamer style pot.

i like this rice cooker a lot. although the cooking time is long but the rice always turned out fluffy and nice.