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If you’re looking for a stress-free way to make fluffy, tender rice, you need a Zojirushi rice cooker. Though making a great batch of rice is possible without any kitchen appliances, having a machine—especially one with the ability to cook different types of rice—can streamline weeknight cooking and make life easier. Using a rice cooker takes all the unpredictability out of the equation: There’s no need to babysit a pot of rice on the stovetop and no risk of under- or overcooking your rice. With the right model, perfect rice for pilafs and hearty grain bowls is just a rinse and press of a button away.
- The best induction rice cooker: Zojirushi Induction Heating System Rice Cooker, $332 on Amazon
- The best micom rice cooker: Zojirushi 5-1/2-Cup Micom Rice Cooker, $195 on Amazon
- The best automatic rice cooker: Zojirushi Automatic Rice Cooker and Warmer, $127 on Amazon
- A budget pick for small spaces: Zojirushi NHS-06 3-Cup (Uncooked) Rice Cooker, $50 on Amazon
Why are Zojirushi rice cookers so good?
While they aren’t the cheapest on the market, the Japanese brand's appliances consistently produce flawlessly cooked rice. Zojirushi’s 19 rice cookers range in price and capability and are split into two categories: conventional electric rice cookers and the more technologically advanced Micom rice cookers.
Zojirushi’s conventional rice cookers keep things simple—and less expensive—with a single switch, while the Micom machines are equipped with a micro computer and “fuzzy logic” technology that helps each machine adjust cooking time and temperature as needed. (If you accidentally added too much liquid to the pot, it’s able to sense that and adjust so your grains don’t end up mushy.) The LCD control panel on the Micom models have specific cook settings for different types of rice, such as long-grain, white, brown, or sushi rice.
Not sure which model to get? Read on for the full run-down of our favorite models—but if you’d rather skip the details and go with the machine our food editors use every day in the test kitchen, look no further than the Zojirushi NS-TSC10 Micom Rice Cooker. Not only does it cook flawless rice consistently, but the price tag is a bit more budget-friendly compared to the brand’s higher end induction model, beloved by rice obsessives everywhere. We think the NS-TSC10 is the best Zojirushi rice cooker for most people.
Automatic Rice Cookers
This automatic rice cooker may not have an elaborate control panel or the ability to prepare rice in advance, but its single switch—which toggles between “cook” and “keep warm”—makes it the best rice cooker for those who want a machine that’s straightforward and easy to use. Once your grains are cooked, the machine automatically shifts into “keep warm” mode.
The three heaters positioned on the bottom, middle, and top of the inner pot ensure that the rice stays at the ideal temperature, while the tight-sealing lid locks moisture in and prevents grains from becoming dry. The spatula holder attached to the side of the machine means you won’t have to travel far for a serving utensil when you finally get around to enjoying your batch of rice.
Like the brand’s other automatic rice cooker, this machine only has a single switch and transitions into “keep warm” mode once your rice is done. Though it doesn’t come with a spatula holder, its accessories include a spatula, a steamer basket, and handles that allow you to easily move the rice cooker. The glass lid also allows you to check on the cooking process of your rice in its nonstick inner pot.
Micom Rice Cookers
This versatile Zojirushi Micom rice cooker tackles both sweet and savory cooking. You can program its menu settings to prepare white or brown rice, porridge, or mixed grains, and use the steam or bake setting to rustle up desserts like cheesecake. Set yourself up for success with the delay timer and keep warm options: Simply measure the grains and water in the morning, set the desired cooking start time, and you’ll come home to a fresh batch of rice after a long day of work.
This sleek rice cooker comes with a steamer basket, a non-stick spatula for scooping rice, and a measuring cup that corresponds to the lines on the inside of the pot. Use the basket to cook veggies and rice simultaneously for easy weeknight dinners, or steam puddings like flan or crème brûlée when you need a dinner party dessert pronto.
Unlike rice cookers that are heated from the bottom with an electric coil and thermal sensor, this model relies on an induction system that creates heat directly in the inner pot through electromagnetism. The machine comes with settings for different types of rice, and its stainless steel exterior is easy to wipe down. It also has a delay timer to help you plan ahead; all you have to do is place uncooked rice with the correct ratio of water in the pot, then program when you’d like it to start cooking. Like the first automatic rice cooker mentioned above, this model comes with three heaters too—one at the bottom, one on the side, and one in the inner lid—for evenly cooked and fluffy rice.
Similar to “fuzzy logic,” Neuro Fuzzy technology allows the rice cooker to sense what’s happening within the inner pot and adjusts time and temperature as needed. The machine’s instinct for preparing perfect rice—separate grains that manage to just cling to one another—means you’ll rarely end up with mushy, overcooked grains or a burnt mess at the bottom of the pot. Like the other rice cookers, the detachable inner lid makes for easy clean-up. The Neuro Fuzzy, however, is the only machine with heat-proof handles on the side of the inner pot to prevent possible burns while you lift the bowl out of the rice cooker.
Not only can the Neuro Fuzzy Rice Cooker prepare white rice, porridge, and more, it has a “keep warm” and “extended keep warm” setting, plus the ability to reheat rice. But the most appealing thing about this model may be its “rinse-free” and “quick cooking” option. Lest you’re worried about using the correct water to rice ratio, the rice cooker comes with two measuring cups: one regular one, and one for musenmai, a rinse-free rice variety popular in Japan. Use its non-stick rice spatula to scoop out sticky grains, and return it to its handy holder on the side of the pot when done.
Micom, induction heating, and pressure cooking technology come together in what may be Zojirushi’s most advanced rice cooker yet. According to the brand’s site, the pressurized cooking and steaming “promotes gelatinization and produces sticky and plump rice.” Like other Micom models, this machine uses fuzzy logic to adjust cooking times and temperatures as needed so that each batch of rice is perfect.
The Pressure Induction Heating Rice Cooker has 49 customization settings; for one, the “My Rice (49 Ways)” setting allows you to give the machine feedback so it knows how to make rice exactly the way you want it, whether that’s a little stickier or slightly fluffier. Neat! The platinum-infused nonstick inner pot and detachable inner lid are both easy to clean—but if you don’t feel like hand-washing, the rice cooker has a self-cleaning function too. At $701, this is Zojirushi’s most expensive rice cooker. But if you want a machine that can make rice the way you prefer it, then the price tag may be worth it.
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Zojirushi’s Umami rice cooker claims to produce more flavorful rice by soaking and cooking rice for longer. Like the other Micom models, this machine has automatic and extended settings to keep your rice warm, as well as the ability to reheat rice. If you don’t have room for single-use appliances, this model also doubles as a slow cooker—consider using it for braised meat, soups, or stew. What appeals to me most is its specific setting for making congee. Most machines have a button for porridge, but this one has specific settings for both. A batch of comforting congee with the press of a button? Count me in.
