Table of Contents
Best Japanese Rice Cookers 2023
Zojirushi NHS-06 3-Cup (Uncooked) Rice Cooker
- Easy-to-use single switch control
- See-through glass lid with stay cool knob
- Stay cool handles for easy transport
The Zojirushi NHS-06 3-Cup (Uncooked) Rice Cooker is simple to operate, dependable, and practical. This streamlined cooker can cook up to three cups of uncooked rice at a time, allowing you to save valuable counter space.
The see-through cover allows you to keep an eye on your whole grain or white rice as it cooks evenly on low heat for delicate flavors that will wow your family and friends with every mouthful! This device is recommended because of its simple design, which provides a fantastic cooking experience without all of the difficulties. There’s less bothering with complicated steps when there’s only one switch button.
The Zojirushi NHS06 is ideal for newbie cooks, with a robust nonstick inner cooking pan and an easier-to-read LCD screen. The best Japanese rice cooker has a measuring cup that holds 6 ounces of uncooked white rice, which is the most common type in Japan and elsewhere. Cooking short-grain white rice takes 40 to 50 minutes, but there’s no need to keep an eye on the clock because this model has an easy-to-read LCD timer/clock.
Zojirushi NS-LGC05XB Micom Rice Cooker
- Multi-menu cooking functions: Special settings for white/mixed riced, sushi rice, brown rice, GABA brown...
- Triple heater (bottom, side and lid) generate heat all around for even heating.Up to 3 cups / 0.54 liter....
- Dimensions (W x D x H):9-1/8 x 11-7/8 x 7-1/2 inches. Detachable and washable inner lid
The Zojirushi NS-LGC05XB Micom Rice Cooker offers multi-menu cooking options for a variety of rice kinds. White rice, mixed riced rice, sushi rice, long grain white rice, and steel-cut oatmeal are also options. The triple heater evenly distributes heat throughout the dish, ensuring that your dinner is properly cooked. Depending on whatever model you use, you can obtain up to 3 cups or 0.54 liters cooked worth of food with its 6 oz measuring cup!
The Micom Rice Cooker from Zojirushi, the NS-LGC05XB, is a multifunctional appliance with a lot of features. It contains a retractable cord for simple storage, an interchangeable melody signal and beep to indicate when the cooking cycle is over, and a removable steam vent cap to prevent messy spills while cooking at higher temperatures. The NS-LGC05XB also includes an easy-to-use microcomputer that automatically regulates cooking temperature and time, making it one of the best Japanese rice cookers on the market!
Zojirushi NS-TSC10 5-1/2-Cup Micom Rice Cooker and Warmer
- Micro computerized fuzzy logic technology. Capacity Up to 5.5 cups / 1.0 liter,Dimensions (W x D x H)...
- Automatic keep warm, extended keep warm and reheating cycle
- Easy to clean clear coated stainless steel exterior, 2 delay time settings
Zojirushi makes the best Japanese Rice Cookers. This model is the best Japanese rice cooker with a 5.5-cup cooking capacity. You can cook a wide range of dishes including: White/Sushi, Mixed, Porridge, Sweet, Brown, Cake, Steam and Quick Cooking. At first sight, the control panel may seem complicated but is easy to operate. It comes with a timer button, and you can use it to set the time you want your rice to get done. Also, it has two big arrows under the timer that you can use to adjust the timer to either increase or decrease it. The LCD is also easy to read. Finally, the inner cooking pan has inscribed measure lines for measurement precision.
Zojirushi NS-TSC10 5-1/2-Cup Micom Rice Cooker and Warmer is the best Japanese Rice Cookers in 2023.
Zojirushi NS-ZCC10 5-1/2-Cup (Uncooked) Neuro Fuzzy Rice Cooker and Warmer
- 5-1/2-cup computerized rice cooker and warmer with advanced Neuro Fuzzy logic technology. Wall mountable
- Multi-menu selections; automatic keep-warm, extended keep-warm, and reheat cycles. Electrical Rating -...
- Spherical, nonstick inner pan allows for uniform heating; LCD clock and timer; retractable cord
Zojirushi NS-ZCC10 5-1/2-Cup comes with 2 measuring cups, nonstick rice spoon/scooper, rice spoon holder, and recipes. This Japanese rice cooker can make 10 cups of cooked rice at once! So you can use these for parties of large numbers of people. The pressure cooker include a variety of cooking modes. These include white rice(regular/sushi, softer or harder), mixed rice, porridge, sweet, semi-brown, brown, rinse-free, and quick cooking. These best Japanese Cookers use a black thick spherical pan with stay cool side handles that provides even heating for better cooking. The model has a programmable melody or beep audio indicator to indicate when the cooking cycle has ended.
Zojirushi NS-ZCC10 5-1/2-Cup Neuro Fuzzy Rice Cooker and Warmer is one of the best Japanese Rice Cooker in 2023.
Panasonic SR-HZ106 5-Cup (Uncooked) Induction Heating System Rice Cooker & Multi-Cooker
- JAPANESE RICE COOKER – Industry leading induction heating which creates an electrical current inside...
- INDUCTION COOKING - Durable 7-Layer Inner Pan with Diamond Coating. The non-stick inner pan with copper...
- DELICIOUS HEALTHY COOKING - 13 Pre-Set Cooking Programs automatically cook a variety of rice including...
Induction heat is used to warm a 7-layer inner cooking pan designed to reach and uniformly cook each grain of rice while maintaining important nutrients in the Panasonic SR-HZ106 5-cup (uncooked) rice cooker steamer with an induction heating system.
Panasonic has done it again by providing a reasonably priced version with a slew of great features that allow users to get the most out of the finest Japanese rice cooker.This version is capable of steaming vegetables, cooking stews and soups, steaming fish, and making oatmeal. The nonstick coating on the interior of the pot is made up of four layers, which prevents food from sticking to the inside and makes cleanup a breeze.
The inner cooking pan becomes the heat source with induction technology, which is activated when coils in the rice cooker’s bottom form a magnetic field that creates instant heat within the inner cooking pan.
Tiger JNP-1800-FL Rice Cooker and Warmer
- Keep-warm function up to 12 hours
- Non-stick inner pan
- Retractable power cord
Tiger is a Japanese brand. This is rather simple to use a rice cooker with all the necessary modes. It is large with the capacity to take up to 10 cups of rice, and this makes it perfect for large families and groups of people. You won’t have to worry about the rice getting glued to the pan because this pressure cooker has a non-stick pan.
Tiger JNP-1800-FL Rice Cooker and Warmer is the best budget Japanese Rice Cookers in 2023.
Zojirushi Induction Heating Pressure Rice Cooker & Warmer
- Multi-menu cooking functions include settings for white, mixed, sushi/sweet rice, porridge, brown, gaba...
- Umami setting extends soaking and steaming time for better rice
- Steam-reduce setting reduces steam to 50-percent of regular setting
The AI fuzzy-logic technology lets the Japanese rice cooker to learn from your cooking history. The pressure cookers come with settings for quick cooking, porridge, sushi, and lots more. Unami settings allow your rice to soak and steam better. The LCD is colored and easy to use. The control panel comes with a clock and a delay timer.
Zojirushi Induction Heating Pressure Rice Cooker & Warmer is the best.
Panasonic 10 Cup Rice Cooker with Fuzzy Logic and One-Touch Cooking
- JAPANESE-STYLE RICE COOKER* – Industry leading induction cooking which creates an electrical current...
- ADVANCED FUZZY LOGIC TECHNOLOGY – A Micro-computer makes delicate adjustments in cooking times and...
- ONE TOUCH COOKING – Easily choose a pre-programmed setting to cook anything from brown rice, white...
Panasonic is a world famous Japanese brand. On the exterior, the Japanese rice cooker looks simple, but on the inside the pressure cooker is a mighty powerhouse. It comes with fuzzy logic technology, which gives your cooker to adapt and change cooking conditions to your cooking preference. The multi-cooking modes allow you to choose between white rice, quick-cook, brown rice, porridge, or soup by the press of a button. You can save cooking time by using the steam basket to steam your vegetables while cooking your rice.
Panasonic 10 Cup Rice Cooker with Fuzzy Logic and One-Touch Cooking is the best Japanese Rice Cooker in 2023.
Tiger JAX-T18U-K Micom Rice Cooker & Food Steamer
- 10-Cup Microcomputer controlled rice cooker and warmer with "tacook" synchro-cooking function
- 4-in-1 functions and 10 computerized cooking menu settings
- 1.8-mm thick inner pan
This is a 4-in-1 Japanese rice cooker model, with a lot of functions to offer. The LCD screen is clean and easy to read. These Japanese pressure cookers have a multi-cooking setting that uses a single button to select your cooking preference. This is a large rice cooker that can handle up to 20 cups of rice. So, people with large family size will find this very useful. Also, the cooker can be used to steam foods and slow cooking.
Tiger JAX-T18U-K Micom Rice Cooker & Food Steamer is the best Japanese Rice Cookers in 2023.
Why use Japanese Rice Cookers?
The first rice cooker ever to be made came from Japan by Mitsubishi. At the time, it was merely a basic design, an aluminum pot with a heating coil at the base to cook the rice. Japanese culinary features a lot of rice. It makes sense they’d make some of the best rice cookers too.
How to buy the best Japanese Rice Cookers?
Cooking code
Usually, there are mainly two styles of cooking rice using rice cookers. These styles are-
Thermal convection- most of the Japanese rice cookers that you will get in the market uses this method to cook rice. However, the pan of the cooking does not heat upon itself in the thermal convection system. The air around the container is released throughout the machine using the system, and therefore it the rice gets cooked from it. These models of cookers have thermal sensors in them that detect when the food is thoroughly cooked. It then automatically switches the machine to the warming mode.
Heat induction – in this kind of system, the cooking pan of the machine heats up significantly. The rice cooker produces an electromagnetic current that causes heat to start building up in the cooking pan. The heat generated then cooks the rice. Cooking rice in this method consumes a lot of heat, but the system cooks the rice uniformly.
Cooking choices
There are many people out there who wish to have more than one method of cooking their rice.
These kinds of models permit you to do more asides cooking white rice. With these, you can use different settings options to prepare sushi, brown rice, porridge, and many other kinds of rice. You will be able to cook them differently using different types of rice. Several other models have been developed with other cool functions like in-built timers, all for the convenience of the user.
Power cord choice
Choose one that comes with a power cord that is either retractable or detachable. We will explain why. It is mainly because this will make it a lot easier to keep your rice cooker anywhere for storage and keep it from getting stained.
Many people who didn’t consider this factor have been left regretting their decision later.
Durable design
There are many designs of rice cookers in the market today, but some of these designs are not durable. In fact, they can make you hate your stove after few months of usage. When choosing a Japanese rice cooker, make sure you go for one with handles. The handles will protect you from the hot surface of the stove. Make sure it has a transparent glass top that will allow you to watch your cooking progress.
We are not saying you shouldn’t go for a nice-looking rice cooker; the emphasis is on a cooker with durable designs.
Added features
Many rice cookers offer additional features. Therefore, you can look for extra features that will make your cooking more enjoyable. Besides, the extra features to look for will entirely rely on your requirements.
What you should look out for in the best Japanese cooker
The inner bowl quality
The material used for making the inner bowl of a rice cooker varies from one manufacturer to another. For cheaper models, the material is aluminum, and for pricey ones, it is often stainless steel.
The heating ability of these two materials are different, and you may have to deal with this before choosing. Also, non-stick materials are coated on the surface of the bowl, but some users have complained about the coating peeling off too fast in cheaper models.
Size of the rice cooker
Like other quality home appliances, rice cookers come in standard sizes. They are designed to work with a specific quantity of rice and water. So, before you buy one, you have to consider the size of your family, and how much you will be preparing per meal. If you have a large family size, you should go to a large rice cooker. Otherwise, pick a smaller one.
This is essential information because if you overfill your rice cooker, your rice won’t come out correctly. So, you should always follow the cooking instruction.
Controls
You should not expect a cheap model to come with all the advanced features; the best it can offer is the necessary controls. So high-end models come with advanced features that will intrigue you. Some of them are listed below.
Timer
Auto keep-warm
Delayed or scheduled cooking
Digital display
Options to prepare other kinds of rice
Most of these features come in handy. For instance, you can configure the timer to cook the rice for a specified number of minutes. Cook more than just white rice, and many more cool functions.
Exterior stays cool
Some models of rice cooker heat up on the exterior, and this can burn your fingers badly if you are not careful. Therefore, looking for a cooker that has a stay-cool exterior feature.
You won’t have to worry about hurting your hands.
Method of heating
Earlier on, we mentioned the two types of heating methods in rice cookers. Thermal convection and heat induction.
Most of the cheap models in the market use thermal convection along with aluminum coils, while heat induction is what you will find in the pricey models.
The heat induction method is faster, and it cooks your rice evenly without burning it.
Benefits of Japanese Rice Cookers?
If you are so used to the traditional way of cooking rice, you can’t just understand the fuss about rice cookers. For your information, rice cookers are way better, and the only regret you will have is why you didn’t get them earlier. Even when you are not ready to eat, the cooker will preserve your food at the right temperature until you are ready to serve. The cooker will prevent it from getting either overcooked or burnt. What a sweet relief!
Let us reveal a secret to you. Your rice cooker is multifunctional. So, it can be used to cook other meals asides rice. All you need is a little experiment to detect different things you can use your rice cooker for.
In this section, we have compiled other benefits of using a Japanese rice cooker.
Good rice cookers have a keep-warm feature that allows you to keep your rice warm for up to 12 hours
Rice cookers will cook your rice evenly, neither overcook nor undercook, keep the grains separate.
Best models come with simple programmable settings that allow you to cook all kinds of grains from brown rice to white rice, oatmeal, and many others.
Most cookers come with measuring cups, and lines inside the cup that indicates the volume of water that you need to add.
Other benefits that can interest you
Prepare a hot breakfast
Getting late for work? Well, your rice cooker can save you some time if you discover how you can use it to make breakfast meals like cereals. The keep-warm feature preserves the food at a warm temperature. So, for families that don’t take breakfast together, each member will only need to open the rice cooker to take their portion.
Steam vegetables
Steamer racks come with some rice cookers. If yours has this feature, you can use it for cooking cut vegetables, tofu, potatoes, or even chicken breast, shrimps, or fish fillets.
3. Cook beans, soups, or stew
add enough liquid to your rice cooker, and watch it cook other meals for you without boiling over or scorching.
How to clean a Japanese Rice Cooker
After you have completed cooking your rice, you will have to take out the inner cooking pot to wash. Take note that you only use a non-metallic sponge or brush to clean it. Using a metallic brush will scratch your pot’s surface, making it unusable. Cleaning is easier if you are using rice cloth, as the rice won’t stick in the rice cooker.
Peradventure you don’t have rice cloth, then you should consider soaking the pot in water to free up the rice in the cooker. Another option that you can try is to heat up the empty cooker; the left-over rice will harden up and dry. Once this happens, removing the rice becomes a lot easier. Whatever method you use, make sure you clean your pot after use. It will increase the lifespan of the rice cooker.
How long it takes to cook rice in a rice cooker
The time spent to cook rice depends on the type of rice you are cooking. According to the general rule, white rice will cook faster than brown rice. It a cup if rice requires 20 minutes to cook, it will take between 45-50 minutes for brown rice to cook. You can cut the overall cooking time significantly by soaking rice. Soaking causes grains of rice to absorb water and expand a little. Because the rice already absorbed water, the cooking time will reduce?
Useful information that you should know
Unami settings
The Unami setting is a feature that allows your cooker to soak the rice for a longer time. While the soaking is going on, the rice releases its sugar content into the water. As the rice cooks, the sugar that has been released into the water goes back to the rice, making it sweeter than usual.
Scorch settings
The scorch setting will help you toast the bottom of your rice to give it a crispy texture.
Automictic keep-warm
This setting helps you keep your rice warm at a low temperature to reduce the yellowing and drying of your rice. This setting can keep your rice warm for up to 12 hours.