I Make Rice Every Day—This Is the Only Rice Cooker I Would Ever Recommend

We were in the market for a new rice cooker shortly after moving from Brooklyn to Seattle in 2017. My husband, Jake, who has a knack for finding high-quality, durable products with excellent reviews online, chose the Zojirushi Neuro Fuzzy Rice Cooker and Warmer, which we’ve happily used ever since.

At home, rice is almost a daily staple at our dinner table and, like his daddy, our son Philip is a true rice boy. The boys, in turn, are usually the ones on rice duty. When rice is on the menu, either Jake or Philip will measure the grains using the cup that comes with the Zojirushi. This measuring cup is smaller than a standard U.S. cup but smaller—about three-quarters of one—and should always be used with the Zojirushi rice cooker to yield the most accurate and best results.

Then, they’ll rinse the rice in a grain colander until the water runs clear (You can save this water to water your plants or wash your hair and face). Next, they’ll add the rice to the nonstick rice cooker bowl, which is marked clearly with water level lines for different types of rice: white rice, sweet rice, brown rice, and semi-brown rice. For example, if you measure out two cups of white rice, add water until it reaches the "2" line under the white rice label. Close the lid, choose the correct rice setting, press the pink “Cook/Reheat” button, and, in about 40 minutes, our usual plain white rice is fully cooked.

We taught Philip how to use the rice cooker when he was about eight or nine. It’s a surprisingly kid-friendly appliance; every time you press the cook button, it plays a cheerful melody and sings again when the rice is ready. I’ve emphasized to Philip to always take good care of the scratch-proof inner pot. We use the included plastic rice paddle to fluff the rice (never a metal fork or spoon) and clean the inner pot gently by hand with warm soapy water.

It’s truly easy enough for all age groups to learn and use. Recently, I taught my 75-year-old mother how to use it in about five minutes. Now, when we’re traveling, and she gets tired of her usual instant ramen, roasted potatoes, and dumplings, she can easily cook white rice.

Not only is this rice cooker easy to master, but it’s also quite versatile. As its name suggests, it doubles as a food warmer, keeping your rice nice and hot until you’re ready to enjoy it. Additionally, I can cook more than just plain steamed rice with it. I’ve made “kimchi fried rice,” one-pot rice meals, and even sponge cakes—all in my trusty Zojirushi rice cooker. You can use the mixed setting to make one-pot meals and fried rice. Making rice cooker cakes requires a little hacking of the settings, so I won’t go into details here.

What makes this rice cooker so versatile is its patented Neuro Fuzzy logic technology, which allows it to "think" like a human cook. A microchip inside helps it monitor and adapt cooking time and temperature based on factors like the type of rice or dish you’re making, how much heat is required, and the amount of water left in the bowl.

I’ll stop myself here before I start sounding like one of those enthusiastic salesmen we always run into during our family trips to Tokyo. But, seriously, this rice cooker is a game-changer that my family and I have been using for seven years and counting now. It’s practically a family member at this point! So, if you’re currently in the market for a rice cooker, this Zojirushi is the one my family and I wholeheartedly recommend.

BUY IT NOW: Zojirushi Neuro Fuzzy Rice Cooker and Warmer

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