Best Japanese Rice Cookers Review

Have you been in the market for a great new Japanese rice cooker? Well, if you are, then you’ve come to the right place! There are so many different models and brands out there to choose from that it can be a bit overwhelming to make a final decision. You wouldn’t want to end up with a dud that doesn’t work as well as you’d like, and you don’t want to overspend on a premium product that you won’t get the full use out of. 

So, we have compiled a list of five of the best rice cookers so that you can get a feel for which one will work the best for your needs, and give you what you have been looking for in a Japanese rice cooker. 

What are the Advantages of using Japanese Rice Cookers? 

When you are in the market for a new product, you want to know all about it so that you can get the best option out there. Well, we are here to help. We have collected some of the most valuable information about these Japanese rice cookers so that you know what to look for in a great option, and so that you know all the information before making your final decision. 

Japanese rice cooker brands offer many different options for their customers. These popular machines enable you to cook brown and white rice to perfection and have non-stick surfaces on the interior of the appliance so that you don’t have to worry about losing pieces to the side of the cooker like with countertop cooking methods. 

Another advantage of rice cookers made in Japan is the ability to choose the settings of how the rice will cook. For those who want to make sticky white rice for sushi, or those who want to make loose brown rice to top with chicken or steak, you can do so with the press of a button. 

Many Japanese cookers also keep your rice safe from overcooking the way you can’t do with traditional stovetop methods. Using a rice cooker will allow you to let the appliance do all the work without having to sit and watch it. If you cook rice on a stove, you will have to stir and check on it, or else you might forget about it and burn the food. 

Rice cookers keep this from happening by shutting off after the rice cooking cycle is done so it won’t burn. This allows you to cook other food items at the same time, and allows you to cook quite a bit at a time. 

Things That Differentiate Rice Cookers From One Another 

Not all Japanese rice cooker brands make similar products, and because of this, not every rice cooker made in Japan is of the same high quality. So, to help differentiate these products to find the best options for you, you want to consider a few things. 

The first thing that you want to look at in a rice cooker is the settings. Some rice cookers are very basic models with only a few different settings to choose from, but the best Japanese rice cookers have multiple options. There are some that offer options for sushi rice, sweet sticky rice, and loose brown rice. 

However, some options have settings and room for main dishes too. This will allow you to cook rice in one compartment and a main dish like chicken or fish in the other. This will cut down your cooking time and allow you to focus on other things while your meal cooks. 

How We Selected the Best Japanese Rice Cookers 

The features that we looked at to determine the best brands are the number of cooking settings available, the total rice capacity, the price of the product, and the customer rating.

Best Japanese Rice Cooker Review 

We have taken the time to look at five of the best Japanese rice cookers and have made a concise review of each item below. Whether you are looking for the best value option that is budget-friendly or a premium product that comes with multiple features, you will find a great option on this list.

Zojirushi NS-TSC10 Micom RiceCooker and Warmer

Features:

• Large Capacity for rice servings 
• Multiple warming cycles 
• Reheating cycle 
• Stainless steel construction
• Micro computerized fuzzy technology

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This Zojirushi model has micro computerized fuzzy technology that helps cook your rice to the perfect temperature and texture every time. With a total capacity of 5.5 cups, you can make a large amount of rice at one time so you can serve guests, or you can make enough for yourself for the week. 

This cooker comes with warming cycles that include keep warm, extended keep warm, and reheating cycle. This allows you to keep the cooked rice in the cooker and warmed for a short period of time while you finish cooking, or you can keep it warm as the food is served. The reheating will allow you to warm up the rice so that you can serve it nice and hot. 

This rice cooker option makes cleaning a breeze with the clear-coated stainless-steel exterior that wipes clean with a wet rag. The stainless-steel also helps to prevent smudging from touching the outside of the machine.

Pros

• Micro computerized fuzzy technology for perfect temperature
• Comes with multiple warming cycles and reheating
• Easy cleaning with a stainless-steel exterior
• Prevents smudging on exterior
• Makes 5.5 cups of rice

Cons

• Warming setting may dry out rice
• The interior pan gets scratched easily
• Takes a long time to cook

Tiger Corporation JBV-A10U-W Micom Rice Cooker and Slow Cooker

Features:

• Syncro-cooking for main dish and rice
• 4 different cooking settings
• Non-stick coating interior
• Slow cooking option

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This Tiger rice cooker comes with syncro-cooking functions called “tacook,” which allows you to cook a main dish along with the rice at the same time. This makes this option great for those with very busy schedules and families so that you can spend less time cooking and more time with your friends and family. 

This option has 4 cooking settings that include plain rice, brown rice, slow cooking, and syncro-cooking. This lets you choose the exact setting for when you just need rice, or when you want to cook a main dish as well. 

This cooker comes with a non-stick coating inner pan that is easy to clean just by wiping it down. It also comes with a non-stick spatula, plate, and measuring cup. As an added bonus, this option also comes with a cookbook that helps you to use the syncro-cooking function.

Pros

• Syncro-cooking function for main dish and rice
• 4 cooking settings for various options
• Non-stick coating on interior and extra items
• Comes with spatula, plate, and measuring cup
• Comes with a cookbook for syncro-cooking function ideas

Cons

• Non-stick surface can peel off 
• Continues to warm until manually shut off 

Zojirushi NS-ZCC10 Neuro Fuzzy Rice Cooker and Warmer

Features:

• Neuro fuzzy technology 
• Wall-mountable 
• Multi-menu selections 
• Reheating setting 
• LCD clock and display

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This Zojirushi rice cooker comes with neuro fuzzy logic technology that helps you get the perfect temperature for your rice every time. This item is also wall-mountable so that it won’t take up counter space when you need extra room.  

Multi-menu selection options allow you to use warming and reheating cycles to keep rice warmed for a short time, an extended time, or turn on reheating to get the rice up to serving temperature after it has cooled down. 

This product comes with a non-stick interior pan that keeps rice from being caught on the sides, and it makes cleaning a simple task. This item also has an LCD clock to help you keep time, and a retractable cord so that you can keep it out of view when not in use.

Pros

• Neuro fuzzy logic technology for temperature control 
• Wall-mountable for extra counter space 
• Multi-menu selections for warming and reheating 
• LCD clock and setting display 
• Retractable cord to keep out of view when not in use 

Cons

• Interior pan gets scratched easily 
• Battery replacement must be done by service center
• More expensive compared to others with similar features

Zojirushi NP-HCC10XH Induction Heating System Rice Cooker and Warmer 

Features:

• Multiple cooking functions 
• Healthy cooking option functions
• Three warming functions 
• Comes with added accessories

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This Zojirushi option comes with multiple cooking functions that allow you to cook white rice, brown rice, and even cake. There are healthy cooking options that allow you to cook brown rice, GABA brown rice, and germinated brown rice so that you can serve healthy dinner options to your family. 

There are three warming and heating options that allow you to use keep warm, extended keep warm, and reheating functions. The warming functions will keep a steady temperature without cooking the rice further and drying it out, and the reheat cycle will return cooled rice to the proper serving temperature.

This rice cooker purchase also comes with a spatula, measuring cup, and serving bowl so that you can make perfectly cooked, and perfectly measured, rice every time. 

Pros

• Multiple cooking functions for brown and white rice 
• Health cooking options for brown rice options 
• Three warming and reheating cycles 
• Purchase comes with spatula, measuring cup, and bowl 
• 2 timer settings for cooking cycle 

Cons

• Premium price not for those with a budget

Tiger JKT-S10U-K IH Rice Cooker

Features:

• 11 cooking functions 
• Slow cooking option 
• Bread Making Function
• Interior has 5 layers of metal 
• Comfortable grip handle 
• Detachable inner pot 

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This Tiger Japanese rice cooker comes with an incredible number of cooking functions, with 11 in total. These computerized cooking functions include slow cooking, bread baking, and multiple brown rice settings. 

The cooker comes with an interior pot with 5 layers of metal plus 3 layers of coating to make it more durable and long-lasting. The inner pan also comes with a comfortable grip handle that allows you to pick up the pot and carry it easily. 

The detachable inner pot comes with an outer lid and steam vent cap that detaches and cleans easily. There is also a clear digital display for easy setting control and 2 preset cooking timers that allows you to press a button and chose the perfect cooking time for your dish. 

Pros

• 11 cooking functions in total 
• Slow cooking option 
• 8-layer interior pot for durability 
• Inner pot comes with grip handle 
• Detachable outer lid and steam cap 
• Digital display for easy setting control 
• 2 preset cooking times 
• Offers syncro-cooking for main dish

Cons

• High premium price, not budget-friendly 
• Large size, not for small countertops 
• Inner pot may still scratch easily 

Conclusion 

With these great rice cooker options, it may seem like a difficult decision to determine which of these items we will be named the best Japanese rice cooker. Well, we have narrowed the options down to the best overall, and the best value for the price. The Tiger vs. Zojirushi rice cookers come in close, but there are two that stand out above the rest. 

The Tiger Corporation JBV-A10U-W is our pick for the best value option. This rice cooker comes with the same rice capacity of its more expensive counterparts but is about half the price. This cooker allows for syncro-cooking which cooks the main dish along with the rice. The value of this budget-friendly option is clear, and that is why it has earned our title of best overall value. 

The best Japanese rice cooker overall is the Zojirushi NS-TSC10. This rice cooker comes with innovative technology that allows you to get the perfect cooking temperature every time, plus it is made from durable stainless steel that is built to last and will resist smudging. This option can cook 5.5 cups of rice at a time and makes a great option for families on the go.

Whatever product you go for, you will still get a rice cooker that will work great, will last longer, and will allow you to serve the best rice for your family.