Rice cookers shown in this video from left to right: Zojirushi Rice Cooker- amzn.to/32JBtW9 Instant Zest Rice Cooker - amzn.to/3ceOX0f Black & Decker Rice Cooker - amzn.to/2I1gAfc
Fair video. A little ownership bias shows :). One thing I'd point out is that the quality of plastic is not decided by how flexible, thin, or thick it is. That only matters if the stiffness, or dimensionality has any performance impact. In this case, the quality of plastic should be decided by how many VOCs and other harmful chemicals will it leach into your steam and food when used inside a hot appliance. My hope is that the Zojirushi with it's Japanese build and quality does less to kill us.
I noticed on Amazon that there are zojirushi one at the price from China being in the 100 price range and then another one made in Japan being 400$ what is your thoughts on that?
I'd like to add that the more expensive rice cookers also do a better job with the "keep warm" function. Cheaper rice cookers tend to dry up the rice at the bottom if you leave it too long.
They also handle different grades of rice better. I know in North America people just think rice is rice but especially with Japanese rice there are various grades. You can cook cheaper rice in a better cooker and it'll come out better than expensive rice in a cheap cooker.
We bout a rice cooker in the 80’s when living in Japan and our (my parents) zojirushi is still running strong. We came back to the states and I got lucky at found a zojirushi from a military family who bought one because they were told they needed one. They didn’t like Japanese rice and never used it so I got it new for $20. I was 16 and got it from them at their yard sale. It only has the in and keep warm button. I just turned 42 and still use it. I love love love my zojirushi.
I-- being a single guy who's into Japanese cooking-- had been using the Black and Decker type (if not that brand) for some 20+ years. Gone through three, four of them. Serviceable, yeah, decent enough rice. Recently I finally, after years of debating it, too the plunge and bought a smallish Zojirushi Micom type cooker. I REGRET NOTHING. Seriously, best rice I have ever had. Best $140 I ever spent.
I had a black and decker for 14 years. But when I needed to replace it, the same brand only lasted for 2 years. I think the quality went down by a lot.
I found a 3cup Zojirushi rice cooker at a thrift store for $10. I came on here to see what this product was about before reselling it. So glad I did, I am no longer going to resell it, but am excited to try it out. Thank you!!
Excellent review! My mom still has a Zojirushi from Japan. It is about 30 years old and still makes perfect rice. I asked for one for Christmas and this review made me so excited!!
Analog rice cookers like the Black & Decker rice cooker should be left on the warm setting for at least 15 minutes before serving the rice (this is mentioned in the manual).
The cake function works so well. I have the smaller Zojirushi model and have used it to make pancakes and banana bread. They come out nicely browned, never burnt, never dry. Cakes and breads might take longer than a single 60 minute cooking session though.
When I have unexpected visitors, my blac and decker rice is ready in 15 minutes, I stir it after about 7 to 10 minute. I have had no problem with the coating and have used it practically everyday almost a year now.I have the Panasonic and I use it when I know guest are coming.
I bought the cheapest one, and brought it to work. I make instant noodles, oatmeal, teriyaki chicken, congee etc. I can use it at home to have hotpot. There is always a good use for a cheap rice cooker.
I have the black and decker rice cooker. I put 2 sheets of aluminum foil inside rice cooker and cut hole in middle for temperature sensor to move up and down. The rice came out perfect. Aluminum foil slows the increasing temperature so rice cook longer.
my Zojirushi rice cooker lasted 20 years... I bought mine in Japan in the 90's and it was expensive, but worked all the buttons, brown rice, had it cook a few hours before I got home, steamed while cooking my rice... and I ALWAYS had a PERFECT POT OF RICE~ I will go back to Zojirushi AGAIN & AGAIN!!!! tried to buy a cheap model - the rice was crusty on the bottom!
Thanks for quite thorough review. I was just looking to upgrade and one of my criteria (besides affordability) is the materials the inner pot is made of. My former rice cooker was telflon, which does scratch and flake off, which is reportedly unhealthy. I understand that teflon has improved over the years, but still not my top choice. Most rice cookers just describe the pot as being non-stick, but I know the Instant Zest one advertises as ceramic (and another brand advertises as bonded granite), and they would be my preference over a cooker just described as 'non-stick'. When it states it's non-stick, it should say also that it's PFOA-free, and even better to describe what material it is made of. While I've only watched a couple of video reviews its rare that the material is one of the features talked about, but these days with people wanting such information, it would be helpful.
I love my Zojirushi rice cooker. I have the same one. I have yet to try the cake and porridge settings. I can say that brown rice comes out fluffy in my Zojirushi, it’s so much more enjoyable. My grandma uses the more economical ones and she goes through them a lot so she keep the pot and lid and uses it on the stovetop. For me, my Zojirushi is an investment because they last long, and I make a lot of rice for my family of 5.
I had an older rice cooker for years from my college days…I finally was used up and I bought a mid level Zojirushi. It makes perfect rice every time! Just a better texture overall and you don’t have to wait for 10-15 minutes after its done cooking to open the top IYKYK
@@SigbinNinja I think you are over exaggerating if not lying. No, and I mean no one eats rice "3 times a day of their entire life". I am also asian and I don't eat rice like you said you do. I sometimes eat mashed potatoes, french fries, a sandwich, etc...
I bought my mom the Zojirushi NS-TSC18 as a Christmas gift and we are all enjoying it. Has not messed up making rice once. It was a great investment and I would definitely recommend it to friends and family.
Japanese family buy more expensive rice cookers because they use premium rice grains. Also people can tell the diff between rice quality For cheap rice grains a cheap cooker is fine
Nice job. Very informative video. I just got the Instant Zest (your middle pot) today, but won't use it until tomorrow. I got it for one of the reasons you mentioned, I wanted to try a less expensive model, but still be able to cook more than just white rice. I also wanted a smaller one for now. Keep up the good work.
You need a high end rice cooker if: you eat rice at least twice a week or you’re a asian food nerd. I have a “Yum Sakura” from Amazon. It’s pretty much the same, from Korea if I’m not mistaken and I love it. Zojirushis are difficult to get here in Europe, like everything Japanese; although we have a trade deal with Japan🤷🏼♀️
I LOVE a soft rice, and have reasonable use from time to time to have rice ready in the morning, so I'm very glad I bought the Zojirushi. What I SHOULD mention is that after I bought the NS-TSC10, I noticed that the pot got de-gunked a lot easier than the 4-cup Aroma rice cooker I had, since all the starch I couldn't wash out found its way to the bottom of the pot; the Zojirushi cleaned up A LOT easier. I can't speak for any Instant users, but I don't regret the purchase I made.
Why was this video the most joyful thing iv watched in forever...you made me buy this thing instantly! The song part just blew me away lol 😂 let’s go can’t wait!
There's a good reason why all Asian families will have a Zojirushi brand rice cooker. Not only is the cooking quality and engineering superior, but in the unlikely event that something breaks or gets worn, spare parts are available for purchase and you won't have to buy an entire new unit. My Zojirushi rice cooker from 20+ years ago is still working like new.
My Instant Pot MAX multi cooker has a rice cooking function but occasionally it slightly scorches the rice. The issue is uneven heating. For this reason, I put my rice in a Pyrex oven glass bowl and set it on a trivet. The water goes into the pot as usual as per instructions but your rice now sits off the bottom and only heated by steam for perfect, extra fluffy rice.
Because of the timer on the instant pot around 11:00 we can see all the cuts and how long they took breaks ext. So cool, like a behind the scenes hack.
Thank you for your review - all though I can not afford a Zojorushi I went with an Aroma 8 cup rice cooker that looks similar to the instant pot (just without the quinoa or oatmeal setting) and I am glad that the particular model uses a granite non-stick coating rather than PTFE. Also it cooks rice so much better than my old Oster where the rice would stick to the bottom of it even with it's PTFE coating which started to wear off quickly even using sponges that were designed for non-stick things.
i cook rice everyday. im using a basic National rice cooker(now Panasonic) that my mom bought in 1976. cooking rice is very easy if you do it regularly. in 2 to 3 trials you can easily figure out the amount of water you need to use for the softness you want
I don’t think you can beat the Zoruishi rice cooker after all in Japan, it’s all about rice. also the fact that they put cute little happy songs on it kind of tells you to kind of love and care they put into it because it’s that important and I can tell how much joy it brings you😀
This was enjoyable, but an honest review as a Japanese. Big size Zojirushi rice cooker with $135 is a low end in Japan. Expensive ones cost more than $2000 (e.g.: Zojirushi NP-WT10-BZ). Even kids can tell the taste difference. But your rice looks broken and mushy. Price will not compensate.
I am watching this as I am cooking in my 20 y.o. Aroma cooker (my non stick coating is failing). Exactly as the Zojirushi sings its song in your video, my Aroma chimes a shrill BEEEP BEEEP. I've been planning to buy a Zojirushi, thank you for the tour. :) Great reviews.
I'm seeing a lot of Zojirushi reviews about at the moment. I had one, and I couldn't stand it and got rid of it. I thought it was overly designed and the 'songs' drove me nuts. I can't stand appliances that beep, whistle or sing to me - I just don't see the point, and I didn't think the rice it cooked was that much better than I made by other methods, that justified the extra 20 minutes or so it took to make. I go through about 5kgs of rice a month, so I cook a lot of rice. I cook it microwave pressure cooker these days, and find it comes out perfect every time. 2 cups of thrice washed rice, 3 cups of water, 10 minutes in the microwave, give it a shake and allow to rest for 15-20 minutes (leaving it sealed). No fuss and very little messing about. But to each his own, that's what works for me and I can appreciate that everyone has their own methods and expectations. One other thing, I'm surprised you would need a 'reminder' that you need to wash the insert and lid insert after each use. I would have thought that would be something everyone does as a matter of course.
Thoroughly enjoyed your review on these!! Please do one for the pressure cookers!!! And the cake in the Zojirushi. By the way, the spendy rice cookers made for Japanese and Korean users talk and sing to the user. 😊 They do charge well over $200, though. 😂
It's a matter of frequency of use too. If you use it every day for 10 years, it'll justify just about any price. But if you cook same type of rice every time,you may not need that many functions.
In the Zojirushi the rice doesn't stick to the pot at all. Also has the syncro cook function so can cook rice steam food at the same time. Plus can leave the rice in there over night/full day and rice will still be perfect
I have a middle class rice cooker for around 35Euro. It would be placed between the black+decker and the INSTANT rice-cooker. It merely cooks rice by 15 minutes and no options on what kind of rice is used. It has the lever for cooking/keep warm. BUT I am happy to have it, because I only use white rice.
I have a Kmart rice cooker $14 I have had 2 over the years 1st the pot got scratches chucked it. It's the rice you use cheap won't work full of starch what I do use more is a ceramic pot with lid in the microwave and it comes out spot on no drama works well great rice sushi rice is the drama.🐊
I can’t speak to the Instant Pot rice cooker, but the bog standard cheap rice cookers don’t cook based on time. It’s all temperature. The quick version is that water boils at 100°C, so if the temperature goes over 100°, the water has either absorbed or boiled off. If there’s still water, it can’t get hotter than that.
For great info on the fuzzy logic cooker see: The Ultimate Rice Cooker Cookbook (revised and updated) by Hensperger and Kaufmann. Cakes can be done in the fuzzy logic cooker and as well in Instant pots. They are basically steamed instead of baked. The fuzzy logic cookers also come as induction cookers and are about a thousand bucks.
I got three black and decker rice cookers for maybe 4 years and broke almost every year so I gave up on the brand. It cost only $19 each so every time it brokedown, I threw it away and bought a new one but I felt bad for the landfill. I bought a no name brand with mostly plastic and very small that cost only $24 at Frys electronics and still running for 7 years but already beat up even the brand name came off. I'm shopping for a rice cooker and checking on durability first so would spend as much as $150 so I'll try Zojiroshi, Tiger or Cuckoo.
These kinds of reviews need to do blind taste tests. I feel like knowing that the rice was cooked in the more expensive cooker would make me have a certain expectation for the outcome of that rice.
I actually use the black Decker, it does help me save time because I used to make my rice on a pan and it would take a long time plus staying near it so I would have to move it around so it doesn’t burn
Technically rice on a pan/pot shouldn't take a lot longer, you shouldn't have to move it around. You just kind of just need to boil the water and allow it to steam inside to work its magic. Search around for guides on how to cook rice with a pot might need a few small failures before you get the right formula for your pot and the rice you use. A lot of trust is needed cause if you have an opaque lid you can't tell what state it is in.
Very good comparison but you are missing one thing that is which rice cooker cooked the rice fastest. You should also include how long each rice cooker takes to cook.
The steam meaning energy loss. When it start boil, turn it to warm up for rest of cook . Choice to model which stay coolish to touch. It have better insulate.
I recently bought the black and decker and absolutely hate it! I only had 1/4th of rice(and appropriate water)yet it spewed and spouted and made a mess in my kitchen as if I had overfilled it(which I didn't). The bottom was also solid and rubbery despite being immediately taken out after cooking. I'm going to return and try again with the instant pot.
With the black & decker rice cooker I don't have the rice cup I bought it at a thrift store , I'm wondering how much is the rice cup equal to in cups for 1 cup ?
Yes compare pressure cookers and compare rice from the instapot (rice feature) and instapot rice cooker! I want to know if I can get a ‘2-for’ saving $ and space!!
I gotta say this video was a great influence in my decision to invest in the Zojirushi. It's expensive but THATS JAPANESE RICE :9 Totally worth it! Thank you!
Well done video! ✔ I love the quality of japan products, definitely can't go wrong. But since my kids are grown and I just cook for myself mostly I can't justify the price. So I'm going with the Instant Pot cooker.
I've been breaking my balls all day trying to learn about these 3 exact rice cookers.(researching the Zojirushi has been more of a fantasy) This video told me exactly what I wanted to know, including washability (which I don't think any other resource goes into that aspect of it, but is information that I value).
@@metalmayhem3622 just got a zojirushi after using cheap rice cookers most my adult life, ( i actualy can make good rice in a pot but rice cookers are so easy.) im yet to try the zojirushi, ill let u know how it is if i remember. im making some rice today.
I thought spending a lot (comparatively) of money on a Japanese rice cooker was bullsh!t for years. That is until I grabbed a Tiger rice cooker and was simply blown away. Now I make rice 4x a week at a bare minimum, and its' perfect each and every time....Although I will begrudgingly admit that the Instant Pot (regular one, I haven't tried the trimmed down rice cooker only version) does a dang good job at cooking rice. The Tiger or Zoji WILL be better, but it's not like it's night and day different
You don't need to keep the measuring cup.. Making rice in in a rice cooker requires the same 2:1ratio as you would use on the stove. Also also I own the larger instant instant zest 6 qt model and I really love it however it's whisper it's weakest point point would definitely be the ceramic coated inner pot is inner pot that has a tendency To degrade and lose its nonstick nonstick ability ability much quicker than an older Teflon coded inner pot would. I really Hope that the instant company address address this issue sooner than later. The 1st one I owned was about a year ago and and the inner pot surface surface started cracking. I know this wasn't my fault because I have other of other rice cookers including including my beloved but discontinued Kenmore Which is over 11 years old and has more miles on it than most people's car and it has never done that . The problem started happening within 3 months of heavily using it so I ordered another one off of Amazon com, switched the pots come, and headed sent back which I know is not a nice thing to do but I was angry angry that it would do that after such a short period of time and and I figured it was better was better that it was the instant pot Company's problem more than mine. Unfortunately the newer one is doing the exact same thing so instant pot has not corrected the problem.. It's a shame because I really love the way it performs but luckily I bought the warranty the until this time so they're getting it back they're getting it back. Hopefully the replacement We'll be improved
I can confirm if you aren't cheap that zoro one is the shit. However if you are cheap get yourself a pot and some water. Because if you want subpar rice you might as well have it for as cheap as you can. Excuse me my rice is done.
The tasting outcomes were so largely affected by the quality of rice used. The expensive machine can't magically make bad rice taste amazing. You may want to try high quality Japanese rice (available on Amazon or your local Japanese supermarket). Otherwise, it might be just like test driving Ferrari and Toyota Camry at school zone, then came to the conclusion that there were not much of the difference in turn of the speed and handling...with Camry became a smart buy. (Which I agreed ironically.) Btw, IH version of the rice cookers are miles better than the non-IH models. Pressured versions are not necessary. Try Zojirushi NP-HCC-10/18 at least.
