The Best Zojirushi Rice Cookers for Every Home Cook

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.