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.
Not only can the Neuro Fuzzy Rice Cooker prepare white rice, porridge, and more, it has a “keep warm” and “extended keep warm” setting, plus the ability to reheat rice. But the most appealing thing about this model may be its “rinse-free” and “quick cooking” option. Lest you’re worried about using the correct water to rice ratio, the rice cooker comes with two measuring cups: one regular one, and one for musenmai, a rinse-free rice variety popular in Japan. Use its non-stick rice spatula to scoop out sticky grains, and return it to its handy holder on the side of the pot when done.
Micom, induction heating, and pressure cooking technology come together in what may be Zojirushi’s most advanced rice cooker yet. According to the brand’s site, the pressurized cooking and steaming “promotes gelatinization and produces sticky and plump rice.” Like other Micom models, this machine uses fuzzy logic to adjust cooking times and temperatures as needed so that each batch of rice is perfect.
The Pressure Induction Heating Rice Cooker has 49 customization settings; for one, the “My Rice (49 Ways)” setting allows you to give the machine feedback so it knows how to make rice exactly the way you want it, whether that’s a little stickier or slightly fluffier. Neat! The platinum-infused nonstick inner pot and detachable inner lid are both easy to clean—but if you don’t feel like hand-washing, the rice cooker has a self-cleaning function too. At $701, this is Zojirushi’s most expensive rice cooker. But if you want a machine that can make rice the way you prefer it, then the price tag may be worth it.
Zojirushi’s Umami rice cooker claims to produce more flavorful rice by soaking and cooking rice for longer. Like the other Micom models, this machine has automatic and extended settings to keep your rice warm, as well as the ability to reheat rice. If you don’t have room for single-use appliances, this model also doubles as a slow cooker—consider using it for braised meat, soups, or stew. What appeals to me most is its specific setting for making congee. Most machines have a button for porridge, but this one has specific settings for both. A batch of comforting congee with the press of a button? Count me in.
